Mid-morning in Madison, Wisconsin. Sunny, clear skies. Air temperature -20F/-29C. Wind chill -45F/-42C. (source, source)
The map below shows tomorrow's expected temperatures in terms of the difference from normal (scale at right):
It's interesting to note how the Great Lakes provide a thermal buffer as this arctic front passes - just as in the summer they provide regional cooling during heat waves.
I worry about the butterflies and their eggs and pupae. But perhaps their predators will also be impacted.
I wouldn't worry too much about the critter's eggs and puppae. I am sure you have seen the documentary about anthrax in dry spells in Africa. In short, a boost of survival of the fit. The ones you will see in the summer, will be the strong ones.
ReplyDeleteI am sure this isn't their first rodeo as a species.
I'm unexpectedly fostering a lizard for the next night or two due to the cold. I suspect that it rode in on the aloe plants that I brought in Sunday. My cats helped me find it hiding under a box on the floor, and I suspect that they had some fun with it before I arrived. Usually when the cats hunt down an anole in the house, I try to get the lizard away from them and take it back outside, figuring it will either live or die but at least will not spend its final moments in the digestive tract of my cats. With temperatures dropping into the upper teens tonight (and that's considered brutally cold in this part of the states), I figured that putting the lizard outside would not be doing it a favor.
ReplyDeleteMy emergency backup aquarium is currently in use, so the lizard is having to settle for a large tupperware container with holes in the lid, comfortably settled next to the aquarium (for light). It seems to be perking up well and has gone from a sickly-looking black color to a vibrant green. With temperatures forecast in the 70s later this week, I just hope it can hang on another day or two.
Any tips from herpetologists would be appreciated.
Keeping it moist, like with a plant mister, is key. Being a reptile I think it would be okay even if you didn't feed it; but they dry out.
DeleteWe think our bees died. Five of the six hives seem dead. I live close to you, in Dane County.
ReplyDeleteI'm very sorry to hear that. The world needs more bees.
DeleteOn the upside, apparently the extreme cold has killed a high percentage of emerald ash borers.
Actually, now we have heard bees in two of the hives. :)
DeleteThough it was not the lowest wind chill of the storm, Devils Lake ND had wind chill from -50 to -57 for 21 hours (from 1 pm Jan 5 through 10 am Jan 6; obs'ns every 20 minutes).
ReplyDelete