Update on Degree Days and Precipitation - July 16

Today's post is a brief update on weather conditions including degree days, soil temperatures, and precipitation.

2024 Degree Day Accumulations

Degree day accumulations up to this point are very similar to warm years such as 2012 and 2021. Current conditions are very close to the highest accumulated base 5°C heat units over the last 17 seasons. If the above-average temperature trend continues, then we are on track to be in the warmest growing season on record.

Figure 1: Heating degree day accumulations for plant (above 5°C) and insect (above 10°C) development from March 1 to July 15 for the past 17 seasons. Provided by Jeff Franklin (AAFC).

• Approximately 11% more plant development heat units compared to the 5-year average, and 11% more compared to the 10-year average.
• Approximately 11% more plant development heat units compared to 2023, and 8% more compared with 2022.
• Approximately 15% more insect development heat units compared to the 5-year average, and 16% more compared to the 10-year average.

2024 Soil Temperature

Soil temperatures are also above the average as shown on the red line versus the black line average.

Figure 2: Soil temperatures at 35 cm depth at the Kentville Research Station from 2020 to 2024. Provided by Jeff Franklin(AAFC).

Seasonal Precipitation

From one extreme to the other... the dry spring and early summer months have been followed by heavy precipitation events in early July. Kentville has received 196 mm of rain already in July compared to the 25-year mean of 83 mm for the entire month.

Figure 3: Monthly precipitation totals in 2024 compared with the 10-year average. Provided by Jeff Franklin (AAFC) using the Kentville weather station data.