Thursday, May 3, 2012

April 2012 Rainfall & Heating Degree Days

Rainfall during April was 3.08", slightly more than 0.5" higher than "normal"; cumulative rainfall since October (used to measure our "water year") was 38.95", almost 6" higher than "normal".


We had 77 Heating Degree Days {[(Daily High Temp + Daily Low Temp)/2]-51} during April, almost 2/3s of this occurring within a 5-day period (4/21 - 4/25) shortly after budbreak.  This is the most Heating Degree Days during April in recent years, and led to a strong and uniform budbreak throughout our vineyard.