October 2008 Weather Thread

[Exotic Life 120]

Today i reached too 22C/71.6F the low for tonight will be 13C/55.4F... they are telling about a indian summer... with the high tempetures for the time of year and all the colors from the tree's...

Robbin

[Jeff in St Pete 720]

We're full swing into the worst part of the rainy season here on the pacific coast of Costa Rica. In the past 18 hours, we have had over 11.5 inches of rain in this area. Normally in October alone we receive between 35-45 inches of rain. Last week it was unusually sunny all day and it only rained in the evenings or during the night... I knew that wouldn't last very long!

[Walter John 220]

Warm days, some rain and showers here and there, she's looking good for the prime growing season which is just about upon us here.

[Tyrone 2,859]

31C today then a humid change late morning. Min's have come right up. We had 18C lastnight. For the next week, we go from mid to low twenties up to low thirties, with the odd patch of rain and cloud to ease us into summer. Palms are starting to rocket away again.

Best regards

Tyrone

[_Keith 775]

Still warm here, and still dry as a bone.

I gave up and started watering today. Also moved all of the seedlings out into full sun.

I have less than a month to figure out what to do about a greenhouse. Hurricane ate the last one. Hmmmm.

[Jeff in St Pete 720]

We're full swing into the worst part of the rainy season here on the pacific coast of Costa Rica. In the past 18 hours, we have had over 11.5 inches of rain in this area. Normally in October alone we receive between 35-45 inches of rain. Last week it was unusually sunny all day and it only rained in the evenings or during the night... I knew that wouldn't last very long!

..... and it's still raining! Since about noon on Sunday we have received over 18 inches (457mm) of rain. This is the time of year that I get a little stir-crazy.

[FRITO 35]

We're full swing into the worst part of the rainy season here on the pacific coast of Costa Rica. In the past 18 hours, we have had over 11.5 inches of rain in this area. Normally in October alone we receive between 35-45 inches of rain. Last week it was unusually sunny all day and it only rained in the evenings or during the night... I knew that wouldn't last very long!

..... and it's still raining! Since about noon on Sunday we have received over 18 inches (457mm) of rain. This is the time of year that I get a little stir-crazy.

Jeff, thats a crazy amount of rain. Its nice to see the sun shine everynow and then. when TS Fay dumped rain all weekend here. (between 1 - 2 feet depedning exactly where you were) by sunday I was over it and wanted to get out in the yard.

weather has been near perfect here. sunny highs around 85 and lows around 60-65 degrees. figs trees about 75% bare(dropped leaves) but the larger decidious tree havnt even started turning yet.(this time last year i was already raking leaves)

[Jeff in St Pete 720]

Luke, it seems there are disturbances in the Caribbean and in the Pacific and we are right in the middle of them.

Those temps you are having are just perfect for me. I used to love this time of year in FL.

[SubTropicRay 187]

The real dry season is here.

[sonoranfans 2,932]

Still warm here, and still dry as a bone.

I gave up and started watering today. Also moved all of the seedlings out into full sun.

I have less than a month to figure out what to do about a greenhouse. Hurricane ate the last one. Hmmmm.

I have created a good temporary substitute, Keith. I buy 4-6 8' tree stakes(2", pressure treated), some overhead netting, 4 mil plastic sheeting, some duct tape, all at the home depot, or other suitable outdoor stoor. then drive the stakes into the ground(6 stakes gets you a 6' by 10' by 6' tall structure), and staple the netting and plastic into the stakes using duct tape to reinforce the stapled sites(prevents tearing). Then I have, wa la, for less than $100 a green/shadehouse. I like to do this so I can plant my larger seedlings early and allow the roots to develop, unmolested by moderate winds(hurricanes will of course destroy it, I expect), hot sun and cold. When my seedlings get large I just take it down and leave them to the elements. I also put all my potted palms in there for the winter. It may last 2 years, then need plastic replacement(sun destroys it eventually). Its not a permanent structure and I dont want it to be. I have little foxtails and royals, livistona decipiens in the ground and some dypsis in pots in the "el cheapo" shadehouse. My two roystonea borinquenas in the ground are just leaving the potted one in the dust, growth wise(almost 2' overall height separation between them in 5 months). In your scenario it seems that the structure should be taken down when the big windy season is imminent. The stakes and netting are reusable, so its kinda cheap.

Weather here is of course drier than a bone(dewpoints of 20 F or so), temps are rising again after the socal cold blast hit. We will see low 90's for the next 3-4 days with lows of 60-65, and sprinkler rain is in the forecast. The growing season is back on again.

Edited October 16, 2008 by sonoranfans

[_Keith 775]

Still warm here, and still dry as a bone.

I gave up and started watering today. Also moved all of the seedlings out into full sun.

I have less than a month to figure out what to do about a greenhouse. Hurricane ate the last one. Hmmmm.

I have created a good temporary substitute, Keith. I buy 4-6 8' tree stakes(2", pressure treated), some overhead netting, 4 mil plastic sheeting, some duct tape, all at the home depot, or other suitable outdoor stoor. then drive the stakes into the ground(6 stakes gets you a 6' by 10' by 6' tall structure), and staple the netting and plastic into the stakes using duct tape to reinforce the stapled sites(prevents tearing). Then I have, wa la, for less than $100 a green/shadehouse. I like to do this so I can plant my larger seedlings early and allow the roots to develop, unmolested by moderate winds(hurricanes will of course destroy it, I expect), hot sun and cold. When my seedlings get large I just take it down and leave them to the elements. I also put all my potted palms in there for the winter. It may last 2 years, then need plastic replacement(sun destroys it eventually). Its not a permanent structure and I dont want it to be. I have little foxtails and royals, livistona decipiens in the ground and some dypsis in pots in the "el cheapo" shadehouse. My two roystonea borinquenas in the ground are just leaving the potted one in the dust, growth wise(almost 2' overall height separation between them in 5 months). In your scenario it seems that the structure should be taken down when the big windy season is imminent. The stakes and netting are reusable, so its kinda cheap.

Weather here is of course drier than a bone(dewpoints of 20 F or so), temps are rising again after the socal cold blast hit. We will see low 90's for the next 3-4 days with lows of 60-65, and sprinkler rain is in the forecast. The growing season is back on again.

That is a great idea. All I have this year are seedlings. I have been thinking "bigger" but in reality, what you describe might do just fine. Thanks for opening up my horizons.

[sonoranfans 2,932]

Still warm here, and still dry as a bone.

I gave up and started watering today. Also moved all of the seedlings out into full sun.

I have less than a month to figure out what to do about a greenhouse. Hurricane ate the last one. Hmmmm.

I have created a good temporary substitute, Keith. I buy 4-6 8' tree stakes(2", pressure treated), some overhead netting, 4 mil plastic sheeting, some duct tape, all at the home depot, or other suitable outdoor stoor. then drive the stakes into the ground(6 stakes gets you a 6' by 10' by 6' tall structure), and staple the netting and plastic into the stakes using duct tape to reinforce the stapled sites(prevents tearing). Then I have, wa la, for less than $100 a green/shadehouse. I like to do this so I can plant my larger seedlings early and allow the roots to develop, unmolested by moderate winds(hurricanes will of course destroy it, I expect), hot sun and cold. When my seedlings get large I just take it down and leave them to the elements. I also put all my potted palms in there for the winter. It may last 2 years, then need plastic replacement(sun destroys it eventually). Its not a permanent structure and I dont want it to be. I have little foxtails and royals, livistona decipiens in the ground and some dypsis in pots in the "el cheapo" shadehouse. My two roystonea borinquenas in the ground are just leaving the potted one in the dust, growth wise(almost 2' overall height separation between them in 5 months). In your scenario it seems that the structure should be taken down when the big windy season is imminent. The stakes and netting are reusable, so its kinda cheap.

Weather here is of course drier than a bone(dewpoints of 20 F or so), temps are rising again after the socal cold blast hit. We will see low 90's for the next 3-4 days with lows of 60-65, and sprinkler rain is in the forecast. The growing season is back on again.

That is a great idea. All I have this year are seedlings. I have been thinking "bigger" but in reality, what you describe might do just fine. Thanks for opening up my horizons.

I use a "flap" for the door, and on particularly cold periods, I trop out my "oil filled" portable radiative heater to keep the temps from dipping too much, works like a charm if its closed up(not drafty). If I want I can get +30F above ambient with the radiative heater in there: warning dont use a convective heater(forced hot air is very dry, it will kill 'em) and water very carefully, or remove the heater when you do. With the heat, it can extend the growing season as well.

Edited October 16, 2008 by sonoranfans

[_Keith 775]

I saved all of the corrugated polycarbonate panels from my greenhouse, so I may modify your design to use those. But you definitely gave me some good ideas.

And by the way, still no d@mned rain. Got half inch wide cracks in the clay/loam soils again. I have the hose out their trickling and will just leave it all night. Here come the big water bills again.

[ariscott 49]

We are about the get smashed!!! Don't I love storms in the build-up. We are right above 'U' at Humpty Doo.

Regards, Ari

[Daryl 1,805]

We are about the get smashed!!! Don't I love storms in the build-up. We are right above 'U' at Humpty Doo.

Regards, Ari

Hi Ari, that is a decent storm system! I see it has just passed you...how did it go?

Daryl

[Tyrone 2,859]

Decent weather coming our way too. Warm to hot and moist. Some humidity. Yaeeeee.

Precis: Fine, partly cloudy.

City: Min 10 Max 26

Mandurah: Min 12 Max 24

UV Alert: 8:30 am to 3:40 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 10 [Very High]

Fire Danger: Coastal Plain: NOT RATED

Hills: NOT RATED

Sunday Fine day, late thundery shower. Min 15 Max 32

Monday Shower or two. Min 17 Max 31

Tuesday Shower or two. Min 15 Max 25

Wednesday Shower or two. Min 13 Max 24

Thursday Fine, partly cloudy. Min 12 Max 26

Friday Shower or two. Min 14 Max 25

regards

Tyrone

[_Keith 775]

Cool weekend coming to So. Louisiana. Low tomorrow night will be 54 and 51 degrees and our first days not to reach the 80s with 79 and 77 degrees predicted highs for the weekend.

I might have to go get into something physical just to celebrate.

[ariscott 49]

Hi Ari, that is a decent storm system! I see it has just passed you...how did it go?

Daryl

Not as good I was expected. Usually with that kind of storm we got at least 30mm, but last it night it did 'let's going around Ari's place' act and I only got around 12mm. Can't complain, it was nice. I bet town has around 50mm or so. Hopefully the next one won't behave the same way.

Regards, Ari

[Jeff in St Pete 720]

I finally awoke this morning to sunny blue skies After 4.5 days of cloudy rainy weather, it finally cleared. We ended up with 18.5 inches (470 mm) of rain bewtween Sunday and Thursday. It's so muddy right now that I can't even make it out to my shadehouse. I need a pair of rubber boots but I can't find a pair in my size. It's almost impossible to find a size 12 around here in any shoe.

[Exotic Life 120]

I finally awoke this morning to sunny blue skies After 4.5 days of cloudy rainy weather, it finally cleared. We ended up with 18.5 inches (470 mm) of rain bewtween Sunday and Thursday. It's so muddy right now that I can't even make it out to my shadehouse. I need a pair of rubber boots but I can't find a pair in my size. It's almost impossible to find a size 12 around here in any shoe.

Wow! 470 mm off rain that's unbelievble... if we get that here... then everything must be flooded. Too compromise... i get this year from January too June only 380 mm of rain...

Robbin

[Tyrone 2,859]

The weather just gets better and better. The next week is rain every day with high temps. Much higher temps than what is normal for Oct here. I love the humidity bit. There'll be some nice high dewpoints in there. For the last few nights the forecast mins have been much lower than reality. If that keeps going there may be a couple of 20C mins in there as well

Forecast for Sunday

A fine and mostly sunny day. E/SE winds, fresh and gusty early in the morning. A

southerly seabreeze near the coast for a period in the afternoon.

Precis: Fine.

City: Min 15 Max 32

Mandurah: Min 15 Max 27

UV Alert: 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 9 [Very High]

Fire Danger: Coastal Plain: NOT RATED

Hills: NOT RATED

Monday Possible shower or thunderstorm. Min 17 Max 33

Tuesday Chance of a shower. Min 18 Max 28

Wednesday Cloudy, shower or two. Min 15 Max 26

Thursday Shower or two. Min 15 Max 25

Friday Few showers. Min 14 Max 23

Saturday Few showers, easing. Min 13 Max 21

regards

Tyrone

[JLeVert 251]

We're in the midst of our first shot of cool air: high today should only be in the upper 60's with a low in the mid-40's. I really hate to see summer passing on. All the orchids are in the greenhouse and a few trees are starting to show a little fall color. We're too far south for a spectacular autumn - most trees just sort of turn rust colored and drop their leaves, but the occasional one will be pretty nice. The best trees for color here are Japanese Maple, Chinese Persimmon, and Turkey Oak. Palm wise, everything is still growing and there are lots of seed ripening. I've got to start collecting and mailing stuff to people.

[Tyrone 2,859]

We reached 34C yesterday. It was stinkin hot. After a minimum of 21.3C we're going for a max of 34C today. The clouds have already rolled in for some afternoon thunder activity. Not bad for October I must say.

Best regards

Tyrone

[_Keith 775]

Fall temps are great here. Lows in the mid to upper 50s and highs hovering around 80 with winds around 10mph. Could not ask for better environmental conditions except for some rain. If it getting dangerously dry here now.

This picture shows the cracks in the clay at around 1/2" and my finger easily fitting in. Make it really hard to water the new plantings as the water just runs off through the cracks. You can leave a water hose trickling in the same place for 3 hours and not make a puddle.

[FRITO 35]

Im cold.....low forcasted of 40 degrees tonight. It was 54 this morning and I had to run the heat for about 15 mintues so my blood could warm and I could go work on the greenhouse.

dry and great weather as Keith talks about here also. I be doing deep irrigation on my palms. getting ready for winter with the greenhouse and getting a new load of mulch.

*keith that clay is unique looking, here we have the red 'georgia clay' the south side of town actually is sandy and flat.

[SubTropicRay 187]

Sunday morning I recorded 61F (16F) in the garden. That is perfect weather.

[spockvr6 28]

Sunday morning I recorded 61F (16F) in the garden. That is perfect weather.

Ray-

I was shocked to see my station logged 57F Sunday AM, and a daytime high of only 78F. The dewpoints stayed in the 50's all day as well.

[bubba 2,395]

It is hard to believe the difference a few miles makes.Was in New Orleans on Saturday and they had a low of 59F with bright sunshine and it was beautiful.Got back down here on Sunday and the best we could do was a High/Low of 83/72F.It is overcast and muggy,showing the front could not make it through here but a it is much better than 89/78F.

[surgeon83 12]

Sunday morning I recorded 61F (16F) in the garden.

Oh, good. I was going by the airport reading of 59F so I'm glad to know it hasn't gotten below 60 yet (in-line with the conversation we had Sunday about the temp differential). But even this morning it was so cold that I had to wear a long-sleeved shirt on my 5.5 mile bike ride to work, when a week ago I had to go extra slow so I would not be drenched in sweat on arrival!

Larry, don't get discouraged. Its just a crapshoot, and it won't even matter until we're talking 34 vs 32 or something like that. Even then you will still probably read high. The Pritchardia never lies

[_Keith 775]

Im cold.....low forcasted of 40 degrees tonight. It was 54 this morning and I had to run the heat for about 15 mintues so my blood could warm and I could go work on the greenhouse.

dry and great weather as Keith talks about here also. I be doing deep irrigation on my palms. getting ready for winter with the greenhouse and getting a new load of mulch.

*keith that clay is unique looking, here we have the red 'georgia clay' the south side of town actually is sandy and flat.

Our soils are called Silty/Clay/Loam.

It is incredibley fertile, when we have good rainfall, which we do normally. This is a very dry year, which is not normal.

My land is 1 acre wide and 3 acres deep towards Bayou Teche. From the front to the back is 17 feet slope to the back with a dip in the middle.

The front acre is tough land, compacted and not well internally drained. It challenges me continuously.

The middle acre is a good internal drainage and good surface drainage. Easy growing for everything. This is my front yard and where I have my formal gardens.

The rear acre is extremely well drained on sufrace and internally with more red clay closer to the bayou banks. Again, this is great land, my back yard, but I am trying to leave the natural vista and view to the bayou.

More than you wanted to know, I am sure.

Keith

[sonoranfans 2,932]

Im cold.....low forcasted of 40 degrees tonight. It was 54 this morning and I had to run the heat for about 15 mintues so my blood could warm and I could go work on the greenhouse.

dry and great weather as Keith talks about here also. I be doing deep irrigation on my palms. getting ready for winter with the greenhouse and getting a new load of mulch.

*keith that clay is unique looking, here we have the red 'georgia clay' the south side of town actually is sandy and flat.

Our soils are called Silty/Clay/Loam.

It is incredibley fertile, when we have good rainfall, which we do normally. This is a very dry year, which is not normal.

My land is 1 acre wide and 3 acres deep towards Bayou Teche. From the front to the back is 17 feet slope to the back with a dip in the middle.

The front acre is tough land, compacted and not well internally drained. It challenges me continuously.

The middle acre is a good internal drainage and good surface drainage. Easy growing for everything. This is my front yard and where I have my formal gardens.

The rear acre is extremely well drained on sufrace and internally with more red clay closer to the bayou banks. Again, this is great land, my back yard, but I am trying to leave the natural vista and view to the bayou.

More than you wanted to know, I am sure.

Keith

Nice description Keith, sounds like a fine piece of land. I think I heard "born on the bayou" in my mind, and smelled some cajun cooking(one of my favorites). Yep, some of the best american music, IMO, and best home cooking anywhere. Since I am 51, I have the rock classics, and I love the old style jazz from down there.

[Cristóbal 69]

today we have 39 C - 101 F in tijuana very low humiditey condition of santa ana winds not very strong but hot day. i take these fotos today with new digital camera i buy yesterday panasonic lumix lz10 10 megapixel. very good camera !

i wish more people post fotos of the weather and intetesting places in there areas ! this is view of cerro colorado, red hill, in east part of tijuana. santa ana winds here can be very bad 160 km hour - 100 miles hour.

Edited October 23, 2008 by Cristóbal

[Cristóbal 69]

mexican flag in santa ana wind you need much wind to move this big flag. today we have winds of 80 km hour 50 miles hour in east part of city for the after noon not very strong for santa ana winds but very bad for most palms except the washingtonia and phoenix. i water today the cocos nucifera and howea forsteriana and belmoreana all do not like this weather and they say we have this for 1 more week. some times is so dry 3-5% humidetey plants die with watering them for the winds take out the water more faster from the plants than roots can get from soil.

Edited October 23, 2008 by Cristóbal

[amazondk 92]

It has been starting to rain more and more and it sort of looks like we are sliding into the rainy season. This year it really never got real hot in the dry season. Which is fine.

dk

[Tyrone 2,859]

We had wave after wave of thunderstorms last night. We got 20mm of rain. After a min of 13C, the sun has come out to warm the ground. No watering this weekend.

Best regards

Tyrone

[_Keith 775]

My watering hoses have been trickling for 1 straight week. We have had 2 cool fronts come through, wihch normally have a good bit of rain in front of them, but both together have dropped less than 1/10th of an inch, aka, nothing.

If you deduct all but a couple inches of our hurricane rainfall, the rest of which just ran off anyway, we are probably close to 20" below normal for the year. Already 2" below normal for this normally dry month.

[bubba 2,395]

We are trying hard to get our first cool front through down here.They say our lows may make it into the upper 50's early next week.Will believe it when it happens.Muggy and wind blowing tropical.

[FRITO 35]

everyday is slipping away faster here. daytime highs get lower. we recieved about 3" of rain the last 2 days. today was nice and sunny but only reached about 75 degrees, lows forcast into the mid 40's - which is cold for this time of year.

sales on plants are in full swing at the big box stores.

[SunnyFl 10]

everyday is slipping away faster here. daytime highs get lower. we recieved about 3" of rain the last 2 days. today was nice and sunny but only reached about 75 degrees, lows forcast into the mid 40's - which is cold for this time of year.

sales on plants are in full swing at the big box stores.

It does seem to be getting cold early this year - down in St. Pete, we're forecast to drop into the upper 40's, but only on Tuesday night. Hard to believe I'll have to bring in the cyrtie in October. I wonder what this winter will bring.

[_Keith 775]

Holy cr@p Batman,

I haven't been paying attention to the weather. It is supposed to get down to 37 degrees tomorrow night. I thought I had another 3 or 4 weeks before worrying about those kinds of temperatures.