It was so cold my water tank in my well house ruptured (and well houses are what we use here because of the chance of cold—USUALLY prevents the parts at the well head from freezing). I still don't know the extent of the damage as it was too wet to see and the roof (which is the only access) is too heavy. I could see water coming out the side of the tank, at least. Anyways, I cut the power and now at least it's not pumping. What a mess!
In the 50s and early 60s in nw Arkansas, we lived on a farm that had the water well and pump. I remember Dad putting hay bales around the pump/tank and leaving a light bulb burning 24/7 to keep the tank from freezing. We did occasionally have very cold temps.
This current storm dropped our nw AR times to near 1 degree night and 9-16 degrees day temps. Today we are supposed to get into the mid 30s, the first time we’ve been above freezing in nearly a week.
A preview of coming attractions...
Be happy. It’s -7F by me. That Darn Global Warming again !
We may have some fish kills down here. Earlier I measured water temps below 50 Degrees in the ENP(Everglades Nat. Park) of Fla. Bay which is a big deal for us.: Whipray Basin had 47.7 degrees it's here:
http://www.ndbc.noaagov/station_page.php?station=wrbf1
Two others, the Bob Allen site was 48.2 and Murray Key right in front of Flamingo was 48.2 indicate a moderate or maybe heavy fish kill in a few days when dead fish now on the bottom begin to float from internal gasses expanding.
We have already had several reports in Islamorada of fish being netted that were dead or near dead and one major fishing tournament-- The Hawks Cay Sailfish event had a few entrants actually quitting because their bait died.
(This is a big deal since the payout is 50K and these guys grow their baits actually feeding them special foods etc. for up to 6-8 months before the event!)
Many of Those fish surviving are headed offshore to the Reef where just offshore the shoreward edge of the Gulfstream has been providing water in the low 70's which is like a lifeline to many species such as the snappers grouper and many others.
The big kill may happen to a prized gamefish the snook.
These fish migrate North along both Fla. coasts and get caught up when a cold wave hits. Water temps under 50 can do them in. The lose their protective slime and then swim on the surface a couple of days and then die off.
Ironically, their are a few havens for these fish around the state of all places they are the nuclear plant cooling canals(St. Lucie plant,Homossassas plant,Turkey point plant) where salt water is used to cool nuclear reactors at area nuclear plants. Water temps in the 80's are common here and many species from manatees, sea cows, to snook, tarpon, jacks many other species can be saved in a temporary cool spell by just getting close to these canals. Must drive the wacko libs crazy to think their beloved manatees are being saved by nuclear power plants!!!
I interviewed a spokesman from the Mote Marine Labs in the Lower Keys on the air Thursday night and he too is concerned about the potential.
We also discussed a known fish kill that happened in the Eastern areas of NC near the NC city of Washington off RT 17 where mid 30's water temps killed off sea trout.
We discussed how NC areas Sea Trout can survive extremes in temps from 85-45 degrees but once it hits the 30's its all over.
For some reason the crops freezing takes huge precedence over fish kills,always has probably always will.
We are on a well and, yes, you have a mess. Get the wallet out :-(