Weekly Weather Report
For Farmers and Others
Week of January 12, 2015
From Friendship Farms & Fare
A Community Service To the Local Farming Community
52 degrees at 4:30 AM, January 11, 2015
Historic Average (for 1/9): 70 HIGH, 51 LOW–Weather Underground: http://www.wunderground.com/
Historically, the average high temperature is now 70 degrees (the lowest average high [70] of the year, which is twenty degrees lower than the highest average high [90]). Our average low is now 51 degrees, which is the lowest average low [51], and twenty-five degrees lower than the highest average low [76]). The average high and low are now their lowest for the year (70 and 51 degrees, respectively), and they will remain here until the end of January, when both the average daily highs and lows begin their assent, with average low beginning a bit earlier than the high.
Note: For the past few years, our highs and lows have typically run a bit higher than historic averages. Thus far this year, the trend has continued, and our fall and winter temperatures are maintaining the trend. Although humans may enjoy unseasonably warm weather, above normal temperatures stress the winter crops, which flourish in cool to cold temperatures.
Weekly Weather Report
Milder Weather Continues with Weak Front and Rain early in the Week
Last Week (1/3-1/9): Once again, last week’s forecast was just about on the mark. Temperatures were above normal at the start of the week, and then well below normal Thursday and Friday. We were close to records on Saturday (1/3) and Sunday (1/4). Saturday tied the record (83 degrees), and Sunday was even hotter. A reading of 88 degrees was reported on “Bay News 9” and our thermometers both reached 85. Our “official” source (Weather Underground) reported 80 degrees for Sunday. Wednesday was a transitional day, the one day with near normal temperatures.
The highest high for last week was 83 (1/3) and the lowest high was 59 (1/8). The highest low was 71 (1/3) and lowest low was 37 (1/8). Four of seven days were above normal for both highs and lows. Our average high is around 70 and our average low is little above 50.
This Week (1/10-1/16): Beginning on Sunday, temperatures will be above normal for most of the week. Thursday may see a cold front approach, bring temperatures down to normal and then below normal on Friday. The best chances for rain are Monday and Thursday.
Looking Ahead: We are now in the coldest and driest time of the year. Average temperatures have reached their annual lows and will remain here for most of the rest of the month. We are in the middle of freeze season, and freezes are possible any week – usually with plenty of advance notice. Averages are not good guides, and we are currently running above historical averages, but with rather dramatic fluctuations. Readers will notice that spring flowers are appearing, well ahead of schedule. This means that the winter vegetables may also flower early and bolt – if the warm weather continues. Our first head of broccoli flowered before be could harvest it.
What Winter Means: 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 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.
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