Winter Weather

[Robert]

I think prolonged frost and wet does our wild plants more harm. A good covering of snow protects the plants, especially alpines in the upland areas.

My observations concurs with yours, our California native plants seem to be harmed by prolonged below freezing temperatures without snow cover (alpine species). I have been watching this on Peavine Ridge this winter. Wet may, or may not, be harmful. Extreme cold with low humidity (dry winds) is often very harmful without protective snow cover.

[Leena]

There is one more factor - desiccating effect of sun on wintergreens (or early/prematurely growing bulbs) during frosty periods.

You are right about that, and I have to give shade artifically to some of the rhododendrons, and also roses (though I don't have many of them). Stems of alba and gallica roses have to be covered when the ground is frozen and sun is shining, like now, otherwise they dry too much and die.
In my south west side of Finland we have maybe 15 to 20cm snow right now (perhaps 30cm at the most this winter), but in middle and eastern Finland there is a lot of snow, around one meter. Last night minimun was -13C.

[Harald-Alex.]

the second Snow-winter in march 2018! Very unusual, also for Eastgermany! Today started the beast of the east again with 5 cm snow!
The snowdropgarden covered white, so that I hope, there will no damages! See some fotos:

[ian mcdonald]

Cold wind and snow flurries here. Unusual for this time of year in our area.

[Hoy]

Almost no wind but strong sun from a sky devoid of clouds! The night was very cold though and the soil is frozen. All the plants suffer without snow cover.

[Robert]

Here in Northern California, the stormy weather continues with below average temperatures and low snow levels. This is good news for us. As I write there is strong convective cloudiness and thunderstorms are developing. I better get off the internet for now.

[Robert]

Moist subtropical air is flowing into California. The high temperature in Sacramento today was 68 F, 20 C! The brunt of the moisture plume is flowing into Southern California where more mud/debris flows are expected. In the Sierra Nevada, there is snow only above 8,000-9,000 feet, 2,438 m to 2,743 m. On Peavine Ridge, 5,126 feet, 1,562 meters, it was 47 F, 8.3 C this afternoon, with a light rain falling. There was still 65 cm of very wet heavy snow on the ground. Heavy rain is expected this evening and tomorrow before there is some cold air advection and snow levels drop. Despite the dry conditions, there could be some localized flooding with an event like this. We will see how the next few days pan out.

[Hoy]

We are expecting the 3rd wave of very cold air from east next week. The possibility for severe flooding in May and June increases as the snow continues to accumulate in the mountains as no melting occurs.

[Robert]

22 March 2018

It was a wild weather day today in Northern California. The cold air advection never arrived and we stayed under the subtropical moisture plume. For a short time between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. rainfall rates ran in the 25 mm/hr. range. We had widespread localized flash flooding. The main county road and access to the El Dorado County farm flooded, with much rock and debris on the roadway. The main highway in our region was partly closed due to rock/mud/debris flows. At around 11:00 a.m. we were hit again with intense thunderstorms with brief periods of intense rain in the 25 mm/hr range. The was more flash flooding.

In the Sierra Nevada Mountains intense rain fell on the snow pack. At Loon Lake, elevation 6,400 feet (1,951 meters), the temperature never dropped below 0 C. Tomorrow I will check to see how much of the snow pack has melted. Flooding due to melting snow continues into the evening.

Late Friday into Saturday, the cold air mass is forecast to arrive with heavy snowfall in the Sierra Nevada and low snow levels.  Beyond this point, the forecast is for warm spring weather to arrive. This type of weather in typical for this part of California this time of year.

[ian mcdonald]

It is mild here today with outbreaks of sun.

[David Nicholson]

Well, it is Spring.......... isn't it?

[ian mcdonald]

Can we have it in writing David?

[Maggi Young]

Can we have it in writing David?

I tried to get it in writing, Ian - the  cold rain kept  washing off the ink! 

[David Nicholson]

 

[Maggi Young]

In defense of the North East of Scotland, it was  lovely  - yesterday!   Warm sunshine which opened all the bulbs - snowdrops, eranthis and crocus were looking  wonderful  -  in fact  Aberdeen city was  nearly the warmest place in the country -  then, just as we were all getting excited about Spring, the cold wind returned and there  has been a lot of icy wind blowing today.  While to go before  real Spring, I think!