It has been a very difficult year weatherwise in northern Illinois. We have very harsh winters and we count on having a break during spring and summer. Spring is generally wet and chilly and summer has temps in the 80's and low 90's.
Spring wasn't much this year. Not much rain to prime the planting season and we jumped right into horrifically hot temperatures. They were Texas temps, in the high 90's and 100's.
The corn was stunted and dried way too early. Dent corn needs heat at the END of it's growing cycle, not through the entire process. Farmer's are going to have very low numbers of bushels to the acre which means high food prices next year. The corn futures are already being affected I believe.
The incredibly hot summer affects us psychologically as well. We're cooped up in the house all winter and look forward to enjoying the outdoors and getting some outdoor chores done. That was next to impossible this year. And so we've been cooped up since the end of last October!
I had a long list of to-do's, both in the yard and in the garage. Unfortunately, when it's 99 degrees outside it's 120 in the garage. Guess what's happened now? We've jumped from extremely hot temps to frost! It was quite pleasant on Monday and I was able to paint the garage doors. My hope is for some continued mild temps so that I can re-arrange the garage for winter, positioning the snowblower in front of the garage door because guess what, meteorologists are predicting we're going to have a horrible winter. Great. We'll all have cabin fever to the max. I'll have to think of some fun party ideas to get together with the neighbors.
How about you? How has your year been weatherwise? I know some of you out west have been battling wildfires.
Thanks for stopping by and visiting with me today.
8 comments:
It's not just the wild ones. We had a fire yesterday caused by a spark from our electric train! - you know, light rail, mass transit. It's always really dry - brown since June - here. No rain usually since April - if then. And that is the norm. If we want any crops we've gotta water - irrigate.
Sorry you are having those same simptoms. I like my Midwest green and blue.
Hugs
Starting in late May we had 55+ days of temps 79 degrees or more, that doesn't sound like so bad compared to other places, but this is th north shore of Lake Superior, where we usually have only 5 or 6 days like that. And aircinditioning is not an option.
Then we had a storm in June that dropped 11 inches of rain on us in less than 48 hours. We live on a hill, so no real damage, but that's the first time we have had a tiny stream of running water through our very old basement! Usually it just gets a bit wet. Several weeks later we had another 5 inches, and then since early Aug. we have had no rain to talk of. Our apples will go mostly for cidar as many will be too small to peel.
On a better note, the leaves are turning beautiful colors and all the roadside flowers are in full bloom.
Starting in late May we had 55+ days of temps 79 degrees or more, that doesn't sound like so bad compared to other places, but this is th north shore of Lake Superior, where we usually have only 5 or 6 days like that. And aircinditioning is not an option.
Then we had a storm in June that dropped 11 inches of rain on us in less than 48 hours. We live on a hill, so no real damage, but that's the first time we have had a tiny stream of running water through our very old basement! Usually it just gets a bit wet. Several weeks later we had another 5 inches, and then since early Aug. we have had no rain to talk of. Our apples will go mostly for cidar as many will be too small to peel.
On a better note, the leaves are turning beautiful colors and all the roadside flowers are in full bloom.
Sorry, I went to do some editing, and instead it entered it twice.
Our summer was consistently very warm in the 90s, though none of that 100s business...not even one day, which is fine with me. We had a very wet spring and plenty of rain this summer. We had our first frost warnings this week, but nothing came of them. It's pleasant now. I hope that we all have a fabulous fall.
Your weather this year sounds quite tedious! I'm sorry you've had to spend so much time indoors.
Here in Southern California, it's been quite warm since early August. We've had several days over 100 degrees, and last weekend it was about 106 for three days. I was a cranky gal for sure. Once the thermometer passes 95, it becomes mighty uncomfortable. We have had a lot of humidity this year. Nothing like the humidity that a lot of other areas get, but it's humidity that we're not used to.
All-in-all, it's been mildly annoying.
Having said that, we've had some fabulous summer evenings in the backyard with a campfire, making s'mores and enjoying the balmy nighttime air. So mostly it's been a good summer.
I hope that you have a lovely autumn and get to spend some time outside before the snow begins to fall!
In Delaware, we had a relatively mild winter, a wonderful spring and a beautiful start to summer. Then . . . the heat and draught began. The corn fields dried up and the farmers lost a lot of their crops. Very sad. It's been a year of unusual weather. "They" are beginning to predict a hard winter for us. Although, around here, a few simple snow flakes can bring everything to a screeching halt. We're just not prepared for snow!
Here in PA we had weather similar to Pamela's. Not much to complain about at first, except for a few heavy rains. But then, all of that mildness and wet created a perfect environment for mosquitoes! PA is home to 10 different varieties, and one of them carries West Nile Virus. I am *almost* hoping for a big winter that will kill them.
Now the weather is lovely - sunny, blue skies and cool enough for comfort. I, too, am hoping to get my garage straightened up and get the yard ready for winter. Good Luck with your projects.
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