Re: Wind in northern central California
- To: , "medit-plants"
- Subject: Re: Wind in northern central California
- From: J*
- Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2000 08:13:09 -0700
Here at the north end of California's Central Valley, it is usually several
days of hot north wind in May or early June that turns the grass brown and
begins the wildfire season. Periodically through the summer & early fall we
again have these strong, hot north winds. In October of 1999 a forty
mile-per-hour wind drove a wildfire across a 20 mile long area just east of
my town in one day, burning down sixty houses. In the winter, strong south
winds when the soil is saturated blow over the shallow-rooted Pinus
sabiniana, or just tip them at odd angles. This gives the pine-oak
woodlands an Alice-in-Wonderland look, with the pines slanting in all
different directions, sometimes more sideways than vertical.
-----Original Message-----
From: Glenn Breayley <valhalla@iafrica.com>
To: medit-plants <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Date: Sunday, April 23, 2000 2:36 AM
Subject: Wind
>Hi All
>Here in Capetown we're rejoicing in our first real rains of the winter
after
>one of the hottest, driest summers on record. Its really forcing people to
>focus more on dryland gardens, which is all for the best.
>
>I'm interested in knowing however, how wind effects the other main Med.
>climate areas in the world.
>There is a big difference in having a hot, dry summer with light winds &
one
>where continuous strong winds are an additional factor. Here, in the
>Southwestern Cape, we get an equinoxal wind from the Southeast which
>normally starts in mid to late October & usually blows with varying
>intensities & periods through into February. ( This year it has run on well
>into Autumn, which is very unusual, as it is normally our most settled &
>lovely weather ).
>This wind, to my mind, is the main limiting factor to gardening rather than
>straight out hot dryness. I've known it blow a howling gale for 10 days to
a
>fortnight on end & suck every last drop of moisture out of everything &
>whither up soft spring growth in one day.
>The various winds around the Mediterranean basin - the mistral etc - are
>well known, but I'm curious as to the situation in the other areas such as
>California, Chile & Australia. Is this an issue there ?
>
>Regards
>
>Glenn Breayley. Ragnarok & Valhalla Research.
>POBox 26158, Hout Bay, 7872, Capetown, South Africa
>Ph/Fax SA 021 7904253 E-mail valhalla@iafrica.com
>Wholesale nurseryman & Tillandsia specialist wholesale & retail grower.
>
>
