Date: Fri 02-Jul-1999
Date: Fri 02-Jul-1999
Publication: Bee
Author: STEVEB
Quick Words:
weather-hot-July
Full Text:
This Weekend Is Going To Be Hot!
BY STEVE BIGHAM
June of 1999 went down as one of the driest June months on record. Connecticut
saw only about an inch of rain during the month and all that brown grass you
see is the result. Earlier this week, though, the area got a bit of a reprieve
as the rain finally began to fall, lowering temperatures and bringing new life
to the parched soil.
So what's in store for Independence Day weekend? It's going to be hot! It
might even reach 100 degrees.
"We're looking for another little heat wave for the Fourth of July holiday,
although there will be scattered thunderstorms in the air," noted Mike Leona
of the Western Connecticut State University weather center.
If you go to the beach, bring your sun screen and your umbrella.
According to the experts, the dry weather of June was caused by high pressure
dominating the east coast. This brought above-normal temperatures with higher
humidities. This condition prevents any type of rainfall from approaching the
area.
"We're now in a pattern of cooler weather. However, there is a lingering
stationary front which should come north to us and raise temperatures with
high humidity," Mr Leona said.
The staff at the WestConn weather center is hoping the pattern of hot and arid
weather will dissipate, bring more rainfall in July.
"We need a nice good storm," Mr Leona said.
Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks reports that this past June was
the second driest June in recorded history.
Dealing With The Drought
According to the Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University,
rainfall this spring in the tri-state area is nearly 20 percent below normal.
As a result, trees and shrubs may be suffering from what arborists call
"drought stress." This can lead to serious problems for the next several
years, according to Ken Clear of Alpine, the Care of Trees, a tree
preservation firm serving Connecticut. He is urging people to begin
supplemental watering immediately.
Trees are not only attractive and a major part of the carbon-dioxide-to-oxygen
cycle that humans and animals need to live on. They are also a good
investment. Real estate professionals estimate that trees and shrubs account
for as much as 25 percent of a property's value.
To water trees, lay a soaker hose -- the kind with tiny holes along their full
length -- around the base of the tree as far as the widest branches. In shrub
beds, run the soaker hose so that it distributes water throughout the entire
bed. Trees need one to two inches of water per week, whether from rain,
watering or a combination. Mr Clear said a light blend of biostimulant organic
fertilizer applied in the fall can help trees and shrubs cope with drought
stress. A good tree nursery can advise you on soaker hoses and watering
durations and recommend an appropriate light fertilizer.
Mulching also helps trees, especially in drought conditions, according to Mr
Clear. Consisting of organic materials such as wood chips, ground up corn cobs
or compost leaves, mulch helps conserve moisture in the soil and increases the
amount of organic material and activity. But don't overdo it, he said. If
applied thicker than four inches above ground level, mulch can prevent a
tree's root system from working properly.
"Considering how much trees and shrubs cost to replace, how long it takes them
to grow and how much value they add to property, a little extra care right now
makes a lot of sense," Mr Clear said.