Comparing recent temps to temps in the 70's and 80's

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cuja1
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Location: Springfield, IL zone 5b/6a

Comparing recent temps to temps in the 70's and 80's

Post by cuja1 » Wed Aug 26, 2015 6:40 am

It occurred to me to see what temperatures where like in the 80's and 70's in Springfield. Specifically 77,78,79, and 83. I had always heard that we had worse winters in the past. After the winter of 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 I figured the winters from the 70's and 80's couldn't have been much worse. Boy was I wrong. According to weather underground Springfied, IL had 28 days straight where the temp never got above freezing in the 76/77 winter 12 days during this period the temperature dropped below 0. In the winter of 2013/2014 we had a 11 straight days below freezing and 6 days with sub 0 temps during that period of 11 days. Carbondale in Southern Illinois (about 150 miles south of Springfield) had 18 days below freezing in 1983. It looks like the winters that Springfield has now are somewhat comparable to what winters where like in southern Illinois in the 70's and 80's. 1977 in Springfield looks like it was a winter that they would have in Minnesota. I checked Minneapolis's temps for 1977 and there was nothing on record.

I guess I can say goodbye to my crepe myrtles, southern mags, and mimosas if we ever have a repeat of a winter like we had in the 70's and 80's.


Jeff

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TerdalFarm
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Post by TerdalFarm » Wed Aug 26, 2015 6:19 pm

Good research.

Yeah, warmer on average. But, that doesn't mean you cannot get the odd winter that is super cold.

cuja1
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Location: Springfield, IL zone 5b/6a

Post by cuja1 » Thu Aug 27, 2015 6:07 am

TerdalFarm wrote:Good research.

Yeah, warmer on average. But, that doesn't mean you cannot get the odd winter that is super cold.
That's what I'm afraid of. I'm starting to think anything that couldn't be currently grown in Minneapolis isn't bullet proof here. Supposedly my "Ernest Wilson" mimosa is a zone 5b. It's supposed to be hardier than other varieties. I'd like to see someone in Minnesota try one and see what happens.

I think even boxwoods and hollies would fry from our 1977 winter.
Jeff

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