What this cold lacks in severity here,it makes up
for in duration,might as well let winter be winter,
winter warmth here usually means an ugly spring!

I hear ya though!

Wow.. and you live in one of the best climates for palms in the entire country (excluding Hawaii, of course). Rain is a-comin'... we ALWAYS need rain in southern California and the rains are very unlikely to have a negative impact on your palms- in fact most will love the rain. It's not Hawaii, but compared to where most people on this board live, it's pretty close. I complain, too, but at least where I live it does freeze regularly, so my fingers are crossed... there are no days in the 30s in the 7 day forecast... hope that continues for another 3 months.

The Keys are just about as safe. It will occasionally get in the upper 40s there but that's rare, and it almost always rebounds at least to the 50's / 60's. Key west is frost free, and it has never had any frozen precipitation. The lowest temp ever recorded was 41F back in the 1800s. It did reach 42F in the cold outbreak of last winter. 40s are extremely rare for Key west.

Yeah-its been a warm stream here in the bay area..low 60's for high temps,but lows have been near 60, high 50's mostly. THATS balmy for mid winter and rains. Heck,were getting mildew/mold problems on some plants the mildness and humidity have been so out of ordinary.
If the roof dont leak-let it rain. Payback is water for the summer watering..

My guess is that California and the western half of the country will have a average to slightly below average January and the east coast (or at least Florida and the southeast) will warm up a little.
The forecast for California sounds great compared to NYC though! Not only are we below average, but the wind makes it feel even colder. This afternoon was the coldest afternoon we have had in a few years and we probably wont make it out of the mid 20s (about 20 degrees below average!). All my plants are protected and I just checked on them and they are all still doing good so far!
Hopefully we have a warm January, or at least a warm spring and summer! I hate the cold so much! The only thing I like about the winter is the excitement of a good snow storm, but I would take the tropics anytime!
-Alex

My brother Chris on Maui says, Haleakala got 3" of snow this weekend. Cold upcountry.

It must be cool to see snow on mountains in the tropics. The top of those mountains are so cold that they can get below freezing in the summer!
-Alex

PanamaJack,

I was just saying the cold has hit a peek for me here in Brooklyn NY, and then I realize how much worse it could be. I do hear you. However, by comparison you sound just a little spoiled by good weather if you ask me. Let's trade winters. lol...

I almost moved to Puerto Rico and spent a lot of time there. I do recall the tropical muggy heat is not always fun when working & does make people drag. Having some cool winter weather is fine for a short season. I vote for Florida.

Seems whenever it's above normal here in Califoria, it's below in Florida, and vice versa.

I have a palm friend in the Keys and he confirms no frost.. but he does not confirm no hurricanes. His palm collection has been wiped out three times now, twice by hurricanes and once by lethal yellowing... Hawaii has very few hurricanes and (so far) little lethal yellowing. They do tend to have a higher incidence of lava flows than most of the rest of the country, though.

lzrddr, Thats very true. It never seems to be warm in the east and west at the same time! Last summer was one of the warmest ever by me and in much of the east, but California had one of the coldest (when I was there, I needed a jacket in July!) Now California is pretty mild and the east is having record cold in many places.
Key west has a great climate. Only downside is definitely the hurricanes. Fortunately there hasnt been a direct hit from a hurricane in a very long time, but that doesnt mean that their wasnt any damage! The native plants always seem to come back from hurricanes (Everglades palms will resprout, sabals and coocnuts can continue growing even when knocked down, and sometimes live oaks are the only trees left standing in neighborhoods), but all the really nice rare and tender palms and tropicals are lost easily in hurricanes. Hawaii also can get hurricanes, but its much rare. Earthquakes and tsunamis are probably the biggest concern and fortunately, bad events of those arent too common.

.It's true, whenever we're above normal in Cali it seems to be cold in FL. Weird. Brooklyngreg, I know how you feel, wanting to move to Puerto Rico. Imagine the gardens one could have there. I guess whats hard for me is the fact that I was born and raised in a country (Panama) very close to the equator and I'm trying to mimic the many gardens I used play in as a child. I'll give FL a vote, but I'll take Hawaii. Good luck to all you guys. May this winter be a gentle one.

PJack,

I hear you. Thanks for the vote:) Have a good day.