Seasonal Calendar

January

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• العناية الموسمية

  January — the coldest stretch, with sub-zero potential

  Climate (source: Kuwait Meteorological Department) January falls into two periods: • To 15 January — the end of Murba'ania; maximum temperature reaches 13°C, dropping to 3.3°C, while warm intervals bring 23°C and may reach 31.3°C. • From 16 January — the start of Mild Winter; temperatures sometimes fall below zero, and the historic minimum recorded is −4°C on 20 January 1964. The season overall is described as: great decrease in temperature — clouds and rain — very cold north-westerly wind. Irrigation priorities As temperature falls, evapotranspiration falls with it, so a plant's water requirement is lower than in summer — because ET crop = ETo × Kc, and ETo declines as atmospheric demand declines. Check soil moisture rather than continuing a summer schedule; over-watering in cold weather keeps roots in a saturated medium for too long. Note: no monthly ETo values for Kuwait have been read, so no numeric irrigation quantity or interval is given here. Soil and salinity Winter rain is a natural opportunity to leach salts below the root zone, provided drainage is sound. If water pools on the surface, the problem is drainage rather than the amount of water. Cold and wind precautions Sub-zero temperatures are possible per the meteorological record, and the north-westerly wind is very cold. Cold-sensitive plants and recent transplants are the most exposed. WAFRA CITY's plant protection and covering service exists for this purpose. Warning: weather varies from season to season. Check current forecasts and your own site conditions before acting.

February

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• العناية الموسمية

  February — winter ends, spring begins

  Climate (source: Kuwait Meteorological Department) • To 15 February — Mild Winter; temperatures sometimes fall below zero. • From 16 February — spring begins (Cold Moderate Spring). The season is described as: moderate, variable temperature — rain and thunder clouds — hot southerly wind. Irrigation priorities A transitional month: atmospheric demand starts rising after mid-month but remains far below summer levels. The principle is unchanged — follow soil moisture and adjust gradually rather than jumping between schedules. Soil and salinity What remains of the rainy season is a last opportunity to benefit from natural leaching of salts before the dry season. Check drainage now, not in summer. Precautions Variable temperature is the spring characteristic named in the meteorological description, and thunder clouds are possible. Do not assume the cold has ended before mid-month. Warning: weather varies from season to season. Check current forecasts and your own site conditions.

March

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• العناية الموسمية

  March — Al-Suhily winds and thunderstorms

  Climate (source: Kuwait Meteorological Department) March sits within Cold Moderate Spring (16 February – 8 April). Al-Suhily winds blow from 15 March to 10 April, during which maximum temperature reaches 41°C. Thunderstorms are frequent, averaging 65 km/hour. Irrigation priorities Atmospheric demand rises as temperature reaches 41°C during the Al-Suhily period. Hot wind increases loss from both plant and soil — this is the first real test of the irrigation network after winter. Inspect the network before summer, not during it. Wind and dust Winds averaging 65 km/hour affect newly planted and unsupported trees, and temporary netting and structures. Staking and support come before repairing damage. Warning: weather varies from season to season. Check current forecasts and your own site conditions.

April

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• العناية الموسمية

  April — Al-Sarayat season and severe dust storms

  Climate (source: Kuwait Meteorological Department) • To 8 April — Cold Moderate Spring, with Al-Suhily winds continuing to 10 April. • From 9 April — Warm Spring and the Al-Sarayat season, characterised by severe dust storms. Temperatures range 30°C to 40°C. The heaviest recorded rainfall was 38.4 mm in 20 minutes on 4 April 1976. Irrigation priorities The move to 30–40°C means a real rise in water demand. In sandy soils the available water is low — 25–100 mm/m per FAO, against 175–250 mm/m for clay — so they need more frequent irrigation in smaller amounts. Dust Severe dust storms define the Al-Sarayat season. Dust settles on foliage and blocks irrigation filters and emitters. Checking filters after each storm beats discovering a blockage late. Sudden rainfall The meteorological record includes 38.4 mm in twenty minutes — meaning drainage can be tested suddenly and violently in this month. Warning: weather varies from season to season. Check current forecasts and your own site conditions.

May

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• العناية الموسمية

  May — spring ends and summer arrives

  Climate (source: Kuwait Meteorological Department) • To 20 May — Warm Spring; temperatures 30–40°C. • From 21 May — summer begins, described as: great increase in humidity and temperature. Irrigation priorities This is the last month in which the irrigation network can be repaired before any fault becomes expensive. Water demand rises steadily, and a single failed emitter in July can cost a plant its life within days. Preparing for summer May is a month for preparation, not reaction: inspect the network and filters, confirm water actually reaches every plant, and put shading in place before it is needed. Warning: weather varies from season to season. Check current forecasts and your own site conditions.

June

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• العناية الموسمية

  June — dry summer and the Semoom winds

  Climate (source: Kuwait Meteorological Department) Dry Summer begins on 6 June and runs to 19 July, dominated by the Semoom winds. Maximum temperatures are 42–46°C. Peak dust-storm periods in June: 9–12 and 17–24. Irrigation priorities The year's highest water demand starts here. The priority is continuity of irrigation rather than volume: a two-day interruption at 46°C is more dangerous than a slight, steady shortfall. In sandy soils available water is only 25–100 mm/m per FAO — the reservoir the plant draws on is small and empties quickly. Heat and dust The Semoom winds are hot and dry and add stress even where water is present. During the storm periods listed above, filters and emitters are the most exposed to blockage. Warning: weather varies from season to season. Check current forecasts and your own site conditions.

July

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• العناية الموسمية

  July — peak heat and the turn to wet summer

  Climate (source: Kuwait Meteorological Department) • To 19 July — Dry Summer, Semoom winds, maximum 42–46°C. Peak dust storms: 1–7 July and 9–17 July. • From 20 July — Wet Summer, maximum 45–46°C. Irrigation priorities The hardest month of the year on both network and plant. Any irrigation fault shows its effect quickly and may not be recoverable. Routinely inspecting the network — not merely running it — is the difference between losing a plant and saving it. Soil and salinity With high evaporation and no rain, salts concentrate in the root zone where drainage is poor. Recall that a soil is classed as saline above ECe 4 dS/m (FAO), and that this can only be established by analysis. Heat precautions Field work at 46°C is a hazard to people before plants. Follow the occupational heat-safety guidance in force in the State of Kuwait. Warning: weather varies from season to season. Check current forecasts and your own site conditions.

August

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• العناية الموسمية

  August — wet summer and the highest temperature on record

  Climate (source: Kuwait Meteorological Department) August sits within Wet Summer (20 July – 4 November), with maximum temperatures of 45–46°C. The highest temperature recorded at Kuwait Airport is 51.3°C on 20 August 1998. Summer is described as: great increase in humidity and temperature. Irrigation priorities Continuity of irrigation remains the absolute priority. Higher humidity does not mean lower water need — temperature is still 45–46°C. Precautions The climate record shows 51.3°C is possible in this month. Shading and protection should already be in place from May, not being installed now. Warning: weather varies from season to season. Check current forecasts and your own site conditions.

September

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• العناية الموسمية

  September — wet summer continues

  Climate (source: Kuwait Meteorological Department) September sits within Wet Summer (20 July – 4 November); the maximum temperature stated for that period is 45–46°C. Irrigation priorities Summer is not over. The common mistake this month is easing irrigation early simply because the calendar says "September", while the meteorological period is still classified as summer. Judge by soil moisture and plant condition, not by the name of the month. Seasonal preparation A sensible point to review what summer has damaged: failed plants, parts of the network the season has strained, and anything needing replacement before the next planting season. Warning: weather varies from season to season. Check current forecasts and your own site conditions.

October

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• العناية الموسمية

  October — the long summer draws to a close

  Climate (source: Kuwait Meteorological Department) October still falls within Wet Summer (20 July – 4 November) under the Department's classification; summer ends on 4 November. Irrigation priorities A transitional stage: atmospheric demand begins to ease, but the climatic classification is still summer. Reduce irrigation gradually and by watching soil moisture, not in a single step. Soil and salinity After a long rainless season, this is a suitable time to assess soil condition and drainage before the winter rains — sound drainage is what allows winter rain to leach salts rather than pool. Warning: weather varies from season to season. Check current forecasts and your own site conditions.

November

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• العناية الموسمية

  November — summer ends, autumn begins

  Climate (source: Kuwait Meteorological Department) • To 4 November — the end of Wet Summer. • From 5 November — autumn begins and runs to 5 December, described as: moderate temperature — clouds and rain — cold night. Maximum temperatures range 20–30°C. Irrigation priorities This time the change is real: maximum temperature drops to 20–30°C, and water demand falls appreciably with it. Continuing a summer schedule at this stage wastes water and stresses roots. Soil and salinity As cloud and rain return, the season of natural salt leaching begins. Make sure drainage is ready before the first rain, not after it. Warning: weather varies from season to season. Check current forecasts and your own site conditions.

December

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• العناية الموسمية

  December — winter arrives and Murba'ania begins

  Climate (source: Kuwait Meteorological Department) • To 5 December — the end of autumn; moderate temperature, clouds and rain, cold night, maximum 20–30°C. • From 6 December — winter begins, with Murba'ania; maximum temperature reaches 13°C, dropping to 3.3°C, while warm intervals bring 23°C and may reach 31.3°C. The season is described as: great decrease in temperature — clouds and rain — very cold north-westerly wind. Irrigation priorities The lowest water demand of the year. The risk here is the opposite of summer's: over-watering when evaporation is low and rain is falling keeps roots in a saturated medium. Track rainfall and subtract it from your schedule rather than irrigating on top of it. Soil and salinity The rainy season is the best thing a salt-affected soil has — provided drainage works. Standing water does not leach salts; it suffocates roots. Cold and wind precautions The very cold north-westerly wind period begins. If your site holds cold-sensitive plants, this is the month to install protection, not to start thinking about it — in January temperatures can fall below zero. Warning: weather varies from season to season. Check current forecasts and your own site conditions.