Joe’s Disco Weather Central Time Capsule

Hi everybody and happy Thanksgiving! The weather the last few days have been absolutely gorgeous! You have to admit; I think we have some of the best weather in the country. We are very fortunate to be able to live in such a paradise! The cool dry air really brings out the holiday spirit in all of us. One of the best ways to express our holiday spirit is to decorate with holiday plants. One of the most popular is the poinsettia plant. Being in retail garden, I have unpacked an astounding number of these delicate bushes. In fact, over the course of 24 years in the horticulture business, I have handled no less then 90,000 of these colorful plants! On average about 3000 per year.

Here are some interesting facts about the poinsettia plant:

· The Aztecs called poinsettias “Cuetlaxochitle”. During the 14^th – 16^th century, the sap was used the control fevers and the bracts were used to make a reddish dye.

· The botanical name for the poinsettia, Euphorbia Pulcherria, was assigned to this colorful plant by the German botanist, Wilenow. The plant was growing through a crack in his greenhouse. He was so dazzled by its color that he gave it this botanical name, which means “very Beautiful”.

· Poinsettias are native to Mexico.

· Poinsettias are a perennial shrub that can grow up to ten feet tall.

· The colorful part of the plant that many people think are the blooms are actually bracts or modified leaves.

· Poinsettias are not poisonous. For many years, people have believed that these plants were deadly poisonous.

· A fresh poinsettia is one that little or no pollen shows on the flower clusters.

· Poinsettias are the best selling potted plant during the holiday season with sales upward and beyond sixty million plants per season.

How to select a poinsettia plant:

· Choose plants with dark green foliage.

· Choose bracts that are dark green in color.

· Do not purchase plants that have a lot of green around the bracts.

· Choose plants that are not displayed in paper or plastic sleeves.

Tips on caring for your new treasure:

· Be sure to keep your plant away from cold drafts and low temperatures. If they are outside, protect them if temperatures go lower then 50.

· Keep your poinsettia near a sunny window where it will get plenty of light.

· Check the soil for water daily. Be sure the plant has good drainage and it does not sit in water. Water evenly if soil is dry.

I hope you find these tips interesting and helpful. Now, on to the Time Capsule….

Here are some National past weather events:

· November 28, 1921 -- New England was in the midst of a four-day icestorm, their worst of record. Ice was more than three inches thick in many places following the storm, and property damage was in the millions of dollars. Northern New England received heavy snow with more than two feet reported in some areas. Overnight freezing rains continued through the day at Worcester MA while the wind increased to a gale. Streets become impassable even on foot, and whole towns were plunged into darkness without communication. The storm caused 20 million dollars damage to power lines, telephone lines and trees.

· November 28, 1960 -- A severe storm produced waves 20 to 40 feet high on Lake Superior. Duluth MN was buried under a foot of snow, and clocked wind gusts to 73 mph. The northern shore of Lake Superior was flooded, and property along the shore was battered. Thousands of cords of pulpwood were washed into Lake Superior, and up to three feet of water flooded the main street of Grand Marais. Thunder accompanied the "nor'easter".

· November 28, 1898 -- The mercury plunged to 51 degrees below zero at Havre MT. It marked the culmination of a two week long cold wave caused by a stagnate high pressure area similar to those over Siberia during the winter. During the month of November temperatures across Montana and the Dakotas averaged 15 to 25 degrees below normal.

· November 28, 1969 -- Dense fog along the Jersey Turnpike resulted in a chain reaction of vehicle collisions during the morning rush hour. A propane truck jacknifed and was struck by a trailor truck, and other vehicles piled into the fiery mass.

· November 28, 1875 -- A severe early season cold wave set November records in the northeastern U.S. The temperature dipped to 5 above zero at New York City, 2 below at Boston Mass., and 13 below at Eastport Maine.

· November 28, 1957 -- Lee slope winds enhanced by Hurricane Nina gusted to 82 mph at Honolulu, Hawaii, a record wind gust for that location. Wainiha, on the island of Kauai, was deluged with 20.42 inches of rain, and 35 foot waves pounded some Kauai beaches, even though the eye of the hurricane was never within 120 miles of the islands. (30th-1st)

· December 1, 1831 -- The coldest December of record in the northeastern U.S. commenced. Temperatures in New York City averaged 22 degrees, with just four days above freezing, and at Burlington VT the temperature never did get above freezing. The Erie Canal was closed the first day of December, and remained closed the entire month.

· December 2, 1896 -- An early season snow and ice storm struck the southeastern U.S. It produced 11 inches of snow at Charlotte N.C., and six inches at Atlanta Georgia.

· December 3, 1856 -- A severe blizzard began to rage across Iowa and Kansas. It produced as much as 16 inches of snow in Iowa.

· December 4, 1766 -- The first of two great early December storms began. The storm produced 18 inches of snow at Morristown NJ, and twenty inches of snow at New Haven CT. It also resulted in high tides at Nantucket which did great damage.

· December 5, 1953 -- A killer tornado hit Vicksburg MS killing 38 persons, injuring 270 others, and causing 25 million dollars damage, the most damage since the forty-seven days of continuous shelling the town received in the Civil War.

· December 6, 1886 -- A great snowstorm hit the southern Appalachain Mountains. The three day storm produced 25 inches at Rome GA, 33 inches at Asheville NC, and 42 inches in the mountains. Montgomery AL received a record eleven inches of snow. Columbia SC received one to two inches of sleet.

Now for some local past events….

· November 29, 1963 -- Lee Co., Pine Island - Thunderstorm Winds unroofed one building and uprooted many trees.

· November 30, 1925 -- west central Florida -- An extremely rare late November hurricane began to affect the west coast of Florida as it strengthened during the day. The storm made landfall very early on the 1st of December.

· November 30, 1961 -- Palm Beach Co., West Palm Beach - Hail ranging from marble to golf ball size damaged nurseries and vegetable crops.

· November 30, 1996 -- Santa Rosa County, Broxson -- a weak F2 tornado caused major damage to 5 mobile homes, and 4 houses. Seven people were injured.

· 1 l968 -0930 - l025 - Escambia and Santa Rosa Co. - A waterspout was reported near Pensacola. The sound was described as "like an aircraft crashing into a building."

· December 1-2, 1925 -- north Florida and Peninsula -- Extremely rare December Hurricane made landfall south of Tampa Bay early on the 1st, weakened to a tropical storm as it crossed central Florida, and exited around St. Augustine. The storm regained Hurricane strength off Jacksonville late on the 1st. Heavy rain continued over northeast Florida on the 2nd. Gale force winds were reported from the Keys to Jacksonville and loss of life exceeded 50, mostly on ships at sea. Damage along the coast south of Jacksonville was heavy and excessive rain and wind seriously damaged citrus and truck crops.

· December 3, l971 -- Sarasota and Manatee Counties - Tornado Outbreak - A fast moving cold front pushed southeastward through Sarasota County and Manatee County preceded by thunderstorm winds, heavy rain and at least five tornadoes. Roofs were ripped off, trees and utility lines downed. A tornado moved across the Venice Airport damaging three planes, and into the winter quarters of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum Bailey Circus collapsing two large tents. 3.l9" of rain fell at Venice and 2.65" at Sarasota causing some water damage. Ten people were injured by the tornadoes.

· December 3, l990 -- Escambia and Washington Counties --From Jay to Vernon severe thunderstorm winds downed power lines and uprooted trees.

· December 4, l95l -- Polk Co., Kathleen -- Tornado demolished a packing shed and a garage and downed about a dozen trees.

· December 4-5, l994 -- eastern Palm Beach Co. -- Urban Flood -- Widespread rainfall of three to 7 inches, with a maximum of l4.33 inches, was measured across east Palm Beach County during a 24-hour period. Roadways were flooded and minor water damage was reported to some businesses in Delray Beach and Boca Raton. The combination of heavy rains and low astronomical tides caused many sea walls along canals to collapse. Sugar cane harvesting was halted due to the flooding of fields.

· December 5 l977, -- Putnam Co. -- A tornado touched down in Palatka and moved across the St. Johns River. A fisherman in a small boat was drowned. One man was seriously injured when a marina collapsed on him.

· December 6, l969 -- early afternoon -- Franklin Co., Apalachicola -- Thunderstorm Winds up to 40 mph sank boats and damaged wharf.

· December 7, 1992 -- Monroe Co., Key West -- A waterspout was sighted south of the Boca Chica Naval Air Station.

· December 07, 1996 -- Hillsborough, Riverview -- A short-lived but strong (F2) tornado touched down just east of I-75 near Riverview, tracking across the Cowley Cove Mobile Home Complex where it completely destroyed 3 mobile homes and damaged 6 others. One human fatality, a fifty year-old male, (and three dogs) occurred when the occupants unanchored mobile home was lifted up by tornadic winds and tossed nearly 100' from it's foundation into a neighbor's yard wher it disintegrated on impact. At least 5-parked cars were damaged by the tornado along with several sheds and outbuildings. Of note: a parked undrivable vehicle that was in the direct path of the tornado had most of it's contents sucked from the hatchback storage compartment, including a removed 100 lb transmission. Inspection of the vehicle found that the hatchback skin was buckled, bowed and pushed outward from the inside of the vehicle by the transmission casing that eventually smashed upward and out through the rear hatchback window.

That’s it for this week’s Time Capsule, I hope you enjoy it. If you have any weather questions or want me to cover a certain topic in the column, please e-mail me at JOESDISCOWEATHER@AOL.COM. As always for the latest in severe and winter weather updates go to JOESDISCOWEATHERCENTRAL.COM! You can also join me every Saturday morning for a free cup of coffee and a free copy of the Hometown News at the Stuart K Mart Garden Center!