OK - I love the heat and normally would never complain, but this is just weird - I just looked at the reading from the wireless thermometer in my garage where all my potted trees are (hopefully) sleeping. I'm afraid to pull the blankets and look underneath as it's warmer outside than it is underneath. The fig reading is 11°C (52°F). Today's outdoor high was 14°C (58°F). More of this in the forecast.... Pretty unheard of for our area this time of year... first time in my memory.

I don't know how warm it needs to be and for how long for most figs to break dormancy but it's February 23rd in Toronto....and I was working outdoors today without a coat...

Does anyone have any strategy for this sort of thing? Assuming they haven't already broken out?

Olive trees in Toronto maybe?

I hear you Joe.  It's 11:00 at night on Feb. 23rd and it's still 52F here in zone 5 Maine.  Seems like most of the Arctic cold is missing this year.  I've read that it's not fully understood as to why the Arctic is so warm this year.  Records are falling by the piles.  Fortunately all my figs are still asleep.  Hoping they stay that way, but not at all sure as I don't really have a strategy either.

Greg - I'm considering garage refrigeration...OK...Not really...but, wow!

I'm technically USDA zone 6 (maybe 6b). The last couple of winters we set some record lows. This winter though... our temps have been equivalent to maybe a zone 8b/9a. 

TJ...Out in the yard today in Oshawa  and stuck a shovel in the ground in my veggie garden. No frost in the ground at all. Moved some of my woodpile and found earthworms crawling along on the top of the ground when I lifted the wood off the ground. Two things I've never seen here in Feb before.

My fig trees in the cold cellar still look 100% dormant. Thank God.

Back down to 4C today but the garage is still 11C leaving the door open for a while. Hopefully that helps.

This is not good at all, especially if you are growing fruit other than figs. A late frost after these tress bud will be dangerous for them. It will also disrupt the pollinating  

Looks like it's good news to start shipping plants to people I promised there

Having the same issues here. Normal for this time of year is mid 40's, today will be 75. 90% of my trees already broke dormancy. Living room is full of trees right now and for the next 2 months unfortunately. :(.

Not sure of the exact cause but its related to the Suns magnetic fields which is affecting the earths magnetic fields. Also sunspot activity is way down which means cold is coming in the near future. From what I have read this is a repeating cycle every 200 years or so. Then there is also a 400 year cycle. These cycles lead the the earths cooling, mini ice ages and that sort of stuff.

My gut tells me thi is the calm before the storm. One last warm spell and then the cold will set in. Worldwide there has been crazy weather everywhere. Snowing in summer ect, very heavy rains, atmospheric rivers I think they are calling them. This is all caused by the sun and solar winds of which there has been a 30% decrease in over the last 10 years or so.. May not sound like much but it is huge..
The other planets in our solar system are also going through changes so the changes on our planet have nothing to do with man everything to do with the sun.
There's a channel on you tube. Adapt 2030 that discusses this stuff in pretty good detail. Lots of charts and graphs and historical records to back up this theory.

It's been a warm February in New Jersey

Mild February could be extra hard on plants, animals

http://www.app.com/story/weather/2017/02/23/mild-february-extra-hard-plants-animals/98336648/

All my trees are pretty much leafing out with green wood everywhere. Will be devastating if a frost comes. We are at 80 degrees.
Ricie
Louisiana

I think my official last frost date is April 30th. I'm usually good after the first or second week in April...But that's still long from now...

Wow you too. we are supposed to break a record in
SC. I was wearing shorts today and sweating..Everything is starting to leaf out,please Jack Frost stay away!!!

What do you figure will happen to the in-ground trees that are heavily protected?

I do not protect my trees!!Lol...I have too many to worry about.I have seen them zapped by the late frost too many times.If they die down to the ground then so be it, they will come back and stronger!! It is out of my control and I just roll with the punches.

Interesting. Are you not concerned that being black will cause it to be too hot?