PROSSER, Wash. – In stark contrast to the ferocity of last year, this November went out like a lamb. 2010’s record-breaking Thanksgiving blast of bitter, arctic cold raked its claws across the eastern Washington landscape, with effects still being felt in decreased vineyard production. Thankfully, this November ended with fairly benign weather conditions. Temperatures across the state were near to slightly below normal during November, with several very warm days late in the month in southeastern Washington. Overall, autumn temperatures were above normal in eastern Washington and near normal in western Washington at Mt. Vernon.
There were no unprecedented weather events this November. Last month exhibited a normal degree of weather variability, featuring stormy weather interspersed with dry and calmer periods. Walla Walla experienced three days with temperatures in the 60s during the last ten days of the month. There were also several blustery days in November, with winds in certain locations across the state, including the Wenatchee area, gusting to around 60 mph on Nov. 13. Some areas in southwestern Washington, like WSU’s AgWeatherNet station at Long Beach, recorded nearly 10 inches of rain during the month.
And while growers of apples and other agricultural commodities recently completed the seasonal harvest, the work is just beginning for other growers. Winter wheat is beginning to emerge in eastern Washington, and Christmas tree growers are busy preparing for the holiday season that is already upon us.
A Web-based, publicly available system, AgWeatherNet provides access to near real-time weather data and value-added products from WSU’s statewide weather network, along with decision aids for agricultural producers and other users. It includes 134 weather stations located mostly in the irrigated regions of eastern Washington State, but the network recently has undergone significant expansion in western Washington and in dry land regions of the state. AgWeatherNet is available at www.weather.wsu.edu.
-30-