Jan Null of Golden Gate Weather writes:
Based on hourly weather observations a number of minimum temperature records were either set or tied in the Bay Area this morning.
Today Previous 2/26 record
City Min Temp Min Year
San Rafael 28 32 in 1996
Napa 27 30 in 1945
San Francisco 37 37 in 1962
SF Arpt 36 36 in 1971
Oakland 35 38 in 1987
Oakland Arpt 32 34 in 1962
San Jose 33 33 in 1897
These are unofficial values and some sites could be a degree or so lower when the official minima are collected later today.
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The cold storm did little in the way of snow, and has moved south:
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Is it true that ex-VP Al Gore lives in that area?
These record lows were a direct result of everyone leaving the bay area in their SUV’s and hybrids to head off to Tahoe for a weekend of skiing in fresh new powder.
The sudden drop in CO2 emissions resulted in less greenhouse effect for the area, and the sudden cooling.
The impact to the Tahoe region has been abnormally high temperatures, higher by roughly 0.6degC according to computer models. (a model on my computer, wherein I cleverly spliced a .6 after a zero in a program I call “Calculator”)
My equipment here in the hills east of Richmond recorded a low of 26.4F.
Not much snow in Shangri-La (NW Ca.) but the cold is near-record with 18 degrees (record 16 in 1945).
Tonight is supposed to be far colder, so this is not over yet.
Al Gore doesn’t live here, last Pres. type visitor was Herbert Hoover.
Yes, I believe so. He moved there to save on the high cost (CO2 cost) of air conditioning his massive home in Nashville, although he still keeps the air conditioner running in case he happens to dash home on impulse on his private jet. On those occasions, he sometimes is so anxious to get home, he has to send the jet back to CA to pick up his staff–he just couldn’t wait for them to get ready. /sarc off
Who knew that AGW cold cause such a cold spell in 1962? Or is it only current cold spells are caused by AGW? All so confusing.
But the models know.
Meanwhile, out here in Flyover Territory, Anthony’s favorite meteorologist, WGN Chicago’s Tom Skilling reports:
“February might be the shortest month, but it has packed a wintry punch this year. The snowfall overnight set a new record for the month of February. As of this morning, the snow total for this month was 28.6 inches, National Weather Service meteorologist Bill Wilson said.
The previous record was set in 1896 at 27.8 inches. And the month isn’t over yet.
I see you have a hard freeze warning for the higher elevations. Too funny. We will beat that hard freeze by a mile but don’t get the warnings. Why? Cuz we are used to a hard freeze in February/March. If the NWS just went by hard freeze temperature criteria instead of location, the upper US would be colored all dark blue.
The San Jose record is impressive – 33F not reached since 1897!
I’m visiting Calgary just now, 2 nights ago it reached -30C.
I guess this will eliminate those fears that, with AGW, the temps wouldn’t drop far enough for the plant life to detect winter conditions.
Instead, we will hear endless droning about the Q10 effect.
This was just an unusual weather pattern (more common in La Nina years though) that spun a low pressure out of Canada while we already had a Northerly jet stream coming out of the Yukon.
I think you’ll find a lot of records in both Oregon and Washington this morning as well (Portland, OR was 19 degrees this morning, with the previous record being 20 degrees 1962).
Yeah, I was 16 degrees outside of Portland.
Perhaps a dumb question – is there any danger that the crops grown there during winter could be damaged ? Or the growing season shortened ? I would think the grape industry does not like freezing weather.
All those CFL light bulbs people have been using have had the desired effect.
I say we declare success and not take any further measures to halt global warming lest we overcorrect and make it too cold!
Can grapevines survive very cold weather?
Oh well, now you know why the saxons brewed beer when the Romans went home
So how much CO2 must the climate boffins remove from “the model” to duplicate this much cold and snow? Inquiring minds need to know.
CRS Dr.P.H
“The previous record was set in 1896 at 27.8 inches. ”
and February 1896 had 29 days.
Even with UHI…it’s an impressive Winter. Can’t wait until the AMO goes cold.
phlogiston says: ……I’m visiting Calgary just now, 2 nights ago it reached -30C.
just south of Calgary, i recorded -32.5C that night/morning, we are going to get a blast of warm air now and scream up to close to -5 before we head right back to -20 C again…..but this is just weather thank goodness!
Oregon Interstate 84 just might have to shut down East of Troutdale. It is witch-tit cold and a bit of rain is on the way. I wonder when the last time I84 closed in Feb/March?
It sleeted in Pasadena this morning. That’s got to be pretty rare.
Dave Springer says:
February 26, 2011 at 9:59 am
Good question: How much CO2 must be removed from the models to make them match current observations?
I’d say 200 – 600%.
Dear god I hope the grapes in Sonoma Valley weren’t badly damaged. What will I drown my AGW angst in if I can’t get my favourite shiraz?
Grapevines, grapes, wine, and cold weather:
The deal is that the vines’ cold hardiness varies by type to a certain degree so some varieties come through a cold spell less damaged than others. However, the main thing is that they need to “harden off” before the cold settles in. If their roots reach sufficient water they will remain green and a quick freeze can kill buds and entire plants to ground level and even the root systems. For vines not on their own roots (most places except Washington State and Chile), if the plant is killed to ground level it has to be replaced as the rootstock’s own grapes are not wanted for wine.
Once hardened off and protected by snow, vines do very well in cold winters. Early spring warm temperatures followed by below freezing temperatures can harm buds and reduce yields. Wet and windy during the flowering is bad because grapes are self-pollinating and nasty weather and inhibit pollination and lead to “shot-clusters” – bunches that are not filled out, or are “open.”
Once ripened in the nice warm and sunny weather of fall, grapes can be left on the vines until the temperature does drop far enough below freezing (to about -8°C or 17° F) to crystallize the water and then picked and crushed. This concentrates the juice and allows the production of ice wine. (#2)
General ref:
http://www.canr.msu.edu/vanburen/grpcold.htm
#2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_wine
Friend up in the Mendocino hills is snowed in. Friend said they experienced a few flakes this morning near Los Altos.
@Anoneumouse
The vines are dormant right now, and anyone who’s been awake for anytime at all this past week, knew to take precautions with their plants.
It was 30DegF this morning in LosGatos. (Borders San Jose’s southern border.)