Weekly weather update for professional turf managers from Frank Rossi:
Temp & GDD
What feld like a warm week was actually below normal by 2-4 degrees for most areas North of NYC. Along the I-95 corridor from NYC to RI and on Long Island temps were about 2 above normal. High heat stress was recorded across the entire region. Soils are warming up significantly with upper 70’s to low 80’s to the south and low 70’s for the rest of the region.
Moisture
Again there were winners and losers when it came to rainfall this week. Driest areas to the west of I-81 had very high ET in excess of 1.25” and recorded <0.25”. Areas to the east and along the coast rec’d 0.5-1”, with swaths of 1-2” in Central NJ and 3”+ on the east end of LI. ET values were high everywhere as well. Drought maps still expanding in area and severity
Forecast
Following some widespread rainfall over the weekend expect a slight cooling start then a return to very warm and steamy conditions. Temps expected to be well into the 90’s Wed-Thurs. with intense and spotty rainfall possible. Disease risks very high and humidity creating ideal heat and disease stress periods.
For more turf-related weather info and decision-making tools, visit the ForeCast website.
