Pam Knox

  • Corn and winter wheat in the news

    Sam Ingram of the Effingham County Extension News reports that last week’s dry weather was good enough for farmers in his county to plant corn.  Because of the warm conditions and adequate moisture, the corn is really popping up.  You can see some pictures and read his blog at https://site.extension.uga.edu/effingham/2015/04/corn-is-popping-up/ A bit farther afield, AgWeb reports…

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  • May through June 2015 climate outlook

    NOAA has released their latest set of climate predictions for the upcoming months.  Their May outlook shows equal chances of above, below or near normal temperature in the Southeast, but a continuation of hot conditions in the West and cooler than normal temperatures likely in Texas and the Northeast.  Precipitation in May shows a slightly…

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  • Today marks the anniversary of one of North Carolina’s worst tornado outbreaks in history.  The State Climate Office of North Carolina offers this blog posting on the storms (link). Another excellent article about this outbreak can be found at https://www.ustornadoes.com/2013/04/16/north-carolinas-largest-tornado-outbreak-april-16th-2011/.

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  • The rainy conditions we’ve been having this week can be attributed in part to the El Nino which is currently underway in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and is expected to continue for the next few months.  You might be wondering what other agricultural impacts are likely in an El Nino year.  The folks at AgroClimate.org…

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  • We’re halfway through April and I thought it might be interesting to look at how the climate is doing so far this month.  The maps below from the High Plains Regional Climate Center show the month to date departures from normal for temperature and precipitation.  The maps clearly show that so far April is running…

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  • Eighty years ago yesterday, the most famous dust storm of the Dust Bowl Era occurred in Oklahoma and Texas.  You’ve probably seen pictures of the tremendous wall of black soil picked up by the strong winds and blown for miles across the Great Plains.  The sight of all this dirt carried by the wind prompted…

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  • Rain, rain

    We received round one of this week’s rain Sunday and yesterday.  I received almost 2 inches at my house on the east side of Athens, GA.  Tuesday there is a respite before the next deluge begins, although with afternoon heating there is a chance of some showers even today.  But the radar shows the next…

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