Rain follows the Fire

Last weekend we were dealing with smoke and the worry of a fire coming down the hills face into our suburb. Our friends property at Kersbrook was burn out, but a well prepared fire system saved the house and main sheds, although out-sheds were lost, as well as most of the fences. This weekend we have rain, and floods in central Australia (see ABC news). The synoptic map is unique (the last time it apparently did this was in 1974).

Synoptic Map from Bureau of Meteorology (9 Jan 2014)

The creek flows only when it rains, and since we have had nearly 30 mm since Thursday, it is currently flowing (10 Jan 2014). This is not something we have seen often in Summer, especially since last week we had multiple days >40°C.

Creek flowing in summer - an unusual event

 
The vegetables don’t much like 40°C as the stamens desiccate and therefore the flowers do not set. My tomatoes are growing, but not ripening, but I have the best cumbers ever, although they are suffering from either burn from sulphur or some disease. I spray copper/sulphur to control fungal infections, but the hot weather, I think has caused the leaves to burn. 

Tomatoes in hydroponics beginning to ripen