AWIS WEATHER SERVICES

For the past few years, AWIS meteorologists have worked with consulting expert and StrawberryDoc Barclay Poling and his team at Flavorfirst to develop forecast services that strawberry growers throughout the country should use to their benefit. That relationship continues today and will provide unparalleled expertise in strawberry growing weather forecast services far into the future.

AWIS BI-WEEKLY EMAIL FORECAST FOR Strawberry_Consultant 
Prepared on Tue Mar 25 14:53:19 CDT 2025
 
Barclay Poling Regional Strawberry Weather Discussion
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*** Typical Spring Changing Weather Ahead
*** Frost / Light Freeze Risks Mainly This Thursday Morning Northern Areas
*** Warmer This Weekend
*** Showers / Storms Late Weekend / Early Next Week
*** Cooler Again Behind That Middle Half Next Week
*** More Up/Down Temperature Swings Through Mid April
*** But Overall, Warmer And Wetter Pattern Than Normal Into Mid April, Except Drier Far Southern Regions

The rest of March and at least the first half of April will be critical times for the strawberry industry.

Alternating periods of warmer and colder weather, with at times showery weather between, will make for challenging times ahead.

Growers need to be prepared to utilize cold protection, while at the same time considering proper usage of crop covers to avoid compiling issues with plant diseases.

Take advantage of the latest weather updates for your area and crop consultants' advice to make the best possible management decisions.

In the short term, colder minimums centered on this Thursday may require some protective measures, particularly Northern areas.

After that a warmer period through the weekend, with increased chances for wet weather by the start of next week.

Then back to colder minimums Northern areas for the early-middle part of next week that needs to be watched for potential frost issues, although at this time a significant freeze/frost event is not expected.

This type pattern may continue well into April as we are stuck in a rather fast moving West to East upper air pattern with disturbances moving across every 3-5 days, with warmer ahead and cooling behind each one. 

If you average out the next few weeks, the trend would be for more warmer days than colder, and more rainfall than average.

This would increase the threat of disease development and spread where adequate spray and management programs are not followed.

Again, stay alert to the latest daily forecasts, minor changes in the pattern and/or timing of any particular events might require management decision adjustments.

Karl
 
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For all future AWIS weather updates this season, please visit: https://strawberries.ces.ncsu.edu

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