Be prepared; forecast calls for freezing temperatures and strong winds
So much for our sunny skies! Grey clouds and gusty winds have returned. Near-freezing temperatures, too. Kathy Morrison
Sacramento is about to get a double-dose of wintry weather: Intense cold and strong wind.
According to the National Weather Service, a storm front will create hazardous conditions Wednesday through Friday – including rare snowfall in the Sacramento Valley.
“Heavy low elevation snow with dangerous travel impacts expected tomorrow through Friday,” the Sacramento NWS tweeted Tuesday morning (Feb. 21). “Snow levels will fall to 1,000-2,000 feet tomorrow, with snow levels down to about 500 feet to the northern Sacramento Valley floor early Thursday morning and Thursday night to early Friday.”
Yes, snow is possible on the floor of the northern Sacramento Valley – and closer to home. Auburn, at 1,227 feet elevation and Placerville (elevation 1,867), definitely fall within the potential snow zone. But there’s a slight possibility flakes will fall as low as Roseville (elevation 164).
It’s not just the cold but the wind.
“Gusty winds will increase this afternoon over interior Northern California, slowly decreasing overnight,” the Sacramento NWS tweeted Tuesday. “Expect gusts 30 to 45 mph in the Valley and foothills and 40 to 70 mph over the mountains. Downed trees and branches, local power outages and difficult driving conditions are possible.”
In addition, overnight frost warnings are in the forecast Tuesday through Friday. Daytime highs will drop 20 degrees; the expected high on Thursday and Friday in Sacramento is only 48 degrees.
After several days of sunny, springlike weather, this downturn will be a shock to our plants, most of which already are in high-growth mode. Blooming fruit trees likely will lose their blossoms and may not set fruit. Expect to see some dieback on sprouting shrubs (such as roses). Newly transplanted vegetables or sprouting seeds are in danger of damping off.
What’s a gardener to do? Hold off on planting anything more until after this cold spree. Protect tender seedlings with row covers, milk cartons, water jugs or other shelter. Deep-water shrubs, trees and perennials; moist soil radiates heat and can raise the soil temperature (and surrounding space) just enough to prevent frost damage.
For more on freezing and frost, check out these recommendations from the UC Cooperative Extension master gardeners: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/ENVIRON/frostdamage.html.
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Garden Checklist for week of May 5
Survey your garden after the May 4 rainstorm. Heavy rain and gusty winds can break the neck of large flowers such as roses. Also:
* Keep an eye on new transplants or seedlings; they could take a pounding from the rain.
* Watch out for powdery mildew. Warmth following moist conditions can cause this fungal disease to “bloom,” too. If you see a leaf that looks like it’s dusted with powdered sugar, snip it off.
* After the storm, start setting out tomato transplants, but wait on the peppers and eggplants (they want warmer nights). Pinch off any flowers on new transplants to make them concentrate on establishing roots instead of setting premature fruit.
* Trim dead flowers but not leaves from spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips. Those leaves gather energy to create next year's flowers. Also, give the bulbs a fertilizer boost after bloom.
* Pinch chrysanthemums back to 12 inches for fall flowers. Cut old stems to the ground.
* Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and control weeds.
* From seed, plant beans, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, corn, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, radishes and squash.
* Plant onion sets.
* In the flower garden, plant seeds for asters, cosmos, celosia, marigolds, salvia, sunflowers and zinnias. Transplant petunias, zinnias, geraniums and other summer bloomers.
* Plant perennials and dahlia tubers for summer bloom.
* Don’t wait; plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.
* Harvest cabbage, lettuce, peas and green onions.
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