Weather Outside Your Window: November 2018

Friday, November 30, 2018

Holiday hacks to keep your real Christmas tree fresh all season

By Bianca Barr Tunno, AccuWeather staff writer

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, families who decorate for Christmas might be thinking about selecting that perfect live tree for their homes.

If you are choosing the real thing this year, here are some tips to keep your Christmas tree as healthy as possible this holiday season.

1. Remember the tree is a live organism

Two simple things to keep in mind when you are preparing your tree for the indoors: Ask for a fresh cut on the trunk and make sure the tree gets water right away.

Make sure you know how much space you have to display your real Christmas tree. Looks may be deceiving at the retail lot or tree farm and you could end up with a tree that is way too big for your room. (iStock/Thinkstock/arinahabich)

Hugh Whaley, spokesperson with the National Christmas Tree Association, told AccuWeather most species can be without water for six to eight hours before dried sap forms a seal over the trunk, making it much harder, if not impossible, for water to absorb. He recommends a quick turnaround to keep the tree viable.

“Even if you are not going to decorate it right away… just come home, put it in a bucket of water and lean it up upright either outside or in the garage,” Whaley said. “Keep it moist during the entire season.”

2. Plain, fresh water is key

If you want your tree to be its best and brightest for Christmas Day and beyond, experts say the simplest solution is to feed your tree with water in a tree stand.

Whaley said you should check water levels twice a day – when you get up and when you go to bed – to get an idea how fast the tree is absorbing water.

While some people swear by a sugar solution or purchasing a tree preservative, tree growers said additives don’t necessarily make an noticeable difference.

Also, the temperature of the water doesn’t matter and drilling a hole in the base of the trunk does not improve water uptake, according to the National Christmas Tree Association.

3. Needles don't have to be all over your house

Different species of trees will react differently to coming indoors, according to Doug Leies, a tree grower with a family farm in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.

He said firs are generally better than spruces in this regard. Ask the retailer to shake the dead needles from the tree before taking it home.

You can also buy a tree removal bag that acts as a tree skirt. When you’re ready to take the tree down, raise the bag from bottom to top and capture the needles inside.

4. Picking the best tree depends on a variety of factors

Of course, the best type of tree is subject to interpretation but it can also be based on your geographic area. Our experts personally enjoy Fraser and White (Concolor) Firs, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go for a Blue Spruce or a Scotch Pine.

A certain variety may be more popular in your area because of the growing conditions nearby.

You’re most likely to get the largest selection immediately after Thanksgiving.

However, Leies said the best time to make your pick is when you have time to enjoy the full experience.

“This is meant to be fun, after all," he said.

5. Remove your tree in an environmentally-friendly way

The Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service says you can facilitate the process of removing your Christmas tree by doing the following:

· Let the water dry out in the tree stand.

· Contain debris and needles.

· Cut tree into smaller parts (for larger trees).

Trees are often recycled into mulch but can also be used as soil erosion barriers or feeding areas for fish or birds. Check your local laws to see what is permissible in your area.

'Monster' earthquake shakes Anchorage, Alaska; Tsunami warning no longer in effect

By Mark Puleo, AccuWeather staff writer

November 30, 2018, 9:09:07 PM EST

Around 8:30 a.m. AKST, a massive earthquake shook the city of Anchorage, Alaska. The National Weather Service initially issued a tsunami warning for nearby coastal waters, but at 10:00 a.m. AKST, the warning was canceled.

Gov. Bill Walker has issued a disaster declaration in Alaska in response to Friday’s earthquake, which was approved by President Donald Trump.

The Anchorage School District has canceled classes and its buildings will be examined for potential damage and gas leaks, according to the Associated Press.

Evacuations have taken place throughout the city as stores, buildings and homes have been impacted. Employees working in the air traffic tower at the Anchorage Airport were also evacuated, as the tower is inspected for damage.

Pictures shared on Twitter show widespread power outages already impacting areas.

For families and individuals impacted by the power outages and destruction, the weather and temperatures in the coming days will be manageable.

"The good news is that bitter cold is not expected," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist David Samuhel said. "Temperatures will actually be a little above normal... Temperatures will stay above normal for at least the next six to 10 days."

However, for the crews handling repairs and cleaning up the destruction left behind by the earthquake, smaller storm systems in the coming days may cause issues.

"While only light rain and snow is expected over the weekend, there will be strong winds," Samuhel said. "The Turnagain Arm, which is just southeast of Anchorage, could see winds of 50-60 miles per hour. Winds in Anchorage could reach 40 miles per hour. A more significant storm could bring a few inches of snow Sunday night into Monday morning."

AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski added that the limited sunlight will also hamper recovery efforts.

"The biggest obstacle is short daylight," Sosnowski said. "Crews will have to be using spotlights due to the limited daylight."

Road and bridge damage has also been reported in and around the city.

A tow truck holds a car that was pulled from on an off-ramp that collapsed during a morning earthquake on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018, in Anchorage, Alaska. The driver was not injured attempting to exit Minnesota Drive at International Airport Road. Back-to-back earthquakes measuring 7.0 and 5.8 rocked buildings and buckled roads Friday morning in Anchorage, prompting people to run from their offices or seek shelter under office desks, while a tsunami warning had some seeking higher ground. (AP Photo/Mike Dinneen)

The United States Geological Survey also released an aftershock forecast, warning Anchorage residents to be prepared for aftershocks and ensuing damage. "According to our forecast, over the next 1 Week there is a 4 % chance of one or more aftershocks that are larger than magnitude 7.0. It is likely that there will be smaller earthquakes over the next 1 Week, with 20 to 2,200 magnitude 3 or higher aftershocks. Magnitude 3 and above are large enough to be felt near the epicenter. The number of aftershocks will drop off over time, but a large aftershock can increase the numbers again, temporarily."

Within the first 12 hours following the major earthquake, the USGS reported over 100 aftershocks in the area measuring at least 2.5 on the Richter scale.

The Anchorage Police Department is operational in the city and alerted people that many roads and bridges are closed. They added that there has been major infrastructure damage across Anchorage with damage to many homes and buildings.

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin shared on Twitter that her house was damaged by the quake.

Severe storms, isolated tornadoes to threaten Florida, Georgia and Alabama Saturday

By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

November 30, 2018, 12:24:28 PM EST

Following dangerous storms from Friday evening over part of the lower Mississippi Valley, the risk of severe weather will shift farther east across the Deep South on Saturday.

While a widespread tornado outbreak is not foreseen, a few isolated tornadoes cannot be ruled out from the Mississippi Delta region in Louisiana to part of the Mississippi Panhandle, southern Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and parts of southern and central Georgia.

The severe weather threat will be limited to the morning and midday hours from southeastern Louisiana to part of Alabama but is likely to extend into the afternoon farther east.

Those traveling on the highways or spending time outdoors should keep an eye out for rapidly changing weather conditions.

It is possible that heavy, gusty thunderstorms extend along the Georgia and Carolina coasts for a time on Saturday night.

The most common risks to lives and property will be from strong wind gusts and torrential downpours.

Winds can be strong enough in some of the storms in lieu of a tornado to knock down trees and damage roofs of homes.

The downpours can be heavy enough at the local level to cause urban flooding and low-lying area flooding.

Motorists are urged not to attempt to drive through flooded roads as the water may be much deeper than it appears and the road surface may have been washed away beneath the water.

North of the severe weather threat area, drenching rain and patchy dense fog can hinder travel on the roads and at the airports, including Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Download the free AccuWeather app to monitor the weather forecast and keep up-to-date with severe weather watches and warnings as they are issued.

Instead of a blast of chilly air sweeping in on Sunday, warmth will abound with temperatures climbing to record-challenging levels in much of the Southeast. Highs in the 70s will be common.

Much of the Florida Peninsula can expect highs in the 80s later this weekend to early next week.

UK Christmas tree farmers report losses after record-tying hottest summer

By Kristina Pydynowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

November 30, 2018, 12:16:51 PM EST

As families are gearing up for the holidays, Christmas tree growers across the United Kingdom are reporting significant losses in young trees following one of the hottest summers on record.

The British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) stated that some of the 320 farms it represents lost up to half of the young trees that were planted in the spring amid the summer heat, according to BBC News.

Such losses will not affect buyers of larger Christmas trees this December as it typically takes about 10 years for saplings to be ready to be sold to consumers.

The BBC states that those looking for smaller trees, however, may encounter shortages.

A 20ft Nordmann Fir tree from Windsor Great Park, entirely dressed in gold, is decorated and stands at the end of St George's Hall, at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, on Friday, 30 November 2018. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

This summer tied 1976, 2003 and 2006 as the hottest on record across the U.K. with an average temperature of 15.8 degrees Celsius (60.4 degrees Fahrenheit), according to data from the Met Office. That is 1.4 C (2.5 F) above normal.

"While the summer was one of the warmest on record, it was unusually dry as well with high pressure in control from the U.K. into Scandinavia," AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys said. "That kept the storm track away from the U.K. as storms targeted southern Europe instead."

The U.K. as a whole received 73 percent of the normal summer rainfall. When examining individual countries, percentages were held below 65 in England and Wales.

The rainfall shortages, in turn, led to this summer being the fourth sunniest on record across the U.K. and the sunniest so far this century.

Whilst the saplings took a hit, one member of the BCTGA anticipates a good crop of Christmas trees this year due to the abundance of sunshine.

Stephen Reynolds told the BBC that the older and larger trees benefited from the sunshine as their deep roots tapped into underground moisture.

For the damaged young trees, Christmas tree farmers have already started to replant with some preparing to plant extra next year.

"Growers will be working hard to replace their losses and ensure there is a stable, long-term supply to the market," Oliver Combe, chairman of BCTGA, said in an interview with Countryside Magazine.

The AccuWeather Long-Range Forecasting Team anticipates an active winter with frequent windstorms targeting the U.K. Roys expects the second half of winter to be stormier than the start.

"With the windstorms will come frequent bouts of rain, which should help to ease the drought across the U.K.," Roys said.

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