August by the numbers

 

August recorded some hefty numbers for rainfall, with 257.5 mm compared with the LTA of 132.5 mm. It didn't feel like it rained that much, but the Rondo grapes certainly responded with a growth spurt. The temperature averaged at only 14.9, below the LTA of 15.4 and well below the last three years, hence the lack of maturity in all the other grape varieties. The real standout is 41 days below 15.5C close to twice the LTA. 

Meanwhile, the Atlantic remains quiet with no tropical storm activity for a prolonged period that has forecasters scratching their heads. 

Monthly values for NEWPORT up to 01-sep-2024

Total rainfall in millimetres for NEWPORT

Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Annual
2024	125.7	197.5	152.5	119.4	48.8	80.7	80.8	257.5	1.4				1064.3
2023	183.2	91.6	188.4	121.1	48.5	77.9	206.8	139.8	142.4	144.7	209.6	293.8	1847.8
2022	98.8	260.4	67.8	84.0	107.0	148.0	59.2	104.1	97.3	233.9	187.5	154.6	1602.6
2021	225.6	147.6	141.1	45.6	113.5	64.1	59.7	155.6	137.0	265.7	183.3	186.6	1725.4
LTA	166.7	126.5	141.2	96.8	94.7	89.7	100.9	132.5	131.5	176.0	170.4	180.2	1607.1

Mean temperature in degrees Celsius for NEWPORT

Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Annual
2024	6.1	7.9	7.9	9.9	13.1	12.9	14.9	14.9	15.1				11.0
2023	6.6	8.0	7.6	9.9	13.3	17.4	14.9	15.8	15.2	11.9	8.7	7.9	11.4
2022	7.2	7.1	8.0	9.9	12.6	13.8	15.9	16.2	n/a	12.2	9.4	5.2	10.7
2021	5.0	6.7	7.9	9.0	10.4	13.3	17.5	16.4	15.2	11.9	9.3	7.6	10.9
LTA	6.1	6.1	7.3	9.0	11.5	13.8	15.4	15.4	13.5	10.8	8.3	6.5	10.3

Mean 10cm soil temperature for NEWPORT at 0900 UTC

Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Annual
2024	4.2	6.5	6.5	9.5	13.6	14.4	15.8	15.4	n/a				10.8
2023	5.2	6.8	6.6	9.1	13.7	18.6	16.3	16.3	14.7	11.1	7.6	6.7	11.1
2022	6.2	6.2	6.3	9.3	13.2	14.8	16.8	16.6	n/a	11.5	8.4	4.4	10.4
2021	3.6	5.0	6.8	8.2	10.9	14.3	17.9	16.3	15.2	11.3	8.6	6.6	10.4
LTA	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

Global Solar Radiation in Joules/cm2 for NEWPORT

Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Annual
2024	7248	12401	23032	39685	47333	50366	49632	38203	877				268777
2023	6245	10639	21429	37277	55732	58473	41797	36857	29338	16225	8326	4411	326749
2022	6311	10756	33399	40555	51569	47246	48439	51169	n/a	15988	7869	6167	319468
2021	6620	13347	20370	45694	55690	45488	49455	40490	22413	16358	7235	3780	326940
LTA	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

Potential Evapotranspiration (mm) for NEWPORT

Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Annual
2024	15.4	18.2	36.0	56.9	74.7	76.7	80.9	60.8	1.5				421.1
2023	14.3	20.9	33.0	56.4	83.3	100.6	70.1	64.4	50.1	26.1	14.2	14.7	548.1
2022	13.7	23.0	47.2	60.6	77.7	76.0	80.4	82.0	n/a	27.2	17.2	9.2	514.2
2021	7.6	22.9	30.7	62.9	76.3	70.7	87.8	67.5	38.3	25.1	14.1	14.6	518.5
LTA	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

Evaporation (mm) for NEWPORT

Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Annual
2024	20.2	25.4	51.9	83.7	104.9	109.8	112.6	88.3	2.1				598.9
2023	18.8	28.2	47.6	81.6	118.2	137.1	99.5	89.1	67.8	35.5	18.4	19.0	760.8
2022	17.9	32.4	66.5	86.8	114.5	109.2	111.1	113.2	n/a	37.0	22.0	11.4	722.0
2021	10.9	32.1	45.4	89.9	111.2	102.0	117.2	93.5	52.1	34.7	18.6	19.1	726.7
LTA	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

Degree Days Below 15.5 Degree Celsius for NEWPORT

Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Total
2024	293	221	234	169	91	89	45	41	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
2023	275	210	246	171	85	18	39	26	53	118	203	237	1681
2022	256	234	235	171	97	63	30	28	N/A	103	185	320	N/A
2021	325	247	236	200	167	79	20	23	40	114	187	245	1883

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Notes on the Data

Evaporation and PE data are calculated using Penman/Monteith formulae.
The ‘LTA’ (referred to within a table) is average for the climatological long-term-average (LTA) reference period 1981-2010.
Data updated daily at Mid-day.
To view the Weather Events for Public Works Contracts data, select a station first, then click the link just below the map.

Open data

Bagging, bagging, bagging

 

I have been trying to bag all of the Rondo grapes on the five vines we planted in 2015. They are already ripening and the wasps have been all over them. But the key is to protect them from the birds. This is hard overhead work. I am also cutting away leaves that are shading the grapes. I have bagged so many and still have so many more to go. Ugh. Back pain, knee pain, debris in my eyes -- I wish there was a better way. 

Yesterday, the Pinot Noir looked like it was turning autumnal shades, but today it just looks like it's all dying. The grapes are far from harvest. It looks like the rest of the crops -- Solaris, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir -- will be failures this year. Bummer. 

Alex and I opened a bottle of our red from last year a couple of nights ago. We expected toxic but it wasn't. It was young and could benefit from several years in the bottle, but it was pleasant. It had nice legs and hints of cassis, citrus and for me, sage. It's a lovely deep red colour, too, quite different from when we bottled it. There is hope. 

Veraison progressing rapidly

My cousin, Maria, better known as Mishka or Mouse, came to visit from Florida with her daughters Ara and Talia and son-in-law James. It was lovely to spend quality time with them. Naturally, we gave them a tour of the vineyard and gardens, the shed and winery, and the stunning view from the top of the property. In the morning it had rained heavily, but then it magically cleared up and we had plenty of time to explore and meet the donkeys, too.

It was disconcerting to see the Rondo grapes turning red so quickly. The first one just days ago, and many clusters yesterday. So we scrambled today and got the kites flying, the CDs hung and the bags initiated. Lots of work coming in the next few days as many more CDs and nets need to be hung in a hurry. 

The Solaris appear to be far behind the Rondo and the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir far behind those again. Very strange season. 

As we attempted to drive the Wild Atlantic Drive around Achill Island with our entourage, the skies opened up just as the forecast suggested clearing. We drove back to Nevin's and had tea and coffee, saw the robot, and awaited the sunshine, which duly arrived. We then continued on to an exquisite tour of Achill and lunch at the Beehive, which the Americans thoroughly enjoyed. 

Overnight we had deluges of rain followed by a day of exquisite sunshine. Thank the Lord for the reprieve. 

 

NOAA State of the Climate Report

 

NOAA has released the report on the state of the climate in 2023 and it is not encouraging. 

Highlights

• Earth’s greenhouse gas concentrations were the highest on record.
• Record temperatures notable across the globe.
• El Niño conditions contributed to record-high sea surface temperatures.
• Ocean heat and global sea level were the highest on record.
• Heatwaves and droughts contributed to massive wildfires around the world.
• The Arctic was warm and navigable.
• Antarctica sea ice sets record lows throughout 2023.
• Tropical cyclone activity was below average, but storms still set records around the globe.

Greenhouse gas concentrations, the global temperature across land and oceans, global sea level and ocean heat content all reached record highs in 2023, according to the 34th annual State of the Climate report.