How does your winter solstice weather compare to previous years?

Every year, the winter solstice marks the longest night of the year and the shortest day, and it also marks the official start of winter. This year the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere occurs on December 21, 11:48 P.M. EST.

No two winters are exactly the same. According to the State Climate Office of North Carolina's Holiday Climatology for the Southeast, the following extremes on the winter solstice have been documented:

North Carolina

• Warmest Winter Solstice occurred on December 22, 1931 at Elizabeth City (312719)
• Max Temp: 76°F
• Min Temp: 70°F
• Coldest Winter Solstice occurred on December 22, 1935 at Mt Mitchell (315921)
• Max Temp: 15°F
• Min Temp: -9°F
• Highest Precipitation Amount: 4.12 inches on December 22, 1918 at Highlands (314055)

 South Carolina

• Warmest Winter Solstice occurred on December 22, 1926 at Georgetown 2 E (383468)
• Max Temp: 82°F
• Min Temp: 60°F
• Coldest Winter Solstice occurred on December 21, 1985 at Caesars Head (381256)
• Max Temp: 27°F
• Min Temp: 10°F
• Highest Precipitation Amount: 3.01 inches on December 22, 1918 at Centenary (381495)

The Holiday Climatology page also provides the warmest, coldest, and wettest winter solstices documented at each weather station in North and South Carolina. Let us know how your temperature and precipitation measurements for the winter solstice compare to the records documented at weather station closest to your home in the comments below or in your weekly condition monitoring report.

Just released: November 2015 Condition Monitoring Newsletter

We hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving last week! This month's newsletter, which was released today, has a link in the introduction that you can use to see what previous Thanksgiving conditions looked like in your state.  The November newsletter focuses on citizen science, including an article about how Rebecca Cumbie-Ward at the State Climate Office of North Carolina uses condition monitoring reports and another piece on the White House Initiatives on citizen science and crowdsourcing. We also interview Pat Momich, who is our condition monitoring observer of the month, to hear what motivates her to be a CoCoRaHS observer and tips for successful monitoring.

Check out the newsletter here. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at cisa@sc.edu.

Recap from October CoCoRaHS observer call

On October 29, 2015, we had a observer conference call with 7 CoCoRaHS condition monitoring volunteers, and detailed observer call notes can be found here. During the first part of the call, we discussed local impacts caused by heavy precipitation and flooding as well as non-weather sources, such as a local timber operation. Many of the observers shared that they do include impacts from heavy precipitation and flooding events in their reports, if observed. Some observers also had questions about how to report how logging operations and other human activities that alter local conditions. In response, CISA team members suggested to include this type of information in condition monitoring reports even though CoCoRaHS does not have a section to note human-caused land-use change, especially since this type of impact information would provide additional context to how weather conditions affects local areas.

During the second part of the conference call, CISA team member David Eckhardt asked observers for feedback on incorporating a scale bar into the CoCoRaHS reporting form. In addition to providing positive feedback about the prototype scale bar and guidance information that David created, observers also provided useful suggestions on how to improve the overall CoCoRaHS drought impact reporting form. For example, many observers agreed that having comment boxes next to each category would be useful in addition to the general comment box.

For those of you who were not able to make the call, but are interested in sharing your thoughts on a few proposed changes to the condition monitoring report form, please take a moment to complete this very brief survey to let us know what you think about the idea.

Additionally, anyone who is interested in participating in a usability study to test out the scale bar before it goes live, please enter your contact information in the space available on the survey OR e-mail cisa@sc.edu.

Check out the October newsletter!

Throughout the Carolinas, especially in South Carolina, we received a lot of precipitation this month, which has obliterated almost any sign of drought! This month's newsletter focuses why these wet conditions occurred and the impacts they have on local areas. We feature an article on why the recent historic rainfall event occurred in South Carolina and another piece on how extreme rainfall can impact availability of crops, such pumpkins. Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Month, Carl Cole of Charleston County, does a great job reporting about wet conditions in his weekly reports, and we explain how decision makers still find this information useful. You can access the newsletter here or send us an email at cisa@sc.edu if you would like to be added to our email list.

We would love to hear more from you the impacts from these heavy precipitation events in your area and how you report about wet conditions during our next observer conference call on October 29, 2015 from 10 am to 11 am. We would also like to hear your feedback about our second phase of the Condition Monitoring project discussed in last month's newsletter. To join the conversation the conversation next week, call 605-477-2200 and enter the access code 736549 (note: this is not
a toll-free number).

We need your help to document impacts from Hurricane Joaquin this weekend!

Coastal areas in the Carolinas might experience major flooding this weekend, partly thanks to Hurricane Joaquin, which the National Hurricane Center forecasts to travel along the Eastern Seaboard. According to a blog post by Dr. Hal Needham, a "complex interaction between Hurricane Joaquin, a pre-existing cold-front, and a building dome of high pressure" will result in a widespread storm surge event along the East Coast.

We need your help to document local conditions and impacts in your area this weekend that might result from Hurricane Joaquin! If you experience severe weather, please submit reports through the Significant Weather Report on CoCoRaHS website. Additionally, you can also include any impacts from Hurricane Joaquin in your reports. Photos can be sent to cisa@sc.edu. As usual, please let us know if you have any questions.

Cone forecast for Hurricane Joaquin from the National Hurricane Center

Drought disaster declarations in South Carolina provide aid to farmers

Although many parts of the Carolinas received rain the past couple of days, this doesn't erase the crop damages and losses that farmers in South Carolina incurred from drought during the summer growing season. In early September, The State newspaper reports that 35 South Carolina counties have been declared as natural disaster areas by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) due to drought, making these areas eligible for disaster relief funds. Many farmers have crop insurance that they purchase for protection for unanticipated losses and damages from disasters, but the drought disaster declaration also makes them eligible to apply for low-interest loans from the USDA Farm Service Agency if they need more assistance. Additionally, counties next to those where drought disaster declarations have been made also qualify for assistance, making counties in North Carolina and Georgia also eligible for aid. According to a Clemson University media release, crops that experienced damage include corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, and peanuts, which mostly occurred due to the extremely high temperatures and isolated rainfall events this summer. Clemson extension specialists also warn that despite forecasts of more rainfall during the winter and spring due to El Niño, which will potentially alleviate the drought, farmers might now be at risk of additional losses due to the excessive rainfall.

The USDA provides relief to farmers, but many of us also have backyard gardens where we grow our own produce and plants that suffered as well. Some of our observers report plant stress by describing how much they irrigate their plants or whether the plants have been wilting or producing fruit later in their condition monitoring reports. As the weather changes this fall, please continue to describe the condition of your plants in your observations, which helps decision makers, such as the state drought management committees, monitor whether plants have been recovering or remain stressed from dry conditions.
 

Devastated corn crops in South Carolina.  

Source: Clemson University Media Release. 

Image Credit: David DeWitt / Clemson University

Have you read the September 2015 newsletter?

If you haven't received a copy of the September 2015 Newsletter, check it out here. This month's newsletter provides an update on Phase 2 of the CoCoRaHS Condition Monitoring Project, and we are looking for your feedback as we consider how to improve the reporting process and ways to display your reports through an interactive web map. Additionally, this month's newsletter includes an article on flash drought and a drought update for the Carolinas based on the U.S. Drought Monitor for last week. We also highlight Richard Figlar as our Condition Monitoring Star of the Month and share some of his reports from August.

Feel free to send us any comments or questions that you might have, or if you would like to be added to the newsletter email list.

Help document upcoming King Tides in South Carolina!

Do you live on the South Carolina Coast or are planning a trip during August 28 - September 2? If yes, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) needs your help to capture photos for the South Carolina King Tides initiative!

Every year, coastal areas of South Carolina experience “King Tides,” which refers to a seasonally high tide that occurs when the moon is close to the earth during its orbit. According to SC DHEC, King Tides may cause noticeable impacts such as flooding in low-lying areas and coastal erosion, especially if a heavy precipitation event occurs during the King Tide. The South Carolina King Tides Initiative helps SC DHEC document and better understand the types of impacts these extreme tides have on the state. The initiative also raises public awareness of the impacts of coastal hazards.

Based on the tide charts, the next King Tide event in South Carolina will occur from August 28^th through September 2. If you would like to participate and submit photos documenting King Tides, visit MyCoast: SouthCarolina to download the MyCoast: South Carolina app for your smartphone or tablet to upload photos. For more information, please visit SC DHEC’s information page.

Above: Example of a MyCoast submission from a King Tide event last year

Check out the August 2015 Newsletter!

The August 2015 CISA & CoCoRaHS Condition Monitoring Newsletter is hot off the press and ready for you to read! This month we feature articles about increasing dry conditions in the Carolinas, including perspectives from our observers as well as the regular update from the US Drought Monitor. We selected Karen Schuck from Georgia as our Condition Monitoring Star of the Month and showcase some of her condition monitoring reports. Additionally, we provide a recap from the July Observer Conference Call and an article on drought impacts on health , both of which we hope will provide you with some new ideas on topics to include in your reports.

Be sure to check your inbox or here for a copy of the newsletter. As always, keep up the great work and let us know if you have any questions, ideas, or concerns!

Condition Monitoring Reports Help Confirm Drought Conditions In NC

On Thursday, July 30, 2015, Rebecca Cumbie, extension climatologist with the NC State Climate Office, posted this update to the State Climate Office blog discussing the intensification of drought conditions in North Carolina. Rebecca cites observations submitted by CoCoRaHS condition monitoring observers that help support the drought designations.

This is just one more instance where condition monitoring reports have shown their value.

Keep up the great work everyone!

PRESS RELEASE: Continued Hot Weather and Low Rainfall Puts Catawba-Wateree Basin in Stage 1 of Drought Protocol

Photos of  low water levels submitted by CoCoRaHS condition
monitoring observer Christopher Lumpp. 

The below news release was issued today by the Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group. Now is the time to take note of dry conditions in your area to keep an eye on how this lack of rainfall and high temperatures are affecting your community. Please share these observations in your condition monitoring reports! Step-by-step instructions for submitting a condition monitoring report can be found here.

"The Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group (CW-DMAG) today announced continued dry weather conditions and above-average temperatures have placed the Catawba-Wateree River Basin in Stage 1 of the Low Inflow Protocol (LIP).

Stage 1 is the second of five drought stages outlined in the LIP and recommends voluntary water conservation by water users across the Basin, in addition to operational adjustments by Duke Energy. The LIP is the drought management plan major water users in the region employ to share responsibility and set priorities to conserve the limited water supply during drought conditions.

“While some areas of the Basin have received scattered rainfall, the lack of widespread precipitation the past several weeks and high temperatures have resulted in increased drought conditions,” said Ed Bruce, P.E., Duke Energy, CW-DMAG coordinator. “We are asking the community to conserve water and energy as we enter the height of the summer season and the typically drier fall period.”

Continued below normal rainfall and very hot temperatures have pushed two of the three LIP drought indicators (triggers) into Stage 1. Water storage in the 11-reservoir Catawba-Wateree Hydroelectric Project continues to decline and streamflows feeding the reservoirs are well below normal. In addition, the U.S. Drought Monitor trigger indicates most of the Basin is experiencing drought conditions.

Earlier this month, the Catawba-Wateree River Basin entered Stage 0 of the LIP which is a drought watch stage and prompted the CW-DMAG to closely monitor conditions.  After observing declining trends in the triggers, the group decided to proactively declare Stage 1 conditions. 

“We wanted to be proactive in making the community aware of increased drought conditions and ask customers to be mindful of water use,” explained Barry McKinnon, Mooresville Public Utilities Director. “The sooner we start conserving, the better for our region as we work together to preserve our shared water resources.”

The CW-DMAG will continue monitoring the drought conditions and work collectively to protect the water supply and other uses of the Catawba-Wateree River.

The Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group (CW-DMAG) was established in 2006 to monitor drought status and to recommend coordinated actions for the CW-DMAG members. CW-DMAG members include the area’s public water suppliers and several large industries withdrawing water from the Catawba-Wateree River and lake system, North Carolina, South Carolina and federal resource agencies and Duke Energy.  The CW-DMAG and the LIP are outcomes of Duke Energy’s relicensing process for the Catawba-Wateree Hydroelectric Project.  The LIP will become part of Duke Energy’s New License which is expected to be issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) later this year. The CW-DMAG meets at least monthly when conditions reach Stage 0 or greater of the LIP. For more information about the CW-DMAG and the LIP, visit www.duke-energy.com/lakes/cwdmag.asp.

If community members have specific questions about recommended measures, they are encouraged to contact their local water supplier." 

A list of local water supplier contacts can be found in the full press release. 

Signs of Drought in the Carolinas

High temperatures and low rainfall during the month of June produced emerging drought conditions in the Carolinas. The South Carolina Drought Response Committee has declared 28 SC counties at the status of incipient drought. Media reports highlight that low levels of rainfall across the Palmetto state have adversely impacted agriculture. Farmers in Orangeburg, SC reported damage to corn crops, forcing some farmers to depend on peanuts and cotton to supplement their losses. Other farmers in Calhoun County face similar challenges with some fields expected to yield as little as 10 percent of normal crop production.

North Carolina is experiencing drought for the first time in two years according to the State Climate Office at N.C. State University. On June 25th the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council updated the status of Mecklenburg and Gaston counties to a moderate drought. NC Climatologist Rebecca Cumbie reports that several locations in the Western Piedmont are below normal rainfall by two inches or more for June. Cumbie also stated that many areas in North Carolina experienced record high mean temperatures during a two week period that ended on June 23rd, which was as much as seven degrees above normal in some areas.


Your condition monitoring reports will prove to be very valuable over the next few weeks and months as we either begin to see more rainfall in the Carolinas to make up for recent deficits or continue to experience dry conditions. Observations of changes you see in your area and impacts to your communities that you include in your condition monitoring reports help to provide on-the-ground information about the onset and intensification of drought and will also help to document recovery from dry conditions if you do get that much needed rain.


So, be sure to take careful note of what's going on around you and submit your condition monitoring reports through the CoCoRaHS website. Click here to view step-by-step instructions for submitting a condition monitoring report. Find additional resources on the condition monitoring project webpage.

Below are a few pictures of dry conditions shared by CoCoRaHS condition monitoring report Melinda Ball from her home in Aiken County, SC.





Dry conditions in Aiken County

Dry conditions in Aiken County

 

Condition Monitoring Newsletter Now Features a Star of the Month!

As of this month, we will be transferring the “Condition Monitoring Star of the Week” from the blog to a “Condition Monitoring Star of the Month” in the newsletter. This will allow us to share a bit more about the star observer's report content, noting what information really stands out.


Congratulations to Craven County, NC observer DJ Moran, our 1st Condition Monitoring Start of the Month! DJ is a beekeeper and always has lots of interesting information to share about how the weather affects her bee colonies. Read one of DJ's reports in the recently released June/July newsletter.


This newsletter also includes updates about the drought status in the Carolinas, a "Backyard Story" as told by a photo submitted by NC observer Ken Kendall, and tips for preparing for the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season which began in June. If you haven't already, be sure to check it out.

June/July CISA & CoCoRaHS Condition Monitoring Newsletter

El Niño Conditions Strengthen in the Equatorial Pacific

The latest El Niño update explains that sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific were above average during May.  This kind of anomaly along with other indicators are associated with El Niño.  Current, conditions are pronounced enough that forecasters at the Climate Prediction Center predict a 90% chance that El Niño will continue through the Northern Hemisphere summer and more than an 80% chance that it will persist through 2015.  This prediction helped forecasters produce the seasonal outlook for the US which indicates equal chances for above, normal and below average rainfall and warmer than average temperatures in the Carolinas. Click here for more information about El Niño.  The latest El Niño update can be found here.

Seasonal forecast for June - August 2015.  Issued by the Climate Prediction Center.

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, May 18th - 24th - Polk County, NC

Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was posted on May 24th by observer with station number NC-PK-16.  We chose this report because it details the effects of drier weather. We want to highlight this report to remind everyone that summer in the Carolinas tends to bring drier weather though some forecasters are predicting a wet summer this year.  Either way, current precipitation patterns associated with spring may change as summer closes in.  This report does a wonderful job of noting the changes that are already occurring.  Please be on the lookout for changes in weather and weather impacts and be sure to include them in your reports. Way to go NC-PK-16!

Categories
Agriculture 
Plants and Wildlife 

This month continues to be dry, though we received 0.36 inches of rain this week. The topsoil is dry. Some areas of fields that have bare soil exposed have small cracks in the ground. Grass is not growing much and has an overall light green to slight yellow color. We did mow once this week to spread the seed heads. We irrigated our nut orchard twice this past week and watered our small fruit tree orchard once. Additionally, we watered our vegetable fields twice. More Japanese beetles are appearing, though not in great swarms yet. We have not had problems with our well.

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, May 11th - 17th - Aiken County, SC

Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was posted on May 16th by observer with station number SC-AK-4 in Richland County, SC.  We appreciate how this observer maintains records of rainfall at their location and compares their monthly totals to monthly averages. Long-term weather observations allow us to calculate monthly averages.  Overtime, we will be able to calculate monthly averages at your location in order to compare current events with past trends.  This will help us to see the bigger and more detailed picture of climate trends and variability at your location and in your community.  However, this cannot be done without long-term regular reporting of precipitation and weather impacts.  Therefore, we encourage all observers to submit daily precipitation and weekly condition monitoring reports.  Thank you for for showing the value of long-term reporting, SC-AK-4!


After two consecutive months of cloudy rainy weather for the months of March and April, there finally was a two week period starting the beginning of the month of May with bright sunny days consecutively. Total rainfall in March was 3.12" and total rainfall in April was 3.60". March rainfall was actually below average. Normal rainfall is 4.17" and April rainfall was above average. Normal is 2.83". Today was the 1st day with measured precipitation for the month of May. Today a thundershower developed and dropped 0.10". I was happy to get a break from watering my tomato plants. Other plants that are blooming flowers now are magnolia's, jasmine, amarillo's, & gardenia's. Tomato plants were one inch tall when I planted them 3 weeks ago. This week they are about a foot tall and my cherry tomato plant has yellow flowers on it, and my better boy tomato has flowers on it as well. Despite the lack of rainfall for the past two weeks, leaves still look bright and green in all of the trees.

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, May 4th - 10th - Wake County, NC

Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was posted on May 4th by observer with station number NC-WK-31 in Wake County, NC.  We chose this report because of the diversity and quality of information it provides.  Not only does the observer include information about impacts at their household and yard, they also let us know what's going on in their community.  They also do a great job of identifying who and what is being impacted such as certain plant and animal species and human activities.  Please take a moment to read this excellent report.  Perhaps it may inspire some ideas about what you can include in your own reports.  Great job NC-WK-31!!!

Categories
Agriculture
Energy
Plants and Wildlife
Society and Public Health
Tourism and Recreation

Rainfall over the week was only .52 of an inch, although four days were impacted by weather events. High winds added to ground surface drying. Immediately located agriculture - fields are still not being planted at this time. We have a ditch that is over 4 feet deep - there is still water standing at the bottom of this ditch, however, even rain events have not hampered planting of garden or flowers. All trees are now leafed out. Sadly, the Nellie R Steven flowers were impacted by a freeze last month, so there are only a few flowers - the Savannah and Foster hollies are starting to show signs of flowers to come. Birds not previously noticed but now identified on our property include Thrasher, and Blue Grosbeak. The Blue Jays are flying in pairs; and the cowbirds are still making pests of themselves. Red Crimson clover is nearly finished blooming - although all types of bees are still foraging on it. White clover is now abundant. It appears that the privet is about to bloom; the "red-tips" are in the last week of their bloom. Last week was very cool, and wet, and chilly with the wind. This week the temps are warming into the 80's daytime, and low 50's at night. Grasses are growing well. Spring festivals and public events were slightly impacted by heavy rainfall on Friday, but the weekend was perfect for all of them ( BBQ, Strawberry Festivals ) Pollen levels are being reported as still on the higher end of the spectrum, but it is not as noticeable as it was just 2 weeks ago. Low energy usage on a/c or heat ( needed to use heat last week).

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, April 27th - May 3rd - Beaufort County, SC

Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was posted on April 29th by observer with station number SC-BF-40 in Beaufort County, South Carolina.  In their report, they discuss the impacts of abundant precipitation which many Carolinians have experienced over the last few weeks.  This is important information because it helps us understand the effects of wet conditions in addition to dryness. Learning about many impacts weather helps us establish an understanding of normal conditions at specific locations.  Once we know what "normal" looks like across various communities in the Carolinas, we can better distinguish between levels of wetness, dryness and related impacts.  So we encourage all observers to discuss the impacts of dry and wet condition as well as how "normal" looks at your location.  Great job SC-BF-40!  Keep up the good work.


The heavy, compact rains and cool temperatures are having an affect on our garden. Everything is late, and growth is minimal. Lettuce, peas & basil are quite late. Tomato plants are struggling. String beans seem to be the only veggie doing okay.

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, April 20th - 26th - Polk County, NC

Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was posted on April 26th by observer with station number NC-PK-16 in Polk County, NC.  We chose this report because it includes a variety of information about their garden, other plants and animals at their location.  We especially appreciate the information about irrigation frequency.  As spring continues into summer, irrigation will be necessary for many observers.  However, wet or dry condition can cause changes in how often irrigation is needed.  Therefore, irrigation is a great indicator of moisture levels.  Let us know how irrigation frequency changes throughout the spring and summer at your home and in your community.  Thanks NC-PK-16.  You've set the bar pretty high!

Categories
Agriculture 
Plants and Wildlife

This past week we received 1.95 inches of rain. The topsoil across the property is wet; there are no standing pools of water. Everything is verdant. Several varieties of sown seeds are sprouting: cowpeas, okra, sunflower... There has been no need to water any outdoor plants this week. Beavers were seen this past week (within two hours of sunset) in the wetlands bordering the property. Deer prints have been made in our fields, and deer have been spotted in the woods on the property. This year we have several red-winged blackbirds visiting our bird feeders, which we have not seen in previous years.

Earth Day 2015!

Happy Earth Day everyone! Today is the 45th anniversary of Earth Day and it’s a beautiful day in the Carolinas.  If you haven’t had a chance celebrate our planet there are a variety of events happening in North and South Carolina. 

Wine for Water

Columbia, SC

Wednesday, April, 22 6-8 PM

Food from local restaurants, wines from around the world, and silent auction - benefits watershed associations dedicated to restoring the Midlands’ watershed. 

http://www.gillscreekwatershed.org/wine_for_water_2015.html

Asheville Earth Week

Asheville, NC

April 12 - 22

Asheville Earth Day is a 10 day celebration with activities designed to promote health, green living, sustainability and environmental consciousness. All profits from the festival will go directly to Wild South.

http://www.avlearthday.org

Piedmont Earth Day Fair

Winston-Salem Fairground, NC

Saturday, April 25th, 10AM -5PM

The Piedmont Earth Day Fair is the largest Earth Day celebration and one-day environmental education event in the region. Best of all the entire event is FREE and great for kids!

http://peanc.org/earth-day-fair

These are just a few of the 2015 Earth Day events going on in the Carolinas.  If you know of other events please feel free to share them with us!  And if festivals are not for you, then still take the time to get outdoors and enjoy this great weather!

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, April 13th - 19th - Beaufort County, SC

Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was submitted on April 20th by observer with station number SC-BF-10 in Beaufort County, South Carolina.  We chose this report because observer lets us know that recent precipitation has alleviated dryness at their location.  In addition to understanding how drought/dryness onsets, we also need to know how it lessens. We read your reports using specialized software to select and categorize sentences and phrases according to what other observers discuss. These categories include "recovery from drought or dryness".  We know that many areas in the Carolinas has received little rainfall over the past month or so and that recent precipitation has offered relief.  We urge all observers to let us know how dryness has been alleviated in their area.  Great job SC-BF-10!

Finally got some April relief! Received 2.32" this past week, ending yesterday with a terrific thunderstorm and tornado watch. Back to near normal needing approximately 1/3" to close the month out as average.

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, April 6th-12th - Camden County, NC

Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was posted on April 9th by observer with station number NC-CA-4.  We really appreciate this report because it lists multiple ways weather affected their community.  We get receive lots of great reports about what's going on in your yards however, we also need to know what's going on your community.  This report offers some great ideas about the types impacts and community sectors you can observer for future reports. So check out this report and think of some ways you can enhance your own reports by including information about what's going on in your neighborhood, community, city and county. Keep up the good with NC-CA-4!


The last several weeks, the warmer weather has brought lots of mud and stuff. Road crews are all over trying to get huge pot holes repaired cause of the ice/then melt/then ice weather of Jan, Feb and Mar... it is creating road hazards and probably dangerous for crews, as even the detours have detours. People on Craig's list in this area a giving away trees that have fallen to any one who will just come and cut them down and get them out of there yard. Construction is behind so now all of a sudden with the weather better, everyone is working who was previously just waiting for return to work calls. Those going back to work are being asked to do tons of overtime because commercial jobs are behind schedule. But am thankful for all the work my friends and all are getting cause 2-4 months of unemployment has affected not only the jobs, but when your laid off, you have no medical benefits. With the IRS imposing the Health Care Mandates, these kinds of workers have not only have been without employment, but health insurance too, now a fine... That is triple jeopardy, just cause of the weather this year. Well, the usual.. plants are growing, have not lost much it seems from the weather... I am not sure about farmers cause I have only seen one farmer getting out to plow the fields which I think is strange cause most would be chomping at the bit to get things started.

A Great Big THANK YOU!

Yesterday, the CISA Team received a wonderful Thank You e-mail from Rebecca Cumbie, a climatologist at the North Carolina State Climate Office, about the citizen science condition monitoring project.

Rebecca participates in weekly calls with the NC Drought Management Advisory Council, a group of agency representatives who discuss conditions throughout the state to help inform the US Drought Monitor. She reads your condition monitoring reports each week, to share the information you're reporting about what's happening on the ground with other council members.

None of this would be possible without the diligent efforts of YOU, our project volunteers. I've copied Rebecca's e-mail below so that each of you can read it and know how truly valuable your contributions are.

Keep up the great work!

I just wanted to send you a quick note to say THANKS for all your hard work with the CoCoRaHS Condition Monitoring project!  We've been watching conditions quickly deteriorate in the western half of NC over the last few weeks and these have been invaluable sources of on-the-ground information.  This is a time of year where there still aren't many impacts to be felt in more "typical" sectors such as agriculture.  The wealth and detail of information in these reports is amazing -- from talking about stagnant creeks that were flowing only a few weeks ago, to squishy yards, to the species of plants that are emerging.  Connecting the information in these reports with objective indicators such as streamflow levels or SPI really gives us a fuller picture of what's happening in parts of the state.  I'll continue to look at these closely, especially over the next few weeks.  I felt compelled to share how valuable these reports are for monitoring dryness (or up until recently -- wetness) in NC.  A heap of thanks goes to you and to the observers, and I hope you keep up the amazing work!

Regards,

Rebecca
--

Rebecca Cumbie

Extension Climatologist

State Climate Office of North Carolina

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, March 30th - April 5th - McIntosh County, GA

The Condition Monitoring Star of the Week for March 30th - April 6th was posted on April 6th by observer with station number GA-MI-5 in McIntosh County, Georgia.  This is the only observer in GA participating in the CISA and CoCoRaHS Condition Monitoring Project and we are grateful for the information they provide.  Not only do they consistently submit reports which is crucial for understanding long-term trends and changes in their local environment, this observer submits detailed reports full of valuable information.  This report is special because the observer compares their rain totals with those of previous years at their location and with the PRISM average. The PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University gathers climate observations using a variety of tools and techniques and tries to offer this data to the public free of charge.  It's a great source to see how your precipitation measures averages for your area. This information helps us understand what long-term changes in climate and weather look like in your community and at your specific location.  Great job GA-MI-5!

Categories
Agriculture
Plants and Wildlife

This is for the week of 30 March-5 April 2015. First let's do March's rain fall statistics. We had 1.97 inches of rain in March that is the driest March we had in 7 years. PRISM average for March is 3.97 inches. The second driest March was in 2010 with 2.50 inches. The wettest March was 2012 with 4.22 inches. I averaged the 7 years and my March average is 3.10 inches so no matter how you cut it this March was dry. Of the 3l days of March, we had 14 days of rain. Now for this week, we had two days of rain for a total of 0.16 inches. The days are warm but pleasant. I saw my first snake of the season-a Garter Snake from what I could see of it. The Goldfinches are still coming but it looks like we are on the backside of the migration. They are still very vocal and we really enjoy them. I haven't seen the Red-wing Blackbirds at all this year. The citrus have recovered nicely from the cold snap we had this winter-pushing new leaves and growth. Our Irises started blooming this week. The Bananas are also coming out of dormancy and pushing new leaves. I am watering the vegetables planted in pots and newly planted camellias.