Southern Hemisphere Growing Season 24/25

[Tyrone]

Well it’s the southern spring equinox today, so the days are getting longer than the nights, overall temps are rising and things start to get growing again. It’s a time of weeding, watering and planting. There’s always much to do in a palm garden. 

For my area winter was a warm and dry event. Not anywhere near enough rain fell during winter and in a basically summer dry, winter wet climate, that’s an issue. However winter had no frost, and I had no cold damage whatsoever. My bananas pushed a flower and started opening on a 3C night! The bananas all set well and they should ripen in time. Even my Chrysalidocarpus  plumosa pushed an inflorescence through winter and I’m waiting for the flowers to open now. My Inga edulis (ice cream bean tree) has ripe beans on it now. That’s never happened before to have ripe fruit so early in spring. The grapes have flower buds already.

This year I think will be weird weather wise. Ocean temps are up everywhere. The Pilbara is getting tropical rain over the next few days, well before any monsoonal activity has started. Even though it’s been cool cloudy and dry so far this September, on Thursday we are expecting thunderstorms from the north, not cold fronts from the south. I reckon it will be a hot and dry one this year, possibly interspersed with thunderstorms from the tropics in my area. I just hope we don’t get any mid 40s C this year like last year, but I doubt the odds are in my favour. 

[cbmnz]

Barring any October surprise, my palms have hit Spring in good shape. The other night just touched 0C for 5 min, nothing froze up. Actually did not have any freeze hard enough to affect even the bananas since July.  Even A. Alexandre is mostly intact and the two Cunninghama look far better than this time last year.

What will summer bring? Well since 2017-2018 it seemed Summers were getting hotter and a lot of the time sunnier with 2021-2022 being the peak.  Then 2022-23 blew that way when it felt like most of this Island was going to wash into the sea if it did not stop raining so hard. Last summer was thankfully more moderate but sill wet enough that the lawn and most farmlands stayed green throughout.

I think a 2019-2020 style mega dry is possible to occur again and might be due- I think it's the new default due to poleward movement of the Hadley cells.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Tyrone]

It’s around 7C this morning at 6.45am and heading for a clear 27C then thunderstorms tonight. Tomorrow the rain continues as we get winds off the ocean for days. We need the rain, but the temps are yo-yoing as the highs move through. 

[Tyrone]

Well it hit 27.7C yesterday but the thunderstorms were a bit of a non event. Was expecting 7-10mm and got around 1mm of rain. Some impressive lightening and rolling thunder but it just skirted on either side of my area and slid out to sea. We got about 5 minutes of heavy rain on the outskirts of the thunder cell and that was it. 
Today we are going for a max of 16C and a cold front will swing through today with hopefully a bit of rain. 

[Tyrone]

Since midnight yesterday we’ve had 44mm of rain with everything drenched. That brings our rainfall for sept up to about 79mm which is still technically dry. Only going for 16C today but 27C by Tuesday. 

[tropicbreeze]

September was a funny month. Started hot and then we got a bit of rain which brought the temperatures down to mid/low 30's. The rain didn't last long and it's back to the high temps. The start of October is pretty much the same as the last week of September. Hopefully October brings more rain, although today, 1st day of the month, was dry, sunny and 39.4.

September average max. 36.3
September average min. 22.9

[Tyrone]

It got to 34C here today. Around 8.30pm it’s just over 16C and the thunderstorms are firing up to the north with lightening and thunder. Hopefully we get some rain. The other day we were barely hitting 16C. I won’t be lighting the fire tonight. 

[Phil Petersen]

 

Wettest day in 100years for Dunedin. 130mm within 24 hours - and its still coming ⛈️

https://x.com/NiwaWeather/status/1841943013968548309?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1841943013968548309|twgr^173edcfe630cc4dcbbde8dcd3289885ac3c29248|twcon^s1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stuff.co.nz%2Fnz-news%2F350436381%2Fweather-live-state-emergency-declared-dunedin-red-rain-warning-until-11pm-friday

[Tyrone]

It’s been wet and miserable here the last few days. Only got to 15C yesterday. The rainfall in the last 7 days has been around 70mm which is the wettest week since winter 23. 

[Banana Belt]

On the other side of the Big Ocean northeast of Australia and New Zealand, our weather here on South Oregon coast is still warm and dry but the days are getting short and the nights longer.  Winter is comming.  The El Nino of the Pacific lasted for about 8 months this year and is turning to La Nina which will persist into April and May, 2025.  NOAA is predicting a weak and short duration La-Nina.  https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.shtml

 

[Tyrone]

Under a high pressure ridge and the coldest morning in weeks with a min of 2.7C which is very cold for October. Maybe I will get a couple of cherries on the cherry tree this year because they like those sort of temps around flower set. Tomorrow is a top of 29C then a spot of rain but nothing forecast below 20C max for the foreseeable future. 

[PalmCode]

19c and mostly  cloudy  with a few light spits today. Sun feels hot when its not blocked out from clouds. We've had a few cooler days with Southerly winds this month and it's probably drier than average.

 Here's my biggest Hedyscepe that was exposed to a light frost back in July. No real damage at all which is great but next summer might still burn it a bit.

 

[Tyrone]

On 10/23/2024 at 9:49 AM, PalmCode said:

19c and mostly  cloudy  with a few light spits today. Sun feels hot when its not blocked out from clouds. We've had a few cooler days with Southerly winds this month and it's probably drier than average.

 Here's my biggest Hedyscepe that was exposed to a light frost back in July. No real damage at all which is great but next summer might still burn it a bit.

 

Very nice Hedyscepe you’ve got going there. 
I think the weather has been very similar to yours lately but we are starting to shift towards summer a bit now. That being said yesterday morning was frigid for late October. We got down to 5C and then the max was 27C. Next week we’ve got a string of high twenties and possibly a low thirties day. I did see Perth will possibly hit 40C next week, so if it does that what will summer be like. Ocean temps are up pretty much everywhere too. Could be an interesting cyclone season. 

[Palmerr]

Starting to cool a bit average 76 degree highs on my home weather station (For 30 days) wind protected box better than average 89 degrees LOL

[PalmCode]

8 hours ago, Tyrone said:

Very nice Hedyscepe you’ve got going there. 
I think the weather has been very similar to yours lately but we are starting to shift towards summer a bit now. That being said yesterday morning was frigid for late October. We got down to 5C and then the max was 27C. Next week we’ve got a string of high twenties and possibly a low thirties day. I did see Perth will possibly hit 40C next week, so if it does that what will summer be like. Ocean temps are up pretty much everywhere too. Could be an interesting cyclone season. 

Thanks Tyrone. Hedyscepe would have to be my favourite palm I'm growing . It Looks really cool at night with the surrounding lamp lights on. 

Yeah sounds like our weather pattern has been similar, other than your higher daytime temps.27 -30 and 40c in perth is really cooking. It got to 21c here today.

This cyclone season could be a worry we'll have to wait and see.
 

[Phil Petersen]

237mm this October, and still a handful of days to go. Its been very wet! But we did get 2months rainfall in 24hours...

Garden is going well with all this water.

[Tyrone]

Going for a top of 29C today. I haven’t had the fire going at night for almost a week. 

[tropicbreeze]

From September and throughout October we were having a lot of severe to extreme heatwave days, but the rain the last few days has brought the temperatures right down. However, during next week they're predicting a return to low to severe heatwave conditions. Hopefully that won't continue for long. Humidity is very high so that's a bit less stress on the plants. The sun has passed its high point, now we have the sun to our south.

October av. minimum 24.7
October av. maximum 37.0
October rainfall 70.6mm
UV Index up to 14

[Tyrone]

It got to a humid 30C here today and the sun was intense. I’ve got a new future garden area where we’ve removed dead pine trees and I reckon it was 40C out of the wind in there.  A nice winter sun trap to zone push. 
 

Rain is coming through tonight and a cooler day with 20C tomorrow. 

[Tyrone]

Been mild down here lately and high teens during the day and a little bit of rain but lastnight was freezing for November. It got down to 5C on a clear cloudless night. Have had the fire going again. Going for 20C today but the nights are forecast single digits for a few days. 

[Tyrone]

Today was such a difference to last Fridays humid 30C. Min of 6.5C and high of 17C with not a glimpse of sun. The wood fire is going non stop. 

[Jonathan]

Springs been generally cool and windy here in sth Tas this year, with only one properly warm day, 29.7C on Wednesday this week. Looks to have stabilised around 18-20 now, so LHI and cloud forest palms in full swing! Could do with some decent heat to get the other stuff moving though. 

[Tyrone]

We only got to 15.5C yesterday and the clouds cleared at about 6pm. Then the temp dropped down to 4C overnight! Much too cold for November. The good news is the sun is out this morning and we are going for a 21C day. Much better. 

[Jonathan]

Looking like a bit of warmth next weekend...about time!

 

[Jonathan]

6 hours ago, Tyrone said:

We only got to 15.5C yesterday and the clouds cleared at about 6pm. Then the temp dropped down to 4C overnight! Much too cold for November. The good news is the sun is out this morning and we are going for a 21C day. Much better. 

That does seem cool for your place in November...I almost feel smug, but know it won't last, you'll be into proper summer soon!

[cbmnz]

Good growing weather here, 21 to 23C every day and mild nights mostly in double figures. 

[Jonathan]

Jumping around in the usual spring style!

 

[Tyrone]

It just reached 18C today but mostly sat around 16C with gusty winds and drissle. Worse tomorrow with similar conditions and a top of 16C. Got the fire lit tonight. 

[Jonathan]

Yeah, we only got to around 15 yesterday, was distinctly chilly! 

Spring feels like it's been cold this year but I just checked the observations vs averages and it's actually been above average, which shows how much I know.

September average = 15.2C

2024 = 15.6C

October average = 17C

2024 = 18.3C

November average = 18.8C

2024 = 20.3C to date.

[Tyrone]

Been cool this weekend but today got to 20C. Expecting thunderstorms and rain from Tuesday to Thursday as tropical moisture comes down to the south coast. Wednesday is forecast to be 27C with thunderstorms and possibly 20mm of rain. That’ll be nice. 

[Jonathan]

Now this is more like it!

The Cool Subtropics.

[PalmCode]

Temperature got up to 26c here today, things are warming up. Has been dry almost a week here. Nice weather.

Archontophenix purpurea opening its first frond of this growing season. Noticed My other smaller one in pot got a bit sun burned so have moved it into shade for summer.

[Tyrone]

Going for a warm 33C today. Possible thunderstorms tomorrow. 

[Jonathan]

OK I'm calling this the perfect week of weather now...good rain followed by a week of mid 20s, paradise found!

 

 

[Jonathan]

6 hours ago, Tyrone said:

Going for a warm 33C today. Possible thunderstorms tomorrow. 

Heating up for you now Tyrone.  Hope you get some good rain, to pump everything up.

[tropicbreeze]

Earlier in the month we were getting a lot of high temps but as more rain set in the temps began to drop.

Nov. Av. max   35.8
Nov. Av. min   24.9

Rainfall total for November was 124.6mm with most of it coming in the latter part of the month. This current string of predicted low maximums in the forecast will mean a lot of cloud cover and rain over the coming week. Average December rain for my place is 10.4mm per day. Of course, it doesn't come that way.

[Jonathan]

"Low maximums", love it...everything is comparative!

[Phil Petersen]

It's been pretty good for growing recently down here in the deep south of NZ as well . Garden is pumping along.  Plenty of sun, but not too dry - a good balance 😁

[Jonathan]

On 12/3/2024 at 7:54 AM, Phil Petersen said:

It's been pretty good for growing recently down here in the deep south of NZ as well . Garden is pumping along.  Plenty of sun, but not too dry - a good balance 😁

Good stuff Phil...go the deep south!

[Tyrone]

On 12/3/2024 at 4:54 AM, Phil Petersen said:

It's been pretty good for growing recently down here in the deep south of NZ as well . Garden is pumping along.  Plenty of sun, but not too dry - a good balance 😁

That’s roughly what I’m getting here but minus any useful rainfall. It’s definitely dry here but even though it’s been mainly mild, the wind dries things out. Last week it did hit 39C though. This morning as we are under the influence of a high pressure zone it dropped to around 6C which is cold, but we are up to the mid to high teens at night at the end of the week and low thirties during the day. There’s quite a bit of thunderstorm activity in WA this week and even a possible cyclone forming off the NW but so far it looks like all the rain activity will bypass us.