Time To Protect Plants, Pipes Should Be Okay

I'm posting early since I have a noon golf tee time with my former WSH (World Series Hero) Ron Swoboda.  The coming cold spell has been well advertised so it should come as no surprise.  I have moved some of my smaller potted plants into my He-Shed, but I'm gonna just let the rest stay outside and harden to the chill.  The bigger pots, like Bubba my Christmas cactus, have grow quite large (4'+) and they're too heavy to keep moving.  I figure if the cold affects them, I'll just cut back and let them regrow.

The rest of my yard still looks great for late December and on the north side of my house in an old planter that I don't use anymore, look what sprang up during the last six rainy weeks.  Those are top had begonias.  Sometimes it's better to leave plants alone!   We're still waiting for some sunshine and it's coming along with the colder air.

The stubborn cut off upper low is now in Missouri and starting to drift faster to the east.  Thursday into Saturday should be sunny and comfy cool, if you're dressed for it.  Our current cloud cover will slowly lift out today and then we look to the West Coast for our New Years Day storm.

It's a complex series of lows off the West Coast and the timing of when it brings us rain is the concern.  RIGHT NOW, models say after midnight/fireworks on New Years Eve, but that could change.

My concerns looking into 2024 focus on whether the current upper low over the center of the country will be replaced by an East Coast/Great Lakes upper trough for much of January.  That would bring us several freeze opportunities.

Today Canada remains seasonally cold, but the really cold air (40-50 below) over Siberia hasn't yet pushed into Alaska.  When that happens, it's time for us to pay attention and hope a "Polar Vortex" doesn't drop down over the Great Lakes.   Enjoy the filtered sunshine later this afternoon.  Stay tuned!