Lorton precipitation amounts April 15 - 21, 2013; Here come the Cicadas!

As you’ve perhaps heard, we’ve got another batch of Cicadas about to emerge from the ground.  An earlier article covered this year’s batch,  but the weather question is when will we see them?  They typically emerge once the soil 8 inches below the surface gets to 64 degrees Fahrenheit.  Depending on your location, soil temperatures have already reached 64 degrees.  

8” Deep soil temperatures

USDA Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN) network

Date Beltsville MD Orange VA

4/14/2013 58.6 62.4

4/15/2013 58.3 62.8

4/16/2013 57.2 59.7

4/17/2013 59.9 62.4

4/18/2013 60.8 66.7

4/19/2013 61.2 66.0

4/20/2013 61.3 64.0

4/21/2013 58.3 62.2

Have there been any Cicada sightings?  Yes, but remember they don’t just pop out of the ground and start making noise.   Nymphs emerge and molt into winged adults.  There are reports of shed skin at Mt Vernon and Bristol, as well as nymphs seen in Woodbridge and Stafford but I think it’s going to be just a bit too cool this week for the brood to emerge.  The emergence of Cicadas is often tightly synchronized, with most nymphs appearing within a few nights.  Temperatures are forecast to be above average April 27 - May 1 so I’d forecast emergence during that time.  Not that I’m an entomologist!

My rain gauge in Lorton recorded the following precipitation at 6am on the day indicated for the previous 24 hours.

Date

Precip

Mon 04/15/2013

T”

Tue 04/16/2013

T”

Wed 04/17/2013

0.03”

Thu 04/18/2013

0.00”

Fri 04/19/2013

0.06”

Sat 04/20/2013

1.38”

Sun 04/21/2013

0.00”

Totals :

1.47”