THE iconic catchphrase in the popular TV series Game of Thrones – “winter is coming” - is timely as we farewelled autumn last week, as the first day of winter dawned. Autumn has been a season of extreme temperatures in Temora. Figures from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology station at Temora revealed that this autumn had locals reaching for both fans and flannelette sheets. It started with some scorching heat ranging from the low to mid 30s on many days in March, but the thermometer took a dramatic dip in May, on a few days when the mercury dropped to just a few degrees above freezing. The first month of autumn delivered Temora this autumn’s warmest day when the maximum temperature soared to 34.8C on 11 March. However, on 19 May the minimum temperature plummeted to a chilly -0.9C - this autumn’s coldest day. The coldest maximum temperature this autumn was recorded at just 12.3C on 7 May. The warmest May day this autumn for Temora was recorded at 26.3C on the first day of the month. Temora experienced a slightly warmer than usual May with the average maximum temperature coming in at 19.6C, compared to an overall May average of 18.6C. Temora’s warmest ever May was recorded in 2005 with the average maximum temperature being recorded at 20.6C. The average minimum temperature for this May at 8.3C also confirmed it was a warmer month than normal, being 3.8C higher than the overall May average minimum temperature of 4.5C. Temora’s coldest ever May was in 2006 when the minimum temperature averaged 0.5C which is 7.8C lower than last month. Regarding autumn rainfall, rain clouds made only the briefest of appearances during the season’s 92 days in Temora. There were dry spells in April that left paddocks parched and rain gauges mostly empty. A total of 164.6mm of rain fell on Temora on 18 separate days throughout the 92 days of autumn. 113.2mm was recorded over 10 days in the first month of autumn in March, just 4.6mm on a single day in April and 46.8mm over seven days in May. Temora’s wettest autumn day this year was on 3 March when we were drenched when 53.2mm fell. Good early autumn rainfall came as a timely boost for the shire’s farmers and recent rainfall also gave local crop growers some confidence about getting some more crops in the ground. One local farmer, Graham Sinclair, is a landowner who has welcomed the autumn rainfall. However, Mr Sinclair admitted this season brought unprecedented uncertainty as sowing time approached. “Farming is considered to be one big gamble with (or against) the weather and markets, but this year a couple of extra curve balls have been added,” he said. “First was the touted fuel shortage and price hike, then fertiliser shortage, particularly urea and its increasing cost, as well as the forecast of an El Niño event by spring, with some forecasters calling it a Super El Niño. “During my farming career, I think this year was the most uncomfortable I have felt about putting a crop in the ground. “But, after good rain during March and then a bit more in early April, most farmers decided to start sowing canola, followed by legume crops and cereals.” Most crops were sown a bit earlier than usual, but with mild weather conditions experienced locally, crop growers generally got off to a really good start. “Apart from a few isolated areas which received heavy rainfall, most farmers with livestock will want dams topped up by the end of spring,” Mr Sinclair said. “Pasture growth has been good through autumn, so it’s a great start going into winter.” Predicted weather conditions for the next several days should also benefit crop growers as the days appear to be frost-free, with most days hovering around a minimum temperature of about 5C or 6C. There is also the chance of an odd sprinkling of rain over the next week. The BOM long-range forecast for June to August predicts that rainfall is likely to be below average, with daytime and overnight temperatures to be above average in the Riverina.
