Weekly Weather Report
Week of September 8, 2014
From Friendship Farms & Fare
A Community Service To the Local Farming Community
Historical Average (for 9/5): 90 HIGH, 76 LOW–Weather Underground: http://www.wunderground.com/
The historical average high temperature is now 90 degrees (twenty degrees higher than the lowest average high [70]). Our average low is now 76 degrees (twenty-five degrees higher than the lowest average low [51]). The average high and average low will remain the same until early September – the 9th for the low and the 10th for the high. At that time, the historic averages drop one degree.
Note: For the past few years, our summer 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: Welcome Rains
Last Week (8/30-9/5): Temperatures ran well above normal this past week, except for Thursday and Friday when we dipped into the upper 80s. We reached 95 degrees once, and did not have a high below 92 degrees, except for the two days previously noted. Remember, the normal high at this time of the year is 90 degrees.
We finally had some substantial rain, receiving a little more than 2 inches for the week, although most of that came on one day — Friday (9/5). The rain was most welcome, as was the abundant cloud cover. We have had little of both this summer, which has led to extensive irrigation. Rain is always welcome, but overcast conditions are just as important. Because cloudy conditions moderate the heat and reduce evaporation they are extremely beneficial to summer gardens – especially in these times of global warming.
Despite our recent rain, this has been a dry summer, with only September remaining to help us catch up a bit. It is likely that, all told, 2014 will be a very dry year for the Springs Coast Watershed – at least the Friendship Farms & Fare locations. We’ll give a final report on summer rains at the start of the next Garden Year.
This Week (9/6-9/12): WU is forecasting near normal highs and lows in the coming week, with the highest chances of rain on Monday and Wednesday. Gardeners and farmers in the area should again plan for daily irrigation. This week, average temperatures begin their annual decline – with average highs and lows each dropping one degree – highs going to 89 and lows going to 75. By the end of the month, historical average highs will be 87 degrees and lows will be 72. We will be attentive to how close to come to the historical average.
A new season approaches: Fall begins on September 23. This is the Autumnal Equinox, when day and night are of the same duration. Days have been getting shorter since the summer solstice, and they will continue to shorten until the winter solstice in December. In late March, the Vernal (or Spring) Equinox occurs, and day and night will again be of equal length. Equinoxes are those cosmic moments when the sun is directly above the earth’s equator.
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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/
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Ecology Florida
PO Box 596
New Port Richey, FL 34656-0596
