Weekly Weather Report for West Pasco’s
Urban Agriculture Community
A Service Of
http://www.fffsite.org/ Friendship Farms & Fare
Weekly Weather Report
Last Week: Heavy Rain
This Week: Milder (80s)
Expect 90s until September
78 degrees at 3:30 AM, July 18, 2015
Historic Average (for 7/20): 90 HIGH, 76 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 76 degrees, our highest average low of the year, which is twenty-five degrees higher than lowest average low [51].
Average highs and lows have reached their peaks and will remain constant (at 90/76) until early September, when the annual decline begins. This means for the next two and half months the average high will be 90 degrees, and the average low will be 76. It will also be humid during this time.
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, and May 2015 was the hottest May on record.
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 (7/11-7/17): The story his past week was the rain. We had rain every day last week except for Tuesday (7/14) – 8.6 inches total. When it was not raining, it was usually overcast. This kept the temperature down, eliminated the need for any irrigation, and generally recharged the soil. Harvests were very good because of the rain. We reached 90 only once.
This Week (7/18-7/24): WU is forecasting rain most days and highs that are well below normal. WU is forecasting highs in the mid-80s. If this forecast comes to pass, we will be most thankful. This would be a genuinely cool week – by summer standards.
Looking Ahead: After this week with cooler and wetter conditions, look for hot weather, with well above normal highs and lows.
Aside from last week and (apparently this week), 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.
Days are shortening. Believe it or not, the days are getting shorter. Well, technically, the period of sunlight is shortening. This began with the coming of summer, 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.”
From here on, until the first day of winter, the duration of daylight will become shorter each day.
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.
If you would like to support our work, please consider sharing a donation.
PO Box 596 ● New Port Richey, Florida 34656-0596
Friendship Farms & Fare affirms 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 sustainable world
PO Box 596 ● New Port Richey, Florida 34656-0596
