Despite the fact that December has arrived this year, it is true that a late winter has arrived in Almaty, which has affected both the country and the flora. However, a number of factors may be the cause of this phenomenon. As you know, the planet Earth spent the hottest summer in history this year, that is, in 2023. Abnormally high air temperatures may be the only reason that winter will not come. In addition, long-term climatic trends, global climate change, affect seasonal weather, including precipitation and temperature conditions, delaying snowfall.
Since the terrain of Almaty covers different heights, snow usually falls earlier at high altitudes than at low ones. Therefore, it is surprising that some plant species, including the first spring flowers, open flowers in +10 degrees weather conditions on low mountain belts where there was no snow. The first image below is the Alatau dandelion (lat. Crocus alatavicus) was captured by photographer Dmitry Dotsenko on December 4 in one of the Almaty gorges. To verify this phenomenon, the specialists of the scientific department visited the exit site of the Alatau dandelion and witnessed the moment of “awakening” not only of the dandelion, but also of other types of flowers. In early November, scientific experts published an article on this phenomenon called “the phenomenon of repeated flowering of tree branches in autumn.”
To contemplate in December, flowers growing on the mountainside, like a Crested (Lat. Cordalis), Forget-me-not (lat. Myosotis) and the grey Hiccup (Latin Berteroa incana), which bloom in May-June, is an extremely rare event.
Author Tursynbai K.S.