It was just reported that this was the warmest winter on record. As I'm a person that hates the cold, I was glad for this temporary respite. I know, I know: This has bigger implications than simply the lack of Coat Weather. Still, I really enjoyed this winter a great deal.
So did the squirrels in my yard, who are as fat as Butterball turkeys from eating the surplus of avocados that my massive avocado tree has produced. I think we humans were able to rescue only 5 avocados out of the whole batch: Humans=5, Squirrels=500. It's very comical to watch fat and sassy squirrels valiantly trying to drag off an entire avocado fruit.
The oak tree pollen was a little worse than usual. Everyone's cars were bathed in a yellow glow of pollen daily, until the next rains came or the owner passed through a carwash. The rains have helped, but many asthma and allergy sufferers have been dealing with more than their usual share of problems as a result of this.
Pests and insects didn't have a long dormancy this time, and they're back in full-force. Mosquitos buzz hungrily about, looking for victims.
The real concern, of course, is how this weather might affect sea levels and crops. It's too early to tell, yet. But at least here in Florida, it made little difference.
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So they say we must purposely slow our growth during the short-term to save our very habitat.
We're no better than gerbils in a terrarium.
I do not know about the Tampa Bay area, but Miami-Dade went on level 1 water restrictions yesterday.
Climate change is about more than warmer winters. There is also the shift in global rain patterns. The Sahara Desert used to be a lush forest, or so they say.
Before the sea level can rise a lot and flood South Florida, the shift in rain patterns will happen. Some areas will get more rain, others less, and some will have no change at all.
But we are on level 1 restrictions now for some reason.
Wow only 2 comments. This is an all time low for comments here.
Lazy, my readership is declining because I don't have the time to visit other blogs. Those people who are still visiting me are very kind. I'm flattered that my writing transcends the "I'll visit you if you visit me". However, I miss many of the people who used to comment. I'm so glad that you continue to drop by.
Good point about the watering restrictions. We don't have that yet...
Matt, yup! ;o)
That image in my mind of fat and sassy squirrels dragging off avocados tickled me! :) I'll bet they were chattering in squirrel talk, too!
saur: Here in the Boston/Manchester area we've only really had two major snowstorms, one on Valentine's Day and the other yesterday. The most recent dumping left about 10" of snow in my parent's yard. At the end of the storm it rained, making white fluffy snow into heavy wet, semi- frozen slush. Yuk!
But in typical March waether for New England, just this past Tuesday we reached a high of 75. Go figure.
I have a pack of feral cats that I encouraged because the squirrels stole my pecans. Now the cats are more of a problem than the squirrels.
Speaking of Avocados, I will never forget my adventure in Florida for a week repairing roofs down in Homestead after one of the hurricanes. We (the repair and clean up crews)were camping out at a football stadium down there, and the road leading into the stadium was two or three inches deep in squashed avocados. I'll take black ice any day as a driving surface.
I don't know, it's felt like a pretty warm winter here... but then again, this is Montreal ;)
In all seriousness though, it has been warmer--perhaps not this year per se, but certainly in the past 3. Scary stuff.
Warmest winter for who? Where? This year was one of the "Top Ten Coldest." Yow-ee!! I've never lived in this much cold weather. And those poor folks in Nebraska/Iowa who had those two white-out blizzards last month...
Paul, I think they meant on average. I'm sooo glad I don't have to experience what you've experienced!
Victoria, I'll say! Soon my real estate will be underwater, like Atlantis!
3 Score & 10, I've never driven on avocados, but I'll take your word for it. I've always thought they had the consistency of butter but without the flavor. So, truthfully, my little fat squirrels are welcome to the fruits of their labor (pun intended).
Green, You know, it's weather like that that's kept me south of the Mason Dixon line. However, if the warming trend continues, soon your weather will be like OUR weather, and I'll be camped at your back door.
Bryan, and they have the cheek to scold me! As they're robbing me!
Avocado is pretty good with some lemon juice. Or as Guacamole. Teh bugs are going to be a much bigger issue than sea levels coming up for quite awhile.
Actually if the sea levels go up, florida will be hit about the hardest of any state. You could lose nearly half the state this century if things are as bad as many suggest. 20 feet (if all of Greenland melted and much of other glaciers including a portion of the south pole) would probably turn florida into a shell of what it once was.
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