Polar Vortex Jan 2025 - Are you preparing your palms?

January 22

It's crazy how warm south Florida is against the rest of the continent and even northern Florida. It's exceptionally warm even by the mildest of European standards. Obviously the majority of Europe is at higher latitude, but that makes your cold blasts even more extraordinary down there. The winters are so much milder in Europe, generally speaking. But then you've got south Florida lol.

Current real time temperatures...

January 22

11 minutes ago, DAVEinMB said:

David is not happy.

I would be very careful not to trust the Weather Channel - they are known to hype snow BIG TIME.

The local NWS in Wilmington is calling for 3 to 5 inches for the Myrtle Beach area:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
417 PM EST Tue Jan 21 2025

NCZ087-096-099-105>110-SCZ017-023-024-032-033-039-054>056-058-059-
220900-
/O.CON.KILM.WS.W.0001.250122T0200Z-250122T1300Z/
Robeson-Bladen-Columbus-Inland Pender-Coastal Pender-Inland New
Hanover-Coastal New Hanover-Inland Brunswick-Coastal Brunswick-
Marlboro-Darlington-Dillon-Florence-Marion-Williamsburg-Coastal
Horry-Inland Georgetown-Coastal Georgetown-Central Horry-Northern
Horry-

* WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 2 and
  4 inches with locally higher amounts possible. Total snow
  accumulations between 3 and 5 inches near the coast with locally
  higher amounts possible.

January 22

4 hours ago, Xenon said:

This cold mass is not that cold. This is not one of those Siberian-express 80s type freezes. This is like a perfect alignment of decent cold and moisture to create a snowstorm. The nail in the coffin comes from the radiational freeze magnified by all of the accumulating snow.

Dallas is forecast to be warmer than Houston tonight, Shreveport warmer than Baton Ruoge, etc so the underlying cold mass is not that cold. It's the wretched snow.

4 hours ago, ahosey01 said:

Things aren't looking awful for Pensacola the way they are for LA so far. 6" of snow sucks, but as far as temps go it looks like the model consensus is 20-21F overnight low which is consistent with 9A temps. Not a generational freeze there. Definitely a generational freeze in Louisiana, though.

The dewpoints are the real problem, regardless of snow.

Lots of snow falls on the western Japanese coast, given how the Sea of Japan interacts with the cold Siberian anticyclonic winds. Yet, you can see that the record lows are quite mild. Likely because being on an island limits continentality ... and the associated low dewpoints.
Tōkamachi - Wikipedia

Houston was fortunate enough to get a good bit of sunshine for a good bit of snow melt. So that should limit radiational cooling, both via less reflexivity, as well as dynamics with more water abound (and latent heat influences in atmosphere regarding moisture). Additionally, winds in Texas are switching to southerly, preventing cold advection (and the lower dewpoint air). So, it'd be a long durational cold night, but temps should stay within 20s (verify with dewpoints).

But, for Louisiana through Florida Panhandle, they got all the snowfall ... but the storm (and/or cloud cover) persisted throughout the day, preventing any warm up. And when clouds finally clear? Just so happened to be sundown, so nothing to melt the snow (much). But all this is coming in addition to the movement of the cold high pressure, which would affect drier (lower dewpoint air).

The main problem in Louisiana is that the cold advection already had been occurring, and clearing would simply enhance radiational cooling. The areas eastward like Alabama and Florida Panhandle are still closer to the storm, so still might have the lingering higher dewpoints/cloud cover — but, if clearing (and cold advection) happen fast enough, then Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida Panhandle will be just as impacted as Louisiana.

The latest HRRR shows what I'm talking about. Look at how the low dewpoint air disappears over Texas ... but makes the move to the Gulf states eastward.

January 22

Looking at Wunderground. Appears some mid 20s just south of Houston? Already in the teens around Lafayette Louisiana

3F here right now

January 22

The Polar Vortex has finally made me see below 0 temperatures

January 22

Close to 10" in Daphne!

Roughly 9" in Enterprise, 8" in Fairhope.

Gulf Shores and the Panhandle just look bizzare with all the snow.

@Manalto How did you fair down there?

We didn't get so much as a flake here.

January 22

16 minutes ago, UK_Palms said:

It's crazy how warm south Florida is against the rest of the continent and even northern Florida. It's exceptionally warm even by the mildest of European standards. Obviously the majority of Europe is at higher latitude, but that makes your cold blasts even more extraordinary down there. The winters are so much milder in Europe, generally speaking. But then you've got south Florida lol.

Current real time temperatures...

That's because the upper-level trough associated with the current USA cold outbreak was positively-tilted (e.g. SW-NE orientation). The resultant movement of the low pressure system spares peninsular Florida from high pressure impacts.

In contrast, a negatively-tilted trough (NW-SE orientation) would definitely drive cold temperatures down the peninsula.

1 minute ago, LakeEriePalms said:

Looking at Wunderground. Appears some mid 20s just south of Houston? Already in the teens around Lafayette Louisiana

3F here right now

It will all come down to dewpoints. Those areas south of Houston won't get to teens as long as their dewpoints remain 20°F+ through the night.

January 22

41 minutes ago, UK_Palms said:

It's crazy how warm south Florida is against the rest of the continent and even northern Florida. It's exceptionally warm even by the mildest of European standards. Obviously the majority of Europe is at higher latitude, but that makes your cold blasts even more extraordinary down there. The winters are so much milder in Europe, generally speaking. But then you've got south Florida lol.

Current real time temperatures...

I live in Fort Lauderdale at the bottom of the fl peninsula. Our january avg temps are warmer than the warmest part of england in july lol. 76/61F is our january averages. I have mango trees and 11 coconut palm trees in my yard. Huge massive mango trees. The gulf stream protects us as well as jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean in very warm water. Europe has warmed must faster than the US in terms of climate change. I remember some brutal cold winters hitting Europe in the 80's.

January 22

Got a foot of snow here after it’s all said and done. Low of 15 tonight. 3-4 more days of freezing temps.
I’m trying not to cry over my 4 fruiting butia x parajubaea

biggest question for me is do I replant native and give up or go for the tropicalesque thing again?

January 22

51 minutes ago, _nevi said:

The dewpoints are the real problem, regardless of snow.

But, for Louisiana through Florida Panhandle, they got all the snowfall ... but the storm (and/or cloud cover) persisted throughout the day, preventing any warm up. And when clouds finally clear? Just so happened to be sundown, so nothing to melt the snow (much). But all this is coming in addition to the movement of the cold high pressure, which would affect drier (lower dewpoint air).

The main problem in Louisiana is that the cold advection already had been occurring, and clearing would simply enhance radiational cooling. The areas eastward like Alabama and Florida Panhandle are still closer to the storm, so still might have the lingering higher dewpoints/cloud cover — but, if clearing (and cold advection) happen fast enough, then Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida Panhandle will be just as impacted as Louisiana.

The latest HRRR shows what I'm talking about. Look at how the low dewpoint air disappears over Texas ... but makes the move to the Gulf states eastward.

Admittedly, I have not been up in the FL Panhandle in several years, so I don’t really know what grows there, and how much this cold snap/snow/sleet will impact things.

Looking at Highway 98 (used to go to Dauphin Island on this route from St. Augustine years ago), last time I was there (and checking google maps tonight), most of the palms look like typical cold hardy 8a/9a type stuff, noting too tropical or sensitive to cold temps/brief snow. I with the warming temps in the coming days, (Thru and Fri in the 40’s F, and nearing 60 F by Sunday) I would think these more cold hardy palms will be fine.

January 22

New Braunfels, TX Updates

Tracked Temperatures for Outdoors and Three Palms.

Snowy, Cold, Palm Photos…

January 22

Well, we held out all day but now temps appear to be falling quickly. It was 34F at sundown but it is 29F now without any wind and no cloud cover whatsoever with 10 hours to go before sunrise. Expecting we might hit 24F tonight in Brownsville - possibly lower. If that turns out, most of my garden will be dead, since most of it is new plantings and has not had more than a growing season to establish.

Plant on!

January 22

Finally getting sleet here in Savannah hopefully the sun will melt it all in the morning

January 22

It's 30F already in west Houston at 9 pm. Its going to be a loooong and nerve racking 10 hours 😭

And it's 22F in McComb, MS... on track to 11F! Not too many palms around here though...a few Sabal palmetto and the occasional Washingtonia mutt and Butia.

January 22

7 minutes ago, ahosey01 said:

Well, we held out all day but now temps appear to be falling quickly. It was 34F at sundown but it is 29F now without any wind and no cloud cover whatsoever with 10 hours to go before sunrise. Expecting we might hit 24F tonight in Brownsville - possibly lower. If that turns out, most of my garden will be dead, since most of it is new plantings and has not had more than a growing season to establish.

Plant on!

I said that earlier and was told it was not getting anywhere near that. DAmage is coming to the citrus industry down there. This is a very cold outbreak despite lack of snow cover.

January 22

2 minutes ago, Robbertico18 said:

Finally getting sleet here in Savannah hopefully the sun will melt it all in the morning

your coldest will be tomorrow night. And if there is a lot of snow cover it will get very very cold.

January 22

5 minutes ago, Xenon said:

It's 30F already in west Houston at 9 pm. Its going to be a loooong and nerve racking 10 hours 😭

And it's 22F in McComb, MS... on track to 11F! Not too many palms around here though...a few Sabal palmetto and the occasional Washingtonia mutt and Butia.

Are there a lot of palms in Houma? Houma is south of New Orleans. their latest NWS forecast is a low of 13F and a high of 31F tomorrow. Queens won't survive that. Dont think many washingtonia will either. not sure about cidp. lot of dead palms there for sure.

January 22

8 minutes ago, Xenon said:

It's 30F already in west Houston at 9 pm. Its going to be a loooong and nerve racking 10 hours 😭

And it's 22F in McComb, MS... on track to 11F! Not too many palms around here though...a few Sabal palmetto and the occasional Washingtonia mutt and Butia.

deep south Louisiana seems to be in trouble temp wise.

January 22

On 1/20/2025 at 5:16 PM, ahosey01 said:

This is correct I sold my place in Arizona and wound up in Brownsville on accident. Glad I did - I'll die here. Texas is the greatest country in the world. 🤭

Love this comment !

T J

January 22

7 hours ago, MarcusH said:

Since Jonathan provided some old data from the past I'm curious about the existence about palm trees in the regions along the Gulf of America (? , eh what lol) and states that are connected to those gulf states, 100 plus years ago. What type of palms could be grown( if any) ? I would assume that it all started at the coastal areas, then palms were moved further inland . Any history about it ? I understand that a lot of palms that we see in palmy regions where brought in from other states or even countries. I also assume that Sabal palms were the only one species growing before 19th century along the Gulf Coast. Just an assumption. Any data about that ?

I’m not sure about the gulf coast, but I understand that most of the Phoenix Dactylifera palms planted in Las Vegas in the 90s were shipped in from somewhere in Africa in bulk. Many of the commercial plantings along the Las Vegas strip today are from this era. This made pricing affordable enough that many developments off the strip included mature (30’-50’) palms in their plans. Rumor has it that the original bulk shipment was infested with rats.

January 22

Okay so for all the weather people on here can you explain this to me ? ....

We were at 36F-37F most of the afternoon, then dropped slowly to 34F at sundown. Once the sun went down, between 7 and 9, we dropped from 34F to 29F. There is no wind whatosever, and no cloud cover.

Based on my fairly limited understanding, this would be a radiative event and it would have to continue to drop throughout the night. After all, there is no cloud cover and no wind.

However, starting at 9, we have now begun to go up in temp and are back at 32F-33F.

How does this happen when there is no cloud cover and no wind?

January 22

Ugh, looks like the teens for me. Already hitting 20F and its only 10 PM... I am afraid to look when I wake up!

I found an electric sock warmer. I am going out at midnight to place them under the cover of my satsuma and young Canariensis.

January 22

5 minutes ago, NMPalmjunky said:

I’m not sure about the gulf coast, but I understand that most of the Phoenix Dactylifera palms planted in Las Vegas in the 90s were shipped in from somewhere in Africa in bulk. Many of the commercial plantings along the Las Vegas strip today are from this era. This made pricing affordable enough that many developments off the strip included mature (30’-50’) palms in their plans. Rumor has it that the original bulk shipment was infested with rats.

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Chances are you’ve seen this nasty pest in your neighborhood: rats. In recent years, “roof rats” were brought in on palm or fruit trees, with first sightings reported in the Spanish Trail development in the late ’90s.

https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/las-vegas-valley-experiencing-problems-with-growing-rat-population/

January 22

22 minutes ago, NMPalmjunky said:

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Chances are you’ve seen this nasty pest in your neighborhood: rats. In recent years, “roof rats” were brought in on palm or fruit trees, with first sightings reported in the Spanish Trail development in the late ’90s.

https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/las-vegas-valley-experiencing-problems-with-growing-rat-population/

have them in broward county here in south FL. they love areca palms and I have loads of those. yuk I hear them scurrying around in them at night.

January 22

30 minutes ago, ahosey01 said:

Okay so for all the weather people on here can you explain this to me ? ....

We were at 36F-37F most of the afternoon, then dropped slowly to 34F at sundown. Once the sun went down, between 7 and 9, we dropped from 34F to 29F. There is no wind whatosever, and no cloud cover.

Based on my fairly limited understanding, this would be a radiative event and it would have to continue to drop throughout the night. After all, there is no cloud cover and no wind.

However, starting at 9, we have now begun to go up in temp and are back at 32F-33F.

How does this happen when there is no cloud cover and no wind?

this is a good thing. they upped the temp forecast for McAllen also to 27F for a low.

January 22

If anyone had "McAllen as cold as Amarillo" on their 2025 bingo card give me a holler and you can have my life savings to bet on whatever you want as long as I can keep half your profits.

January 22

4 hours ago, UK_Palms said:

The winters are so much milder in Europe

No, they aren’t. The average winter temperatures, for example, in San Antonio TX are higher than anywhere on the European continent. The only place close is possibly Seville, Spain, and SATX is still slightly warmer on average.

If you’re talking strictly the 3 days in winter that have the severe arctic blast, I might be inclined to agree with you. 80F/27C is quite common in every months of winter in south central Texas

San Antonio had a high temperature of 89F/32C as recently as Dec 30th. Where in Europe has in been 32C within the past 3 weeks?

January 22

1 hour ago, NBTX11 said:

No, they aren’t. The average winter temperatures, for example, in San Antonio TX are higher than anywhere on the European continent. The only place close is possibly Seville, Spain, and SATX is still slightly warmer on average.

If you’re talking strictly the 3 days in winter that have the severe arctic blast, I might be inclined to agree with you. 80F/27C is quite common in every months of winter in south central Texas

San Antonio had a high temperature of 89F/32C as recently as Dec 30th. Where in Europe has in been 32C within the past 3 weeks?

I agree with you that the average winter temps in the SE US are warmer than Europe. But in terms of those severe arctic blasts that can completely change the vegetative landscape I agree with him. they rarely if ever get those zone busting blasts that North America gets.

January 22

1 hour ago, NBTX11 said:

No, they aren’t. The average winter temperatures, for example, in San Antonio TX are higher than anywhere on the European continent. The only place close is possibly Seville, Spain, and SATX is still slightly warmer on average.

If you’re talking strictly the 3 days in winter that have the severe arctic blast, I might be inclined to agree with you. 80F/27C is quite common in every months of winter in south central Texas

San Antonio had a high temperature of 89F/32C as recently as Dec 30th. Where in Europe has in been 32C within the past 3 weeks?

No our winters in Europe are not as mild if you look at average temperatures. definitely not in north west europe (UK, Netherlands, Belguim). While our minimum temperatures are ok the daytime temperatures can stay below 10°C for weeks on end and together with lots of rain and cold humid air this makes that we can not grow many of the Z9 palms in our Z9. This Januari is a very cold one so far, Minimum temps are ok, -2°C has been the lowest so far but daytime temperatures has stayed far below avarege. Last couple of days we hovered between 0°C and +4°C. We have 3 months during winter where there is a chance for very cold weather During a normal winter we have 1 or 2 sometimes 3 periods where it can get below freezing in the night for 1 or 2 weeks with minima of -5/-6 and daytime temperatures that stay below 8°C and sometimes 1 or 2 days that it stays below 0°C for 24hours but those days are getting much rarer each winter and so far it has been 2 years since we had an "iceday". But there is also always a chance we get a winter that stays below 0°C for more then a week like we had in 2010. During such events temperatures can drop below -10°C with maxima of only -5°C in the day and with spring so far away for recovery it kills many palms.

My garden is in Coastal Belguim, We have mostley Z9 winters when it comes to minimum temperatures but not many Z9 palms can grow here long term. My minimum since 2012 has been around -8°C. Climate change is a thing, definitely up here but I still believe we can have a horror winter like we had in 2010 or like those in the 80's... in 1963 the sea even froze solid for a few miles!!!

Also our summer temperatures are much lower then most places in the US and this also limits what we can grow up here. Many of the Z9 palms need a long period of hot weather to grow good and show good resistance to freezing events. Nannorrhops for example does not grow up here...

January 22

22 minutes ago, kristof p said:

No our winters in Europe are not as mild if you look at average temperatures. definitely not in north west europe (UK, Netherlands, Belguim). While our minimum temperatures are ok the daytime temperatures can stay below 10°C for weeks on end and together with lots of rain and cold humid air this makes that we can not grow many of the Z9 palms in our Z9. This Januari is a very cold one so far, Minimum temps are ok, -2°C has been the lowest so far but daytime temperatures has stayed far below avarege. Last couple of days we hovered between 0°C and +4°C. We have 3 months during winter where there is a chance for very cold weather During a normal winter we have 1 or 2 sometimes 3 periods where it can get below freezing in the night for 1 or 2 weeks with minima of -5/-6 and daytime temperatures that stay below 8°C and sometimes 1 or 2 days that it stays below 0°C for 24hours but those days are getting much rarer each winter and so far it has been 2 years since we had an "iceday". But there is also always a chance we get a winter that stays below 0°C for more then a week like we had in 2010. During such events temperatures can drop below -10°C with maxima of only -5°C in the day and with spring so far away for recovery it kills many palms.

My garden is in Coastal Belguim, We have mostley Z9 winters when it comes to minimum temperatures but not many Z9 palms can grow here long term. My minimum since 2012 has been around -8°C. Climate change is a thing, definitely up here but I still believe we can have a horror winter like we had in 2010 or like those in the 80's... in 1963 the sea even froze solid for a few miles!!!

Also our summer temperatures are much lower then most places in the US and this also limits what we can grow up here. Many of the Z9 palms need a long period of hot weather to grow good and show good resistance to freezing events. Nannorrhops for example does not grow up here...

This whole comparison is apples and oranges. San Antonio would be somewhere in Morocco and not even in Europe. You will have to compare places at the same latitude else it doesn't make any sense.

January 22

The garden in W Houston is hanging on to the 20s as of 4AM...21F and 22F at the two nearest Davis stations. 21F at both IAH and Hobby. Don't think it's going to hold out to sunrise though :(((((

Absolutely gruesome scene out of Lafayette....still 3 hours till sunrise. Look at those single digits unreal. This is zone 9 on the usda map. Wow. Might go on to smash the record low of 6F in 1899 (!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

January 22

3 hours ago, NBTX11 said:

No, they aren’t. The average winter temperatures, for example, in San Antonio TX are higher than anywhere on the European continent. The only place close is possibly Seville, Spain, and SATX is still slightly warmer on average.

If you’re talking strictly the 3 days in winter that have the severe arctic blast, I might be inclined to agree with you. 80F/27C is quite common in every months of winter in south central Texas

San Antonio had a high temperature of 89F/32C as recently as Dec 30th. Where in Europe has in been 32C within the past 3 weeks?

You might want to re-read what I said. I didn’t make any reference to Texas or even the USA specifically. I was talking about the North American continent in general being so much colder in winter compared to Europe. The extent of the cold in North America is ridiculous compared to Europe when it gets properly cold. And then there is loads of cold that can just barrage down south into the lower portions of the continent, like what is happening now.

Relevant to latitude it is much milder over here in Europe during winter. Given just how much further north we are. They’ve just had -40C / -40F in Minnesota. It’s hard to even imagine -30C / -22F happening in Poland nowadays. And Poland is at a slightly higher latitude! The only other point I made is about just how warm south Florida is and how well it is fairing during this cold blast.

Like you’re not wrong about the points you make and just how warm Texas is in general 95% of the year, but that doesn’t change the fact that North America in general will turn into one giant ice box in winter, generally speaking, away from say the Pacific and south Florida coasts, and the RGV. The Scottish Highlands at 58N latitude recently recorded the coldest UK temperature in 4 years with -18.9C / -2F, but that is going to be matched or eclipsed by parts of southern Louisiana at 29-30N. A difference of 28 degrees of latitude, but the same minimums.

January 22

2 hours ago, Xenon said:

The garden in W Houston is hanging on to the 20s as of 4AM...21F and 22F at the two nearest Davis stations. 21F at both IAH and Hobby. Don't think it's going to hold out to sunrise though :(((((

Absolutely gruesome scene out of Lafayette....still 3 hours till sunrise. Look at those single digits unreal. This is zone 9 on the usda map. Wow. Might go on to smash the record low of 6F in 1899 (!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

5F there now

18-20F across Houston

single digits in southern Alabama and Florida panhandle as well

January 22

Pensacola absolutely freezing… single digits F a few miles inland…

Temps in centigrade (C)…

Approaching 0F in coldest part of Florida now…

January 22

Sunrise is an hour away and so far we bottom out at 25°F today in NE San Antonio. Inside loop 410 should be warmer. The danger is over for now . San Antonio has performed better than Houston , LA and Northwest Florida so far. This is still a long stretch of cold weather but in our area nothing severe at all. All palms should be in good shape . I'll check our neighbors CIDP in a few days. The ultimate low during the artic storm was 25.2°F measured at the Randolph Air Force Base weather station. NWS predicted our lows to low. AccuWeather app had actually more accurate predictions within 24 hours .

January 22

4 hours ago, Marco67 said:

This whole comparison is apples and oranges. San Antonio would be somewhere in Morocco and not even in Europe. You will have to compare places at the same latitude else it doesn't make any sense.

Sorry Kristof I meant to quote NBTX11

No, they aren’t. The average winter temperatures, for example, in San Antonio TX are higher than anywhere on the European continent. The only place close is possibly Seville, Spain, and SATX is still slightly warmer on average.

If you’re talking strictly the 3 days in winter that have the severe arctic blast, I might be inclined to agree with you. 80F/27C is quite common in every months of winter in south central Texas

San Antonio had a high temperature of 89F/32C as recently as Dec 30th. Where in Europe has in been 32C within the past 3 weeks?

January 22

Just got home from working nights in Texas City where the temps were still in the 20s. Just checked my weather station and it's a frigid 15° I'm expecting everything that got zero protection will end up spear pulling at the minimum =/ Hopefully not Palmageddon 2.0

T J

January 22

I know what you are saying @UK_Palms, the fact that the mountain ranges of the NA continent run north-south along both coasts leaves us open to disastrous cold air. Across the vast Great Plains there is absolutely no topographical impediment to the frigid air that can get funneled down far into the subtropics. In Europe the Alps run east-west which blocks the bitter cold found towards the pole from being able to penetrate into southern Europe.

If the US had a large mountain range that ran from Colorado to Georgia, there would be coconut palms all along the gulf coast. It would be solidly subtropical. Not that you couldn’t still get a freeze, but it couldn’t get to -2F like it did west of Lafayette, Louisiana this morning. Also rainfall would be much higher as the mountains would give a lifting mechanism to form thunderstorms all along the chain.

Of course having such a mountain range would be detrimental to the US’s “bread basket”. The center of the country would be a dust bowl, a rain shadow on three sides.

January 22

3 minutes ago, ChrisA said:

I know what you are saying @UK_Palms, the fact that the mountain ranges of the NA continent run north-south along both coasts leaves us open to disastrous cold air. Across the vast Great Plains there is absolutely no topographical impediment to the frigid air that can get funneled down far into the subtropics. In Europe the Alps run east-west which blocks the bitter cold found towards the pole from being able to penetrate into southern Europe.

If the US had a large mountain range that ran from Colorado to Georgia, there would be coconut palms all along the gulf coast. It would be solidly subtropical. Not that you couldn’t still get a freeze, but it couldn’t get to -2F like it did west of Lafayette, Louisiana this morning. Also rainfall would be much higher as the mountains would give a lifting mechanism to form thunderstorms all along the chain.

Of course having such a mountain range would be detrimental to the US’s “bread basket”. The center of the country would be a dust bowl, a rain shadow on three sides.

Exactly, it's the way our terrain is shaped . Mountain ranges play a huge role in climate but still I don't know why we need to compare Europe to America, it makes me feel there's some kind of bashing/competition meaning behind.

Obviously there's no thermostat to control our temperatures. If mother nature want Pensacola to get down to minus 30 degrees then there is nothing we can do about it. To my English palm growers there is absolutely no guarantee for you guys that you will never experience a complete palm wipe out. It might not happen in your lifetime but climate changes and it always had from warm cycles to cold cycles. Be happy if you can grow any and enjoy while it lasts. Also I want to point out that London is huge and over the decades it created a gigantic UHI. Without the tall buildings London would be quite a few degrees colder. This is not a competition guys. I lived 40 years in Germany I know how cold it gets inland and further east of Germany I'm not even going to mention Norway, Sweden and Finland that are also part of Europe.

January 22

Low of 19F in W Houston, dipped below 20F around 6 AM. Well it's not 15 or 16F...I'll take the W. I'm expecting heavy damage but there's still a chance for my unprotected stuff.

Let the warmup begin!

WELCOME GUEST

Polar Vortex Jan 2025 - Are you preparing your palms?

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