scwxguy

Happy Met Spring to all!

I was on Hilton Head Island this past weekend. Tree pollen is out. Assume it will be out here this week in CHS.

Saw that last week of January here in Charleston. Last night I was out at sunset and the frogs were deafening. Also other insects as well chirping away.

I put the pre-emergent down this morning and kicked on the irrigation. My PWS hit 73 Monday, 84 yesterday. Already at 80 again today and at least two more days on tap of this. Soil temp is above 55°. It's time!

+1 There is a reason I am the contrarian in here hoping for no cold weather or snow. When it snowed here in CHS last January I knew it wasn't normal but at the same time thought I didn't move far enough south. After 30+ years of the above abuse living in Chicago and just a few blocks of the lake an endless winter followed by a cold spring with constant "lake effect" days with warm weather that can be equally fleeting in summer you never want to deal with any of it again. There have been years with "June Gloom" of endless cloudy cool days and even cold 4th of Julys. One thing that is always guaranteed is winter will arrive on schedule. Moving to the south and eliminating winter has been an improvement in my quality of life unlike any other. I many of you enjoy it and the prospect of something that isn't typical, but you can easily get on a plane and see it for yourself Spending 6 months of the year counting down to the next warm season is no way to live!

I'm originally from Chicago. Winter never fails. It ended late last year in May - literally was in the 30s consistently until then and came on early with a foot of snow in early November. Now all time record cold. They just had 8 inches of snow Sunday into Monday. Rain and temps in the mid 30s is common. But they have at least 2 solid months of winter to go.

Those of us very far south, points from where I am at in Charleston on down, "winter" is for all intents and purposes about over. The sun angle and length of day is rapidly increasing. For VA, I would agree, still lots of time to go as you are much farther north and more prone to the mid-latitude storm systems. We can see a few cold nights and get around 32 (at 6-7am just before sunrise or for a few hours at best) a few more times here on the Charleston coast but that window is closing with every passing day. After this week, GFS 2m temps are showing 67-70 each day and lows in 50s at night for several days. About time to get the pre-emergent down in the yard.

Spring is getting underway in the Charleston area. Lots of trees budding and flowering out in Azalea Park in Summerville this past weekend. Had a new bloom this morning out in the backyard as well.

Here's an alternative view to almost all on this board. I'm enjoying the warm weather and still shake my head in amusement at all the cold and snow lovers here. I'm closely following the potential record arctic outbreak up in the midwest next week while enjoying this near 70 degree afternoon in CHS. Even got to the pool on Saturday. Was great! The cold nights we've had lately have been an annoyance and hoping they are about behind us. Doesn't need to be hot yet, but less cold nights in the 30s and fewer cloudy days would be appreciated. As I see the pictures of snow and the barbaric cold on FB from friends and family up north I'm glad to no longer be part of that soul crushing misery.