Muskingum Notes June 22

Rainfall trends continue to remain dry, but drought is still only used to describe conditions in the western states at this time.  However, rainfall totals at the Zanesville Airport are only 13.11 inches for the year, which is nearly at midpoint on the calendar, and presumably is a significant deficit.  Isolated storms have benefited some, but this is a trend we are watching.  Reports out of western Ohio include much more severe rainfall and storms.

The growing degree calculator from Ohio State shows 1,333 growing degree days for the 43701 zipcode today.  This is higher than any of the past six years.  A review of the daily temperature record indicates the majority of above average heat accumulation occurred in March and April.

The crabgrass in my yard is coming in strong.  At this point, it is what it will be for the year since any crabgrass control is really an early spring activity if using a preemergent herbicide.  Lawn repair is best left as a late summer and early fall activity to maintain a healthy vibrant lawn to manage for subsequent years.

Lightning bugs have put on a display the last few evenings.  Even the dog likes to sit and watch.  Here’s a few facts to share with your friends: there are 170 species of fireflies in the U.S. and Canada, mostly in the East and South.  Different species of fireflies will flash with different patterns and the “light” occurs from a mixture of chemicals and enzymes all as part of the mating process.

2021 Monthly Precipitation Compared to Historical Average

Sources:

Midwestern Regional Climate Center, https://mrcc.illinois.edu/

OSU Growing Degree Day Calculator, https://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/gdd/

Crabgrass Control in Lawns for Homeowners in the Northern US, https://njaes.rutgers.edu/fs1308/

Lightning Bugs, Lightningbugs | Horticulture and Home Pest News (iastate.edu)

Weather Notes November 2017

It is old news now, but the current trend is wet! The weekend of November 18-19 was a washout and it drove the river and stream levels up.  Saturday as I watched the radar I noticed the storm data was tracking mostly north of the county, and when I woke up Sunday morning the height of the streams and rivers certainly confirmed that more rain fell north of us than on top of us.

I see less than one inch of rain recorded at the Zanesville Airport (USW00093824) between Nov. 16 and Nov 21. See the graphics below for the rest of the story across the region.

Two to three inches of rain fell north of us on soils that may have already been saturated.  Here is how the Muskingum River responded at Dresden:

And, this chart adds some perspective to how wet we really think it is this month:

What do we expect in the near future?  Rumblings of “La Nina” conditions suggest more rain…https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2017-39/wet-pattern-likely-next-spring