Not going to run a youtube video but record low of 27 sounds like southern coastal California, where they do have these trees. In the Himalayas mild climates often run way up valleys, with snow covered peaks appearing in photos to be right behind habitations with banana plants. An additional observation that may be relevant is that in Hawaii for example the majority of araucarias of the Norfolk Island pine general type are actually Cook pines.

Yeah I didn't think Kathmandu was very cold by any means in winter, but I think some years ago I'd looked only at the averages (average low of 36F in January!) and just made the usual assumption that there would be "cold spells" where some nights therefore at least went in the low-mid 20s. I would have guessed it was zone 9. But when you are surrounded by the Himalayas and on the "warm" (or at least warmer) side of the never-changing Siberian High in winter...nope. The record low is not even 10f below the average low and that tree is proof of it.

For example...compare El Paso, TX. Somewhat similar average winter climates and elevations and latitudes. (tho very different in summer) But no Norfolk or Cook Island pines with a record low of -8F!

El Paso lacks that monumentally huge mountain range just to the north of it which prevents almost all arctic outflows from reaching Kathmandu.

Nothing to stop those cold arctic outflows reaching Texas but a few barbed wire fences.

I thought Kathmandu was a lot colder than it is. I imagined it high up in the Himalayas. Good spot, David!

I'm surprised the cold air doesn't drain out of the high Himalayas in the winter bringing the temperature way down in Kathmandu at least briefly.

Mike

Mike. it may be that dry, downflowing air off the Himalayas gets compressed and warmed a bit just like Chinook winds.

FWIW it's not only the mountains that are "just" north of it that contribute to the uniqueness of the climate. It's the entire geography of Asia and particularly the Tibetan plateau, which leads to the formation of the Siberian high. If the Himalayas were alone on a flat continent, the severe cold would still be blocked but there would be more variability.

http://activetectonics.asu.edu/teaching/GLG494-ICOG/Tibetan%20Plateau.pdf

I'm familiar with the Chinook winds and the heat compression factor, just never thought of it with respect to the Himalayas. Duh :-)

My younger brother lived there for 3 months about 30 years ago.

Thanks, Beng.

Mike