Mildest Bay Area winter in my lifetime.

7 years ago

With a 37f as coldest night of the season..that is the mildest yearly low in my lifetime..six decades worth. For awhile it looked like we might not drop below 40f. I walk around the yard and it's the first time I've seen untouched by frost banana leaves. Ti plants..big leafed Wigandia. Not a touch of frost. Brugmansia Charles Grimaldi...like a coastal location. In bloom all winter.

I'm not sure on the rest of the state.

I think the growth of the bay area is "Los Angelizing" the bay area's climate. That is..lows in winter are being beaten back by all those chimneys so to speak.

If you like the tropical look..this year has been fantastic. Next week to be sunny and mid 60's. All that and no drought. Can't ask for more.

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User

7 years ago

I grew up on the peninsula, now live in the South Bay. I agree development has changed our area’s micro climates.

I had family and family friends who were farmers in the area, most of them retired financially secure, selling their land to developers. An uncle in East Palo Alto raised cut flowers and avocados.

Cherries in the Stockton, Lodi area have been suffering from not enough frost days. Some cherry orchards are being replaced by trees with less frost hours requirements, a hybrid from Spain.

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Comments (7)

kcandmilo
7 years ago
I was just thinking of this! I have some tropicals that usually lose all their leaves and this year they are doing just fine! Then again, I thought we had a pretty mild summer too! Nothing got hot enough for my veggie beds and the fog didn't burn off till so late in the morning!

KC
stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area thanked kcandmilo
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chadinlg Zone 9b Los Gatos CA
7 years ago
Things have changed, but I don't think "chimneys" are a factor. Newer housing requirements mean less heat is released from homes than in the 70's when most were barely insulated at all. I also don't miss the smog from all those high polluting 60-70's cars...
stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
Original Author
7 years ago
Sometimes I want to walk around looking up dramatically..gazing at the change of skies and the warm temperatures of a new climate around me without having moved.

I get the feeling its not going back to my young days. Like me.

Crotons on the porch. The only winterizing they've gotten from me.
nancyjane_gardener
7 years ago
I remember in the 60s having some big time frost in town. All the lawns and roofs would be frosty white! We would slide on the ice at the school!

We then moved out to the lowlands in the country and would regularly have our pipes freeze.

Now, back in town for 2 winters and I have yet to see frost in my neighborhood (of course we are right downtown rather than on a creek bed when I origionally lived in town)

This as all within about 10 miles.
stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area thanked nancyjane_gardener
BayAreaTropicals SanJose9b/10a
7 years ago
Then it snows in February Lol. Warmest January followed by coldest February in years. There’s still snow on Mt Hamilton.
stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Well,we didn't stay at mildest ever alone..we tied mildest ever with lows. Still 10b is warmer than average.

February has been brutal cold..but not killing plant cold. Do you know I just cut three rose buds today? It some really nice cultivar I got from Regans like 8 years ago. The wifey loves cut flowers.