Sudden stratospheric warming
The title makes it sound like a good thing, but the meteorologists are watching the polar vortex and are concerned about a sudden stratospheric warming. A strong polar vortex is a good thing, as it stays in place over the far north, a weak one allows cold air to slip down into Canada and the United States. A sudden stratospheric warming weakens the polar vortex and could lead to colder than normal temperatures at the end of February and into March. Not an absolute and it is not expected to be super dramatic colder weather, but as we consider when to tap in the northern latitudes, it might be something to throw into the equation.
Hint unless you are a weather geek, skip to the bottom of the link. I started reading it all and I understood it, and found it interesting,but eventually it started coming across as blah, blah, blah
https://www.severe-weather.eu/global...tes-europe-fa/
2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
DYI Vacuum Filter
2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8” pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.
2024 - made 48 L, December to March, primarily over two fire bowls.