The weather is so amazing here.

Monek Marie

Usually we are buried in snow and may be having 20 degree weather. February is usually our really impossible winter month.

Yesterday was 65 and today is in the 50's. Much nicer than the cold snowy weather we expect.

I have been out as much as possible this morning and afternoon getting work done that needed to be done and any catch up work from last year. It's a true gift to have such nice weather.

It was supposed to rain today but its holding off so it back out to work.

My primerose are blooming and I see signs of life in my gardens. Spring is amazing. (I know, there will be snow later but any day that is nice is a blessing.)

LaurieLovesLearning

We just got done with nice days, one above freezing. This morning, we were down to -37 (with windchill). So...a bit cold.

It's a blessing that no birds died due to the drastic drop! 😄

Torey

Our weather has been unseasonably warm for most of January and February. We've had a couple of nights where it has dipped down to -20C but its often that temperature (and colder) for most of Jan & Feb, not just a few nights. Most days have been above freezing, some days pushing 8 - 9C.

We have another cold spell coming next week that is predicted to drop to -30C. That is probably the week that calves will choose to come. I'm sure this variability is affecting lots of poultry and livestock operations.

I am concerned for my fruit trees with all the freezing and thawing.

Monek Marie

@torey I am also concerned for plants, trees and shrubs. I have noticed in past years where we had this 8uneven unpredictable weather it's the last hard frost or snow that seems to kill or injure the plants.

And I always worry about livestock. Today the chickens are running around the yard enjoying the freedom. Tomorrow will be 38, still not bad for February but the chickens won't like it too well.

@LaurieLovesLearning Your birds seem to have done well so far this year.

Michelle D

@Monek Marie our weather was similar to yours. If I remember correctly we aren't a huge distance from you as far as weather would be concerned. However, the temps dropped really quickly after dark. We had a huge ice storm. I almost couldn't get my car doors open to go home after dinner at my mom's house! It has been snowing off and on today but they are predicting warmer weather again tomorrow.

kbmbillups1

@Monek Marie Last year the last freeze we had did in my blueberries. The year before we got a bumper crop and last year, we didn't get any. The ones that we did get weren't formed correctly so we just let the birds have them.

Also, what a tease! My husband and I drove 5 hours to the beach where it was 78 degrees! Shorts and short sleeves were wonderful to wear again! We were so sad to get gas after driving 4 hours and it was so cold, we needed a jacket.

LaurieLovesLearning

Well then. I just bragged/complained about our low temperatures. It was right back up there today and sunny as could be.

It sounds like another drop will follow sometime after that, most likely a few days after your -30, @torey.

@Monek Marie I agree, but winter is still not over here. Much can happen before spring. That said, I'm selling off a few chicken pairs and started alerting people to the spring chicks that I hope to offer come spring.

My birds certainly have some frostbite on combs & wattles, but that's quite normal.

I'm planning to move the younger mixed birds into their proper flocks Monday night, and hope that a month afterward, I can start collecting eggs to hatch (if the birds cooperate).

If all comes together, I should have chicks hatching hopefully by April 10. I will most likely have a second hatch roughly a week later out of my other incubator. Then it's clean it all up quickly and round 2 begins. I hope that I can get 2 hatches done before the bird flu scare moves back up here. Then I'll clean it all up and go for round 3 (for me if nothing else).

I don't like hatching later than July 1 due to thunderstorms, power outages & outfoor/indoor heat fluctuations.

I have potential for 4 (×2) rounds if all works out, but we'll see since that's a lot of work! I also want to hatch my breeds & get other eggs to hatch for myself, so that will most likely end up being the 3rd and/or 4th.

I've seen a couple ads for chicks already. That's way too early!

JennyT Upstate South Carolina

It's been warmer here too. All the spring bulbs are blooming and many of the trees have buds on them too. And to follow suit, my allergies have acted up which is no fun because it's still February! I should have another month or another several weeks as least before all of this. 🤧

Monek Marie

We have 6 nice days of weather coming up. I will work outdoors today and the chickens will get to run outdoors in the back yard. (yesterday was cold and windy. I stayed in as much as possible. And the is a dusting of snow which will melt in an hour)

@LaurieLovesLearning I have seen ads for chicks and I agree, it's too early, at least for here. When they have these up and down cold spells its hard on the chicks.

It sounds like you have quite a bit of work ahead with your hatching schedule.

@kbmbillups1 @Michelle D It's such a tease when you have these nice days then cold again. And wow, I would enjoy a trip to the beach.

Torey

Not pleasant here at all this morning. -21C at the moment. At least the wind has died down.

Yesterday morning at 5:00 it was 0C. By 7:30, it was -10 and continued to drop during the day. What a nasty wind there was. Drifts all along our road. Huge drifts by our community hall which sits at the end of a lake. Blew down the lake towards the hall all day. I was surprised at the amount of drift. Even though we had about 12" total in the previous 3 days, it was heavy, wet, coastal type snow that has frozen on the trees. Still on the trees but drifted the ground snow; strange.

The coldest night to come is tomorrow night where it is predicted to be -27C. And after that it warms up enough for more snow.

We really need this extra snow we're getting, though. Its been very dry and we were getting concerned about what this summer's fire danger would be. There was a huge dump out in the mountains about an hour east of us. Over 3 feet in 3 days.

Monek Marie

Wow. Stay arm and safe. I understand about the snow. WE are way below our avergae snowfall and I hear we will have a warm dry summer. That will not be good without our winter precipitation.

Today is cold windy and a chance of freezing rain then snow later. And tomorrow 60 degrees, way above normal.

It's been a very strange winter.

LaurieLovesLearning

We will warm up to -22°C today. It was down to -37° last night, -47°C with windchill.

It is sunny and the sun is warm, so our house will warm up quite well today. I love south facing windows in winter!

Sunday, they are predicting -3 for a high. Then the temperature will drop somewhat once again.

@torey It's good to hear that your area is getting lots of snow. We have a normal amount, but could certainly use a lot more.

Torey

@LaurieLovesLearning Ouch! That's bitterly cold.

How lovely for everyone that has been able to go to the beach! My daughter has just returned from a trip to our south coast where it was so warm, they spent a couple of afternoons on a dock, crab fishing. She's not too happy about the temps she has returned to.

Torey

It has warmed up but that has brought snow. I just shovelled about 6 inches of the deck and its still snowing heavily. Supposed to continue till tomorrow afternoon. Then more snow in the forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday.

I know we need the moisture. The snow packs in the mountains were low (not any more).

But really, I've had about enough winter, thanks.

My neighbour was just out and about and says the roads are horrendous.

Michelle D

We had a huge ice storm come through on Wednesday. It took out so many trees, powerlines, vehicles, houses even. Our local fire station responded to 208 emergency calls that night. We finally just got our power restored!

Michelle D

We had another large winter storm come through again last night. We lost power again. Hopefully, it isn't out for as long this time.

VermontCathy

Enjoy it! We just had about 9" (23 cm) of new snow dumped on us, and it's taken all afternoon to plow the driveway clear and shovel the walkway to the woodshed.

vickeym

Came home after work yesterday and saw the thermometer. We were at 42 F at 5:30 yesterday evening. It was amazing. Mostly at or above freezing highs for the next 10 days. though we have lows called for in the low single digits to negative numbers over the same time frame.

Though we could still get a lot more snow before it is over, I'll enjoy the warmth while I have it.

LaurieLovesLearning

We are in the middle of a snowstorm today. It's pretty white out there. I doubt much will stay except for in the drifts. The wind is pretty strong.

The roads were fine too, but I bet they aren't now.

Michelle D

We had a few warm days similar to @vickeym lately but yesterday we had another 4 inches of snow dumped on us. Thankfully this time the power held on!

Torey

Its -9C and snowing at the moment.

We've had a few teasers, when the temp went above freezing but nights are still very cold. Not too happy to see the snow this morning.

LaurieLovesLearning

Well, my husband & son got to finish pulling someone through a large drift today. They said the guy made it 2/3 through on the opposite side to where they could push through to. The drift was at least 30' long and quite high. It was one of the grader guys from that municipality who had called another grader guy. I guess they figured that they had better get grading even through the blizzard. Good call.

Anyway my two came back really happy with "fun" stories of going through a bunch more massive drifts with 4WD and the speed they needed to make it through those.

I'm glad that I stayed home. Too much adrenaline for me!

There was one accident we heard of with a semi & pickup truck on the highway. There's most likely more.

The blizzard warning is now done. Yeah, winter is not yet done with us.

SandDune

We have had a warmer than average winter, here in Florida zone 10. 80s and low 90's.

Stay well and safe everyone :)

VermontCathy

We had another foot of snow dumped on us recently. I think it's going to be a very wet spring. Lots of snowmelt, and if this level of precipitation continues, lots of spring rain.

I won't be surprised if I can't put the garden in until the third week of April.

SuperC

@Monek Marie thank goodness Spring is at your doorstep! Here in zone 4, its very windy and 18*F. Yesterday it rained at 33*F and turned to snow yet a dusting. Later this evening a snow storm is coming.

A friend of mine whose house faces south receives plenty of sunshine so soil is exposed and Robins have been enjoying food and are around building nests.

Last week I saw two flocks of whits Trumpet Swans flying over and honking.

Torey

@SuperC The trumpeter's arrived back here two days ago. Silly birds; not much for open water for them yet. They have found an open patch in the creek outflow of our small lake so they are all crowded in there together.

It got up to a balmy 10C (50F) this afternoon.

However, it will be another 3-4 weeks before the ice goes from our lake as it goes below freezing every night. Last night down to -9C (16F). Still lots of snow in the back yard and enormous snowbanks along the road but the road is opening up. There are bare stretches of very muddy ground between the long stretches of snow and ice that remain in the shade for most of the day.

marjstratton

Most of our snow geese seem content to stay here in the Skagit valley for a while longer.