Weekly Weather Report

For Farmers and Others

Week of November 24, 2014

From Friendship Farms & Fare

A Community Service To the Local Farming Community

61 degrees at 3:00 AM, November 22, 2014

Historic Average (for 11/21): 77 HIGH, 59 LOW–Weather Underground: http://www.wunderground.com/

The historical average high temperature is now 77 degrees (seven degrees higher than the lowest average high [70], and thirteen degrees lower than the highest average high [90]).   Our average low is now 59 degrees (eight degrees higher than the lowest average low [51] and seventeen degrees lower than the highest average low [76]).  The average high and average low are in their annual decline, which will continue through the fall, and then begin a gradual assent in the early winter (late January). 

Note:  For the past few years, our summer and fall highs and lows have typically run a bit higher than historic averages. Thus far this year, the trend has continued.  The higher temperatures stress even hot-weather summer crops.  Our development of seed stock from plants grown in these above normal temperatures may result in plants more tolerant of the increasingly harsh climate.

Weekly Weather Report

Cold Weather Last Week and More On The Way For Thanksgiving

Last Week (11/15-11/21): Last week saw the coldest temperatures of the season.  We did receive the expected rain (over an inch at the farms), and the polar vortex lived up to is chilly reputation.  There was no serious damage, although leaves on the young cucumbers were a bit wrinkled, so too with leaves on the ambitious sweet potato vines.

The highest high for last week was 81 (11/16) and the lowest high was 61 (11/19). The highest low was 64 (11/17) and lowest low was 41 (11/19), although we got into the upper 30s here in the gardens.

This Week (11/22-11/28): WU is forecasting another major cold front this week.  A weak warm front will push through over the weekend, with the cold front arriving by Tuesday.  Look for light rain over the weekend, then more rain early in the week (most likely Tuesday) ahead of the cold front, and cold temperatures from Tuesday through Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

Forecast low on Thursday (Thanksgiving) is 43 degrees, with a high that day of 61.  This cold front is another iteration of the “polar vortex” phenomena, which is again brining unseasonably cold temperatures to most of North America.

With rain expected ahead of the front, those who use cisterns may collect enough water to irrigate for the week.

Looking Ahead:  The rain last week and expected rain this week, is welcome.  It is also unseasonable.  We are in the driest part of the year, with average daily rainfall amounting to .05 of an inch per day – that’s ½ of 1/10 of an inch.  Most days will be dry, and humidity will be low.

Average temperatures will continue to drop. We are now into freeze season, and freezes are possible in any given week. The Polar Vortex will only heighten the possibility of freezes. By next month, we’ll be approaching the coldest period of the year. Averages are not good guides, and we are currently running a bit below historical averages.

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