Thursday, 21 February 2019
Record Breaking February?
The last week has been very mild for February and the forecast is for the mild weather to continue for the rest of the month.
Maximum & Minimum Temperatures for February 2019
For the last week the red blocks which show the daytime high temperatures have been well above average (the red line). The blue blocks indicating night time lows have also been well above average (the blue line) and more like what we might expect for daytime temperatures. It remains to be seem if the high temperatures forecast for the next few days will exceed my highest daytime high temperature of 16.6°C (61.9°F) set on 23 February 2012.
Our seed potatoes have been stored in the dark, in our garage, since we bought them. It's cold enough in the garage to stop them sprouting and unless it's exceptionally cold it's frost free. However, with the mild temperatures of the last week or so, I thought I'd better check them out to see if any were starting to sprout. It was a good job I did.
Some varieties had certainly started to form sprouts but luckily I'd caught them before they became long, white and straggly. I decided that I'd better move them into the greenhouse and into the light in order for them to chit. It's a little bit earlier than I'd normally move them into the greenhouse, so I'll have to make sure to give them extra protection if some very cold and frosty nights are forecast.
The excellent February weather also means that we've made good progress at the allotment. I can't remember being this well prepared for the new season in February.
The plot is probably at its barest at the moment with all our winter cutting back of shrubs and trees completed, and this year's growing yet to begin. Hopefully, things will only improve from now on but I can't help wondering if there will be a sting in the tail and we'll get a cold and frosty spell of weather in March or April. I'm hoping that won't be the case.
Friday, 22 February 2019
Just Makes It!
Thursday just made it to warmest day of the year by the narrowest of margins 0.1°C. The early afternoon temperature reached 15.9°C (60.6°F) just managing to beat the 15.8°C (60.4°F) reached on 15 February.
Temperature & Rainfall Records for February 2019
Meanwhile, as you can see from the chart above, February has been a dry month so far with just 17.2mm (0.68in) and there's no forecast of any substantial rainfall before the end of the month. Average rainfall for February is around the 40mm (1.57in) mark, equivalent to almost a full column of blue on the chart. It follows on from a dry January with only 17.6mm or 0.69in.
It does mean that the ground is in good condition for digging and weeding. The bed above was dug over a few months ago and as much bindweed was removed as possible. I started digging it over again yesterday removing any bindweed and wick grass roots that were left in after the first digging. I'm sure there will be some little bits of root I've missed but hopefully not too many.
Saturday, 23 February 2019
A New Record For February
After all the media hype about the very warm spell of weather for February it didn't dare not to produce a new record warm day for February. Friday produced the goods setting a new ten year high temperature for February at 16.7°C or 62.1°F. It was a close call though as the previous high was 16.6°C (61.9°F) set back in 2012.
Temperature Records 17-23 February 2019
We've been making use of the excellent weather getting more tidying up done and beds prepared for spring planting at the allotment.
The forecast is for the warm weather to continue through the weekend before starting to gradually cool down to more normal temperatures for the time of the year. We have so far resisted the temptation to do any early planting.
Thursday, 27 February 2019
Another February Record
The rather unbelievable weather has continued with Wednesday producing another 10 year high temperature for February reaching 16.9°C or 62.4°F.
Maximum & Minimum Temperatures for February 2019
Amazingly only the first two days of the month have had daytime temperatures below the average. However, nighttime lows have been much more up and down with a few frosty mornings. The unseasonably mild weather has now come to an end so the last day of the month is unlikely to set a new record.