Posted on 01/09/2010 5:04:35 PM PST by Libloather
Record freeze in Florida
Jan 10, 2010
MIAMI - A SHARP Arctic front sweeping the United States brought unusual snow to many of the deep southern states on Saturday, and leaving normally balmy Florida shivering from record icy lows.
At least nine deaths were blamed on the freezing snap that blanketed much of the central part of the country this week, CNN said.
In sub-tropical Florida, Key West - the southernmost point in the continental United States - saw it's coldest day in 112 years, with a low of 47 degrees Fahrenheit (8.3 degrees Celsius).
The cold air was expected to settle over the state through the weekend with freezing temperatures set to remain until Monday.
The National Weather Service (NWS) also issued severe wind chill alerts for the Midwest, warning that even limited exposure to the cold could cause frostbite or hypothermia.
The Arctic air mass across the central states was bringing wind chills below minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-28 degrees Celsius) as officials said the conditions could mean frostbite in less than 30 minutes. -- AFP
TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. - Across the so-called Sunshine State, oranges and strawberries are freezing, icicles are hanging off palm fronds, and iguanas paralyzed by the cold are falling out of trees.
Temperatures have plunged as low as the 20s in recent days, forcing people used to wearing flip-flops year-round to put on earmuffs.
"I am a warm-weather boy. There's no way I'm going out there," laughed Archie Adkins of Pensacola Beach as he pointed at bundled-up beachgoers.
And Floridians better bundle up: Flurries are forecast for the Panhandle on Thursday, and temperatures in the rest of the state are running at least 20 degrees below normal.
That prolonged freeze could also doom some of the nonnative iguanas that have called Florida home since being illegally introduced from South America by pet owners.
"It's almost like they go totally to sleep," Ron Magill of Miami Metrozoo told WPLG TV, referring to the fact that once temperatures drop into the 40s, iguanas shut down with very little blood flow and only their heart beating.
This is an excerpt.
http://www.wtvynews4.com/home/headlines/80994737.html
Also killing the snook. The Intracoastal around Ft. Pierce is littered with dead fish. The buzzards are having a field day.
“That prolonged freeze could also doom some of the nonnative iguanas that have called Florida home since being illegally introduced from South America by pet owners.”
If only it were that easy...never mind...illegals, they should get some sort of special help shouldn’t they? Motel rooms? Room service?
I have lights for heat on my orange tree here in NE Florida. I hope it survives. It’s a great tree that produces 200+ oranges every December.
OMG...we just drove through Fort Pierce yesterday. We are staying in Jupiter. Hoping it warms up before we go home to very, very cold northern PA!
What? Agore is on holiday there?
Most of them are still alive just floating belly up.
We had a mix of sleet and a few snow flakes here (Brandon) east of Tampa in the early afternoon. It has not stayed so cold for so long since I’ve lived down here.
Meanwhile, in the SF Bay Area, it’s another loony “Spare the Air” Day and it is illegal to heat our house with firewood.
So is the orange crops a total loss or what? Does the whole orange tree die, or just the orange?
Iguanas drop from trees.
Tastes just like chicken...
This cold snap in FL is all my fault! I jokingly told everyone that since we were going to Florida in January that it would probably be one of the coldest in history! Now I wish I had kept my mouth shut! Sorry!!
Yes, and FWC said they aren’t in season, so you can’t take them. Go figure.....!
And now they have banned firelogs on Spare the air day...
If your fireplace is your only source of heat ,you are exempt..
Slainte..
Iguanas are a central american delicacy.
Any word on the status of the even less cute n’ cuddly Burmese Pythons?
Sopi Di Yuwana (Iguana Soup)
You probably won’t find Iguana meat in your local super market. You will have to aquire them yourself or from a friend. Kill, clean, skin and cut the Iguana into serving pieces. For more information on Iguana preparation check out the Iguana page link at the left.
* 1 Iguana
* 1 1/2 quarts of iguana broth (or chicken broth)
* 2 Chicken bouillon cubes
* 1 Clove of garlic
* 1 Leek
* 1 Tomato, coarsely chopped
* 1 Onion, studded with 3 cloves
* 1 Green Pepper, quartered
* 1/4 small Cabbage
* 1 tsp Cumin
* 1 dash Nutmeg
* Salt and Pepper
* 2 oz Vermicelli
Prepare chicken broth in heavy kettle, add garlic, leek, tomato, onion, green pepper and cabbage. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for thirty minutes. Add the iguana, and simmer an additional half hour, or until the meat is tender. Remove from the fire. Strain broth, discarding vegetables. Bone the iguana and set the meat aside.
Return the broth to the fire and add cumin, nutmeg, vermicelli and salt and pepper. Simmer for about five minutes until the vermicelli is tender. Add the iguana and heat thoroughly. Serve piping hot with Funchi (Corn meal mush).
Yield: 6 servings
http://floridakeystreasures.com/2009/05/03/sopi-di-yuwana-iguana-soup/#more-110
The oranges will freeze and be ruined by a mild freeze, just a couple hours under 30* or so.
A “hard freeze” can kill the entire tree. That’s defined as 26* or lower for five hours. We’ve had worse than that for several night.
FWC is a RINO creation and a giant waste of money. They ride around in patent leather shoes and check the stickers you waste money on that look ugly on your boat. I am waiting for a few grouper to float up over here in Tampa Bay...Tasty.
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