Weekly Weather Report

Rainy Season Begins

Last Week: Too Hot

This Week: Just As Hot

* Summer Begins June 21 *

90s until September

81 degrees at 3:00 AM, June 20, 2015

Historic Average (for 6/19): 90 HIGH, 75 LOW–Weather Underground: http://www.wunderground.com/

Historically, the average high temperature is now 90 degrees (twenty degrees higher than the lowest average high of the year [70] ), and the highest average high of the year [90]). Our average low is now 75 degrees, which is twenty-four degrees higher than lowest average low [51], and one degree lower than the highest average low [76]).  

Average high has reached its peak and the highest average low will be reached June 24.  Those averages will 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.  

Know the Science:

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 plants and animals.

According to NASA, 97% of climate scientists agree that global warming and resultant climate change is a reality and most likely due to human activity. http://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus/.

Here is NOAA on the human causes of climate change and global warming.  http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/pd/climate/factsheets/howhuman.pdf

Last Week (6/13-6/19): We had rain Monday, Thursday, and Friday — about an inch, total.  Temperatures were stunningly high – above 90 every day, with two 93s and one 95.  Anything over 91-92 is very rare on the Gulf Coast.  This is due to humidity and our proximity to water (with the Atlantic to our east and the Gulf of Mexico to our west).  Despite these cooling elements we are regularly reaching the mid-90s, and we will probably see many more in the weeks and months ahead.

This Week (6/20-6/26): WU is forecasting above normal highs most of the week, with highs in the 90s and rain possible most days.  The lowest high for the week is forecast to be 90. This week marks the beginning of the rainy season, which for us is the week when the historical average for rainfall is more than ¼ inch.

Looking Ahead:  Look for rain regularly for the rest of the month, and the rest of the summer, until September. We reached the highest historical average high for the year (90 degrees) on June 4. The highest historical average low (76 degrees) will be reached on June 24.  These average highs and lows will remain unchanged for 3 months – until September.

Right now, we are seeing 80s well into the night and overnight – e.g., it is 81 degrees at 2:00 AM as this report is being composed.

Summer begins on June 21.  This is the day with the longest period of time between sunup and sunset during the year – “the longest day of the year.”
We are currently running well above historical averages on a consistent basis. We expect this will continue for the rest of the year – and probably the rest of our lives.