I know what you mean. When I went out for lunch today my car thermometer read 52. I can't remember the last time it was that warm. Late November maybe. Great week ahead here in the Carolinas.

I love this warm spell,for a change.I actually put some of my potted palms outside today.I sprayed one of my pindos with fungicide today,it had false smut.Tomorrow I plan on watering all my Sabal palmettos seedling.I can finally do it outside,instead of doing it in my bath tub.That gets old real quick.I hope some more of y'all are getting a break from all the cold weather.
Randy

We definitely arent getting any spring weather, or even average winter weather anytime soon! Right now there is too much snow to even handle because there are major snows so often and such a lack of average temperatures that none of it is melting. I havent seen grass since Christmas Day and some people actually still have christmas lawn decorations outside because they have been buried in snow almost entirely since Christmas. I have never seen that much snow here before and everyone is saying that they have never seen so much snow on the ground. I never thought I would see and hear thundersnow, but I did during this last snow storm. It was actually a cloud to ground lightning strike which made it a really cool thing to see! This past snow storm was a lot wetter than past snow this year so a lot of trees are down in the forest and many branches on trees are bending or broken because of the weight of the snow. Hopefully a warm-up comes for the entire east soon. Looks like a chance for some above average temperatures for the entire east coast by late February. I hope that the models are right about that!
Enjoy the well deserved spring weather!
-Alex

Not Spring here. The world here is 'subarctic' except with a lot more snow! Last storm in the series dumped a heavy, wet snow that is difficult to shovel. We've had colder winters, windier winters, icier winters, but never remember this much SNOW--and it just accumulates with little if any daytime melting. With such extensive snow cover, frigid air is locked in place. I'm glad the weather is turning Springlike somewhere but not feeling it here. Growing up in and around NYC, I can remember many winters where there was little if any snow and sleds were some kind of quaint novelty from distant lands. The storm track is supposed to shift to the west (and away from the East coast), which should lead to more liquid precip. But they've been forecasting more western tracks for a while and these storms seem to be tracking defiantly to the East. Weather (climate?) definitely seems to have taken a turn to the extreme in recent years--at least locally.

lol butia u just made me check today suppose to be in the 50s and i see they upped all the temps. for the next 10 days by a little i even see a day in the mid 60s!! PLEASE spring come on haha i cant wait for the warm!

I hate to hear the northeast is still getting more snow and really cold air.I heard on the news the other day NY city had a low temp. of 4f,that's cold.They were also saying that NY city is running out of places to keep putting the snow there cleaning of the streets.Can you believe the scientist are saying all the cold and rain were getting and the snow and cold y'all are getting is caused by global warming.They say the warming affect in the arctic is causing the polar ice caps to melt,putting more moisture in the atmosphere.Which it makes since if you think about it.They also say since there melting the cold arctic air is not held in place like it normally is.It's like opening a refrigerator door and letting the cold air out.It's weird how things like that happens,you would think when someone says global warming,it means warmer than normal temps.Well maybe the the northeast will get some warming soon.Usually every weather system that comes out of the southeast heads up the east coast.Maybe it will bring the warm air with it.Spring will soon be here before long for everybody.
Randy

Maybe not springlike but definitely feeling more
like late winter!

Last few days we finally broke out into some sun and temps above freezing,
got to look in on some of the palms,not everything
is great but,whayagonnado huh?(-;

Alex

Pretty cool how instead of rolling thunder in snowstorms you hear a muffled thump
as the snow absorbs some of the sound waves,like it's all happening under a blanket!

Lot's of energy in the atmosphere to produce those conditions-feels almost magical.

Far as I am concerned winter is 2/3's over!

Jim, the lightning with snow was real rarity. It must have been very close because like you said, the snow absorbs a lot of sound, but I still heard it loud and clear. The ground even shook!
Right now it looks like this storm next week will be heading further away from the coast (more inland) which means a mix or rain here (about time!!). But thats what they were saying about the last storm and we got a wet 19 inches of snow instead so this will be a storm to watch. Still a lot more winter left, but I agree its about 2/3rds over. Once march is here signs of spring start popping up and the protection for my palms will be off (and some of my cold tolerant plants outside again (such as my queen palm, oleander, agaves, pindo palms, and maybe a few others). I cant wait until this snow cover is gone, but with these huge piles of snow, I really dont see how any of it is going to melt until spring!
No warmth in the 10 day forecast but Im sure warmer days cant be more than 20 days away, hopefully!
-Alex

Exceptional snow, cold, heat, wind, rain and drought--don't be too surprised by anything you see in weeks, months, and years ahead. Right now, it looks like the next storm is going to bring bring major ICE problems over a large portion of the US. All this snow was bad enough but I'd rather have anything over ice!

Butia, more like 8.0 F, in the immediate NYC area as a minimum this year. Worst part of this winter has been the regularity of MAJOR snowstorms and the consistent subfreezing cold.--All of this following one of the hottest and driest Springs and Summers in recorded history! Every season seems extreme, unpredictable, record-breaking and dramatic. Getting nostalgic for 'normal' here.

Alex-njoasis

You may indeed be spared by this one as the latest model runs
appear to be pointing to a big snow event here-maybe not east coast big(-;.

We'll see,like you guys this has been predicted over and over
but
we may be lined up this time,in which case,
without redevelopment off the coast-this one may miss you.

njoasis,
I know y'all have got to be getting tired of all the snow.On the news today it showed people in NY saying enough is enough.I couldn't imagine what it must be like dealing with it,especially if its not melting and storm after storm keeps hitting the same areas.Sorry to hear about those kind of conditions you and have been having.

Alex,
I heard about the thunder snow on the news.It would be cool to get a video of a lighting strike with it snowing.That would make for a good YouTube video of the day.

Jim,
I don't think you have nothing to worry about.With your knowledge and protection methods.I think everything will be snug and warm.I know cold weather will return here.One year we had a snow storm the first of April.Good luck to everyone.
Randy

Similar to ALL the storms this winter in the complexity of the forecast. This next storm is predicted to be a whooper that will affect millions of people over a vast part of the country. Arctic air is going to drop into the center of the country (they are predicting max temp of 27 in Dallas and 15 in Oklahoma City. At the same time, there is a lot of moisture moving out of the Gulf and there could be a big outbreak of tornadoes in the South East. I don't know what would be worse for the North East at this point--more snow, freezing rain or even all rain!! They seemed to have slightly raised our temps for after this next storm. There was a bit of melting today as temps rose into the upper 30's under mostly sunny skies. This winter has been more like a winter in Buffalo or Syracuse. This will be our 7th Storm in 7 weeks and it just keeps on going.

Looks like the end is in sight for the southeast. Great temps as far out as you can see.

I see 60 F. by next Friday!--Can't wait to be able to park my car in the back again--glacial depths slowly diminishing.

I really hope Winter is truly over for the most part. Most of the snow has melted and the sun continues to get stronger. The forecast looks much better.

It sounds great that most everyone's temps. are warming.I don't know about y'all but I'm ready for it.It snowed here two days ago,just a light dusting.It was melted the next day by noon.Now tomorrow there saying it will be in the mid 50's.Saturday and Sunday will be near 60 and there talking about temps in the 70's for next week.I hope it last till summer,but I know where never out of the woods for cold temps. till the first of April.Georgia weather can be crazy like that.It might be in the mid 30's today and two days later it might be in the low to mid 70's.I remember we had a big snow(for here)two years ago the first week in April and two days later it was in the 60's.Summer is just around the corner,I'm ready to get planting again.I hope everyone has a great weekend.
Randy

I can see some grass again!! Spring is on its way! 40s or better just about every day and 50s late next week (maybe even close to 60). I dont think that winter is over, but the worst of it is!
-Alex

40 degrees here in NC last night. Everything is uncovered (for now) as we are looking at almost 70 today. Very windy from the SW but we'll take it. Hope everyone else is improving as well.

It is beautiful out here today! Its in the mid 50s right now and the snow is melting really fast! The buds on the trees are a little larger now too! I think that the snow will be all gone (except for the largest piles in parking lots by Friday). Tomorrow will be on the cold side (only in the mid 30s which is 5-10 degrees below average), but the end of the week will be in the 60s which will make up for it! I might cover some palms tonight because its going down to 25F tonight. I think the pindo will be okay, its just the Sabal Domingensis and Livistonia that I worry about a little. Once march comes the palms should be perfectly fine!
-Alex

Hello Everyone,

We had 5 inches of snow here on Thursday night...today we have temps in the upper 60's...go figure...I am so tired of all of this crazy up and down temps...I know you all have had enough in the NorthEast...I have had the pleasure of being caught up ther several times while working this past month...Ugggg! Not fun!!! (Esp. in Newark!!!) LOL...

Hope Everyone is having a great Valentine's Day!!!

Hi Randy!!! Missed chatting with you all!!!

THINK SPRING!!!!

Jim..how is the greenhouse? I hope everything is ok...

Take care everyone!!!

Laura in VB

Sunny and 68 here yesterday! WAHOO! The groundhog was right, early spring!

Were not done with winter just yet, but the overall pattern nation wide, and for the D.C. area is trending towards a movement away from winter. 68-70 yesterday depending on where you were. I recorded 70. A brief 48F today, 60F tomorrow, then 68-72 on Friday. It is going to get 'cold' again for the weekend, but by cold they mean average. Highs around 50F and lows in the 30s. Were set to be above freezing for at least several days in a row. No real biting cold in sight either. By Feb 25th our average daytime high will finally be back to 50F! yay!

We have been lucky in terms of snow this year too. Only 9.5" so far to date, and that last storm just grazed us with almost 1" of snow. Most of it stayed to the south and the ground is now snow free. We really have not had an extended period of snowcover here except for a couple of weeks.

Mid/upper 60's yesterday here, so guess Spring is coming. Some snow/ice remain. Big story today is WIND all day (50-60 mph possible). Last Spring was likewise ushered in by a mid-March 'hurricane'--then we had Dallas-like heat for six months. Very dramatic weather lately!

We got to 70F here yesterday!!! It was so nice outside. No coat, or long sleeves and I actually saw people riding bikes and jogging in SHORTS! It was like the twilight zone, people are wearing shorts in February in the NYC metro and were comfortable! Everybody was really enjoying the weather.

I wish the warm air could stay, but today is MUCH colder and very very windy. The week overall doesnt look too bad. Days in the 40s, one or 2 in the 50s. 2 nights will be in the low to mid 20s so I will be protecting my palms from that and unfortunately there is a chance that snow snow will mix in with the rain forecasted for Tuesday.

But spring is definitely almost here! I might be seeing things, but I could have sworn that I saw some cherry trees blooming here! The buds on the trees weren't even there 2 weeks ago, now the buds are very notable from a distance on many street trees.

And there is only one tiny pile of snow on my lawn. 3 weeks ago that pile was as tall as me!

Very windy today and hopefully power outages wont be widespread.
-Alex

Friday the official high was a record 77F. Many places touched 80F. The big story was the 50-60mph winds on Saturday though. Even though it was around 60 it was still on the cool side with those winds taking down trees and causing power outages. Next week looks fairly good though. one day in the upper 30s to low 40s, one in the upper 60s to near 70, and the rest in the mid 50s. More mid March like than mid February for sure.

Hi everyone!

Well, it is 5 degrees here this am and they are saying that it is ging to be an awfully cooler than below average spring. Is this so? I hope not. I am still debating on whether trying a palm in the ground..:-)

Actually, now it's not the weather I am so concerned about as much as the price of OIL!!! What the heck are we going to do or how am I going to afford to keep my plants warm all winter if energy cost spiral out of control?
How ill I keep myself war, let alone my plants!?

Mike

How will I keep myself warm, let alone my plants lol. I guess my auto spelling is not working once again.

Mike

It has been warm down here for the past week or so, it reached 80F a couple of days ago. I did some yard work yesterday and actually started sweating ; )

I saw my first snake of the year too, a little rat snake.