Zone Changes

[BobbyinNY]

I usually like to see a pattern before I say that I really think zones are changing, but for the past 3 years in a row, we've had some of the warmest winters on record.. Last year the temps didn't get below 8f (and only 2x) and this year so far they haven't gotten below 11f - and most of the nighttime lows have been in the high 20's - low 30's - which would technically put us in a zone 8.  Today it's a balmy 59f, and all the flowers are poking out of the ground.  I'm just wondering if other people across the country are noticing the same thing.

[www.dadluvsu.com]

Bobby I have definately noticed a warm winter down here....  Only a couple spotty nights of cold weather here...  Usually we have at least a week or two of what we consider cold....  I can judge the heat by my FPL bills cause my a/c has stayed on all but a few nights this year.  :*(

[NBTX11]

Been warm most of the winter here.  No lows below 26F and just a small handful of frosts/freezes.

Avg high in Feb has been 75F so far, things are blooming and budding out.  My Washingtonias are on their 2nd or 3rd fronds this month after being mostly dormant in Jan.

[Cristóbal]

for people on pacific coast from california usa south to jalisco méxico (puerto vallarta) this is the most cold winter in 30 years. when theres strong la niña or el niño en the pacific ocean we have big affects.  

but weathers one thing and climates other thing. i say look at 50 years of records of the weather to see whats the zone. few years of warm/cold winters wont change the zone only some changes for many years can do this.

we all wish to have a better zone !  

[spockvr6]

This past winter has definitely been on the cool side over here.  In addition to a night below freezing, there have been alot of cooler than normal days and far more nights into the 30's than I recall happening since Ive been paying attention.

[freakypalmguy]

That's interesting, we have been having colder than normal temps the last two years in CA. Hope for your sake it is a trend for you all in the North East but not for us. We just want it to go away over here.

Take care,

Matt

[Jason in Orlando]

We have been much warmer than average, especially in February.  It was slightly warmer than average in January, despite one day with a high below 50 and one night below freezing (31F).  Late January had several days in a row below average, but only slightly.  February has felt more like March.  But don't take my word for it...

Click here for Central Florida climatology

Jason

[SunnyFl]

(PiousPalms @ Feb. 18 2008,12:41)

QUOTE

Bobby I have definately noticed a warm winter down here....  Only a couple spotty nights of cold weather here...  Usually we have at least a week or two of what we consider cold....  I can judge the heat by my FPL bills cause my a/c has stayed on all but a few nights this year.  :*(

Maybe it's just me, but gosh, it's been so warm!  Spent part of the weekend in Naples, thinking it was awfully hot there.... and when we got home it was just as hot here.  

I have the A/C running right now, as I have most of the so-called "winter," and really haven't noticed much cold.  I even planted a bottle - in January! - and it seems happy enough.

Allamanda bloomed right through January into February till I dug it up, and one Calypso Adenium is still flowering.

[spockvr6]

If one looks at the monthly averages, things are close to normal.

January 2008 - Tampa Avg High - 72F, Average low 53F.

Long Term January Averages - 70/52.

January 2008 - St. Petersburg Avg High - 69F, Average low 55F

Long Term January Averages - 69/54.

[BobbyinNY]

Well, we finally got our first snowstorm - but it was a wintry mix with alot of rain/sleet mixed in - the temps were hovering around 34, so it's definitely a mess, but with the forecast into the mid-high 40's by tomorrow, it should melt pretty quickly.. Still no real arctic cold on the horizon... C'mon spring..

[Jim in Los Altos]

It's definitely been a cooler winter here but at the same time not colder than normal. My lowest night time temperature this year was 34F. We almost always have a couple of nights when it goes down to freezing, which knocks down my bananas, cannas, etc. This year the bananas are nice and green and the rest of the garden looks as it did before winter set in.

[gsytch]

I think that, except for a few cold snaps in between nice weather, this winter has been fairly mild. Feb has been up and down. Days in a row near 80F or above, even humid, followed by a quick cold snap in the 30's/low 40's quickly recovering to near 80F. I am worried more about Fri morning with clear skies, low humidity and a mopist ground from todays' rains. The moisture can form frost with mid 30's (my back yard is still quite open). My front will be fine no matter what. If only for that one freeze in January we would have been scot-free.....oh well, that is central florida in winter, I guess. Now pray for anything over 35F and I am fine. After waking up to 70F this morning, low to middle 30's will be a shock to everything! Greg in wet NPR (nearly 2" of rain since the weeeknd)