April 2024

[LibertyBell]

5 hours ago, bluewave said:

One of the greatest challenges is that while spring is arriving earlier, we can still get these late season freezes especially in the interior Northeast. Warmer winters and and quicker starts to spring cause an earlier bloom. Then the earlier blooms are susceptible to very damaging hard freezes like last May. We had much earlier 80s and 90s than usual last April before the record hard freeze in the interior last May. 
 

https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/ap-top-news/2023/06/14/federal-assistance-sought-for-northeastern-vineyards-orchards-hit-by-late-frost

SHELBURNE, Vt. (AP) — Vineyards and apple orchards across the Northeast are still gauging damage from a late-season frost in May that wiped out a third to most of the crop for some growers who say it’s the worst frost damage they have ever seen.

Some states are seeking federal disaster declarations, which would make low-interest loans and other programs available to affected growers, while agriculture officials across the region are contemplating together asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture for direct aid to farmers.

In southern Vermont, Scott Farm Orchard lost up to 90% of its apple crop when the temperature dipped to 25 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 3 degrees Celsius) for five hours on May 18. At the northern end of the state, Shelburne Vineyards in Shelburne, Vermont, lost about 50% of its grape crop, which is potentially a half-million dollar revenue loss, according to head wine grower and vineyard manager Ethan Joseph.

To make up for lost production, Shelburne Vineyards plans to buy additional grapes at a time when its overall costs this year will be higher due to the frost, Joseph told The Associated Press. The vineyard has wine in stock to sell and it's not off the table that it could raise prices, he said. 

“We’ve never seen this kind of freeze event, certainly in the history of the vineyard,” Joseph said. “I’ve been here for 16 years. We’ve never seen anything like it.”

The widespread frost hit the large wine-producing region of the Finger Lakes in upstate New York where it's estimated about half of the grape crop was lost regionwide, according to Kyle Anne Pallischeck, executive director of the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance. Depending on their location, some vineyards were hit hard and others had little to no damage. Vineyard owners say it's still too early to tell what the final financial impact will be.

“I’ve been in this almost 40 years, doing it full-time and this is by far and away the worst,” said David Stamp, vineyard manager of Lakewood Vineyards, in Watkins Glen, New York, of the frost damage. He estimated their total crop loss at about 30% to 40% though it's tough to tell since the damage is scattered throughout the vineyards. “I mean, if you put all the years together that we’ve had any damage it’s not even a quarter of what this is,” he said.

The losses will mean shorter supplies of certain wines next year and higher prices for apples this year. Some vineyards and orchards are having to reduce staff. 

Keuka Lake Vineyards, in Hammondsport, New York, estimates it lost between 50% and 65% of its crop, said Mel Goldman, owner and vineyard manager. “We lost a lot,” Goldman said, adding it will take a few weeks before a final verdict as the vines produce secondary buds and shoots that could bear fruit.

 

 

 

wow how cold did it get down here last May?

we've been having a lot of these since 2020.

[vegan_edible]

2 hours ago, Brian5671 said:

Still making the rounds-at least you don't have to isolate for 5 days anymore....feel better!

thank you, so far just a headache and a low grade fever that advil wiped away, hoping those are my only symptoms

[jm1220]

3 hours ago, LibertyBell said:

Wouldn't it be funny if it was so hot that JFK even hit 100 with  a sea breeze?

If Newark got to 114 JFK would definitely hit 100 even on a southerly breeze.

The heat index makes it feel just as bad if not worse on LI now with the southerly winds in the summer and regular 75+ dews. In Aug if anything the seabreeze just makes it feel worse here. 92F with a 76 dewpoint is 105 heat index, 96/71 is 104 heat index. So both in terms of actual heat are just as bad. The worst places in a heat wave now are probably the north shore of LI/much of NYC that still heat up before the seabreeze kicks in and still terrible humidity, and less chance of the T-storms that often fire inland and die before reaching the coast. 

Like Bluewave says though it's only a matter of time before we get a big heat dome here like the rest of the country's seen where we all likely get well over 100 and some places like EWR reach 110. 

[donsutherland1]

12 hours ago, vegan_edible said:

weather gets absolutely perfect, california-esque in fact 

vegan_edible gets covid

you can't make this stuff up

 

you all better be outside enjoying it for me!

Get well soon.

[bluewave]

10 hours ago, LibertyBell said:

wow how cold did it get down here last May?

we've been having a lot of these since 2020.

The 18th was the 5th latest freeze on record for FOK.

Data for May 18, 2023 through May 18, 2023
Click column heading to sort ascending, click again to sort descending.

State	Name	Station Type	Lowest Min Temperature
NY	MONTGOMERY ORANGE COUNTY AP	WBAN	28
NY	PORT JERVIS	COOP	29
NY	WESTHAMPTON GABRESKI AP	WBAN	29
NY	CARMEL 4N	COOP	30
CT	MERIDEN MARKHAM MUNICIPAL AP	WBAN	30
NJ	CHARLOTTEBURG RESERVOIR	COOP	31
CT	DANBURY MUNICIPAL AP	WBAN	31
CT	GUILFORD	COOP	31
NY	SHRUB OAK	COOP	33
CT	GROTON NEW LONDON AP	WBAN	33
NY	UPTON COOP - NWSFO NEW YORK	COOP	33
NY	BRIDGEHAMPTON	COOP	34
CT	NEW HAVEN TWEED AP	WBAN	34
NY	ST. JAMES	COOP	35
CT	NORWICH PUBLIC UTILITY PLANT	COOP	35
NY	SHIRLEY BROOKHAVEN AIRPORT	WBAN	35
NJ	CALDWELL ESSEX COUNTY AP	WBAN	36
NY	WEST POINT	COOP	36
NJ	CANOE BROOK	COOP	37
NY	SYOSSET	COOP	37
NY	RIVERHEAD RESEARCH FARM	COOP	37
CT	IGOR I SIKORSKY MEMORIAL AIRPORT	WBAN	38
NY	ISLIP-LI MACARTHUR AP	WBAN	38
NY	WESTCHESTER CO AP	WBAN	39
NY	ORIENT POINT STATE PARK	COOP	39
NJ	TETERBORO AIRPORT	WBAN	40
NJ	TETERBORO AIRPORT	COOP	40
NY	CENTERPORT	COOP	40
NY	FARMINGDALE REPUBLIC AP	WBAN	41
NY	JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT	WBAN	42
NY	MOLLOY CERCOM	COOP	42
NY	NY CITY CENTRAL PARK	WBAN	43
NJ	HARRISON	COOP	43
NJ	NEWARK LIBERTY INTL AP	WBAN	44
NY	MONTAUK AIRPORT	WBAN	45
NY	LAGUARDIA AIRPORT	WBAN	46

[SnoSki14]

There's definitely warm days ahead but with cold ssts in the northwest Atlantic and residual blocking, wouldn't be surprised to see backdooring well into May. 

[Brian5671]

10 minutes ago, SnoSki14 said:

There's definitely warm days ahead but with cold ssts in the northwest Atlantic and residual blocking, wouldn't be surprised to see backdooring well into JUNE

Fixed

[SACRUS]

 

 

Warmer low of 46 now to 51 clouds some drizzle and light showers scattered.  Clouds clearing into EPA/NW NJ and should push east over the next 3 hours.  48 hour chill with 30s over night into Thu AM and again Thu night/ Fri morning.   Warmup Saturday but looks cloudy before back to 70s / some 80s Sunday and Mon looks to be the warmest day of the year so far since Sep 12. Some onshore but extent it cools us beyond Monday and into the start of next month to be determined.  Overall drier and warmer once to Saturday and beyond with some strong warmth 4/27 - 4/29-30th.

 

  

 

[LibertyBell]

2 hours ago, bluewave said:

The 18th was the 5th latest freeze on record for FOK.

Data for May 18, 2023 through May 18, 2023
Click column heading to sort ascending, click again to sort descending.

State	Name	Station Type	Lowest Min Temperature
NY	MONTGOMERY ORANGE COUNTY AP	WBAN	28
NY	PORT JERVIS	COOP	29
NY	WESTHAMPTON GABRESKI AP	WBAN	29
NY	CARMEL 4N	COOP	30
CT	MERIDEN MARKHAM MUNICIPAL AP	WBAN	30
NJ	CHARLOTTEBURG RESERVOIR	COOP	31
CT	DANBURY MUNICIPAL AP	WBAN	31
CT	GUILFORD	COOP	31
NY	SHRUB OAK	COOP	33
CT	GROTON NEW LONDON AP	WBAN	33
NY	UPTON COOP - NWSFO NEW YORK	COOP	33
NY	BRIDGEHAMPTON	COOP	34
CT	NEW HAVEN TWEED AP	WBAN	34
NY	ST. JAMES	COOP	35
CT	NORWICH PUBLIC UTILITY PLANT	COOP	35
NY	SHIRLEY BROOKHAVEN AIRPORT	WBAN	35
NJ	CALDWELL ESSEX COUNTY AP	WBAN	36
NY	WEST POINT	COOP	36
NJ	CANOE BROOK	COOP	37
NY	SYOSSET	COOP	37
NY	RIVERHEAD RESEARCH FARM	COOP	37
CT	IGOR I SIKORSKY MEMORIAL AIRPORT	WBAN	38
NY	ISLIP-LI MACARTHUR AP	WBAN	38
NY	WESTCHESTER CO AP	WBAN	39
NY	ORIENT POINT STATE PARK	COOP	39
NJ	TETERBORO AIRPORT	WBAN	40
NJ	TETERBORO AIRPORT	COOP	40
NY	CENTERPORT	COOP	40
NY	FARMINGDALE REPUBLIC AP	WBAN	41
NY	JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT	WBAN	42
NY	MOLLOY CERCOM	COOP	42
NY	NY CITY CENTRAL PARK	WBAN	43
NJ	HARRISON	COOP	43
NJ	NEWARK LIBERTY INTL AP	WBAN	44
NY	MONTAUK AIRPORT	WBAN	45
NY	LAGUARDIA AIRPORT	WBAN	46

Thanks, Chris, what's their latest freeze on record-- May 31st I think?

and wow 42 degrees is VERY cold for JFK on May 18th!

 

 

[LibertyBell]

9 hours ago, jm1220 said:

The heat index makes it feel just as bad if not worse on LI now with the southerly winds in the summer and regular 75+ dews. In Aug if anything the seabreeze just makes it feel worse here. 92F with a 76 dewpoint is 105 heat index, 96/71 is 104 heat index. So both in terms of actual heat are just as bad. The worst places in a heat wave now are probably the north shore of LI/much of NYC that still heat up before the seabreeze kicks in and still terrible humidity, and less chance of the T-storms that often fire inland and die before reaching the coast. 

Like Bluewave says though it's only a matter of time before we get a big heat dome here like the rest of the country's seen where we all likely get well over 100 and some places like EWR reach 110. 

Definitely-- I remember 2010 when we had 3 100+ degree days on the south shore but it was nice and dry and the heat really did not feel bad at all because it was so nice and dry!

[bluewave]

2 minutes ago, LibertyBell said:

Thanks, Chris, what's their latest freeze on record-- May 31st I think?

and wow 42 degrees is VERY cold for JFK on May 18th!

 

 

5-22-02 was their latest freeze.

 

Frost/Freeze Summary for WESTHAMPTON GABRESKI AP, NY
Each section contains date and year of occurrence, value on that date.
Click column heading to sort ascending, click again to sort descending.

Year	Last	Value	First	Value	Season Length
2002	05-22 (2002)	32	10-15 (2002)	31	145
2016	05-20 (2016)	32	10-11 (2016)	31	143
2008	05-20 (2008)	31	10-07 (2008)	31	139
2003	05-19 (2003)	32	10-03 (2003)	29	136
2023	05-18 (2023)	29	11-04 (2023)	32	169

[MANDA]

Pattern has switched to very dry.  No meaningful rain next 7-10 days at least.

Despite the blocking pattern warmth should out duel cool next few weeks.

 

[LibertyBell]

9 minutes ago, bluewave said:

5-22-02 was their latest freeze.

 

Frost/Freeze Summary for WESTHAMPTON GABRESKI AP, NY
Each section contains date and year of occurrence, value on that date.
Click column heading to sort ascending, click again to sort descending.

Year	Last	Value	First	Value	Season Length
2002	05-22 (2002)	32	10-15 (2002)	31	145
2016	05-20 (2016)	32	10-11 (2016)	31	143
2008	05-20 (2008)	31	10-07 (2008)	31	139
2003	05-19 (2003)	32	10-03 (2003)	29	136
2023	05-18 (2023)	29	11-04 (2023)	32	169

wow in our warmest winter on record.... and even after that big heatwave in April!

[SACRUS]

 

Records:

 

Highs:

EWR:  92 (2017)
NYC: 87 (2001)
LGA: 87 (2001)
JFK: 79 (2008)


Lows:

 

EWR: 40 (1950)
NYC: 31 (1930)
LGA: 36 (1971)
JFK: 34 (1967)


Historical:

1880: Several tornadoes affected parts of central and southwest Illinois. One tornado of F4 intensity touched down near Jerseyville and killed one person along the 18-mile path. Another F4 tornado passed just north of Carlinville and lifted near Atwater, destroying 50 buildings. Six people died in Christian County by an F5 tornado, which tracked from 9 miles southwest of Taylorville to near Sharpsburg. 

1899 - Two women and one son lived to tell the story of being picked up by a tornado and carried more than a fourth of a mile, flying far above the church steeples, before being gently set down again. The young boy and one of the ladies said they had the pleasure of flying alongside a horse. The horse "kicked and struggled" as it flew high above, and was set down unharmed about a mile away. (The Weather Channel)

1908 - Severe thunderstorms spawned eighteen tornadoes over across the Central Gulf Coast States claiming the lives of 310 persons. The state of Mississippi was hardest hit. A tornado near Hattiesburg MS killed 143 persons and caused more than half a million dollars damage. Four violent tornadoes accounted for 279 of the 310 deaths. The deadliest of the four tornadoes swelled to a width of 2.5 miles as it passed near Amite LA. The tornado also leveled most of Purvis MS. (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)

1987 - Showers and thunderstorms produced heavy rain in the Middle Atlantic Coast Region. Up to seven inches of rain drenched Virginia in three days. Morgantown WV received 4.27 inches in 24 hours, and flooding was reported in south central West Virginia. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1988 - Low pressure produced high winds and severe thunderstorms in the Southern Plains Region. Strong thunderstorm winds destroyed two mobile homes at Whitt TX injuring two persons. Winds associated with the low pressure system gusted to 70 mph at Guadalupe Pass TX. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989 - Twenty cities in the central U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date. Russell KS was the hot spot in the nation with a reading of 101 degrees. Evening thunderstorms produced severe weather from Colorado to Wisconsin. Hail four and a half inches in diameter was reported at Sargeant NE. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1990 - Thunderstorms produced severe weather from the Southern High Plains to north central Kansas. Thunderstorms spawned ten tornadoes, including one which injured four persons and caused 1.5 million dollars damage at Shattuck OK. Thunderstorms also produced softball size hail at Wheeler TX, wind gusts to 85 mph southwest of Arnett OK, and 13.45 inches of rain near Caldwell TX, which resulted in the worst flooding in recent memory for that area. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

 

2003: The temperature soared to a maximum of 70 degrees in Juneau, Alaska. This is the earliest record of 70-degree reading to occur in Juneau. 

2010 - An EF-4 tornado up to 1.75 miles wide travels 149.25 miles through Mississippi, the widest and fourth longest path in Mississippi history. It left behind major destruction to businesses, churches and homes, four fatalities in Yazoo City and ten fatalities across the state,

2010: April Tornado Outbreak- During a significant severe weather outbreak across the South on April 22-25, 142 tornadoes raked the region, including 77 on April 24 alone. Ten died from the long-track tornado that swept across Mississippi on April 24. A long-lived twister left a trail of destruction extending over 149 miles from Louisiana through Mississippi, resulting in 10 deaths and 75 injuries. This EF4 storm, which grew to a width of 1.75 miles, sported the fourth longest track in Mississippi history. This storm destroyed part of Yazoo City, Mississippi. The Swiss Reinsurance Company estimated insured damages with this outbreak at $1.58 billion. Click HERE for more information from the NWS Office in Jackson, Mississippi.

[LibertyBell]

3 minutes ago, MANDA said:

Pattern has switched to very dry.  No meaningful rain next 7-10 days at least.

Despite the blocking pattern warmth should out duel cool next few weeks.

 

Good, let it stay dry for many weeks.

[MANDA]

18 minutes ago, LibertyBell said:

Good, let it stay dry for many weeks.

I'm guessing you don't like to garden?

[jm1220]

13 minutes ago, bluewave said:

Big temperature swings over the next week. Highs near 70° today dropping to the 30s tonight. Then the first possible 90° readings of the season for the warm spots in NJ next week. With the caveat that the back door will have to be far enough northeast to allow a SW flow and near full sun. 
 

That second highs map to me for Tue says SE wind which keeps it cool east of the city. So it looks like there’ll be some kind of front around or strong onshore flow. Low 70s is still perfectly fine though if we get sun and avoid stratus from the onshore flow. 

[LibertyBell]

8 minutes ago, MANDA said:

I'm guessing you don't like to garden?

I do and rain prevents it from happening.  I use a garden hose for all my watering needs.

[LibertyBell]

4 minutes ago, jm1220 said:

That second highs map to me for Tue says SE wind which keeps it cool east of the city. So it looks like there’ll be some kind of front around or strong onshore flow. Low 70s is still perfectly fine though if we get sun and avoid stratus from the onshore flow. 

Yes even sunny and 50s is fine lol

[MANDA]

9 minutes ago, LibertyBell said:

I do and rain prevents it from happening.  I use a garden hose for all my watering needs.

I'd just prefer not to spend hours a week walking around with a garden house and/or sprinkler.  Not to mention increasing my water bill.

Mother nature does it better and more effectively when she cooperates.

[LibertyBell]

8 minutes ago, MANDA said:

I'd just prefer not to spend hours a week walking around with a garden house and/or sprinkler.  Not to mention increasing my water bill.

Mother nature does it better and more effectively when she cooperates.

It was hard to do any gardening in most of April because everything was soggy and wet.  I wish we had our normal rainfall patterns of the 80s and 90s when we got like 1 inch of rain every 10 days or so-- this is my ideal.  No 2 inch or 3 inch rainstorms, just an inch of rain (preferably at night) maybe 3 times a month.

 

[forkyfork]

1 hour ago, MANDA said:

I'd just prefer not to spend hours a week walking around with a garden house and/or sprinkler.  Not to mention increasing my water bill.

Mother nature does it better and more effectively when she cooperates.

that's an issue with having the wrong plants

[Dark Star]

1 hour ago, MANDA said:

I'm guessing you don't like to garden?

I would think fear of flooding basements is a higher priority to planting vegetables for some?

[Stormlover74]

3 minutes ago, Dark Star said:

I would think fear of flooding basements is a higher priority to planting vegetables for some?

Not wanting dry weather for weeks or a drought doesn't mean we have to have the other extreme in flooding. We're just talking about a normal 1"/week

[LibertyBell]

11 minutes ago, Stormlover74 said:

Not wanting dry weather for weeks or a drought doesn't mean we have to have the other extreme in flooding. We're just talking about a normal 1"/week

or 1 inch every 10 days which is good.

[LibertyBell]

16 minutes ago, Dark Star said:

I would think fear of flooding basements is a higher priority to planting vegetables for some?

Plus it's really hard to do anything with so much sogginess everywhere.  It also promotes dangerous bugs who spread disease (like mosquitoes and ticks.)

 

[snowman19]

It’s a miracle! Please, let’s go into a long-term drought!

[TJW014]

It's gorgeous out. Full sun. Up to 70

[MANDA]

1 hour ago, forkyfork said:

that's an issue with having the wrong plants

ok.  I will send away for some mail order cactus. 

[LibertyBell]

3 minutes ago, MANDA said:

ok.  I will send away for some mail order cactus. 

I like the label "drought resistant"