How is it possible?
Yesterday, a line of strong thunderstorms came through our area. At our farm, we received less than 1 millimeter of rainfall (just enough to wet the bottom of the rain gauge). Twelve and a half miles (20 kilometers) north of us they recieved 0.6 inches of rain (15 millimeters). Twelve and a half miles south of us they received .8 inches (20 millimeters).
If I lived in ancient times, I'd be wondering why the gods were so angry with me.
28 June 2007
26 June 2007
Severe Drought
As I've mentioned at Adventures in Ruralia, we're in the midst of an unprecedented drought for this time of year.
Since A.D. 2007 April 29, we've had a little less than 2 inches (50 millimeters) of rain. That's compared to our historical average of 6.33 inches (161 millimeters) during that time period.
Incredibly, we've already had 13 days above 30º Celsius (86º Fahrenheit) this year. [Tomorrow will make 14] The American Horticultural Society puts us in Heat Zone 4, with an annual average of 15 to 30 days above 30º Celsius. We're almost half-way to the high end of that range, and it's still June!
You can imagine that the combination of heat and drought is having a disasterous effect on plants. Of the 250 Norway Spruces that I planted in May, more than two thirds are dead. I would be watering them, but the creek dried up in the third week of May.
I have 7 rain barrels that hold between 40 and 55 gallons (150 to 210 liters) of water. Without them, I'd be in a world of hurt. They've provided me with just enough water to keep the plants around the house alive.
One of my friends at work believes that this summer's abnormal weather is a side effect of global climate change. I'm not sure if that's true for this stretch of weather, but global climate change is definitely upon us.
Since A.D. 2007 April 29, we've had a little less than 2 inches (50 millimeters) of rain. That's compared to our historical average of 6.33 inches (161 millimeters) during that time period.
Incredibly, we've already had 13 days above 30º Celsius (86º Fahrenheit) this year. [Tomorrow will make 14] The American Horticultural Society puts us in Heat Zone 4, with an annual average of 15 to 30 days above 30º Celsius. We're almost half-way to the high end of that range, and it's still June!
You can imagine that the combination of heat and drought is having a disasterous effect on plants. Of the 250 Norway Spruces that I planted in May, more than two thirds are dead. I would be watering them, but the creek dried up in the third week of May.
I have 7 rain barrels that hold between 40 and 55 gallons (150 to 210 liters) of water. Without them, I'd be in a world of hurt. They've provided me with just enough water to keep the plants around the house alive.
One of my friends at work believes that this summer's abnormal weather is a side effect of global climate change. I'm not sure if that's true for this stretch of weather, but global climate change is definitely upon us.
25 May 2007
Opening Post
I created this blog to keep track of my weather records, and so I won't continue to clog up Adventures in Ruralia with my "Weather Updates."
I haven't figured out how to post my old weather updates over here, so I'll probably end up simply copying a few of the more notable ones.
I'm not going to keep "religious" statistics during the summer (like I do during the winter). We've already had a couple of days above 30º Celsius, but it's too much work to keep track of them all. That's why we have weather stations.
...if you're asking why "Croit Coille na h-Arach," it's the name of our farm.
I haven't figured out how to post my old weather updates over here, so I'll probably end up simply copying a few of the more notable ones.
I'm not going to keep "religious" statistics during the summer (like I do during the winter). We've already had a couple of days above 30º Celsius, but it's too much work to keep track of them all. That's why we have weather stations.
...if you're asking why "Croit Coille na h-Arach," it's the name of our farm.
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