Chicago/Northern Illinois Update: Derek Settle -
It was Thursday and my daily notes said, "Clouds are above and light rain is falling. It all began Wednesday with 0.75 inch recorded on Sunshine Course." As it turned out, Chicago had been enjoying an Indian Summer the first two weeks of October, but by the 20th our high would not cross 50 degrees. Weathermen would tell us it was our coldest day since 26 May. It got windy too and little Sunshine Course recorded winds at 9-19 mph every hour that same day. Now that's unusual. Closer to Lake Michigan, Soldier Field would clock gusts of 53 mph and north shore places like Highland Park would feel winds of 45 mph. In the landscape the cold, wet, windy weather meant the peak fall color of many trees promptly ended. Within the week, cottonwood leaves would be completely down, though I had to wait to see the change - I was out of town.
This week saw our first real hard frost as low temps dropped below 30 degrees in places like North Barrington and Aurora. Nevertheless, effects of a warm October are still with us and my weekly scouting would find terrific rust, amazing dollar spot, and that yellow tuft stuff. Superintendents noted earthworms had returned and course projects were in their concluding phases. Next up, irrigation pumps will be off and folks will say two short words - SNOW mold.
Click here to view the October 21, 2011 Scouting Report.
Have a good weekend and stay warm!
Derek Settle, PhD
Director of Turfgrass Program
630-685-2307
dsettle@cdga.org
Weather Blog
Timothy A. Sibicky, MS
Manager of Turfgrass Research
630-685-2310
tsibicky@cdga.org
Research Blog
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