El Nino and La Nina

[Faulkner]

I've read a few articles lately about a potential El Nino effecting weather this winter. It’s is a climate pattern that starts with warm water building up in the tropical Pacific west of South America. This happens every three to seven years or so. It might last a few months or a couple of years. La Niña is the reverse, with temps cooler than normal.

Either way, we've gotten off easy the past few winters in the Ozarks and I'm preparing for a cold and wet winter this time around. I've been wrapping up my wood splitting this week and I've about tripled my firewood storage so far.

As I was cutting and splitting wood the past few days I got to thinking about all the downed trees that have to be dealt with from hurricane Helena. Could be a lot of firewood available from some entrepreneurs who could haul off a the timber while helping clean up the mess.

 

[GypsmJim]

With diseases related to certain types of trees, some states won't allow firewood to be transported out of a local county. That may limit the usability.

My first house had 31 mature ash trees. They are all dead now. My camp has a ton of dead trees that amount to a lifetime supply of firewood. Of course we burn it there. But it is 100 miles and 3 counties away. I can't legally bring wood home to my house.

 

[Onomea]

When I had several large trees cut down and removed, the arborist told me they'd stack it on the sidewalk in front of the house, leaving a path to pass through, put a "free firewood" ad on Craig's List, and it would be gone in a matter of days.

He was right.

 

[Rudi]

I remember winters before they came up with the dumb names. Winter is winter, some colder than others. You are well prepared indeed Faulkner.

 

[Kevin G]

A problem with trying to salvage downed trees after a disaster is the conflict the process creates with the utility crews working to restore power.
Over the years, the periodical “Fine Woodworking” has had a few features about adventurous entrepreneurs able to beat utility crews to some very desirable trees. Some Cuban Mahogany was obtained after one disaster somewhere in Florida. These trees were planted as ornamentals lining the streets years and years ago.
Some live oak was gotten and earmarked for future renovations for the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides,)
This is a bit off-topic, The Portsmouth US Navy shipyard has a pond where large timbers are sunk, in storage for future work on the Constitution. Perhaps 30 years ago, the old North Church in Boston (of Paul Revere fame) was having its steeple rebuilt. Appropriate timber was hard to come by, the Navy and Church struck a deal where some of the Constitution’s sunken timbers were swapped out for some newly sawn timbers that replaced them in the pond.
Kevin G

 

[Birdgun]

Fire wood warms you twice!!

 

[Faulkner]

With diseases related to certain types of trees, some states won't allow firewood to be transported out of a local county. That may limit the usability.

Valid point, I didn't consider that.

Transporting firewood across county lines in Arkansas is not a problem, but across state lines could be.

 

[SMSgt]

Other than the live oaks, most of the trees aren't worth the effort to make firewood. Palms are about 80% water and weight a ton.

 

[Peak53]

Actually, the reports I'm getting, and I follow the weather closely at my undisclosed 10,000' location, is that we are in for a weak to moderate La Nina. Last winter was El Nino and we got plenty of snow, especially late. The Girl Child tends to usher in colder weather and more precipitation to the norther tier of states, with the Boy Child tending to offer the same across the south. Since I like snow, and lots of it, and given my location in SW Colorado, La Nina is not a good sign. However, we got snow on green leaves in September, which locals swear is the prelude to a deep winter, the Aspen color season was early, and the hummingbirds left early ... well, ya' just never know. Oh, 1-3" expected tomorrow after a couple inches over the last couple days

 

[robvious]

I prefer shoveling sand to snow.. but ready for snow if necessary 8n Nebraska... it really could go either way... in the same day even

 

[smoothshooter]

Awful purty woodpile you got there.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

To heat my farmhouse took 8 cord on a mild winter and 12+ in a bad one. In 2010 I had 3-foot drifts across the yard and drives and not an inch on the rest of the farm. I shoveled snow up against as high as I could, ended up almost 8 feet high! That year I only used 6 cord!

Driving through 3' drifts with the 4-wheel drive pick-up was easy, if you had a load of wood in the bed and went backwards!

At work, one of my men teased me about the wood. After he went in the building, I chalked his rear passenger tire fore and aft! He thought his tranny went out when he couldn't move! Firewood is good for getting warm, and sometimes for getting even!

Ivan

 

[Greyman50]

Down here on the S.E coast they are “ predicting” a warmer winter, suits me fine with my arthritis in most my joints. Back in Va. years ago heated with wood, lots and lots of work.

 

[farmer20]

In my opinion, it is not worth the effort to make firewood from most of the trees except the live oaks.

 

[Faulkner]

In my opinion, it is not worth the effort to make firewood from most of the trees except the live oaks.

I find that live oaks don't typically do well in Arkansas. I've planted several on my place and they never made it past a couple of years. I couldn't tell you when I've even seen one in the wild here.

Other types of oaks are prolific and that's what I burn. This years' firewood is from white oak, red oak, pin oak, and swamp white oak. They are all easy to cut and split and make great firewood.

I've had to cut down a couple of big elm trees in recent years and it makes decent early season firewood. It generates heat from the flames but burns to ash quickly leaving no coals. I use it when my wife wants a "chill chaser" fire.

 

[SMSgt]

I find that live oaks don't typically do well in Arkansas. I've planted several on my place and they never made it past a couple of years. I couldn't tell you when I've even seen one in the wild here.

Other types of oaks are prolific and that's what I burn. This years' firewood is from white oak, red oak, pin oak, and swamp white oak. They are all easy to cut and split and make great firewood.

I've had to cut down a couple of big elm trees in recent years and it makes decent early season firewood. It generates heat from the flames but burns to ash quickly leaving no coals. I use it when my wife wants a "chill chaser" fire.

Next time you have a hurricane in the Ozarks, you won't have to worry about what to do with all the downed live oaks.

 

[Faulkner]

Next time you have a hurricane in the Ozarks, you won't have to worry about what to do with all the downed live oaks.

I took your comment in jest, but the Remnants of Hurricanes Rita, Gustav, and Ike (2005/2008) each caused damage and flooding in our area.

 

[Model 15-4ever]

Oh, 1-3" expected tomorrow after a couple inches over the last couple days

In October.
That's hard living.

 

[Roofuss]

Supposed to be a La Nina up my way this winter {colder & wetter} and that's fine with me. The more we get, and longer it lasts, helps cut down on forest fires later into the summer. Bring it on !!!!

 

[LVSteve]

The article I read said that the La Nina was likely to be weak, making forecasting tricky. How much of that statement is just to cover the bases I cannot say.