SE TX/SW LA Winter WX - 2011-2012

[jasons2k]

I have not seen the 5:00 segment, but I do have this to report

4PM - Mary Lee reported a bit live from our front porch - they didn't show any plants though
6PM - She reported from the side yard, and sorta tossed one of our little sheets over my potted pony tail palm. It was almost silly looking hehe.

Anyway - it was nothing real long or special. They didn't show the back yard or anything. The oddest thing is that my neighbors started texting me, wondering if I had won the lottery!! That was pretty funny.

Oh, and Mary Lee hung-out in our living room and watched the news with us - now that was pretty neat.

vbhoutex - I'll post some pics later of my wrappings and a shot of the KPRC satellite van parked out front.

[vbhoutex]

I have not seen the 5:00 segment, but I do have this to report

4PM - Mary Lee reported a bit live from our front porch - they didn't show any plants though
6PM - She reported from the side yard, and sorta tossed one of our little sheets over my potted pony tail palm. It was almost silly looking hehe.

Anyway - it was nothing real long or special. They didn't show the back yard or anything. The oddest thing is that my neighbors started texting me, wondering if I had won the lottery!! That was pretty funny.

Oh, and Mary Lee hung-out in our living room and watched the news with us - now that was pretty neat.

vbhoutex - I'll post some pics later of my wrappings and a shot of the KPRC satellite van parked out front.

Damn I wish I hadn't been so busy this afternoon. I would have watched. Can't wait for the pics movie star!!

[jasons2k]

The truck parked by my driveway:



Here are some freeze protection shots from last year. I took more extreme measures since it got down to 19F - well below the known tolerance for Majesty Palms.

This is the largest. First, I trimmed the fronds and then cinched them tightly, so that they were vertical. You must wrap above the crown and this is the only way to do it unless you hack-off every frond (and that is not recommended).

Next, I wrapped it from above the crown all the way to the ground with freeze cloth. I normally just wrap it and leave it at that. For this one event, however, I employed even more drastic measures. This included:

- taping off the top
- employing a 35,000 Btu outdoor propane heater



- something to protect the trunk/cloth form getting too burned, but would trap heat efficiently --> the blue tarp. Important note: using any kind of tarp or plastic is NOT recommended to cover your plants or bedding. When the sun comes out, it will suffocate and kill your plants. In this case, I have the back open allow some air exchange and I removed it during the day. I just have it clamped on there for some added protection.



Another shot:



But they lived:



You can see where I had the Pygmy date wrapped:

[BigB0882]

Already in the 20's here in Baton Rouge, sitting at 28/29.

[jasons2k]

Heh - I barely touched 32F this morning - clouds sure did help!

[srainhoutx]

31 for over 3 hours now. Not bad and I'll take it.

[southerngale]

It *only* got down to 27° here last night. It was supposed to be colder, but I guess the clouds kept the temp in check. It did fall below freezing at 10 something last night so we've been below freezing for quite a while. It's currently only 29° - brrrr

[CajunMama]

It dropped to 21 here and is only up to 28 now

[JSDS]

We got down to a quite chilly 21 this morning. It's made it up to 27 now, but IMHO, unless we get snow with the low temps, that's WAY TOO COLD!!!

[srainhoutx]

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
952 AM CST THU JAN 13 2011

.DISCUSSION...
S/W CURRENTLY PASSING OVERHEAD WITH SOME LIGHT RETURNS SHOWING UP
ON RADAR. PRECIP FALLING INTO A VERY DRY SUB CLOUD LAYER AND VAST
MAJORITY WILL EVAPORATE BEFORE EVER REACHING THE GROUND. WOULDN`T
BE SURPRISED WITH A REPORT OR TWO OF A SLEET PELLET OR FLURRY, BUT
DO NOT FEEL CHANCES ARE EVEN WORTH MENTIONING. THE H5 TROF AXIS
SHOULD PUSH SE OF THE REGION BY EARLY AFTN BUT CLOUDY SKIES WILL
REMAIN. THIS WILL KEEP TEMPS FROM WARMING MUCH. TWEAKED HIGHS DOWN
A TOUCH FOR TODAY...OTHERWISE CURRENT FCST LOOKING FINE.

[vbhoutex]

We went down to 31f this am under a good cloud cover. Radar is starting to show returns but not seeing anything coming down outside yet and don't really expect to see any but I can be hopeful. Currently at 34 and not warming at all that I see. May not get out of the 30's at this rate.

[jasons2k]

It's been holding steady at 39 here for hours.

[srainhoutx]

It's been holding steady at 39 here for hours.

38 has been the theme here, Jason. Even had a virga shower earlier.

[vbhoutex]

It's been holding steady at 39 here for hours.

38 has been the theme here, Jason. Even had a virga shower earlier.

Ditto!

[TexasSam]

39 and sprinkling here. with a 21 dew point shouldn't take much to get something frozen.

[jasons2k]

Before I forget - I got .94" from the weekend storms...

[srainhoutx]

FROPA in NW Harris County at this time. It sure is ahead of schedule...

[vbhoutex]

FROPA in NW Harris County at this time. It sure is ahead of schedule...

Just had FROPA here about 15-20 minutes ago. A brief smattering of light rain with it. Definitely about 2-3 hours ahead of schedule. Temp down about 6 degrees so far.

[Tireman4]

The temperature drops are incredible. 34 at Waco, 43 at College Station

[vbhoutex]

FROPA in NW Harris County at this time. It sure is ahead of schedule...

Just had FROPA here about 15-20 minutes ago. A brief smattering of light rain with it. Definitely about 2-3 hours ahead of schedule. Temp down about 6 degrees so far.

Now down another 6 degrees.