This special report covers the conditions and activities observed from Thursday, February 23, to Sunday, February 26, 2023. Regularly scheduled updates will be posted on Fridays throughout bloom and will have a more regionalized focus.
Weather conditions have turned cold and wet over the past few days, coinciding with the peak of much of the 2023 bloom.
The cold nature of the offending weather system, traveling down the coast from its Canadian origin has allowed morning low temperatures to drop into the upper 20’s and lower 30’s, while also holding daily maximums in the 40’s in the majority of the Central Valley.
The cold conditions have been accompanied by significant precipitation. One to two inches of rainfall has been reported throughout the Central Valley, while growers along the west and northern areas of the Sacramento Valley observed snow covering their orchards and the hives. With the “warmest” temperatures reaching only into the 50’s, the bee’s ability to forage has been severely impacted and largely limited to areas of the southern San Joaquin Valley.
Forecasters are calling for a continuation of the adverse weather through Wednesday, March 1 with the possibility of another round of wet weather by Saturday, March 4.
By: Mel Machado
