Wet grass when temperature doesn't reach dewpoint?
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I've recorded grass frost in every month of the year here in Saskatoon, in most years. This past year, there was solid ice on my car windshield on the 22nd of August; a thermometer placed on the windshield indicated -1 C (30 F). Metal surfaces cool off rapidly just like grass does. The official low that morning was +2 degrees C (36 degrees F).
Air frosts on the other hand are rare in June and August, and virtually unheard of in July.
Even Saskatoon can get warmer summer minimums, than much of NZ
Looking at Saskatoon's 2015 averages, it averaged 25.2C average maximum for summer, and no nights below 1.8C for the whole 3 months.
Contrast that with where I spent a few weeks last summer (Cromwell), where 2 months had freezing minimums, and one "warm" month, with a minimum of 3C, even though the average maximum was 26.3C.
Even Saskatoon can get warmer summer minimums, than much of NZ
Looking at Saskatoon's 2015 averages, it averaged 25.2C average maximum for summer, and no nights below 1.8C for the whole 3 months.
Contrast that with where I spent a few weeks last summer (Cromwell), where 2 months had freezing minimums, and one "warm" month, with a minimum of 3C, even though the average maximum was 26.3C.
The higher neighbouring town of Ophir at 300 metres, had a lower summer average of 24.7C, but the coldest temperatures for each month in summer, were -4.1C, 0.3C and -1.8C.
The higher neighbouring town of Ophir at 300 metres, had a lower summer average of 24.7C, but the coldest temperatures for each month in summer, were -4.1C, 0.3C and -1.8C.
Are you talking about all-time records, or one specific summer?
I've noticed that in general, NZ and southern/eastern Australia tend to have cool summers for their latitude and elevation. You expect summer days to be cool due to the marine influence, but not summer nights. An equivalent location in the U.S at a similar latitude and elevation would have warm if not hot summers.
I've noticed that in general, NZ and southern/eastern Australia tend to have cool summers for their latitude and elevation. You expect summer days to be cool due to the marine influence, but not summer nights. An equivalent location in the U.S at a similar latitude and elevation would have warm if not hot summers.
Marine climates are a double edged sword -on one hand, the ocean will severely moderate cold, but on the other hand, cold fronts have an easy time extending further from the polar regions.
Summer (or any time of the year) can see low pressure centred at 60-70 degrees of latitude, and extending almost vertically over much of NZ - a good chance of frost and snow, at relatively low altitude when that happens.
I don't think proximity to the sea, moderates summer night minimums, that much anyway. -if that were the case, the average summer minimum in my town (by the beach), wouldn't be 8C colder than the average sea temperature.
I don't think proximity to the sea, moderates summer night minimums, that much anyway. -if that were the case, the average summer minimum in my town (by the beach), wouldn't be 8C colder than the average sea temperature.
Oddly, proximity to the sea has a big impact on summer minimums here even though the prevailing air flow is from the continent — though southerly is more common in the summer.
Oddly, proximity to the sea has a big impact on summer minimums here even though the prevailing air flow is from the continent — though southerly is more common in the summer.
There are land breezes to consider as well. On a cold summer night here, the sea can be up to 16C warmer than the air temperature - nights like that will see a flow of cold air from higher ground and out to sea.
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