Lets talk weather !

January came in here like a lion, but now looks and acts like a lamb, nice and gentle. We got some deep frost on/around Jan 6, 7 .. down to 16F. Wow ! that was cold in deep south.

Here is our current out look.

Sey

Over the weekend, we survived the ice apocalypse; which by the way turned out to be a non event in my part of the country. We are located 35 miles south of Kansas City on the Kansas side. Smack dab in the middle of the US where all the WX comes together. We experience the extremes of cold, hot, ice, wind .... etc. Looking on the map, I guess we're forecasted to be "normal" for the first (3) months of 2017. The 10 day forecast is showing high 40s to mid 50s for us.

Same as KFG. Thankfully we didn't get much out of the ice storm here either. Maybe 1/8" of ice. I am about the same distance from downtown KC as she is but I am south east of the city on the Missouri side.

Stay safe. You bring back memories of my youth. One winter around Christmas I was in KC. There was lots of snow and very cold. I went to college in Emporia KS, two semesters. It was ok. Then I transferred to Memphis, TN. Down there winters were very mild. I have also lived in Joplin , MO for couple of years. Those were the days. So I know your area pretty good.

Sey

Emporia State? Hornets? Emporia is about 75 miles southwest of me. So you know from experience that we have the WX extremes.

Shell

Fairly mild for us. Next month will be starting some seeds.

Our weather is never a constant here along the Front Range of Colorado. This morning was 12º at my house, this afternoon it's close to 50º. Along with much of the western U.S., we can have diurnal temperature ranges that are further apart than many places in the eastern half of the country see in an entire winter season. I've seen swings of as much as 60º-70º in 24-36 hours, with 40º-50º diurnal ranges very common. We can thank the extremely dry air and high altitude for that.

I never put my cart before the horse, regardless of long-range forecasts. I seed start a few things now, a few things in February, start my spring greens and radishes in March, start tomatoes and transplant fruit plants (strawberries, trees, etc.) in early April before they wake up, and then transplant summer veggies outdoors in mid-late May. Each spring presents all types of issues, but most are remedied with a close eye on the short-term forecasts and having protective materials at the ready and plans in place. We're usually safe from cold once we get past May 25th or so, but then we're right in the middle of hail season, so we never really get too comfy. I'm glad it's just a hobby for me and not a living. The stress would've killed me in the first 10 minutes my first season.

It is a big country , isn't it !

Even though I am in deep south, we are not out of woods by mid April. That is almost the same as cool PNW. A little further south, there is no such a thing as frost (normally). We get a lot of cold wind coming down from north and northeast.

Any way, I do adventure a little for excitement. That is why 50% of my tomatoes should germinate in a couple of days along with peppers, and eggplants, For the other 50% I will wait 3 more weeks. So if I loose the first batch, I will have the second batch.

LAST UP TO THE MINUTE: currently at 7:30 pm, it is 56F outside.

Sey

Hard into winter here on the inland desert side of the Sierras. Another big storm bearing down. At least this one is cold enough to be snow so we can hopefully not have flooding again. Supposed to get anywhere from 8 to 18 inches of snow by Monday, which could be the biggest daily snowfall we've had in years. And then the skies will clear and the cold will set in and we'll be down to teens, maybe single digits for lows, maybe reaching freezing for highs. So, January. Good time to look at seed catalogs, but kind of a bust garden-wise.

We continue having mild weather so far. My veggies sown in the garden ( chives, scallions, parsley, cilantro ) are sprouting slowly. Of course they are cool crops. I will wait couple of weeks to plant some lettuce and peas.

I am looking at our 15 days forecast. There will be just 3 nights with lows going down to 32-30F. Day highs be be mostly in 55F to 65F range. That sounds like spring weather to me , in the middle of winter.

I wish you a nice weather.

Sey