Sunday, February 5, 2023

erratic winter weather

bee,winter,winter-flowering cherry,arctic oscillation,

bee,winter,winter-flowering cherry,arctic oscillation,

On December 24 2022, Atlanta experienced a historic single digit 8°F (-13.3°C) minimal temperature.  This cold snap turned green ground cover brown and delayed or canceled flights.  In mid to late December the arctic oscillation (AO) was in a negative part of its cycle.  Strongly negative AO values are consistent, or should I say necessary, for achieving a historic low in an Atlanta winter.  

The December 2022 cold snap was an outlier and then came a historically warm January 2023.   Currently, the AO is in the positive part of its cycle and as the AO changes slowly, it seems likely that Atlanta will be spared a historic cold snap in February.   This story brings me to share a few lucky iPhone photos of bees on winter-flowering ornamental cherry trees. I was walking the dog on a sunny 57°F (13.9°C) afternoon.   I stood still and soaked in the loud buzz of bees foraging on cherry tree flowers.

bee,winter,winter-flowering cherry,arctic oscillation,
Monthly Lowest Min Temperature for Atlanta Area, GA (ThreadEx)  
YearJanDec
202329M
2022268
20212834
20202322
20192229
20181328
20171526
20162026
20151129
2014630
20132927
20122230
20111929
20101314
20091226
20081518
20071826
20062819
20051624
20041816
2003826
20022125
20011723
20001913
   
Mean1924
   
Max2934
 20232021
   
Min68
 20142022

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