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March is a month when the weather transitions from winter to spring. Winters in Yokosuka City and the Miura Peninsula are comparatively mild, since the area is surrounded on three sides by the ocean. For example, during the coldest months, January and February, the average temperatures are around 5~6 degrees Celsius (41~43 degrees Fahrenheit) -- there is no hard freeze, and many trees and plants remain green despite the cold. Then, during early-March, the frigid/dry air starts to retreat to the north of Japan, and warm/moist wind-fronts start to arrive, one-after-another, from the west and southwest. At some point during that process, the warm and cold air mix to produce a storm, with gale-force winds. This is called: 春一番 (HARU-ICHIBAN). "春" = spring, and　"一番" = number one; and these Kanji characters have the meaning of: "the first spring storm of the year." Also, according to the Japanese traditional calendar, 節気 (SEKKI), this time of year is called 雨水 (USUI), which means rainwater, and it is said to be a time when rain moistens the soil, mists start to linger, grass sprouts, and trees bud. Soon spring will fully arrive, and the SAKURA (桜 cherry blossom) trees will bloom -- which we will explain more about in a future article. In the mean time, please stay safe and well.

written by Goodfield