Weekly Weather Report

Week of September 29, 2014

From Friendship Farms & Fare

A Community Service To the Local Farming Community

Historical Average (for 9/26): 88 HIGH, 73 LOW–Weather Underground: http://www.wunderground.com/

The historical average high temperature is now 88 degrees (eighteen degrees higher than the lowest average high [70]).   Our average low is now 73 degrees (twenty-two degrees higher than the lowest average low [51]).  The average high and average low have begun their annual decline, which will continue through the fall, and then begin a gradual assent in the early winter (late January). 

Note:  For the past few years, our summer and fall 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

Stalled Front and Tropical Moisture Bring Wet Conditions

Last Week (9/20-9/26)

Rain and overcast conditions dominated weather this week. We had rain five days with heavy clouds for at least parts of every day.  The rain and overcast kept temperatures a bit below normal. Our highest temperature was 88 and lowest high was 81 on an overcast day.

We again had a considerable amount of rain – a little mover 2 inches. These past two weeks have brought the most rain we have had all summer – over 5 inches total. Rain is always welcome, especially after our dry summer, although the above normal quantities are causing flooding in some parts of the watershed.

Despite our high rainfall these past two past week, 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. By the end of September, 2013 we had over 50 inches for the year.  This year, our total rainfall is about 37 inches.

This Week (9/27-10/3)

WU is forecasting highs slightly below normal and lows near normal in the coming week, with a high probability of rain every day.

Gardeners and farmers in the area may be able to forego irrigation most days in this coming week, but attention should be given to drainage and protection of seedlings.

Looking Ahead

The wet conditions of the past few weeks have been something of an anomaly, and farmers and gardeners should be aware of approaching the dry season. During the summer months, we average a quarter of an inch of rain a day.  By the end of September, we drop to about a seventh of an inch, and by mid-October we are down to an average of .06 of an inch.  Very soon, rain will be scarce.

Temperatures will continue to drop. By the end of October, historical average highs will be 81 degrees and lows will be in the mid-60s. Historically, the first cool front of the season reaches central Florida in the latter part of September.  That will not be the case this year.  We anticipate the first cool front to reach us by the second full week of October.

We will be attentive to that first cool front and how close we come to the historical averages. In recent years, Septembers and Octobers have seen temperatures well above historic norms.

Welcome Fall

Although it still feels like summer, fall began 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 late 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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Friendship Farms & Fare reaffirms, restores, and advances agrarian ideals to reestablish a sustainable culture

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