Joe Klein

Thunderheads over the mountains brought rain all the way west to some coastal communities last week.

Towering Thunderheads Have Been Seen Hovering over the wall of mountains east of San Diego recently. Afternoon rainshowers have already dampened Palomar, Cuyamaca, and Mount Laguna on several occasions, with more of the same expected over the next two or three weeks. (Even some coastal areas got a few showers last week.) Usually, this kind of activity ceases by sunset, and clearing skies usher in a cloudless night. The marked contrast between the sunny but bland weather along the coast and the more lively and unpredictable mountain weather is one illustration of San Diego County’s “geography of contrast.”

The scent of "true Jasmine"(genus Jasminum) is strong this time of year.

Jasmine’s Thick, Sweet Odor wafts on the night breezes this time of year, especially throughout the older, well-landscaped neighborhoods of San Diego. The exotic odor is produced by the flowers of true jasmines (genus Jasminum), as opposed to the so-called “star jasmine” (genus Trachelospermum), which blooms in the late spring and early summer.

Perseid Meteor Shower, August 12, 2013

SHSPhotography/iStock/Thinkstock

The Perseid Meteor Shower Will Peak August 11-13. Assuming the clouds cooperate, we will have excellent viewing conditions this year with the quarter moon (35% visible) setting just before midnight. During the hours between midnight and sunrise (6:10 am) on the mornings of Monday, August 12, and Tuesday, August 13, the Perseids should deliver a meteor a minute. Remember that as the night progresses, it gets darker, so some of the best viewing times will come right before sunrise. If you’re an early riser, it might be best to just check it out in the morning. And, because the sky will be so dark this year, trekking up to the mountains might not be necessary —  as long as your view of the sky is wide and unobstructed by trees or structures, and away from any street or city lights. If you live in a rural region or in the darker suburbs, you can lay on a blanket in your backyard and enjoy the show. Be sure to not just glance up at the sky off and on; rather, maintain steady viewing for a duration of time. These meteors are entering our atmosphere at 37 miles per second so the visible streaks will last for only a second or two.