Southern Tier weather

[Galloper]

Greetings from a wet and rainy England.   I'm going to ride a mix of Southern Tier, Great Rivers and Transam early next year.   The plan is to take the Southern Tier from San Diego as far as Louisiana, then head north up the Great River route before picking up the Transam and heading for the east coast.

I'm thinking of starting from San Diego in early February.   The site advises fall to late spring, am I going too early?   What sort of weather can I expect at the start?

Any advice will be much appreciated.

Cheers

Peter

[aggie]

In Southern California February is in the rainy season.  Fronts come down from Alaska with rain and cold.  If there isn't a front coming through the weather in the lower elevations should be rather mild - lower to mid 60's.  At elevation it is possible to encounter snow or at the very least some relatively cold days and nights.  This also includes the elevations in AZ and NM.  That said it is always possible the weather will be clear and in the 70's or wet and in the 40's and 50's.  March tends to be a little drier and warmer. 

[Galloper]

Thank you sir!   It sounds as if I should delay until March.   I was thinking it might be nice to escape the tail end of winter over here.

Peter

[Westinghouse]

Weather at any given time and place on the ST is a matter of probabilities, though some themes tend to dominate the mix. I would go to one of those weather web sites and look up average weather conditions for certain regions at specific times of the year. Even then there are no guarantees. Go through Van Horn, Texas in February one year and it may be sunny, cloudy and in the fifties and sixties. Go through Van Horn in February the next year, and you may find yourself snowed in for six consecutive days. I crossed the US on the ST one year, and had an hour of rain in the entire two months. Another crossing on the ST had me inside drinkng coffee for hours at a time, day after day, waiting for the rain to stop. In February, March, and April be sure to bring cold weather clothing.

I am heading west on the ST tomorrow morning unless it is raining like this morning. I expect cold weather definitely. Here in Florida it's warm, but I am not letting that fool me. I am very well aware of what I am up against. I am starting well south of Saint Augustine. I will not be seeing that city.

[Galloper]

Thanks for the information, I've passed through that part of the world before but always later in the year when it was a lot hotter.   I'm not too worried about cold, heat is what gets me.   

Enjoy your ride.

Peter

[ericfoltz]

I'm in the middle of a W-E-W crossing using the ST.

Just started back west yesterday and am currently sitting out a storm in Lake City. I'm expecting cold and wet until somewhere in Texas where it will turn to just plain cold.

Full report here: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/5841

Westinghouse - Maybe I'll see you out there on the road.

[Westinghouse]

You never know. I am heading out again tomorrow morning, Monday, with a 25%-50% chance of rain according to accuweather forecasts. Rain is one thing. It can be waited out. But when it keeps raining all day and night for days, it is no time to begin a long cycling tour, or a short one for that matter. You're very far north of me already. I doubt I shall catch up. I believe Thursday brings a 50-75% chance of rain, but that is scattered. The past few days have seen the entire state engulfed in a downpour. It took me two days to get 25 miles, so I backed up and waited. Tomorrow I give it another go. It should be fine. I should have checked the weather before setting out, but I am so used to good weather I was not expecting it. You are heading into 100% probability of rain and flooding in Louisiana.

Good luck. I am looking at your journal "Scenic Turnouts" on CGOAB.com.