Weekly Weather Report
For Farmers and Others
Week of April 6, 2015
From Friendship Farms & Fare
A Community Service To the Local Farming Community
70 degrees at 2:00 AM, April 6, 2015
Weekly Weather Report
Back to Above Normal Heat
Look for 90s by late week
Historic Average (for 4/6): 79 HIGH, 61 LOW–Weather Underground: http://www.wunderground.com/
Historically, the average high temperature is now 79 degrees (nine degrees higher than the lowest average low [70] of the year), and eleven degrees lower than the highest average high [90]). Our average low is now 61 degrees, which is ten degrees higher than lowest average low [51], and fifteen degrees lower than the highest average low [76]).
The average low and high are increasing at about a degree a week. They will peak in early June for highs and late June for lows, and remain constant (at 90/76) until early September, when the annual decline begins. This means for three months the average high will be 90 degrees, and the average low will be 76. It will also be humid during those months.
Note: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that 2014 was the hottest year on record (since records have been kept, 1880). Ocean and land temperatures were at their all time highs. This has also been the warmest winter on record in the Arctic.
This is no great surprise to us. 2014 seemed hotter than usual here at the farms, and the past few years, our highs and lows have typically run a bit higher than historic averages. Last year the trend continued, and so far this year, it is still continuing. Although humans may enjoy unseasonably warm weather, above normal temperatures stress the winter crops, which flourish in cool to cold temperatures.
Last Week (3/27-4/3): After a brief cool spell at the start of the week, with below normal temperatures on Saturday and Sunday, we surged back to above normal temperatures (and into the 80s) again by Tuesday. We stayed above normal for the rest of the week, and reached 86 on Friday (4/3).
TV weather reporters are finally beginning to confirm that we are experiencing well-above normal heat. For clarity, most of March was above normal, with several days 10 degrees or more above normal. We’ll be above normal for the this first full week of April, and some reports are forecasting highs to reach 90 later in this week.
This Week (4/4 – 4/10) Here comes summer – in early spring. We’ll be in the upper 80s all week (except for a day or so of mid-80s early in the week. It is true that we might reach the low 90s by the weekend. This week is the week when the historic average reaches 80 degrees. We almost broke a records on Sunday, reaching 88 (with record being 89).
Looking Ahead: We are now in the midst of the dry season, and the above normal heat is really impacting our gardens. We should not expect much rain for about two months. Average daily rainfall also is creeping upward (like the temperatures). Historic norms indicate cool and dry conditions through April, although we are not running true to form on this. Dry conditions will require more frequent irrigation, especially with the unseasonable heat. The rainy season is still about two months away – mid-June.
Average temperatures are gradually rising. By the end of April averages will be in the mid-80s for highs and mid-60s for lows. Note: We are already reaching these temperatures, and exceeding them.
Averages are not good guides, and we are currently running above historical averages, but with rather dramatic fluctuations. We reached or exceeded 80 degrees four times in January, but not once in February. Already in March we’ve reached or exceeded 80 degrees 23 times.
Rainfall has also been high so far this year, with nearly 11 inches collected at the farms. Nearby, Tampa, averages a little more than 8 inches through March.
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