Last week’s rain was a welcome relief for local farmers who were getting a little anxious as the previous excellent rain was starting to dry out by the warm sunny days.
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The township of Grenfell recorded a total of 21 mm last week, bringing the total for the month to 26.2 mm.
The total so far for 2017 is 182.2 mm. For the same period last year, Grenfell had recorded 104.1 mm.
Grenfell’s wettest April was in 1990 when a massive 344.4 mm was recorded for the month.
But April can also be very dry, as the years of 1897, 1898, 1899, 1912, 1923 and 1967 no rain was recorded for the month.
The average rainfall for April since 1886 is 45.3 mm.
Most farmers in the district were very happy with the rain last week with recordings of 20 to 34 mm.
Allan and Margaret Knight’s property, Bald Hills Road, Grenfell copped a drenching from the storm that swept through the town and district on Wednesday morning, April 26.
Allan said his total for the week was 34 mm which was ideal for their canola crop which they had just finished sowing.
The property, “Mountain View” south of Bimbi, recorded over 25 mm ( 1 inch) Mervyn Baker said the rain would allow them to commence their sowing on Monday.
On the Forbes Road, the property, “Noonbah” recorded 21.5 mm and Laurie Mitton was very pleased with the follow up rain.
George Hampton on the Quandong Road was again lucky with the rain after receiving a total of 29 mm.
Last week’s rain has stimulated pasture and crops and farmers will now be hoping for average to near average rain for May.
However, the Weather Bureau has forecast below average rainfall between now and July.
A WINTERY BLAST
On Wednesday, April 27, a wintery chill gripped Grenfell and six states and territories when a pool of cold air left in the wake of a strong front combined with clear skies and light to moderate winds allowed temperatures to plummet.
This cold snap reminded us that Winter was just around the corner.
At the time of compiling this weather report a cold front was approaching the State with the possibility of a shower or two, but not much rain was expected.
The synoptic chart for Friday and Saturday of this week indicates that a weak high pressure will maintain mostly sunny skies over much of the country.
Warmer northerly winds will affect the interior and South Australia.
Fronts will cause winds to strengthen.
TEMPERATURES
Temperatures for April 2017 were below average. Grenfell’s coldest morning to 9 am was a very chilly 1 degree recorded on April 28.
On April 27 the minimum was 4 degrees and on April 29 3.2 degrees.
Last Sunday morning it was only 5.3 degrees. April 2017 minimum average temperature was 7.8 degrees and since 1965 the average minimum is 9.8 degrees.
The highest minimum since 1965 was 19.6 degrees recorded on April 6, 1977 and the lowest was 00 degrees recorded on April 30, 1976.
Our warmest day for April this year was on 18th when it rose to a pleasant 26.7 degrees.
On April 17 it was 25.1 degrees and 25 degrees on April 20. The average maximum for the month was 21.8 degrees and since 1965 the average maximum 23 degrees.
Grenfell’s highest maximum was on April 4, 1986 when it rose to a very warm 35.5 degrees and the lowest maximum was a very cool 8.8 degrees on April 27, 1999.
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The Grenfell Record welcomes contributors weather photos to accompany Bill Rudd’s popular monthly report, to have your weather photo with a courtesy published in May’s Weddin Shire weather report forward to ngaire.soley@fairfaxmedia.com.au with the subject ‘May Weather’ and staff will choose the best image to accompany Bill’s submission.
