Precipitation

I recorded a total of 30.59 inches of precipitation for the year (rain and melted snow water equivalent). The normal is 36.58 inches*. The following graph shows 2012 monthly precip values in blue and normal values in red.

In May, strong thunderstorms dumped over 3 inches of rain in about a 3hr period overnight on May 6/7th.  Spring rains really did not materialize with rainfall before normal during the critical months of March and April. November saw the least amount of precipitation with only 0.89 inch of rain and a trace of snow. Snowfall in December 2012 was well below normal with only a mere 1.0 inch recorded, making it the second least snowiest December in my 15 years of record.

Temperatures

Temperatures were well above average. The month of March was particularly noteworthy with daytime highs in the 80s recorded on nine days. The maximum temperature during the month of March was 84.9 on March 21. The abnormal warmth caused many fruit trees and other berries to bloom far earlier than normal. Unfortunately, April experienced a normal freeze which killed the sensitive Peach blossoms in our backyard and did damage to other orchard crops elsewhere.

In July I recorded my first 100 degree+ day in the 15 years I’ve been recording data with a monthly high and new backyard weather record of 102.1 degrees on July 7. The combination of hot days and low humidity resulted in high rates of evapotranspiration(ET) with daily ET rates averaging around 0.25 inch. The below normal precipitation combined with high temperatures and corresponding ET values increased the severity of the ongoing drought across the area.

Stats

*normal value from the CoCoRaHS PRISM Portal project

 Averages\Extremes for the month of October 2012

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Average temperature     = 51.2°F
 Average humidity        = 75%
 Average dewpoint        = 42.7°F
 Average barometer       = 29.949 in.
 Average windspeed       = 6.7 mph
 Average gustspeed       = 9.9 mph
 Average direction       = 260° ( W )
 Rainfall for month      = 3.38 in.
 Maximum rain per minute = 0.040 in on day 17 at time 20:52
 Maximum temperature     = 79.0°F on day 24 at time 14:07
 Minimum temperature     = 30.8°F on day 31 at time 07:47
 Maximum humidity        = 98% on day 23 at time 04:29
 Minimum humidity        = 34% on day 11 at time 15:51
 Maximum dewpoint        = 68.0°F on day 23 at time 12:17
 Minimum dewpoint        = 22.6°F on day 31 at time 22:24
 Maximum pressure        = 30.43 in. on day 12 at time 11:16
 Minimum pressure        = 29.25 in. on day 17 at time 20:16
 Maximum windspeed       = 26 mph from 293°(WNW) on day 14 at time 17:13
 Maximum gust speed      = 41 mph from 248°(WSW) on day 14 at time 15:49
 Maximum heat index      = 81.3°F on day 24 at time 14:06
 Avg daily max temp :61.7°F
 Avg daily min temp :41.2°F
 Total windrun = 4993.7miles

Watermark soil moisture sensor

After a long period this past summer of little precipitation, the month of October has provided some regular intervals of modest rainfall. This is helping to recharge the depleted soil moisture. I have a soil temp/moisture station with soil moisture sensors buried at 4, 12, 24, and 36 inch depths paired with soil temperature sensors near our garden. The Watermark® Soil Moisture Sensor is an indirect, calibrated method of measuring soil water content. It is an electrical resistance type sensor. The Soil Moisture/Temperature Station converts the electrical resistance reading from the sensor into a calibrated reading of centibars of soil water suction with a range from 0 to 200 centibars where zero is saturated and 200 is completely dry. I have daily readings available on my Garden Weather page.

One of the problems when “planting” the sensors is ensuring that the sensor makes a good contact with the surrounding soil. I suspect that with our very clayey soils in this recent drought that the soil surrounding the 4 inch depth moisture sensor may have shrunk, thereby resulting in higher readings from that sensor than were present. Although given the extended dry period, it may not have been that far off from reality. Essentially, the sensor maxed out at the driest 200 cb reading back in early June and has not changed until the last 2 days.  This may indicate (hopefully) that we are finally starting to see some recharge of soil moisture.

Soil Temperature/Moisture Station.

We still have a way to go to make up for the soil moisture deficit but perhaps this winter will provide some beneficial snow that can be very efficient at soil moisture recharge.

Stay tuned…

4 inch Soil Moisture Plot. Zero indicates saturated soil and 200 is dry.

Here’s a graphical representation of the water balance

for my location courtesy CoCoRaHS

Click here to see water balance charts for other locations.

Here are the other monthly stats for July 2012:

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   Averages\Extremes for the month of July 2012

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 Average temperature     = 79.8°F
 Average humidity        = 69%
 Average dewpoint        = 67.7°F
 Average barometer       = 29.919 in.
 Average windspeed       = 3.8 mph
 Average gustspeed       = 5.7 mph
 Average direction       = 226° ( SW)
 Rainfall for month      = 2.35 in.
 Maximum rain per minute = 0.100 in on day 01 at time 11:37
 Maximum temperature     = 102.1°F on day 07 at time 15:15
 Minimum temperature     = 57.8°F on day 29 at time 06:01
 Maximum humidity        = 97% on day 27 at time 07:01
 Minimum humidity        = 30% on day 08 at time 14:48
 Maximum dewpoint        = 81.6°F on day 02 at time 19:02
 Minimum dewpoint        = 50.8°F on day 08 at time 14:48
 Maximum pressure        = 30.11 in. on day 11 at time 08:46
 Minimum pressure        = 29.54 in. on day 26 at time 01:59
 Maximum windspeed       = 33 mph from 180°( S ) on day 18 at time 18:34
 Maximum gust speed      = 51 mph from 180°( S ) on day 18 at time 18:34
 Maximum heat index      = 120.0°F on day 06 at time 14:33
 Avg daily max temp :92.8°F
 Avg daily min temp :67.2°F
 Total windrun = 2788.3miles

Drought Monitor

Check out this flow duration hydrograph for the Kankakee River near Wilmington, IL courtesy US Geological Survey (USGS) Waterwatch. Late summer into fall is when rivers typically experience their lowest levels but compare the present to last year at this time.

Kankakee River near Wilmington, IL

Showers and thunderstorms in the forecast

indicate that we could see a relief from our current precipitation deficit. We are currently between about 1 to 2 inches below normal for rainfall. The recent record setting warmth in March and subsequent rapid growth in vegetation no doubt helped contribute to depletetion of soil moisture.

Portions of Central Illinois have recently been upgraded to moderate drought status.  Soils continue to dry out, at least in the upper soil profile, in our area. The most obvious indicator of lower precipitation is the low flows currently observed on area streams. Typically this is the time of year when rivers would experience their greatest flows.

Kankakee River near Wilmington, IL

Sunrise Feb 13, 2012

A mid deck of  clouds the morning of Feb 13 provided some great texture and colors at sunrise.

Detailed Stats:

Averages\Extremes for the month of January 2012

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 Average temperature     = 30.8°F
 Average humidity        = 81%
 Average dewpoint        = 25.4°F
 Average barometer       = 30.007 in.
 Average windspeed       = 5.5 mph
 Average gustspeed       = 8.3 mph
 Average direction       = 259° ( W )
 Rainfall for month      = 1.65 in.
 Maximum rain per minute = 0.02 in on day 23 at time 04:03
 Maximum temperature     = 59.3°F on day 31 at time 13:39
 Minimum temperature     = 4.9°F on day 19 at time 23:49
 Maximum humidity        = 100% on day 29 at time 22:51
 Minimum humidity        = 46% on day 27 at time 14:17
 Maximum dewpoint        = 50.7°F on day 31 at time 19:04
 Minimum dewpoint        = -3.1°F on day 19 at time 16:58
 Maximum pressure        = 30.49 in. on day 03 at time 09:53
 Minimum pressure        = 29.35 in. on day 23 at time 01:11
 Maximum windspeed       = 25 mph from 293°(WNW) on day 01 at time 17:21
 Maximum gust speed      = 41 mph from 293°(WNW) on day 01 at time 13:59
 Maximum heat index      = 59.3°F on day 31 at time 13:39
 Avg daily max temp :40.3°F
 Avg daily min temp :21.0°F
 Total windrun = 4070.5miles

Averages/extremes to date for the year 2011
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Average temperature     52.1°F
 Average humidity        79%
 Average dewpoint        45.0°F
 Average barometer       29.977 in.
 Average windspeed       3.6 mph
 Average gustspeed       6.1 mph
 Average direction       264° ( W )
 Rainfall for year       = 47.22 in
 Maximum rain per minute 0.150 in on day 20 at time 12:38 month 8
 Maximum temperature     99.2°F on day 19 at time 16:19 month 7
 Minimum temperature     -13.9°F on day 10 at time 07:03 month 2
 Maximum humidity        = 100% on day 22 at time 08:50 month 12
 Minimum humidity        = 23% on day 31 at time 15:28 month 3
 Maximum dewpoint        = 83.1°F on day 28 at time 14:57 month 7
 Minimum dewpoint        = -18.0°F on day 10 at time 7:03 month 2
 Maximum pressure        = 30.605  in. on day 02 at time 16:25 month 2
 Minimum pressure        = 29.195  in. on day 01 at time 03:17 month 4
 Maximum windspeed       32.2 mph from 090°( E ) on day 01 at time 20:25 month 2
 Maximum gust speed      46.0 mph from 090°( E ) on day 01 at time 20:06 month 2
 Maximum heat index      122.0°F on day 21 at time 16:31 month 7
 Total Growing T-Sum= 8038.4°F
 Growing degrees days :1057.3 GDD
  Total windrun = 31582.6miles

Temperature data by month:

TEMPERATURE (°F), HEAT BASE 65.0, COOL BASE 65.0
                          DEP.  HEAT  COOL                                          
        MEAN  MEAN        FROM  DEG   DEG                        MAX  MAX  MIN  MIN 
 YR MO  MAX   MIN   MEAN  NORM  DAYS  DAYS  HI  DATE  LOW  DATE  >=90 <=32 <=32 <=0 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 11  1  29.6  15.0  22.6   0.0  1315     0  43.3   1  -2.1   21    0   20   31    1
 11  2  35.4  20.4  28.7   0.0  1013     0  58.2  17 -13.9   10    0   10   23    3
 11  3  49.2  30.5  39.7   0.0   785     1  71.9  17  21.6    1    0    0   22    0
 11  4  60.6  41.5  50.7   0.0   451    21  84.1  10  24.2    1    0    0    2    0
 11  5  72.2  50.9  61.6   0.0   217   111  92.8  10  34.6    4    2    0    0    0
 11  6  82.1  61.7  71.9   0.0    29   236  96.4   7  53.6   10    5    0    0    0
 11  7  90.5  68.3  79.2   0.0     5   446  99.2  19  58.0    9   20    0    0    0
 11  8  85.3  62.3  73.2   0.0    26   280  94.6   2  54.8   15    5    0    0    0
 11  9  72.5  52.2  61.8   0.0   179    84  97.5   1  39.0   15    3    0    0    0
 11 10  67.0  42.0  53.7   0.0   398    47  85.7   7  29.3   29    0    0    4    0
 11 11  53.8  36.7  45.0   0.0   603     2  72.6  13  24.3   17    0    0    7    0
 11 12  43.3  28.6  36.0   0.0   899     0  57.5  15  11.5   10    0    1   21    0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        61.9  42.6  52.1   0.0  5918  1228  99.2 JUL -13.9  FEB   35   31  110    4