October Weather Report

Low temperature for October, 38 (October 26th)
High temperature for October, 90 (Oct 2nd)
The high wind speed for October, 37 mph (October 2nd)
Average wind speed = 14 mph
Average humidity = 43%
Average Low temperature = 52
Average High temperature = 71
Rainfall = 2.5

October proved to be a bit cooler than normal, and wetter than normal. Toquerville received 2.5 inches of rain for the month, and that gives us over 12.5 inches for the year, way above normal--with two more months to go.

We had only 4 days with winds of 20 mph or higher. I've mentioned before how unusual it is to have no wind during the day. Nearly always we have some wind, for at least a few minutes every day. On October 29th, the high wind speed for the day was 3 mph, which is very unusual. It wasn't a no wind day, but close.

Typically, Toquerville's first freeze comes in late November (last year it was Thanksgiving Day), and after a cool October, we're on a warming trend, so probably no freeze for another week or two.

Temperatures will always vary from one part of Toquerville to another. Temperatures can vary by several degrees, even within a few hundred hards. On calm nights, cold tends to settle to the bottom of low areas (like the creek area), and rain tends to be heavier against the mountain. It's my observation that even the wind (I'm referring to north winds) is harder to the west of Ash Creek, than to the east.

September Weather Report

Average Low = 60 degrees
Average High = 88 Degrees
Average wind speed = 13 mph
Rain fall for the month = .02 inches

The low temperature for the month was 53 degrees, on September 13th
The high temperature for the month was 97 degrees, on September 5th
High wind speed for the month was 30 mph on September 8th. Toquerville had only five days with wind speeds of 20 mph or higher. Overall, winds were very calm in September.

Generally speaking, September was unusually warm. September was only slightly cooler than August, although that fact is a bit deceiving. Clearly, the days are shorter, the hot periods of the days are shorter, and the evenings cool down early. In many parts of the state, record high temperatures were recorded at various times in August. There is no official record book for Toquerville, but this September was the warmest in three years. Still, we have enjoyed having our windows open at night for the entire month.

It's interesting to note that on September 27, Zion National Park recorded a temperature of 104 degrees (Toquerville was 91 on that date), and St George had numerous days in the 100s. I have to say, I'm skeptical about the 104 degree temp in Zions National Park, the temperature is difficult to explain since no surrounding areas had temperatures anywhere near 104. Zion tends to be a bit cooler than Toquerville because the high canyon walls shade the canyon, and canyon winds come down from Cedar Mountain and other cool areas causing temperatures to be a little cooler than Toquerville or Hurricane.

August Weather Report

Low temp for the month = 54 degrees on August 30th
High temp for the month = 99 (Aug 25th was last 99 degree day)
Avg low temp = 66.5 degrees
Avg high temp = 94 degrees
Avg wind speed = 16 mph
Avg humidity = 26%
Total rain = .67 hundredths

Toquerville had no temperatures above 100 degrees during August. We had several 99 and 98 degree days. Last year we had three days of 100 degrees or higher in August

Total rain to date is 10 inches. Total rain for 2008 was 7.1, for 2009 was 7.17--for the year. We still have four months to go, so 2010 is a well above average year for rainfall.

July Weather Report

Avg High Temp = 100 degrees (Same as 2009)
Avg Low Temp = 72 degrees (Same as 2009)
Avg Humidity = .24 percent (2009 was 22 percent)
Avg Wind Speed = 16 mph (2009 was 15 mph)
Total Rain = .06 hundredths of an inch (2009 was .39 inches)
Days with wind speed above 20 mph = 9 (2009 was 7 days)
Days with temperature above 100 degrees = 19 (2009 was 20)
High temperature for July = 105 degrees (2009 was 108)

July has been hot, but right about normal. This July was actually a little cooler than last year, but drier as well.

July winds were actually pretty calm, most winds over 20 mph were of short duration.

We have likely seen our hottest weather for the year. And history says the evenings will be cooler in August than in July.

June Weather Report

Last month I stated that "the El Nino pattern that has dominated Toquerville weather this year, has now passed." That turned out to not quite be true. June was unusually cool, crops and fruit are well behind their normal course. Historically, El Nino's influence continues through June and into early July.

Avg high temp = 92.5 (2009, 89)
Avg Low temp = 63.0 (2009, 63)
Avg wind speed = 17 (2009, 16)
Avg humidity = 22% (2009, 23)
Total rain = .18 inches (2009, .06)
Days above 100 degrees = 6 (2009, 5)

With the year half over, Toquerville has received 8.77 inches of rain, well above the annual average of 7 inches.

May 2010 Weather Data

The El Nino weather pattern that dominated Toquerville weather since early January, continued much of its influence through May, but has now dissipated and will likely have little affect for the rest of the year. Normal temperatures seem to have returned. Still, May was significantly cooler than last year for both the average high and average low. Precipitation has returned to normal, about the same as last year.

Precipitation = .12 hundredths of an inch. (last year was .14 hundredths of an inch)

Average high temp = 77 degrees. (Last year was 88 degrees)
Average low temp = 51 degrees. (Last year was 60.7 degrees)

Average humidity = 24 percent. (Last year was 23 percent)

Average wind speed was 20 mph. (Last year was 22.45 mph) These figures only represent the average high wind speed. What the numbers don’t tell is that the ferocity and length of the winds was significantly less this May than last.

April Weather Data

April has been a bit of an anomaly, weatherwise. We had no freezing temperatures in March, but on April 6th, it froze in Toquerville. It was 32 degrees and froze tender crops like tomatoes and peppers, it also froze some fruit, though not all. I lost about 90% of my apricots, but not nothing else. Peaches and pears were unaffected.

Avg High = 68 (last year was 70 degrees for April)
Avg Low = 45 (last year was 46 degrees for April)
So temperatures are a little lower this year than last.

Avg Humidity = .33% (last year was 29%)
Avg Wind Speed = 18 mph (last year was 17 mph)

Rainfall = .75 inches, 8.47 inches since January 1st
Last year we received .37 inches during April, and 3.12 inches from January through April. So rainfall for April is double from last year, and to date, was almost triple last year's rainfall.

Toquerville had 8 days with winds of 20 mph or greater. Last year we had 11 days of winds 20 mph or greater.

Temperatures remain below normal. Morning lows are also well below normal. The El Nino weather pattern continues to affect our weather, delivering above normal rainfall, and more southerly winds instead of the stronger northerly winds.