Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, August 18th-24 - Caswell County, NC

Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was posted by CoCoRaHS observer with station number NC-CS-1 in Caswell County, NC.  In their report, they note multiple categories of impacts in their community ranging from agriculture to tourism and recreation. We've been reading condition monitoring reports submitted by all observers over the last 11 months and we've noticed that reports focus on weather impacts in their yards or households.  We want to encourage all reporters to keep your eyes open and be aware of how weather can affect your community.  The report below is a great example of additional impacts you could include you your reports. Thank you NC-CS-1!  Keep up the good work!


 Categories

Agriculture
Business and Industry
Plants and Wildlife 
Tourism and Recreation 
Water Supply and Quality

The saying "it's not the heat it's the humidity" definitely applies now. When my glasses fog up when I go outside or when I wake up and the windows are fogged up, it's humid outside! Most vegetable gardens have finished producing. Time to get ready to plant a fall garden. The lake level has steadily risen all week, now 409.84'. All the wheat has been cut. Tobacco priming continues. Birds are still molting. Hummers still around- even with two feeders near each other, only one will drink the nectar at a time while chasing others away. A few flowers are blooming but fall mum are full of buds. Another weather lore is the number of fogs in August foretell the number of snows in the winter. So far we have had at least 4 foggy morning - bring on the snow. Campers still utilizing the sites and still activity on the lake when weather permits. Lots of fishermen early this morning. School starts Monday.

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, August 11th-17th - Charleston County, SC

 Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week is a report posted on August 17th by CoCoRaHS observer with station number SC-CR-88.  In their report, they describe soil moisture in their area in excellent detail.  Not only did they explain how soil moisture impacted irrigation in their garden, they also note which plants were affected.  We know that different plant species plants in require different levels of moisture during their various stages of development.  Therefore, we can get a better idea of how moist the soil and the extent of impacts by knowing which plants are affected and what stage of growth they are currently in.

The observer also included monthly water levels at a local natural area.  This is a great example of how you can find meaningful locations in your community and describe changes that occur there over time.  Way to go SC-CR-88!

Categories

Agriculture
Plants and Wildlife
Tourism and Recreation

Recent rainfall continues to be more than adequate to maintain soil moisture in the vegetable garden without supplemental subsurface watering. In addition, the rainfall has been frequent enough to maintain adequate surface moisture for recently planted beans, peas, and greens to germinate without supplemental surface watering. Water level reading at the end of the Washoe Reserve boardwalk yesterday was 61.4 inches, the highest I've recorded this year. Readings history: 2014-08-16 61.4 inches 2014-07-01 54.5 inches 2014-04-21 55.6 inches 2014-02-24 47.0 inches 2014-01-27 45.2 inches 2013-12-22 42.8 inches.

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, Aug 4th-11th - Craven County, NC

Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was posted by observer with station number NC-CN-31 on August 10th.  We chose this report because it describes the multiple ways that recent weather events impacted their community.  Notice how they touched several impact categories available in the CoCoRaHS reporting database. Their in-depth report gives us a greater understanding of local weather and how the community and ecosystems are responding.  Thanks for setting an excellent example NC-CN-31! 

Categories

Business and Industry
Fire
Plants and Wildlife
Society and Public Health
Tourism and Recreation 

 wkly.rpt.August 3rd thru the 9th: Precipitation, humidity and heat. Heavy rain forecasted for today - August 10th. In a 24 hr.period over the past week, all our pepper and tomato plants wilted, along with their 'fruit'. This same scenario was experienced by others in the area. Discussions with other growers found they had the same experience. A discussion with a Farmers Market vendor revealed that four of her produce suppliers have now quit for the season due to this. ( Local Produce Supply Effected ) Moreover, more than one report of dead out ( areas or total) on ornamental fruit and some fir trees. Suspected is either phytopthorea or armillaria. Diagnosis pending. Tobacco fields were aerial sprayed this week; and then the manual labor force went into the fields over the next days, pulling off flowers and suckers. The soy beans have not quite started to bloom yet. Corn stalks are starting to yellow Fields have not been flooded (yet - more rain expected today) Honeybees have slowed brood laying and many keepers are reporting that their colonies are self-requeening. Many keepers are also feeding their bees due to reduced forage caused both by the time of year and too much rain. Precip. has been heavy at times and in sporadic areas. However, dangerous storms have not been an issue. Some local festivities have suffered slightly reduced attendance due to the weather. Local residents have struggled to find a period dry enough to mow lawns and fields, many which are laying wet. Fire Ant mounds are popping up everywhere Snakes are being seen more frequently ( mostly cottonmouth) Barn Swallows have finished with their last clutches, and mostly do not sit in their roosting spots unless rain is heavy. Blue Jays have not been seen in a month. Hawks are beings seen more frequently. Hummingbird population has exploded and they engulf feeders are the rain days. Yellowish bodied dragonflies have shown up again this year, and the others are still around Mosquitos are beginning to be problematic ( EE reported in the state recently ) Weather forecasting over the last week has been poor. Days when it was to be clear, it has rained. Estimated amounts of anticipated precip. accumulations have been incorrect. Times of anticipated rainfall have been off by more than a little.

King Tides Underway!

Each year, North Carolina, South Carolina and coastal areas worldwide experience several weeks of very high tides known as King Tides. Two astronomical events must coincide for King Tides to develop. The first phenomenon is the alignment of the Earth, sun and moon, also called a Spring Tide, which increases the gravitational pull on bodies of water toward the moon. If a Spring Tide occurs when the moon is closest to the Earth during it's 28-day elliptical orbit, the gravitational pull on bodies of water increases a little more. Typically, King Tides only add 2-12 inches to an average high tide.  Impacts can be subtle or substantial coastal erosion and flooding of low lying areas.  When coupled with ongoing sea level rise, the likelihood of damage can increase significantly.

King Tides are underway this week and several weeks throughout the rest of the year.  Observers in South Carolina can take pictures of the impacts of King Tides for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) King Tides Initiative. Photos will help decision-makers and stakeholders visualize and better understand coastal threats.  More information about the project can be found here.

Morro Strand, CA at Low and King Tide. (Credit: Docent Joyce) 

 

 

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, July 28th-August 3rd - Beaufort County, SC

 Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was posted on July 31st by CoCoRaHS observer with station number SC-BF-39.  In their report they note the abundance of precipitation they received in July and give several great examples of how saturated the ground had become in their neighborhood. Offering precipitation measurements and supporting your data with examples like these is a great way to enhance your reports and increase their usefulness. Thank you, SC-BF-39.  Keep up the good work!


Categories:
Plants and Wildlife

In July, we had a total of 12.07, not counting one day with just a trace. It rained 16 out of 31 days plus we had a trace on an additional day. Although I have no records of rainfall in prior years, from my recollection, this is the wettest July I can recall in recent years. The ground in our community is very saturated. When we walked today (August 2 after another .60 inches of rain in the overnight hours), I observed a great deal of lying water in the grassy areas alongside the roadway. Many yards, drainage ditches and undeveloped lots had substantial lying water. One low-lying lot near my home often has standing water in the center of the lot during wet seasons; what was highly unusual is that today I observed almost the entire lot covered with standing water, including the edges of the lot. When my husband spotted a Chinese tallow sapling (approximately five feet tall) in a neighbor's yard, I decided to gently tug at it to see if I could pull it out. The tallow easily came out with the root system, which was every bit of 10-12 inches long, moist and intact. Generally, saplings this tall have to be cut and sprayed, so the fact it came out easily indicates that the soil is saturated at least that deep in the ground. The weather forecast indicates more rain for the next five days, so I don't anticipate drought conditions any time soon.