April Revisited

Compared to historical averages, April in Hood River was much cooler and somewhat drier, continuing the pattern that started in March.

The average temperature was 4.1 degrees cooler than long term averages, and 4.8 degrees below 2000-2007 averages. Wind speeds were average, with WSW winds predominate.

There were no local records set in April.

If long range forecasts hold up, there is relief from this cold Spring coming up. Temperatures might make it into the high 80's by next weekend. This would be a Good Thing.

	High	Low	Average	Historical Average	Variance
Temperature (F)	76.8	26.1	45.8	49.9	-4.1
Wind (mph)	29		3.4	3.3	0.1
Rainfall (in)	0.18		1.37 (total)	1.63	-0.26

Nice

The pattern continues. Another wonderful weather weekend; 74 degrees today. Great day to be outside. Cooler weather to come this week. If this has to be a cold Spring, at least the warm spells have been on weekends.

This week's poll wonders if you are registered to vote, and if you are, what party you are registered with. Due to the closeness of the Democratic race, the Oregon primary is shaping up to be nationally relevant. Not that it hasn't been, but usually the race is determined by now.

Brrrr

I just noticed that yesterday's high temperature of 50 degrees tied Hood River's "lowest high" temperature for the date (April 29), set in 1972.

Just another confirmation that this has been one cold Spring.

Last year, we were setting records for the opposite situation (highest low temperature). What a difference a year makes.

There's A Pattern Here

And the pattern is: a very cold Spring, with a warm weekend two weeks ago, snow last weekend, and a warm weekend currently. Not that great of a pattern, but at least the few warm spells have been on weekends.

It hasn't been a good Spring for vegetable gardens. I planted radishes and peas March 1st, and they are at least 3 weeks behind normal growth. The cucumber seeds planted April 12 have yet to emerge, and at this point most likely won't. I probably should have put Walls-O-Water or something similiar over them.

May 1st marks the usual time to plant tomatoes, peppers, corn, squash, basil, and other warmth-loving veges at our Hood River city location (500 ft elevation). I may hold off a week or so this year, as cold wet weather is forecast to return tomorrow thru next week.

Here's how part of the vege garden looks currently. From front to back: garlic, lettuce, snow peas, last year's overwintered celery, onion starts, overwintered cilantro, perennial artichoke bed, new celery starts, and sugar snap peas. Not shown is the newly planted asparagus bed, which is a long-term investment, taking a couple of years before it can be harvested to any extent.


Speaking of vegetables (and locally grown stuff), Gorge Grown Food Network has an interesting survey on their web site, part of their ongoing efforts to bring together local food growers and local food consumers.

Just A Taste

Of Spring: Warm, sunny weather made a welcome (but too brief) visit this weekend. Friday's high at our weather station was 70, while yesterday's high hit 77. Today looks to be somewhere around 70 to 75, as cooler and wetter air returns tonight through next week.

This week's Hood River Weather poll question is specifically designed to make you crazy or at least irritated. Given the federal government's seeming inability to contain spending, is it better to match income to outgo (tax and spend), or to borrow against the national debt and let future generations deal with it (borrow and spend).

I deliberately left out more reasonable choices (like maybe control spending better?), since I just don't see the feds wanting or being able to do that any time soon.

I waver between the two bad choices, but lean more towards tax and spend. It seems a little more honest, at least as long as the level of taxing does not unduly strain people's and company's budgets. As a percentage of GDP (which is how deficit defenders typically justify national debt), total taxation in the US is way down on the list, 34th lowest out of 36 major countries.

On the other hand, I think most people prefer tax cuts and especially "free" rebates from the feds. There is something to be said for Keynesian economic theory that it is rightfully the government's job to stimulate the economy through deficit spending in times of economic slowdowns.

Unfortunately, the flip side of Keynesian theory is that the government should run a balanced budget or surplus the rest of the time. But that involves responsible balancing of taxing and spending and is no fun at all for politicians or their constituents (us).

The last time we even came close to having a balanced budget was during the Clinton presidency, where gridlock between the Democratic president and Republican congress helped keep the government from adding and expanding spending programs.

So maybe gridlock is the economic model we should be striving for? And what does that mean for the choices in the upcoming presidential election?