Here is a huge freeze event that hit the nation, including Texas. It set many records in temperature and even snowfall. This freeze event is at the level of December 1983 and 1989 freeze events. After the freeze passed, many areas, especially in the Midwest and East Coast warmed up quite a bit a week after the freeze.
http://ams.allenpress.com/archive/1520- ... -4-305.pdf
El Nino
February 1899
Neutral
December 1983
Neutral
December 1989
Neutral
El Nino
ftp://www.coaps.fsu.edu/pub/JMA_SST_Ind ... y.filter-5
North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)
February 1899
Neutral To Slightly Negative
December 1983
Neutral To Slightly Positive
December 1989
Negative
NAO
http://www.cgd.ucar.edu/cas/jhurrell/in ... naostatmon
Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO)
February 1899
NA
December 1983
Positive
December 1989
Neutral To Slightly Negative
PDO
http://jisao.washington.edu/pdo/PDO.latest
Pacific North American Index (PNA)
February 1899
NA
December 1983
Neutral To Slightly Negative
December 1989
Neutral To Slightly Positive
PNA
http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/data/correlation/pna.data
February 1899 Freeze
Moderator: S2k Moderators
Forum rules
The posts in this forum are NOT official forecast and should not be used as such. They are just the opinion of the poster and may or may not be backed by sound meteorological data. They are NOT endorsed by any professional institution or STORM2K.
The posts in this forum are NOT official forecast and should not be used as such. They are just the opinion of the poster and may or may not be backed by sound meteorological data. They are NOT endorsed by any professional institution or STORM2K.
Re: February 1899 Freeze
Oh 1899 was the MOAF and was way more severe than anything on record in TX. 1983 or 89 didn't come close to bringing sub-zero temps in Dallas by 7pm or 8 degrees in Galveston at 11am - with cloudy skies! It was probably a 300 to 500 year event in TX at least. If you're interested I can dig up my old notes on the event
0 likes
Re: February 1899 Freeze
richtrav wrote:Oh 1899 was the MOAF and was way more severe than anything on record in TX. 1983 or 89 didn't come close to bringing sub-zero temps in Dallas by 7pm or 8 degrees in Galveston at 11am - with cloudy skies! It was probably a 300 to 500 year event in TX at least. If you're interested I can dig up my old notes on the event
I like to no more. Yes, the 1899 is the biggest freeze I have seen. It was the biggest for the nation as well.
0 likes
Re: February 1899 Freeze
Well I was going to post a rehash here but I lost the text, you can find most of what I wrote at:
http://www.raingardens.com/psst/articles/artic02.htm
just for added amusement (and to put this year's "cold winter" into perspective), here are the official hi/lo temps from Dallas from Feb 4 to 16:
41/23, 25/20, 26/18, 30/16, 31/12, 47/18, 26/18, 29/15, 19/-10, 13/-10, 34/0, 45/20, 51/32
Interestingly the average temperatures at the end of the 19th century weren't much different than modern winter averages. I know hard freezes affected Tx in 1852, 1873 and 75, 1880-81, 1886, 1888, 1895, 1899, 1917-18, 1930, 1933 (ouch!), 1951, 1962, 1983 and 1989. I also have suspicions about 1800 and 1823 (but doubt 1835 was that bad). None approach the severity of 1899
http://www.raingardens.com/psst/articles/artic02.htm
just for added amusement (and to put this year's "cold winter" into perspective), here are the official hi/lo temps from Dallas from Feb 4 to 16:
41/23, 25/20, 26/18, 30/16, 31/12, 47/18, 26/18, 29/15, 19/-10, 13/-10, 34/0, 45/20, 51/32
Interestingly the average temperatures at the end of the 19th century weren't much different than modern winter averages. I know hard freezes affected Tx in 1852, 1873 and 75, 1880-81, 1886, 1888, 1895, 1899, 1917-18, 1930, 1933 (ouch!), 1951, 1962, 1983 and 1989. I also have suspicions about 1800 and 1823 (but doubt 1835 was that bad). None approach the severity of 1899
0 likes
Re: February 1899 Freeze
41/23, 25/20, 26/18, 30/16, 31/12, 47/18, 26/18, 29/15, 19/-10, 13/-10, 34/0, 45/20, 51/32
I only see a -8 on 2/12 in the 1899 NWS records. Different stations?
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/fwd/?n=dfw02nrm
Great write-up richtrav. For DFW, this reminds of just how intense the December '83 outbreak was. We didn't see anything like those two "vodka" nights of 1899 but looks like we had more single-digit nights, and it was a bit longer in duration. Certainly more record lows in '83. Maybe I'm biased since I actually lived through one... and was old enough to enjoy it playing modified ice hockey on the creeks and tennis courts in the neighborhood!! Good times.
0 likes
Re: February 1899 Freeze
I don't know why but the old records have -10 for Dallas. I've seen similar discrepancies for Brownsville in the late 1800s too, the NWS may have decided to adjust the numbers I don't know. In any event the cold was extreme, it was below 0F for, what, over 15 hours at least? 1983 is right up there in duration, the number of consecutive hours below 20 may be unrivaled but it didn't get as cold as other long lingering cold snaps such as 1895, 1899, and 1930
0 likes
-
cctxhurricanewatcher
- Category 5
- Posts: 1205
- Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2004 8:53 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Re: February 1899 Freeze
Good research, richtrav!
I was a youngster in the RGV during those two freeze events in the 1980's. Economically speaking, the 83 freeze was worse for the region because the Mexican Government had just devalued the Peso which almost always hurts business on this side of the river. Then the freeze blew in and put alot of farm labor and related industry out of business. What 83 didn't get, 89 finished off. But by 1989, the seeds had been planted for the current boom the valley has enjoyed for the better part of the 1990's and the decade we just finished.
Sadly when I go back home, I see areas that used to have acres of citrus are now housing developments or retail. The last time I went back home, I went through the Delta Lake area which still looks the same as it did in the 80's and much of the Citrus trees are big and strong, maybe just getting back to where they were pre 1983? I do recall the Citrus trees were huge before that freeze.
Looking at your research, it looks like the RGV gets hammered at least once a decade with a semi killing freeze, but one that is recoverable for the ag and nursery industries in relative short time. The killing freezes that make those industires start over come maybe every 25-30 years. If so, we'd be on track to have one of those events in the near future. I would hate to see that because it might spell the end for some of those citrus farms and make it attractive for them to sell their land for development much like quite a bit of land around the McAllen area went after 89. I guess it's like the big Hurricane's we've missed here in the Corpus area since Celia in 1970. It's not a matter of "if", but when we'll get a direct hit from a big one.
I was a youngster in the RGV during those two freeze events in the 1980's. Economically speaking, the 83 freeze was worse for the region because the Mexican Government had just devalued the Peso which almost always hurts business on this side of the river. Then the freeze blew in and put alot of farm labor and related industry out of business. What 83 didn't get, 89 finished off. But by 1989, the seeds had been planted for the current boom the valley has enjoyed for the better part of the 1990's and the decade we just finished.
Sadly when I go back home, I see areas that used to have acres of citrus are now housing developments or retail. The last time I went back home, I went through the Delta Lake area which still looks the same as it did in the 80's and much of the Citrus trees are big and strong, maybe just getting back to where they were pre 1983? I do recall the Citrus trees were huge before that freeze.
Looking at your research, it looks like the RGV gets hammered at least once a decade with a semi killing freeze, but one that is recoverable for the ag and nursery industries in relative short time. The killing freezes that make those industires start over come maybe every 25-30 years. If so, we'd be on track to have one of those events in the near future. I would hate to see that because it might spell the end for some of those citrus farms and make it attractive for them to sell their land for development much like quite a bit of land around the McAllen area went after 89. I guess it's like the big Hurricane's we've missed here in the Corpus area since Celia in 1970. It's not a matter of "if", but when we'll get a direct hit from a big one.
0 likes
Re: February 1899 Freeze
Yes the Delta Lake area is still relatively unurbanized due to its distance from any larger towns. The sandier soil there also allows citrus to be grown on hardier rootstocks other than sour orange. The cooler nights also acclimate the trees better to cold.
You are absolutely right about '83 causing more damage, mostly because there was more to destroy. It had been over 20 years since the '62 freeze, which wasn't as hard on the trees due to relative dormancy and younger, more vigorous trees (most were replaced after the devastating '51 freeze which had come when the trees had already broken dormancy, much like the Feb 1895 event in Florida)
One silver lining is that older trees are often replaced by superior cultivars after bad freezes instead of trying to be rehabilitated. In the case of '89 most younger trees were small enough to bank. If you're a citrus afficionado though, I'm afraid the industry in TX is in a general decline due to the urbanization of the Lower Valley. But, having said that, there are other places in the state suitable for citrus production. The Laredo area is good, it's warm and plants harden off much better out there. There are a few groves, mostly backyard operations, in the Carrizo Springs area. Again the cooler nights allow for better hardening.
I'd like to see a good book written about the history of subtropical fruits in the state. It's been known since Blodgett's climate book in the mid-1800s that the hardiness of subtropicals roughly paralleled the Rio Grande instead of following a due N to S pattern. When South Texas started opening up to agriculture in the early 20th century early citrus groves were attemped around Falfurrias. The winters of 1918 and especially 1930 finished them off but spared the bottom of the state. It wasn't until 1951 that the state's citrus industry was brought to its knees (no commercial groves existed in the much colder late 1800s, though I think I recall an account of an orange tree on the King Ranch freezing to the ground in 1899 and coming back).
The climate in deep south Texas is generally warm enough for subtropicals but economics dictates what is grown down here as much as weather. Right now, for instance, it is more profitable to grow palm trees for the southern half of the state than it is to grow tropical fruit (though some try - there's an avocado grove right down the road from here). The lack of extreme cold the past generation has also made this feasible.
As far as when the bad winters will return I don't know, but this string of relative mildness is unprecedented
You are absolutely right about '83 causing more damage, mostly because there was more to destroy. It had been over 20 years since the '62 freeze, which wasn't as hard on the trees due to relative dormancy and younger, more vigorous trees (most were replaced after the devastating '51 freeze which had come when the trees had already broken dormancy, much like the Feb 1895 event in Florida)
One silver lining is that older trees are often replaced by superior cultivars after bad freezes instead of trying to be rehabilitated. In the case of '89 most younger trees were small enough to bank. If you're a citrus afficionado though, I'm afraid the industry in TX is in a general decline due to the urbanization of the Lower Valley. But, having said that, there are other places in the state suitable for citrus production. The Laredo area is good, it's warm and plants harden off much better out there. There are a few groves, mostly backyard operations, in the Carrizo Springs area. Again the cooler nights allow for better hardening.
I'd like to see a good book written about the history of subtropical fruits in the state. It's been known since Blodgett's climate book in the mid-1800s that the hardiness of subtropicals roughly paralleled the Rio Grande instead of following a due N to S pattern. When South Texas started opening up to agriculture in the early 20th century early citrus groves were attemped around Falfurrias. The winters of 1918 and especially 1930 finished them off but spared the bottom of the state. It wasn't until 1951 that the state's citrus industry was brought to its knees (no commercial groves existed in the much colder late 1800s, though I think I recall an account of an orange tree on the King Ranch freezing to the ground in 1899 and coming back).
The climate in deep south Texas is generally warm enough for subtropicals but economics dictates what is grown down here as much as weather. Right now, for instance, it is more profitable to grow palm trees for the southern half of the state than it is to grow tropical fruit (though some try - there's an avocado grove right down the road from here). The lack of extreme cold the past generation has also made this feasible.
As far as when the bad winters will return I don't know, but this string of relative mildness is unprecedented
0 likes
Re: February 1899 Freeze
richtrav wrote:Well I was going to post a rehash here but I lost the text, you can find most of what I wrote at:
http://www.raingardens.com/psst/articles/artic02.htm
just for added amusement (and to put this year's "cold winter" into perspective), here are the official hi/lo temps from Dallas from Feb 4 to 16:
41/23, 25/20, 26/18, 30/16, 31/12, 47/18, 26/18, 29/15, 19/-10, 13/-10, 34/0, 45/20, 51/32
Interestingly the average temperatures at the end of the 19th century weren't much different than modern winter averages. I know hard freezes affected Tx in 1852, 1873 and 75, 1880-81, 1886, 1888, 1895, 1899, 1917-18, 1930, 1933 (ouch!), 1951, 1962, 1983 and 1989. I also have suspicions about 1800 and 1823 (but doubt 1835 was that bad). None approach the severity of 1899
That is some hard freeze. What a long freeze!
What month did the 1886 freeze happen? Also, was there any snow? I know Texas was hit by 4 hurricanes, including the Indianola Hurricane.
0 likes
Re: February 1899 Freeze
The 1886 freeze was during the first half of January. In San Antonio the coldest nights were from the 6th to the 13th, with a minimum of 6 on the 8th. Brownsville I believe had 22 overnight but temps were above freezing in the afternoon, so it surely wasn't as bad as the 1888 freeze 2 years later. 1886 was a long event, lasting 4 days even in FL, and the winter was supposed to have been very cold. If you have access to the book A History of Florida Citrus Freezes there is a good description of the event from someone living near present-day Ormond Beach.
0 likes
Re: February 1899 Freeze
richtrav wrote:The 1886 freeze was during the first half of January. In San Antonio the coldest nights were from the 6th to the 13th, with a minimum of 6 on the 8th. Brownsville I believe had 22 overnight but temps were above freezing in the afternoon, so it surely wasn't as bad as the 1888 freeze 2 years later. 1886 was a long event, lasting 4 days even in FL, and the winter was supposed to have been very cold. If you have access to the book A History of Florida Citrus Freezes there is a good description of the event from someone living near present-day Ormond Beach.
What about the 1876 Freeze? Another hurricane destroyed Indianola in 1875 before 1886. Interesting. I think if there is a freeze before the season, it does not bode well in terms of the tropics, especially a prolonged one like 1886 or 1989. 1886 as I mentioned was a bad year for Texas and Florida because they got hit by hurricanes. Texas got hit by 4 hurricanes, while Florida got hit by 3 hurricanes and all within a 100 mile radius in the eastern panhandle of Florida. Three hurricanes made back to back landfall on Florida within a month period! Three of the four hurricanes hit the Upper Texas Coast that season. A state getting hit by 4 hurricanes would never happen until 2004.
http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/atl ... index.html
I remember the February 1989 freeze, which was prolonged like the 1886 freeze. Following that season, we had flooding rains in May, than TS Allison and Hurricane Chantal and Jerry made landfall. All on the Upper Texas Coast.
0 likes
Re: February 1899 Freeze
All I have on the 1876 freeze was what the Army reported from Ft Brown, which was retrieved off a microfilm roll I purchased. This of course was pre-NWS. I don't have data for temperatures farther north in the state. I think JB once noted a rough correspondence between active hurricane years and cold winters but there are also many exceptions to that (look at 2005-2006). Then again, the third worst freeze in Brownsville (1880-81) came shortly after what was probably the strongest hurricane to ever make a direct strike on the town (in August 1880. By the way disregard any reports of an October 1880 hurricane in S Texas - they're not true and it was likely confused with the August storm somewhere along the way - sort of like the 1866 snowfall)
Something that is not lost on me, however, is the tendency for Arctic outbreaks to tend to occur in clusters and, not only that, but at similar dates during those clusters. Prime examples in TX are Feb 1895 and 1899; the end of Jan 1948,1949 and 1951; mid Jan 1962 and 1963 (1964 too?); and late Dec 1983, 1989 and 1990. I believe 1886 and 1888 also fell on similar dates. Of course there are many exceptions to this also.
Something that is not lost on me, however, is the tendency for Arctic outbreaks to tend to occur in clusters and, not only that, but at similar dates during those clusters. Prime examples in TX are Feb 1895 and 1899; the end of Jan 1948,1949 and 1951; mid Jan 1962 and 1963 (1964 too?); and late Dec 1983, 1989 and 1990. I believe 1886 and 1888 also fell on similar dates. Of course there are many exceptions to this also.
0 likes
-
Scott Patterson
- Category 2
- Posts: 796
- Age: 50
- Joined: Wed Mar 22, 2006 6:52 pm
- Location: Near Craig Colorado
- Contact:
Re: February 1899 Freeze
I don't know why but the old records have -10 for Dallas
If interested, the -8F reading comes from the Dallas/Fort Worth Station. The -10F comes from a Dallas station.
Here is a huge freeze event that hit the nation, including Texas. It set many records in temperature and even snowfall. This freeze event is at the level of December 1983 and 1989 freeze events.
One interesting thing about the 1899 cold spell is that it was nation wide. Every state dropped below zero during that time period. In fact, the only states not to drop below -20F during the cold snap were Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina (the Mt. Mitchell station was not operating then or it surely would have been well below -20F), South Carolina and Florida, and all but Florida dropped below -10F.
The other two cold snaps mentioned were not nation wide.
The 1983 cold snap did make it to some areas west of the Continental Divide, but it wasn't extreme. The 1989 cold snap didn't make it west of the Continental Divide at all. In fact, December 1989 was one of the mildest Decembers in many western locations.
0 likes
Re: February 1899 Freeze
I found this map in a PDF somewhere ... I love these old maps. Be amazed ...
0 likes
Re: February 1899 Freeze
Ptarmigan wrote:Here is a huge freeze event that hit the nation, including Texas. It set many records in temperature and even snowfall. This freeze event is at the level of December 1983 and 1989 freeze events. After the freeze passed, many areas, especially in the Midwest and East Coast warmed up quite a bit a week after the freeze.
http://ams.allenpress.com/archive/1520- ... -4-305.pdf
El Nino
February 1899
Neutral
December 1983
Neutral
December 1989
Neutral
El Nino
ftp://www.coaps.fsu.edu/pub/JMA_SST_Ind ... y.filter-5
North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)
February 1899
Neutral To Slightly Negative
December 1983
Neutral To Slightly Positive
December 1989
Negative
NAO
http://www.cgd.ucar.edu/cas/jhurrell/in ... naostatmon
Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO)
February 1899
NA
December 1983
Positive
December 1989
Neutral To Slightly Negative
PDO
http://jisao.washington.edu/pdo/PDO.latest
Pacific North American Index (PNA)
February 1899
NA
December 1983
Neutral To Slightly Negative
December 1989
Neutral To Slightly Positive
PNA
http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/data/correlation/pna.data
Just imagine what it was like 10,000 years ago with the last ice age...Galveston probably recorded -10 to -15F, and Dallas -20 to -30F.
0 likes
“If you thought that science was certain - well, that is just an error on your part.”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 23 guests