The Lion Sleeps Tonight

There is a song from the 1970s that fits the temperament of this first weekend of March perfectly. Sung by Robert John, the re-make of the 1960s song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972.

If I can apply the title to our weather pattern, we are now a full week into the month when the lion roars and so far nary a harsh gust of wind. So far, there has been no lion-like snow or rain storm. In effect, the lion has slept so far this month!

Granted, this first week of March has featured a “lion-like” bite to the air with temperatures struggling to get out of the 30s by day (highs on Friday did muster mid 40s) and dropping deep into the 20s at night. In fact, Elkins in northern WV saw the temperature plummet to an arctic 5 above this Friday.

Still, the cold has been mellowed by late winter strong March sun, so those smart enough to walk in the clutch of Ol Sol’s hand have felt a comforting “lamb-like” feel to the air. The converse of course focuses on the relative chill of the shade at this time of year.

As for the weekend, the lion will remain quiet with winds only in the 10 or 15 mile per hour range. Highs should make the mid 40s to 50 on most thermometers on Saturday afternoon with 50s area-wide on Sunday.

Given the ground is wet from melted snows, I hesitate to point out this is spring fire season. But after 2 (and by Saturday 3 and Sunday 4) straight sunny days to dry the ground out, dare I state a small brush fire would be possible on a south facing slope. If you are burning vegetation only (you may never burn trash legally), the law says you must wait until 4PM in WV and 6PM in Kentucky and Ohio.

Oddly, just as the ground dries out next week, a southern storm will be taking shape and sending a slug of rain our way by Wednesday thru Friday. Given the snow pack still on the ground in the high country, the slow melt down is good, but still offers a concern for late week high water if the next storm is a drencher. Time will tell on that.

By the way, I will bet I heard Casey Kasem play “the Lion Sleeps tonight” on my travels thru the Pennsylvania Mountains many a time. I met Casey in LA during a Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon emcee briefing. Casey was a cordial host and I still recall him telling me that his wife Jean Thompson (of Loretta and Nick Tortelli fame from Cheers) had first crack at the dingy wife role in the FOX hit Married with Children of the 1980s-90s.

One final word, as Casey would no doubt caution us, the lion can only sleep so long before awakening in a nasty mood! Roughly translated, we likely have at least one heavy wet, wind driven lion-like snowstorm ahead in this windiest of all months!