Southern Hemisphere Growing Season 24/25

[Tyrone]

Summer in full swing. High humidity too. Dewpoints in the 20plus C zone.

[cbmnz]

After amazing growing conditions through most of December, it's really getting dry here now.  No need to mow the lawn for now as it's stopped growing and mostly browned off. 

There was supposed to be 2-3 days of solid rain this week but the forecast keeps getting less and less, tomorrow is the only rain chance now and it still could be a bust - these sub-tropical lows from the North are very hit and miss.

Hardly a crisis/drought yet but it could resemble early 2020 by the end of Feb if the Hadley cell takes hold after this one sub-tropical low.  

 

 

 

[Bennz]

It's been unusually cool over most of the NZ East Coast this summer with unusual wind patterns bringing a constant Southerly flow from the deep South. Wairoa in N Hawkes Bay is 6C cooler than average, but most of us in the band from Dunedia to East Cape are experiencing the same thing to some extent. The only exception here was the first two weeks of December where daytime temperature were 30C+ every day. The very dry period we had with only 70mm total rain from August until Early December broke with 180mm in the last week of December followed by 70mm in the first week of January. Cold wet summers are not much fun for going to the beach but at least there is no current fire risk.

[Jonathan]

13 hours ago, Bennz said:

It's been unusually cool over most of the NZ East Coast this summer with unusual wind patterns bringing a constant Southerly flow from the deep South. Wairoa in N Hawkes Bay is 6C cooler than average, but most of us in the band from Dunedia to East Cape are experiencing the same thing to some extent. The only exception here was the first two weeks of December where daytime temperature were 30C+ every day. The very dry period we had with only 70mm total rain from August until Early December broke with 180mm in the last week of December followed by 70mm in the first week of January. Cold wet summers are not much fun for going to the beach but at least there is no current fire risk.

Hello! Fancy seeing you here...

Been generally mild here as well, with very few days around 30c, though plenty in the mid 20s. The last few summers have been similar, generally a degree or two above average but without any extreme heat. Feels like years since our last 35 or 40 degree day, for which I'm thankful.

Rainfall has been good so far, unlike last year, when it stopped after Christmas and didn't rain again until May...causing mass die back in the drier eucalypt forests in Southern Tasmania, which ramps the fire risk up even higher than usual. Fingers crossed that it may continue thus!

[Bennz]

2 hours ago, Jonathan said:

Hello! Fancy seeing you here...

Been generally mild here as well, with very few days around 30c, though plenty in the mid 20s. The last few summers have been similar, generally a degree or two above average but without any extreme heat. Feels like years since our last 35 or 40 degree day, for which I'm thankful.

Rainfall has been good so far, unlike last year, when it stopped after Christmas and didn't rain again until May...causing mass die back in the drier eucalypt forests in Southern Tasmania, which ramps the fire risk up even higher than usual. Fingers crossed that it may continue thus!

Our general patterns of having opposite weather holds then, you being a bit warmer than average and me being cooler.  Pretty warm and humid today.

[PalmCode]

Had around 35mm of rain from the low over monday tuesday. Good amount as its been a dry few weeks into January.

[Tyrone]

Been humid and warm here with dewpoints in the low 20C range for the last few days. Had the odd small thunderstorm every day or so with small amounts of rain but nothing to exceed evaporation. Tomorrow was meant to be 37C but they’ve now bumped it up to 40C. I hope that’s wrong. Forget dry heat too. The models are predicting for example 39C with 17C dewpoints, before thunderstorms start and drop the temp down to 34C and dewpoints climb again. I hope the cool change comes through early though. 35C will do me. No damage at 35C. 

[Tyrone]

I’ve got vulnerable plants covered with shadecloth, I’ve watered what I can. Have got misters ready to turn on and I’m hoping for an early sea breeze. At 9.30 am it was 35C with a 23C dewpoint. The “feels like” temp was 40.8C. Temp climbing steadily. Looking forward to an afternoon thunderstorm. 

[Tyrone]

On 1/20/2025 at 4:25 PM, cbmnz said:

After amazing growing conditions through most of December, it's really getting dry here now.  No need to mow the lawn for now as it's stopped growing and mostly browned off. 

There was supposed to be 2-3 days of solid rain this week but the forecast keeps getting less and less, tomorrow is the only rain chance now and it still could be a bust - these sub-tropical lows from the North are very hit and miss.

Hardly a crisis/drought yet but it could resemble early 2020 by the end of Feb if the Hadley cell takes hold after this one sub-tropical low.  

 

 

 

I can relate to your experience. Coming out of a dry winter period the rains ended way too early almost like a switch had been flicked. Then it heated up early too. I think we had 5mm of rain in December, versus a normal 30-35mm. The paddocks here look all straw coloured with very little green which is unusual. My sheep paddock is almost totally browned off and my lakes/dams are the lowest I’ve seen them this early in the season. One of my dams which is very low has just generated blue green algae in the last few days and I’m kind of hoping it dries right out if it’s going to do that. If it does dry out completely that’s a first for my place since we’ve lived here. Luckily it’s not a dam I use for anything and the dog doesn’t like swimming in it or drinking it. The other ones are fine though. Could do with a NZ style downpour though. I’d take 200mm in a heartbeat. 

[Tyrone]

It maxed out at 42C with dewpoints hovering about 20C and above. Then the seabreeze came through just after lunch and the temps plummeted down to around 32C and dewpoints lifted to approx 24,25C for a moment. Waiting for that thunderstorm now. 

[cbmnz]

3 hours ago, Tyrone said:

I can relate to your experience. Coming out of a dry winter period the rains ended way too early almost like a switch had been flicked. Then it heated up early too. I think we had 5mm of rain in December, versus a normal 30-35mm. The paddocks here look all straw coloured with very little green which is unusual. My sheep paddock is almost totally browned off and my lakes/dams are the lowest I’ve seen them this early in the season. One of my dams which is very low has just generated blue green algae in the last few days and I’m kind of hoping it dries right out if it’s going to do that. If it does dry out completely that’s a first for my place since we’ve lived here. Luckily it’s not a dam I use for anything and the dog doesn’t like swimming in it or drinking it. The other ones are fine though. Could do with a NZ style downpour though. I’d take 200mm in a heartbeat. 

Ended up with a soaking (not) 0.8mm that day. However it was going to not matter as forecast was for some heavy rain this weekend, but as expected, the closer it gets, the more the forecast gets watered down (pun intended 😀 )

[cbmnz]

50 minutes ago, Tyrone said:

It maxed out at 42C with dewpoints hovering about 20C and above. Then the seabreeze came through just after lunch and the temps plummeted down to around 32C and dewpoints lifted to approx 24,25C for a moment. Waiting for that thunderstorm now. 

That sounds like a sauna before the sea breeze came and even after would be classified as a severe heatwave over here.

[tim_brissy_13]

3 hours ago, Tyrone said:

It maxed out at 42C with dewpoints hovering about 20C and above. Then the seabreeze came through just after lunch and the temps plummeted down to around 32C and dewpoints lifted to approx 24,25C for a moment. Waiting for that thunderstorm now. 

Gee that’s hot Tyrone hope there was no damage. I also hope our forecast for Monday isn’t accurate!

 

[Tyrone]

2 hours ago, tim_brissy_13 said:

Gee that’s hot Tyrone hope there was no damage. I also hope our forecast for Monday isn’t accurate!

 

Yeah. Prepare now. 
Im expecting something similar next Saturday. 
The official temp today was 43C at the airport today. Some 47C temps were recorded inland. 
Too hot

[Jonathan]

Thank continental drift for Bass Strait...Monday only 33 down here.

[tim_brissy_13]

Well this is weird. Already hit 30C this morning but accompanied by storms. Can’t say I’ve ever seen a forecast for a max of 41C with showers and storms predicted all throughout the day. 

[Jonathan]

It hit 35c here in the end yesterday, so a couple of degrees above the forecast...hope you guys on the  north island didn't get smashed too hard.

Some nice weather ahead for us this week.

[tim_brissy_13]

On 1/28/2025 at 7:39 PM, Jonathan said:

It hit 35c here in the end yesterday, so a couple of degrees above the forecast...hope you guys on the  north island didn't get smashed too hard.

Some nice weather ahead for us this week.

Ended up hitting 41.0C so right on the forecast. Showers on and off throughout the day, truly bizarre. No damage to palms, just some crispy ferns again. Heatwave coming up for us, a few of these night time temps won’t be fun. 
 

 

[Jonathan]

19 hours ago, tim_brissy_13 said:

Ended up hitting 41.0C so right on the forecast. Showers on and off throughout the day, truly bizarre. No damage to palms, just some crispy ferns again. Heatwave coming up for us, a few of these night time temps won’t be fun. 
 

 

That's too hot Tim!

I just checked our forecast again and it's been bumped up as well...can't remember seeing too many 20c minimums forecast in Hobart...it's almost impossible due to the small land mass and sea breezes.

[tim_brissy_13]

1 hour ago, Jonathan said:

That's too hot Tim!

I just checked our forecast again and it's been bumped up as well...can't remember seeing too many 20c minimums forecast in Hobart...it's almost impossible due to the small land mass and sea breezes.

Woah yeah that’s unusual. Funnily enough, the only time I’ve ever been to Hobart it was 42C the day I arrived. Early Feb 2012 I think from memory. 

[Jonathan]

11 hours ago, tim_brissy_13 said:

Woah yeah that’s unusual. Funnily enough, the only time I’ve ever been to Hobart it was 42C the day I arrived. Early Feb 2012 I think from memory. 

Well you'll have to come again one day when it's normal 'cloud forest' weather...escape the Melbourne swelter for a few days!

We do get some hot weather but usually only one or two days before the system collapses and draws in a cold front with a 20c drop in temperature! Interestingly our super hot weather seems to be linked more to South Australia than Victoria. When Adelaide gets a big heat wave going, the NW'ers drive enough hot air across the Strait to give us a decent blast, whereas when you get hot we're usually 10 degrees cooler.

[tim_brissy_13]

Next 4 days…hopefully all the cloud forest type stuff doesn’t mind. Very unusual for us. 26C overnight minimum is starting to push up towards record territory. 
 

 

[cbmnz]

On 1/30/2025 at 8:03 PM, Jonathan said:

That's too hot Tim!

I just checked our forecast again and it's been bumped up as well...can't remember seeing too many 20c minimums forecast in Hobart...it's almost impossible due to the small land mass and sea breezes.

I thougth a >20C min was next to impossible here too for simillar reasons but suddenly in Feb 2022 had a week with multiple 22 to 23C mins. 

[tropicbreeze]

January turned out a bit disastrous rain-wise. Normally our wettest month, rainfall was 71.7% of average and the monsoon has failed to arrive. A lot of the weeds and grasses have advanced growth because of the extra sun. The cane toads, which would normally start their breeding later in the wet season so that their weak swimming tadpoles aren't flushed out by floods, are already making their mating calls. My dam only has got to about three quarters full, whereas it's normally overflowing early January. The water table isn't being recharged, which doesn't bode well for the dry season. Darwin's water supply is at 83% instead of the normal 100% for this time of year. BOM is saying the monsoon should come in the next week. There's five tropical lows lined up across the top of Australia. They're only expecting the one out over the Indian Ocean to fully develop into a tropical cyclone. Today it was 33.6C with a dew point of 27.4C. The plants are liking it, if they're not out in the sun, which is getting close to overhead again. UV rating is around 14.
Jan Av. Min. 24.8
Jan Av. Max. 34.4
Jan Rainfall 267.2 (Av. 372.5)

 

[Tyrone]

Recorded the warmest min last night in the 11 years I’ve been here. 20.3C and it only dipped to that for a short while. Most of the time it sat around 21C overnight. However the maximum was only 24.5C with high humidity. 20-24C and high humidity is actually good growing weather. We just need rain. 

[Tyrone]

Had two days of insane easterlies. Also minimums have been high. Most of the night sitting above 20C then dipping below 20C for 20-30 minutes and rebounding higher than 20C again. Easily the hottest summer I’ve experienced here. Min lastnight was 20.3C. 
Had a eucalyptus branch ripped off by the wind yesterday arvo and destroy a Howea. On the upside we have more firewood for winter. 

[cbmnz]

Hadley cell seems to be locked in place for now.  Every day almost the same and no end in sight. 

A few storms forming by evening but are weak, got 3-4mm from one last night.

 Feb 1 max: 29.8 min: 15.1 avg: 22.450 C
 Feb 2 max: 31.9 min: 13.3 avg: 22.600 C
  Feb 3 max: 29.7 min: 15.5 avg: 22.600 C
 Feb 4 max: 30.4 min: 14.0 avg: 22.200 C
 Feb 5 max: 29.4 min: 11.8 avg: 20.600 C
 Feb 6 max: 29.6 min: 13.8 avg: 21.700 C
 Feb 7 max: 27.2 min: 16.4 avg: 21.800 C
 Feb 8 max: 29.9 min: 14.5 avg: 22.200 C
 Feb 9 max: 28.6 min: 16.3 avg: 22.450 C

[cbmnz]

14 minutes ago, Tyrone said:

Had two days of insane easterlies. Also minimums have been high. Most of the night sitting above 20C then dipping below 20C for 20-30 minutes and rebounding higher than 20C again. Easily the hottest summer I’ve experienced here. Min lastnight was 20.3C. 
Had a eucalyptus branch ripped off by the wind yesterday arvo and destroy a Howea. On the upside we have more firewood for winter. 

That's a shame , I see in the bush all the time Ropalostylis coming back from  being crushed by falling trees in the most obscene fashion ( they are fighters) but looks like that Howea got nailed right at growing point.

[Tyrone]

24 minutes ago, cbmnz said:

That's a shame , I see in the bush all the time Ropalostylis coming back from  being crushed by falling trees in the most obscene fashion ( they are fighters) but looks like that Howea got nailed right at growing point.

I will clear that limb and put a R bauerii in its place I reckon. 

[michael]

Speaking of Howeas, Tyrone - I got a couple of your baby belmoreanas off Memory a couple of months ago. Both are chugging along nicely, even in the heat we've had. Thanks for making them!

[Jonathan]

As final proof that the weather gods are unhinged psychopaths...at least here in Taswegia!

The rain will be welcome tho if it arrives.

[Tyrone]

12 hours ago, michael said:

Speaking of Howeas, Tyrone - I got a couple of your baby belmoreanas off Memory a couple of months ago. Both are chugging along nicely, even in the heat we've had. Thanks for making them!

They’re a beautiful species. I’m glad you’re enjoying them.
I may triple plant some belmoreana where the forsteriana was crushed. Maybe I’ll squeeze in a R bauerii next to them as well. Why not.

[Tyrone]

2 hours ago, Jonathan said:

As final proof that the weather gods are unhinged psychopaths...at least here in Taswegia!

The rain will be welcome tho if it arrives.

Yes, the weather is evil at the moment. 
 

After having cyclonic easterlies which ripped a large branch down on the weekend, we had one calm night, then cyclonic westerlies. In fact the cyclone up north that’s forming had lower wind speed on the mainland than what we got yesterday. We spent all Sunday arvo cleaning up dropped branches and debris clearing the paths up so you could see where you were walking, but now we have to do it all again from the horrendous westerlies. We did get 5mm of rain overnight which was awesome though. Some short sharp bursts of heavy rain. 

[PalmCode]

29c here today, been a warm couple weeks. Definitely needing some rain now. Theres been a few nearby showers but have missed out on them. Looking like next monday will be our next chance for some.

[cbmnz]

Ended up reaching 32 on Sunday.  27C on Monday before getting 35mm of rain from a heat thunderstorm,  then 29.7 yesterday before 5mm of rain from a storm.  28.7 today under all day blue skies.   Expect lawn to green up and palms to take off again soon.  Bangalows seemed to have slowed right down due to the dry.

[tropicbreeze]

On 2/12/2025 at 8:13 AM, Tyrone said:

Yes, the weather is evil at the moment. 
 

After having cyclonic easterlies which ripped a large branch down on the weekend, we had one calm night, then cyclonic westerlies. In fact the cyclone up north that’s forming had lower wind speed on the mainland than what we got yesterday. We spent all Sunday arvo cleaning up dropped branches and debris clearing the paths up so you could see where you were walking, but now we have to do it all again from the horrendous westerlies. We did get 5mm of rain overnight which was awesome though. Some short sharp bursts of heavy rain. 

A bit misleading. The highest wind gust recorded over that period at Albany Airport was 74 kph on the 11th (63 kph on the 8th), on the Beaufort Scale a gale (a "fresh gale, not even a "severe gale")

The tropical low you referenced was a few hundred kms off the coast, and of course not even a tropical cyclone at that stage. So the coastal winds at that time were sea breezes, far from cyclonic. If you want to compare like to like just follow the forecast track of that tropical low to the coast which is predicted to be within the next couple of days for the coastal crossing. The (cyclonic) winds on the coast are predicted to be between 205 to 230 kph.

The proverbial "chalk and cheese".

[Tyrone]

On 2/13/2025 at 7:46 AM, tropicbreeze said:

A bit misleading. The highest wind gust recorded over that period at Albany Airport was 74 kph on the 11th (63 kph on the 8th), on the Beaufort Scale a gale (a "fresh gale, not even a "severe gale")

The tropical low you referenced was a few hundred kms off the coast, and of course not even a tropical cyclone at that stage. So the coastal winds at that time were sea breezes, far from cyclonic. If you want to compare like to like just follow the forecast track of that tropical low to the coast which is predicted to be within the next couple of days for the coastal crossing. The (cyclonic) winds on the coast are predicted to be between 205 to 230 kph.

The proverbial "chalk and cheese".

Cmon mate. I think you’re getting a bit serious. I wrote that on the 12th about what the wind situation was like on the 11th. The forecast for wind speed in my location and up north on the coast while a cyclone was forming were roughly the same. What eventuated after that was no comparison. However I’ve got branches down everywhere and at that point I had strong winds for days. Not that it really matters. 

[Phil Petersen]

Hoping for some rain soon here! Looks on for tonight and should give things a boost💦

[cbmnz]

It's 9pm Tuesday local time and it has not been below 20C since 8:30am on Monday. By 9am reset scheme that is an official >20C minimum but if it cools below 20 by midnight tonight then it isn't by a midnight reset scheme.  So confusing 🙃 

[PalmCode]

Got a little bit of rain the other day. Enough to water the garden and top the tank up a bit.

Archontophoenix purpurea has been growing good this summer. New spear shouldn't be too far away from opening.