How cold is it by you?

[boulderjohn]

11F now 3PM, and was 6F early this morning. Wind chill factor produces much lower sub zero readings. The only positive in all this is the possibility that the Pine Beetle threat to the Pinelands may be reduced. It takes very low temps to kill these creatures, which have been spreading northwards into southern New Jersey's vast and wonderfully pristine pine forest preserve as average temps have increased steadily over the past several decades.

You have them, too?

Here in Colorado, we have hundreds of thousands of acres in the mountains without a living tree on them. As you said, their numbers used to be controlled by cold winters, but we have not had a cold enough winter to do any good for a couple of decades. Mountain pine beetle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[iluvtheocean]

What's a pine tree? all i see nowadays is Palm Trees :cool2:

 

[Dr. Lecter]

Sounds like what Gypsy Moth caterpillars did to oaks up and down the Blue Ridge in the 80s-90s. Hope they all freeze to death.

 

[agilis]

You have them, too?

Here in Colorado, we have hundreds of thousands of acres in the mountains without a living tree on them. As you said, their numbers used to be controlled by cold winters, but we have not had a cold enough winter to do any good for a couple of decades. Mountain pine beetle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

New Jersey's Pinelands are among the best but least known things in NJ. They have both state and federal protection, and include more than one million acres of forested land, more than half of it in a dense core area large and wild enough to get permanently lost in.

Botanists, herpetologists and other researchers from around the world come to study this amazing place, which contains plants, fish, reptiles and other animals that are at their northern limits here. Some do not exist north of Florida, Georgia and some parts of the Carolina coastal plain, disappearing from the local flora and fauna until you reach NJ. Suddenly, they are there again.

I spend most of my outdoor time there, in the pines, which are crisscrossed with rivers, streams and wetlands. The place is magical, and is one of the things which has kept me in this state all these years.

The Pine Beetle, related to the beetles decimating forests in the West, has so far destroyed about 40,000 acres. not a lot considering the enormous size of the Pinelands preserve, but a dire threat in the long term.

Pine Beetles Are Decimating New Jersey's Pine Barrens As Winters Get Warmer | ThinkProgress

 

[bradells]

It is freaking cold here this morning. I had to put on sock AND shoes with my shorts...

So what is the temperature near you?

-8C in Calgary. Still shorts and T shirt weather (for me at least).

BRad

 

[scallop]

This was in my driveway before leaving for work about 8:45 am. Wind chill was about -20 or -30. Supposed to warm up a little tomorrow and maybe be in 50's by the weekend.

 

[letterboy]

This was in my driveway before leaving for work about 8:45 am. Wind chill was about -20 or -30. Supposed to warm up a little tomorrow and maybe be in 50's by the weekend.

Makes you miss the pier in Ft Lauderdale doesn't it . . . .

 

[boulderjohn]

It is freaking cold here this morning. I had to put on sock AND shoes with my shorts...

So what is the temperature near you?

Last year when I left Colorado for your neck of the woods, it was warmer in Colorado than in Florida. When I left Florida to head back to Colorado, it was warmer in Colorado (by far) than where I was in Florida. The theory is that I am escaping the cold to get to the warmth. Hopefully this year when I leave (in about 3 weeks), things will be different.

 

[letterboy]

thats sounded wrong . . .

---------- Post added January 7th, 2014 at 09:10 PM ----------

Last year when I left Colorado for your neck of the woods, it was warmer in Colorado than in Florida. When I left Florida to head back to Colorado, it was warmer in Colorado (by far) than where I was in Florida. The theory is that I am escaping the cold to get to the warmth. Hopefully this year when I leave (in about 3 weeks), things will be different.

where you heading?

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

It's been in the 30's at night here. A few mornings there is a little frost but not bad. Daytime gets about 60's and by the weekend it's supposed to be high 60's, maybe hit 70.
My wife complains she's cold and I tell her If she doesn't stop complaining I'll ship her back to Chicago.
Then she'll have something to complain about.
That usually ends it.