The Carolina anoles (Anolis carolinensis) are emerging. . .months early. . .
in response to the extremely warm temperatures. When I first started seeing
them today the thermometer was reading a very warm 82° F (28 C).
I opened the garbage cans to put in some trash and out came several anoles
running and jumping onto my pant-legs.
I don't mind the little "lizards" as they're called locally, as long as they don't get in
the shower. . . otherwise they don't bother me running around the house.
They can squeeze in through tiny holes under doors and around windows. . .
or jump in when a door is opened.
Anoles typically start breeding in April. . .
but it appears that this year they're starting a little early.
The extended dewlap (red throat) is a mating ritual performed by males seeking a mate.
This little guy (above) is on a verbena family weed that's blooming quite early.
I find the eggs everywhere. . . they are larger than one would imagine. . . about
the size of a dime. Once they hatch the little anoles have to fend for
themselves. Solitary by nature, the little ones are not cared for by either parent.
Here I had a little fun with photoshop. . . this anole makes a kind of interesting
image . . . with glowing edges. The original -- unedited image is above.
Click on any image to enlarge. Right click or drag to desktop to copy.
One of the few flowers blooming today are the roses which are not susceptible to
the infrequent cold weather or drought that we've been experiencing.
6 MORE WEEKS OF NON-WINTER
Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning, indicating 6 more weeks of winter. . .
so says the official word posted at GROUNDHOG DAY. According to tradition when Phil see's his shadow on Groundhog Day, winter can be expected to last another six solid weeks across the United States.
WHAT WINTER? The non-winter of 2011-2012
Considering winter hasn't really arrived in the lower 48 states, its questionable how much validity we can give to Phil's forecast. In most of the United States we've had something more like three straight months of November weather. There have been no major sbnowstorms, and frequent sunny days with high temperatures in the 50°s F (13° C) -- 25° F above average -- have been common across the northern tier of the United States.
January 2012 is in the weather record books as the 3rd least-snowy January for the contiguous U.S. since snow records began in 1966, the Rutgers University Snow Lab reports. And. . . December 2011 ranked as the 11th least snowy December on record.
The latest 2-week forecast from the GFS weather forecast computer model indicates a huge ridge of high pressure will dominate the Western United States and no major snowstorms will occur over the U.S. through mid-February.
Temperature statistics for January will not be avilalbe until next week but it is expected that January will be among the top-five warmest in history with temperatures 4 - 5° F above average. If U.S. temperatures remain 4 - 5° above average through February, the winter of 2011-2012 will be the warmest in U.S. history. The five warmest U.S. winters since record keeping began in 1895 have all occurred since 1992, with the winter of 1999 - 2000 holding the record for the warmest winter. Winter average temperatures in the contiguous U.S. have been increasing by about 1.6° F. per century since 1895 (see graphic above. . .click on graphic for a larger view).
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE WEATHER?
This January's remarkable warmth and lack of snow has been due to a particularly positive Arctic Oscillation index (AO). The Arctic Oscillation is a measure of the jet stream's strength. A positive AO is a stronger than average jet stream which tends to keep cold air bottled up in the Arctic. During a typical positive AO event the Arctic is colder than average. . . and the mid-latitudes (where the USA is located) are warmer than average. In December and early January, the AO was positive.
CHANGING PATTERN?
In mid-January, the AO went negative. . . which scientists would expect to have the opposite impact on weather (cooler episodes across continental USA). A weaker jet stream means cold Arctic air can escape to the south. . . and that's what's been happening in Europe this week. This cold air has not yet spilled southwards into the Eastern USA like it usually does during a negative-AO period.
The long-range GFS model is predicting a modest cold air outbreak will occur over the Eastern USA around February 15. Reasonably accurate forecasts only extend out 10 days. . . for Central Florida the 10-day forecast (for February 11) is currently predicting high temperatures in the mid-70°s F (24° C).
The Florida drought will likely worsen through February as La Niña conditions persist in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Currently all of Florida is experiencing abnormally dry to extremely dry conditions (chart above).
For more art photography and news from the world of science visit
Websites we're following today:
Following the Republican assault on the Middle Class
and Medicare
Working to protect and restore native predators
and their habitats in the Northern Rockies
Promoting an understanding of large carnivore
heritage through education and community outreach
Tell President Obama that you do not support the killing
of America's wolves (click the link above).
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