Winter FAIL!

[ConcKahuna]

So on my way to work, I pass through the small Central FL. town of Haines City.

Last year, they spent a LOT of money installing nice new planters down both sides of Hwy 27, and down the median.

Well, someone forgot to turn off the sprinklers this week...

I guess they didnt realize that when the temperatures are in the 20's, sprinklers are a bad idea. Not only were the plants encased in solid ice this morning, but the sprinkler overflow had flooded the highway and turned to ice, right at the bottom of a hill.

Southbound was completely blocked by a couple of cars that had lost controll and the towtruck that was trying to clean the mess up. Northbound also had a car sideways in the side lane because it had lost control.

 

[wallyb]

So on my way to work, I pass through the small Central FL. town of Haines City.

Last year, they spent a LOT of money installing nice new planters down both sides of Hwy 27, and down the median.

Well, someone forgot to turn off the sprinklers this week...

I guess they didnt realize that when the temperatures are in the 20's, sprinklers are a bad idea. Not only were the plants encased in solid ice this morning, but the sprinkler overflow had flooded the highway and turned to ice, right at the bottom of a hill.

Southbound was completely blocked by a couple of cars that had lost controll and the towtruck that was trying to clean the mess up. Northbound also had a car sideways in the side lane because it had lost control.

Yikes!

 

[DOPEYLUVER]

I'm sure this is not the case with Haines City, but I was just watching the weather channel and they were showing the orange crops being sprayed with water. It was within minutes of reading this thread and I thought it seemed pretty stupid. They went on to explain that a very thin even coat of ice seals the plants and prevents the plants from freezing. Who knew?

Like I said I'm sure that's not the case of the plants in Haines City, I just thought it was interesting. I'm a bit of a weather channel geek.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Wow. The ice in the road is the worst thing. People wouldn't be expecting it, and regardless of ability to drive, ice is impossible to negotiate without problems.

Not a good scenario at all!

 

[ConcKahuna]

I'm sure this is not the case with Haines City, but I was just watching the weather channel and they were showing the orange crops being sprayed with water. It was within minutes of reading this thread and I thought it seemed pretty stupid. They went on to explain that a very thin even coat of ice seals the plants and prevents the plants from freezing. Who knew?

Like I said I'm sure that's not the case of the plants in Haines City, I just thought it was interesting. I'm a bit of a weather channel geek.

Yeah, you'll see the mist sprayers on in the groves. It works well, and a thin crust of ice on the citrus actually increases thier sugar production and makes the fruit sweeter.

The poor Mexican Bluebells and palm trees encased in 2" thick ice dont much like it though

 

[hematite153]

Okay...that's not good.

 

[OrlandoMike]

Hey, at least they installed a water system!

Over here they spent a million on new landscaping, no water.....The trees died a month later!

 

[ConcKahuna]

Wow. The ice in the road is the worst thing. People wouldn't be expecting it, and regardless of ability to drive, ice is impossible to negotiate without problems.

Not a good scenario at all!

The only good thing about it was that it happened RIGHT outside of the Haines City Police Department, so the cops were the first responders.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Our fiar city is fond of planting stuff (bushes, saplings) in the middle of the summer. By the time October rolls around they are all nice and crispy.

We have had Code Compliance going around ticketing people for having their sprinklers going. Of course when the CITY leaves them running I don't know who they would ticket.

 

[SandrA9810]

Yeah, florida is on a huge water restriction. 2 days a week during the summer, 1 day during the winter. But it seems apartment complexes and city sprinklers don't have to follow any sort of rules. Our last apartment, they would flood the grounds soo bad that you couldn't even walk in the grass or your foot would be stuck in mud. I tried to run through it once, and my shoe got stuck and didn't make it to the other side with me.

Certain plants, it helps to freeze them like that with water. but generally most can survive the few days of cold weather.

The ice on the outside of an orange prevents the juice inside from forming ice crystals which ruin the texture and flavor. So the ice acts like a mini igloo for it.

 

[MonorailMan]

Methinks whomever said the ozone layer is slowly disappearing is a liar.

 

[wallyb]

Methinks whomever said the ozone layer is slowly disappearing is a liar.

Al Gore will be right over to B-Slap the crap out of you!

 

[MonorailMan]

Al Gore will be right over to B-Slap the crap out of you!

So long as it's not Tipper. She hits hard.

 

[ConcKahuna]

Methinks whomever said the ozone layer is slowly disappearing is a liar.

Weather like this actually is a good indicator of global warming. It just sure doesnt feel like it!!

 

[hematite153]

Weather like this actually is a good indicator of global warming. It just sure doesnt feel like it!!

You get colder winters, we get warmer summers; the whole airflow pattern has changed.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Weather like this actually is a good indicator of global warming. It just sure doesnt feel like it!!

It might feel better if certain employers could figure out indoor climate control.

 

[SandrA9810]

What I don't get is how it can be below 30 here in Florida, and in Saskatoon Canada it's 23 degrees...

 

[ConcKahuna]

It might feel better if certain employers could figure out indoor climate control.

Tell me about it. Under 50 degrees in the lobby is NOT fun on a cold day!

 

[Hydani]

Holy cow. I hope all those people are okay. What a stupid thing though.