The week’s forecast features mostly clear to partly cloudy conditions with mild temperature swings. Daytimes range from highs near 81°F on Saturday to 89°F on Tuesday, while nights cool to the mid-50s, typically between 55°F and 58°F. Winds remain light, generally 5 to 10 mph, shifting from north-northwest early in the week to west and west-southwest by the weekend. Skies alternate between mostly sunny and partly cloudy, with only a few clouds overnight. Overall, the weather will be calm and pleasant, with steady breezes and comfortable daytime temperatures throughout the week. https://www.kcra.com/weather

This week’s sky highlights include Jupiter shining in central Gemini and the Big Dipper rising high in the northeast, pointing toward Polaris, Leo, Gemini, and Capella. The Little Dipper’s “Guardians of the Pole” are visible near Polaris. As spring approaches on March 20, Cancer climbs high in the southeast with the Beehive Cluster (M44) and fainter M67. Sirius dominates the southern sky, forming the Winter Triangle with Betelgeuse and Procyon. A rare young crescent Moon appears low near Venus on March 19, offering a prime thin-moon challenge. Planet watchers can spot brilliant Venus, high Jupiter, faint Uranus, while Saturn and Neptune hide in sunlight. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-march-13-22/

Corned beef, a staple of American St. Patrick's Day, has Irish roots but is more of an American tradition. In ancient Ireland, beef was rare because cattle were a symbol of wealth, while pork was the primary meat. The 16th century saw increased beef consumption, particularly in Cork.

Many Irish immigrants found corned beef affordable in America, thanks to connections with Eastern European Jews. Today, while Americans celebrate with corned beef, traditional Irish cuisine often features Irish bacon. https://www.foodandwine.com/news/complicated-irish-history-corned-beef#:~:text=While%20the%20tradition%20of%20salting,the%20beef%20the%20country%20produced.

March is marked by a significant increase in daylight, with some cities gaining over 100 minutes by month’s end. Daylight saving time begins on March 8, shifting clocks forward and extending evening light, benefiting businesses but posing health risks. The sun’s strength also increases, making it harder for snow to accumulate during the day and posing a risk of heatstroke in cars. In New York City, daylight increases by 81 minutes, while in Seattle it increases by 103 minutes. The spring equinox on March 20 brings nearly equal day and night lengths. Latitude influences the extent of daylight changes, with northern areas experiencing larger shifts. https://www.accuweather.com/en/space-news/march-adds-daylight-fast-and-the-change-is-bigger-than-most-people-realize/1867563

The week ahead brings mostly sunny to partly cloudy conditions with mild temperatures. Sunday will see intervals of clouds and sunshine with a high near 75°F and light NNW winds, followed by a clear, cool night around 48°F. Monday and Tuesday remain partly cloudy, with highs of 74–76°F and nighttime lows near 50°F, as NNW winds increase up to 20 mph on Tuesday. Wednesday through Saturday feature abundant sunshine, highs in the upper 70s to low 80s, and lows in the upper 40s to mid-50s. Winds will stay light to moderate, mostly from the north to northwest. https://www.kcra.com/weather

Between March 6 and 15, the night sky offers many highlights for observers in mid-northern latitudes. Jupiter dominates near Gemini’s Pollux and Castor, with Orion and Aldebaran below. Venus and Saturn form a close conjunction low in the west after sunset, though Saturn is just 1% as bright. Arcturus rises in the east, marking spring’s approach, while Sirius and the Winter Triangle gleam in the south. Moonless nights favor spotting clusters like M41, M50, and the Beehive in Cancer. Daylight-saving time begins on March 8, and Jupiter’s moons and Great Red Spot provide telescopic events. Uranus remains visible, while Neptune fades into twilight. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-march-6-15/

March 2026 will feature the year’s only total lunar eclipse, visible overnight from March 2 to early March 3. The best views of totality—when the moon turns red—will occur along the U.S. West Coast, including cities like Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, around 3:33 a.m. PT. Totality lasts about an hour, ending near 5:17 a.m. PT, with partial phases visible elsewhere in the U.S. The moon appears red because Earth’s atmosphere scatters blue light and refracts red wavelengths onto its surface. Atmospheric conditions, such as dust or smoke, can deepen the hue. Over 3.3 billion people worldwide can view this celestial event. https://www.accuweather.com/en/space-news/marchs-total-lunar-eclipse-will-turn-the-moon-red-heres-when-to-see-it/1853015

This week’s sky highlights include Venus, Saturn, and fading Mercury forming a sunset triangle, with binoculars aiding Mercury’s view. The Moon progresses from Cancer to Leo, aligning with stars like Regulus and forming patterns with Castor, Pollux, and Jupiter—a total lunar eclipse peaks on March 3, visible mainly in western North America. Jupiter dominates the evening sky, with Europa’s shadow transit on March 5. Sirius and its nearby clusters, M41 and M50, are prime binocular targets. Daylight-saving time begins March 8, while Cancer’s Beehive Cluster and Leo mark the transition from winter to spring skies. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-february-27-march-8/

The upcoming week features mostly mild, pleasant weather, with a mix of sun and clouds. Daytime highs range from the mid-60s to the mid-70s, starting around 67°F on Sunday and gradually reaching 74°F by Saturday. Nights will be cool, with lows in the 46°F to 49°F range. Winds are generally light and variable, occasionally shifting to the northwest or north at 5 to 10 mph. The forecast includes occasional passing clouds, but no significant storms or precipitation are expected, making it a calm and comfortable week overall with plenty of sunshine and mild evenings. https://www.kcra.com/weather

At the end of February 2026, six planets—Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune—will align with a nearly full moon in the evening sky. Shortly after sunset, all will appear above the horizon, creating the first major planetary alignment of the year. Jupiter will be the brightest and easiest to spot high in the southern sky near the moon, while Saturn, Venus, and Mercury cluster low in the west, best viewed about 45 minutes after sunset. Uranus and Neptune will require binoculars or a telescope. The alignment continues into early March, though Mercury will soon fade from view. https://www.accuweather.com/en/space-news/6-planets-moon-will-align-in-february-but-theres-a-catch/1860418