September continues to steadily cool down after the summer-like temperatures at the beginning of the month. The average temperature for the month to date is 18.2 degrees Celsius, down from 19.5 C last week but still above the average temperature for September of 16. 2 C. With the coming week forecast to be sunny and moderately warm, in the low 20s C for daytime highs, the month looks like it will end up warmer than normal.
The warm temperatures are reflected in the corn heat unit (CHU) count as it continues to slow rise above normal as well. September has accumulated 499 CHU so far, normal on a prorated basis would be 428 CHU, so well above average. Normal for the whole of September is 559 CHU, so the target will be easily reached. Since the May 11th start date for the local heat unit count, the total recorded so far is 3,063 CHU for the 2023 cropping season.
Although it rained a couple of times during the past week, the total amount of precipitation was only 9 mm, bringing the month to date total to 27 mm. Normally 35% of normal rainfall would ring alarm bells but not this year – a dry September is welcome relief after a very wet summer.
