data North America Winter 2023-2024 Temperature Screenshots and Data

[kinzyjr]

This thread is meant to house the screenshots and data archives we typically post to preserve real-time data.  With the early season cold snap arriving tonight, now makes a good time to start recording data.  If you're interested in comparing this cool snap to last years, the attached spreadsheet has the minimum recorded during last October's first notable chill.  The dates last year were between October 15th and October 20th.

 

2022_OctoberColdFrontCompare.xlsx

[D. Morrowii]

So far whats forecasted here is very similar to last year. 56 F in Melbourne, I’ll have to look up what my station recorded around that time. 

[flplantguy]

I'm a huge nerd and love these lol.  I'll try to get the section of the nature coast that is usually missed or low resolution if I can.

[D. Morrowii]

57 deg F between 6:00 and 8:00 this AM. 

[kinzyjr]

Lows in the yard ranged from 51.6F to 52.5F, so roughly in lockstep with the airport (52F) this time around in regard to absolute minimum.  The airport seemed to reach its low at around 9am and stayed there until almost noon, whereas my lows were all +/-15 minutes of 7am and it was already 55F by 8:30AM and 60F by 9:30AM.  The milder minimum readings were in the mid-50s at the stations downtown and near Lake Parker.  Last year's event went down to 48F at KLAL, so a little milder than the same event last year.

NOTE: Something I found interesting is that the readings for 7:50PM and 8:50PM are already in the books at 7PM.  Hmmmm....

[flplantguy]

These were taken this morning for the nature coast showing how fast it drops off inland from the coast.  From mid fifties to 39 but mostly mid forties to 50 degrees.  Matches my exposed tempset sensor at 45.5, and the others in the yard go from 45.3 to 53.7 as I type this.  Some are more exposed, but the one under the stairs has the highest temp and the plants with it-but is running 4 degrees higher. Just shows how important placement is, that sensor needs moved.

[kinzyjr]

Got these this morning ~7:30AM :

Apalachicola

Bradenton

Daytona Beach

Fort Pierce

Gainesville:

Inverness

Jacksonville

Key West

Lakeland/Winter Haven

Melbourne

Ocala

Orlando

Panama City

Pensacola

Punta Gorda

Sebring

South Florida

Spring Hill

St. Augustine

Tallahassee

Tampa

The Villages

[D. Morrowii]

I dipped to a comfortable 59.5 last night, err this morning, at 4:10 am. Already hat and a little humid this afternoon.

[kinzyjr]

Ended up with similar readings to @RedRabbit.  Lowest was 50.4F and the highest was 52.1F.  The airport recorded a low of 50F.

For those that like the airport readings, they are attached as a ZIP archive.

20231016_20231018_FL_airports.zip

[SeanK]

Lowest in the ATL this autumn is 41°F (5°C). Cool early this year with no sign of "indian summer". I expect one or two snowfalls given the current trend.

Edited October 19, 2023 by SeanK

[Looking Glass]

Down this way, it dipped into the 60s for a couple of nights, but so far the biggest difference is that the rains seems to have shut off like a light switch.  It just suddenly became pretty dry.   Thrice weekly irrigation season is on.  Weather is more pleasant now for humans though.  

 

Bromeliads are liking these cooler temps better and are coloring up…

Edited October 19, 2023 by Looking Glass

[kinzyjr]

NWS Records for last 4 days are attached.

20231231_obhistory.zip

[D. Morrowii]

The last 7 days attached here. Pretty close to PAFB and as usual a little colder. 45.7 F was the low this a.m. 

[kinzyjr]

2 hours ago, D. Morrowii said:

The last 7 days attached here. Pretty close to PAFB and as usual a little colder. 45.7 F was the low this a.m.

The lowest from October until now has been 43F out in the open yard.  The coconut bed on the south side of the house has bottomed off at 45F.  Thus far the low is in line with the airport, but has happened less often.  Th 4+ inches of rain with the cool weather isn't great for some species, but the Trachycarpus is loving it.  The temperatures and extra winter rain may have contributed to the fungal issues on your Caryota.

[flplantguy]

42 for the low for me and a bunch of inland places all the way down to south Florida.  Nothing unusual at all but I was happy to see the spread was less than the cold at the end of November.  Hopefully this next cold front is just as benign for us here.

[RedRabbit]

USDA’s new zone map classifies a section of SC as 9b and warmer than coastal Georgia. Initially, I thought this was in error. As we get deeper into the winter I’ve seen SC consistently warmer than GA so now I’m beginning to think USDA was correct. 
 

Here are some screenshots I took around 8am this morning.

 

The Charleston area was the warm spot, and not just along the coast.

 

St. Simons and Jekyll hit upper 20s. Interestingly, the buoy off St. Simons was at 28f implying there’s no potential for a stronger microclimate in this area.

Outer Banks NC didn’t hold up this time either.

Here’s Jacksonville for reference. The Charleston area was the warmest spot on the east coast until St. Augustine. 

Edited January 17, 2024 by RedRabbit

[WSimpson]

I just saw this map about how much snow the country has had . As I said , I have had 2" of snow in 6 years here and nothing this winter yet . My lowest Low is 15F so far  . I think the mountains have protected me and NC in general from more serious cold . I have heard crazy things in the way of temperatures and snow  this winter in Tennessee . Anyway , here's a map that I found today . 

 

[RedRabbit]

Microclimates on full display.

[BrunswickGuy]

On 1/17/2024 at 9:44 AM, RedRabbit said:

USDA’s new zone map classifies a section of SC as 9b and warmer than coastal Georgia. Initially, I thought this was in error. As we get deeper into the winter I’ve seen SC consistently warmer than GA so now I’m beginning to think USDA was correct. 
 

Here are some screenshots I took around 8am this morning.

 

The Charleston area was the warm spot, and not just along the coast.

 

St. Simons and Jekyll hit upper 20s. Interestingly, the buoy off St. Simons was at 28f implying there’s no potential for a stronger microclimate in this area.

Outer Banks NC didn’t hold up this time either.

Here’s Jacksonville for reference. The Charleston area was the warmest spot on the east coast until St. Augustine. 

Good comparison.  It seemed they were a bit generous with 9b in SC compared to where I live in Brunswick/SSI. The downtown area of Brunswick where I live, I would classify it as 9b. In 9 winters here, I have seen three 10a winters, four 9b winters and two 9a winters (with 22.4 being the coldest).  I live in downtown Brunswick and the morning of these temps, my yard dipped briefly to 26.4, the coldest temp of the year (still 9b, lol). I was hoping to stay above 28 this winter.  That particular night, the front seems to have dropped further south into SE Georgia and NE Florida than coastal SC and NC.  I didn't cover anything - even my large 10' Plumeria tree. The verdict is still out if it will survive. No damage to any of my palms. Hoping spring comes soon.

Edited January 31, 2024 by BrunswickGuy

[South Carolina palms]

2 hours ago, BrunswickGuy said:

Good comparison.  It seemed they were a bit generous with 9b in SC compared to where I live in Brunswick/SSI. The downtown area of Brunswick where I live, I would classify it as 9b. In 9 winters here, I have seen three 10a winters, four 9b winters and two 9a winters (with 22.4 being the coldest).  I live in downtown Brunswick and the morning of these temps, my yard dipped briefly to 26.4, the coldest temp of the year (still 9b, lol). I was hoping to stay above 28 this winter.  That particular night, the front seems to have dropped further south into SE Georgia and NE Florida than coastal SC and NC.  I didn't cover anything - even my large 10' Plumeria tree. The verdict is still out if it will survive. No damage to any of my palms. Hoping spring comes soon.

Out of curiosity what kind of palms are you growing in Se Ga? I have my crown jewel of my yard the Bismarck and it survived last years Christmas freeze and this past little outbreak with only a frost cloth. 

[BrunswickGuy]

Here is a partial list of some of the more unusual palms for Georgia that I am currently growing: acoelorraaphee wrrightii, Allagoptera arenaria, Arenga engleri, Becarriophoenix alfredii, Bismarkia nobilis, Chamaedorea cataracticum/microspadix/radicalis, Copernicia alba, Dypsis decipiens, Livistonas (5 species), Phoenix roebelinni, Rhapis excelsa/humilis/subtilis, Syagrus romanzoffiana. Unless we have an extreme freeze (mid-upper teens), I don't plant to protect anything.

Last year I lost one of my Bismarkias (partly my fault for not keeping it dry where the spear pulled). 

I'm hosting a Southeastern Palm Society meeting February 24th at 10am if you cared to join other members for a yard tour. 

[BrunswickGuy]

Here are some screen shots I took for the Brunswick/St Simons Island area of Georgia during the cold stop earlier in January. You can see by them that the area (at the coldest point) dropped to the middle 20s. The warmest locations  seemed to have dropped to 27, maybe 28. My yard briefly dropped to 26.4° for the ultimate low as you can see in the last pic. With no more freezes, that will have been the only nights below 32° all season. 

[RedRabbit]

1 hour ago, BrunswickGuy said:

Here are some screen shots I took for the Brunswick/St Simons Island area of Georgia during the cold stop earlier in January. You can see by them that the area (at the coldest point) dropped to the middle 20s. The warmest locations  seemed to have dropped to 27, maybe 28. My yard briefly dropped to 26.4° for the ultimate low as you can see in the last pic. With no more freezes, that will have been the only nights below 32° all season. 

I can’t think of a good reason why areas by I-95 would be warmer than SSI. There’s not a big difference so I suspect they’re essentially the same and the variance is simply from siting and instrument error. It’s surprising the Golden Isles don’t have a better microclimate. Maybe the cold air is able to easily transit the extensive marshland.

Edited February 1, 2024 by RedRabbit

[BrunswickGuy]

I will say after watching cold fronts in the area for 9 years now, this one was unusual in that, as you said, there wasn't shown any advantage with locations closer to the ocean. Most usually show a small benefit and other times a several degree difference. It could be equipment location as you said. 

[SeanK]

Mid Atlantic depression, 70MPH winds on the SW side.