Weekly Weather Report
For Farmers and Others
Week of December 22, 2014
From Friendship Farms & Fare
A Community Service To the Local Farming Community
64 degrees at 2:00 AM, December 22, 2014
Historic Average (for 12/19): 71 HIGH, 54 LOW–Weather Underground: http://www.wunderground.com/
The historical average high temperature is now 71 degrees (one degree higher than the lowest average high [70], and nineteen degrees lower than the highest average high [90]). Our average low is now 54 degrees (three degrees higher than the lowest average low [51] and twenty-two degrees lower than the highest average low [76]). The average high and average low are in their annual decline, nearing their nadir, and will continue through the fall until beginning 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
Milder Weather Continues and Rain at Midweek
Last Week (12/13-12/19): As forecast, temperatures moderated this past week, and after a cool weekend weather was generally seasonal. Following the cool temperatures last weekend, temperatures were close to normal. Averages for this time of year are in the lower 70s for highs (70-72) and mid-50s for lows (53-55), and we were close those temperatures every day.
The highest high for last week was 77 (12/17) and the lowest high was 67 (12/14). The highest low was 54 (12/17) and lowest low was 43 (12/13), although we twice reached 47. It is colder right now, as of this composition (12/13 2:30 AM), than it has been all week – 42 degrees.
This Week (12/20-12/26): Temperatures will remain moderate and close to normal – with a weak cold front reaching us around midweek. The front’s approach will increase the possibility of rain on Monday and especially Tuesday and Wednesday. Sunday (12/22) has already seen considerable rain in our area.
Looking Ahead: Despite the strange weather so far this fall, we are in the driest part of the year. Historic norms indicate cool and dry conditions.
Average temperatures will continue to drop through most of January month. We are now well into freeze season, and freezes are possible in any given week. The Polar Vortex will heighten the possibility of freezes. We are approaching the coldest period of the year, which occurs in early January. Averages are not good guides, and we are currently running close to historical averages, but with rather dramatic fluctuations.
A new season arrives on Sunday: Winter began on Sunday, December 21st. This is the Winter Solstice for the Northern Hemisphere, where our farm is located and where our shareholders live. Days have been getting shorter and nights longer since the Summer Solstice. At the Autumnal Equinox (in September) days and nights were of equal duration – and the days kept getting longer. Beginning on Monday (12/22), each day will be longer (have more sunlight) than the previous day, until the Summer Solstice (June 21), which is the longest day of the year. In late March, the Vernal (or Spring) Equinox occurs, and day and night will again be of equal length. Solstices are the those comic moments when the sun is the greatest distance from the equator; equinoxes are those cosmic moments when the sun is directly above the equator.
——————————————————————————————————————–
Friendship Farms & Fare reaffirms, restores, and advances agrarian ideals to reestablish a sustainable culture
Ecology Florida advances the harmonious integration of healthy natural, cultural, and economic ecologies to regenerate a resilient world
Visit the Friendship Farms & Fare website for the Weekly Farm Report:
http://www.fffsite.org/#!report/c1tuh
Friendship Farms & Fare is a branch of Ecology Florida, a not-for-profit corporation. Contributions to Friendship Farms & Fare and Ecology Florida are tax deductible. To learn more about Ecology Florida, please visit the website:
http://www.ecologyflorida.org/
If you would like to support our mission and individual projects, you may share donations through our website (above) or at our mailing address:
Ecology Florida
PO Box 596
New Port Richey, FL 34656-0596
