Weather Summary 2005

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Historical Weather Information

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January
January average out to be a cold, wet and snowy. The first half of the month was warm and wet. The temperatures for the month averaged 27.5 degrees, 1.5 degrees per day below normal and 6.5 degrees above January 2004. This was due to the warm start. Maximum temperature was 65 degrees on January 7th, just 2 degrees below the record high of 67 set in 1932. Minimum temperature of -0.9 degrees was recorded on the 29th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 36.0 degrees, 2.5 degrees below the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 19.0 degrees, 0.5 degrees below norm. There were thirteen days with day-time temperatures 32 degrees or below, the first below 32 day did not come until the 17th. Evening temperatures were under 32 degrees every night with the exception of January 3, 4, 13, & 14. There were also 3 nights with temperatures below zero.

Precipitation totaled about 4.86 inches. We were not able to get an accurate reading on the 23rd during the blizzard of 2005. This is 0.56 inches above normal. We had measurable precipitation on 15 days. Just about double the average 8 days. The largest 24-hour rainfall without the measurement on the 23 was 0.88 inches both on the 4th and 9th. We had snow cover on 21 days of the month. There were nine days with snowfall totaling 54.6 inches, an all time record snowfall for not only January but for any month. This record surpasses 29.75 inches set in January 1996, and the 31.0 inches recorded for the month of February in 1994. The largest 24 hour snowfall was 27.5 inches on the 22nd and 23rd of January surpasses the record single storm set in March 1960 of 18.9 inches. This storm was noted as the blizzard of 2005. Winds were sustain at 35 to 40 mph for a 12 hour period with gusts each hour running as high as 70+, 80+, 90+ and even a recorded gust here in East Wareham of 101 mph. Then we received another 12.35 inches of snow two days later on the 26th and 27th. Most towns on Cape Cod and Southeast Massachusetts came to a stand still for 5 days.

Sunshine totaled 41% of the possible sunshine hours, 5 points below the norm. Some different from 2004 when the sunshine was 12 points above normal.

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February
February was dry with above average sunshine and temperatures. The temperatures averaged 31.0 degrees, 2.0 degrees per day above normal. Maximum temperature was 54 degrees on the 16th and a minimum temperature of 4.0 degrees was recorded on the 1 st and 26 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 39.0 degrees, 0.3 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 23.0 degrees, 3.6 degrees above the norm. Temperatures for February 2005 were almost the same as February 2004.

Sunshine totaled 49% of the possible sunshine hours, 1 point over the norm. Sunshine was above norm but not like the 15 points above normal in February 2004.

Precipitation totaled 2.79 inches. This is 0.75 inches below normal. We had measurable precipitation on 7 days. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 0.50 inches on the 25 th. There were 5 days with measurable snowfall totaling 13.73 inches, 6.53 inches above normal. The greatest snowfall for one storm came on the 25 th with 9.75 inches. Year-to-date snowfall recorded in East Wareham is now at 80.93, just 3.7 inches below the all-time record. We ended the month on the 28 th with snow falling, which continued after midnight with an additional 11.5 inches of snow recorded on March 1 st. This put us well over the 84.60 inches of recorded snowfall for the 1995-1996 season here in East Wareham .

The official winter in East Wareham (Dec. 2004 - Feb. 2005) averaged 31.2 degrees, 1.2 degrees above normal. This is 1.3 degrees warmer than last season and 3.3 degrees warmer than the 2002 -2003 season. The low mark was -0.9 degrees on Jan. 29 th and the high was 65 degrees on Jan. 7 th. The coldest daily high was a bitter 14.0 degrees on Jan. 18 th. Sunshine was 44%, 3 points above normal. Precipitation totaled 12.28 inches, 0.24 inches above average. Snowfall totaled 80.93 inches, 61.13 inches above normal. This was attributed to the January blizzard of 2005 that yielded 27.5 inches of snow and sustained winds of 45 mph for a 12 hour period and gusts from 70 to 100 mph with a top speed of 101 mph.

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March
March roared in like a lion during a major snowstorm. On the whole, March was rather sunny, quite cold and wet. The temperatures averaged 33.0 degrees, 3.1 degrees per day below normal and 4 degrees below the average recorded in 2004. Maximum temperature was only 54.0 degrees on the 28th and a minimum temperature of 9.0 degrees was recorded on the 10 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 42.0 degrees, 3.0 degrees below the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 24.0 degrees, 3.0 degrees below the norm. We had 4 days (2 more then average) in March with high temperatures below 32 degrees and 27 nights (5 more then average) below 32 degrees. The first quarter year has been 0.9 degrees below normal, with an average of 30.5 degrees.

Sunshine totaled 56% of the possible sunshine hours, 8 points above the norm. Five days had no sunshine, yet ten days had over 94% sunshine. Sunshine data are from the Blue Hill Observatory.

Precipitation totaled 7.02 inches. This is 2.22 inches above normal. We had measurable precipitation on nine days. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 2.69 inches on the 28 th. We have received 14.67 inches of rainfall year to date, 2.03 inches above average for the year to date in East Wareham . There were six days with measurable snowfall totaling 23.20 inches, 16.6 inches above normal. The record snowfall for March was set in 1956 with 24.4 inches. The greatest snowfall for one storm came on the 1 st and 2 nd with 13.5 inches. The snowfall of March 1 st put us over the all time record of total snowfall in one season. The previous record snowfall in one season for East Wareham was recorded in 1995-1996 at 84.60 inches. At this time we now have a season total of 104.13 inches.

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April
April was mild, with periods of rain and quite sunny. The temperatures averaged 46.9 degrees, 1.2 degrees per day above normal. Maximum temperature was 72.0 degrees on the 21 st and a minimum temperature of 28.0 degrees was recorded on the 16 th and 17 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 56.5 degrees, 1.4 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 37.2 degrees, 0.9 degrees above the norm.

Sunshine totaled 60% of the possible sunshine hours, 11 points above the norm. We had 11 days with over 93% sunshine and only 1 day with dense fog here in East Wareham.

Precipitation totaled 4.16 inches. This is 0.12 inches below normal. We had measurable precipitation on 12 days and a trace on one other day. The largest 30-hour rainfall was 1.78 inches on the 2 nd and 3 rd. It rained sporadically nine out of the last ten days of the month in East Wareham. Year-to-date rainfall for 2005 stands at 18.83 inches; this is 1.91 inches above normal. Snowfall for the 2003-2004 winter season in East Wareham totaled 104.13 inches, 12.22 inches above the norm. The previous record snowfall in one season for East Wareham was recorded in 1995-1996 at 84.60 inches.

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May
May was very wet and cold with well below average sunshine. The month of May was the 2 nd coldest and third wettest in our 79 years of records here in East Wareham. Temperatures averaged 50.9 degrees, surpassed only by 49.3 degrees in 1967. Rainfall totaled 8.41 inches of rain, surpassed in 1967 with 8.68 inches and 9.18 inches in 1948. The two months (May 1967 and May 2005) were very similar, both having continuous light rains from the 5 th through the 9 th, a dry period for about two weeks and then experiencing a very strong, cold, three day nor’easter on the 24 th-26 th, with 3 or more inches of rain accompanied by damaging winds.

The temperatures for May averaged 50.9 degrees, 5.0 degrees per day below normal and 6.0 degrees colder than last year. Maximum temperature was 73.0 degrees on the 28 th and a minimum temperature of 34.0 degrees was recorded on the 13 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 58.1 degrees, 7.8 degrees below the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 43.7 degrees, 2.1 degrees below the norm. Also, note worthy was that the daytime high did not go above 64 degrees until after the 28 th of the month.

Sunshine totaled 34% of the possible sunshine hours, 18 points below the norm. We had 10 days with no sunshine at all and 2 days with dense fog in East Wareham. This was the 2 nd lowest sunshine recorded for Blue Hill Observatory for the month of May, surpassed only by 31% sunshine recorded in 1886.

Precipitation totaled 8.41 inches. As noted above, this was the third wettest May on record, measuring 4.96 inches above normal. We had 13 days with measurable precipitation and a trace on one other day. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 2.44 inches on the 25 th, with a total of 3.11 inches over the 3 day nor’easter. Rainfall was 6.87 inches above average for the year to date in East Wareham. Last year at this time, rainfall was 5.62 inches below average, a difference of 12.49 inches between the two years.

The official spring (March-May) was cold and wet. Temperatures averaged 2.3 degrees below normal, with 7.1 inches above average rainfall and 16.5 inches above-average snowfall (due to the six snowstorms in March and the heavy rains in the nor’easter in May). Sunshine was also much below normal, but only due to the record low sunshine set in May. March and April both had above average sunshine.

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June
June was very dry, with average temperatures and below average sunshine. The temperature averaged 65.3 degrees, 0.6 degrees per day above normal. Maximum temperature was 83.0 degrees on the 6 th and 8 th; a minimum temperature of 46.0 degrees was recorded on the 20 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 73.2 degrees, 1.1 degrees below the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 57.4 degrees, 2.4 degrees above the norm. We started the month with four cool days with another cool spell from the 15 th – 19 th. Then we ended the month with oppressive humidity and fog. The weather of June 2005 was very similar weather to June 2004.

Sunshine totaled 52% of the possible sunshine hours, 3 points below the norm. We had 6 clear days and 8 days with dense fog in East Wareham

Precipitation totaled 1.03 inches. This is 2.23 inches below normal. We had measurable precipitation on 5 days and a trace on one other day. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 0.43 inches on the 30 th. Year to date rainfall for 2005 is 28.27 inches, 4.64 inches above average for East Wareham. This is the 2 nd driest June in the past 30 years and the 7 th driest in the 79 years of records for East Wareham.

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July
July’s temperatures averaged out just about normal, with very little rainfall, lots of fog and high humidity. The temperature averaged 71.0 degrees (the 30 year average). Maximum temperature was 91.0 degrees on the 11 th and 20 th and a minimum temperature of 54.0 degrees was recorded on the 4 th and 29 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 79.0 degrees, 1.8 degrees below the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 63.0 degrees, 1.8 degrees above the norm.

Sunshine totaled 61% of the possible sunshine hours, 6 points above the norm. This was unlike the 8 point below norm we had in July 2004. We did however have 8 days with dense fog here in East Wareham , 2 days more than July 2004.

Precipitation totaled 1.02 inches, this is 1.86 inches below normal. All the rainfall for the month came within the first 9 days. We only had one day with measurable precipitation over 0.10 inches, that being the largest 24-hour rainfall of 0.83 inches on the 8 th . There was no rain recorded here in East Wareham for the last 22 days of the month. Year-to-date rainfall for 2005 is 29.29 inches, 2.78 inches above average for East Wareham . This is 10.16 inches above last year’s rainfall at this time. The past two months however, have been very dry totaling 2.05 inches of rain, 4.09 inches below normal. This has been the driest two month combined total rainfall for June and July on record in E. Wareham since the start of our record keeping in 1926.

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August
August was dry and sunny with above average temperatures for the month. The temperature averaged 73.0 degrees, 3.2 degrees per day above normal. Maximum temperature was 89.0 degrees on the 13 th and a minimum temperature of 55.0 degrees was recorded on the 26 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 82.0 degrees, 2.4 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 65.0 degrees, 5.1 degrees above the norm.

Sunshine totaled 62% of the possible sunshine hours, 4 points above the norm. We had 7 mostly clear days, only 4 days with no sunshine and 3 days with fog in East Wareham .

Precipitation totaled 4.09 inches. This is 0.20 inches below normal. On the whole the month was very dry. We went 50 days with only 0.67 inches of rain, which is close to the record of 51 days with only 0.45 inches set in East Wareham in 1930. The last 22 days of July had no rain and only 0.67 inches of rain fell during the first 28 days of August. The remnants of Tropical Storm Katrina deposited an additional 3.42 inches of rain on the last 3 days of the month. We had measurable precipitation on 5 days. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 2.73 inches on the 30 th . Year to date rainfall for 2005 is 33.38 inches, 7.77 inches above last year at this time and 2.58 inches above the average year to date for East Wareham .

Official Summer Season

The official summer (June, July and August) averaged out to be right at normal for temperatures, very dry and sunny. Overall rainfall was 4.29 inches below normal (3 rd driest season on recorded since 1987). Had we not received rain from T.S. Katrina on the last two days of the season, we would have been 7.71 inches below average; making the summer the droest season on recorded with only 2.72 inches. Temperatures were equal to the norm and the sunshine was 5 points above normal. We had a maximum temperature of 91 degrees on the 11 th and 20 th of July. Typically, the area averages 4 days of 90 degrees or higher. Rainfall did not come evenly though out the summer. We had only 2 rain events with over 0.10 inches of rain in June, one in July and 4 in August. The longest dry period was 22 days at the end of July and the longest wet period was only 5 days at the beginning of July. Only 0.67 inches of rain fell during the 50-day period from July 10 th to August 28 th. We also had 20 days with fog.

2005 Crop Forecast New England Agricultural Statistic Service gave the United States forecast for the 2005 cranberry crop. This year forecast is 6.49 million barrels, up 5 percent from 2004 and 2003. Massachusetts cranberry crop is forecast at 1.70 million barrels, down 6 percent from 2004. New Jersey ’s forecast is for 434,000 barrels, Oregon ; 515,000 barrels, Washington ; 175,000 barrels, Wisconsin ; 3.67 million barrels, all up from 2004. The vine damage from the heavy winter snow, the delayed bloom and slowed development of the crop due to the rainy May and then the small berry sizing due to the dry July, all may have contributed to the fact that Massachusetts is the only state where production forecast is down.

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September
September was mostly dry and very sunny with well above average temperatures. The temperature averaged 65.6 degrees, 2.6 degrees per day above normal. Maximum temperature was 90.0 degrees on the 12 th; a minimum temperature of 39.0 degrees was recorded on the 25 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 75.8 degrees, 4.8 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 55.5 degrees, 1.0 degrees above the norm.

Sunshine totaled 68% of the possible sunshine hours, 12 points above the norm. We had 17 mostly clear days, 3 days with no sunshine, and 5 days with morning fog in East Wareham

Precipitation totaled 6.91 inches, 2.85 inches above normal. The first half of the month was very dry, with no rain in 14 days. There were only 5 days with measurable precipitation. One tropical storm, Ophelia, passed by well offshore on the 17 th. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 4.51 inches on the 15 th and 16 th, with a two-day total of 4.94 inches. Year-to-date rainfall for 2005 is 40.29 inches, 5.65 inches above average for East Wareham and 9.31 inches above 2004 total rainfall at the same time last year. The last four months have been very hard for farmers and their crops; with very long dry periods and sporadic spells of heavy rain.

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October
October was a mild and extremely wet month with record rainfall. The month started and finish with great sunshine. The temperature averaged 54.3 degrees, 2.0 degrees per day above normal. Maximum temperature was 78.0 degrees on the 7 th; a minimum temperature of 33.0 degrees was recorded on the 29 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 61.6 degrees, 0.3 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 47.0 degrees, 3.7 degrees above the norm. We started the month with 2 days of sunshine a high of 75 degrees temperatures, followed by 5 days of heavy fog, than an 8-day stretch of zero sunshine, clouds, and rain; we continue with 6 more days with mostly sunny skies, then back to 8 more days of cloudy, rain, and snow only to finish the month with two days of sunshine and a high of 65 degrees. We have not had a killing frost this season, although many plants were damaged by the early snowfall.

Sunshine totaled 39% of the possible sunshine hours, 16 points below the norm. We had 9 mostly clear days and 5 days with morning fog in East Wareham.

Precipitation totaled 12.07 inches, 8.18 inches above the 30 year average. This is 10 inches more than 2004 and set a new record rainfall of October surpassing 9.34 inches in 1996 and becoming the fourth highest rainfall total for any given month. In 1996 we had record rainfall in September and October, totaling 24.11 inches, in 2005 we have a two month total of 18.78 inches. Measurable rain was recorded on 16 days and of those 16 days, only 4 days had measurements under 0.10 inches. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 2.48 inches on the 15 th. Year-to-date rainfall for 2005 is 52.36 inches, 14.28 inches above average for East Wareham and about 20 inches greater than 2004. On October 30 th, we measured 0.75 inches of snow, not enough to bet the record on October 30, 1963 of 1.0 inches.

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November
November was a mild and sunny month. The temperature averaged 46.0 degrees, 2.8 degrees above normal. Maximum temperature was 69.0 degrees on the 14 th , a minimum temperature of 18.0 degrees was recorded on the 26 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 56.0 degrees, 4.6 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 35.0 degrees, 1.0 degree above the norm. Temperatures, rainfall and sunshine for the month were in the above average range for November.

Precipitation totaled 5.79 inches, 1.27 inches above normal. We had 9 rain events spread out evenly during the month. Measurable rain, of 0.10 or more, was recorded on 7 days. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 2.35 inches on the 22 nd. Year-to-date rainfall for 2005 is 58.15 inches, 20.93 inches above November 2004 year-to-date and 9.45 inches above the average for East Wareham . At this time, 2005 is the 6 th wettest year on record in East Wareham . Snowfall for the month of November in East Wareham averaged 1.5 inches and we received 0.40 inches of snow on the morning of the 23 rd, Thanksgiving Day.

Sunshine totaled 52% of the possible, 5 points above average. We had 8 days with 90% or more sunshine.

The official fall season Sept – Nov. 2005 was wet, mild and sunny. Temperatures averaged 55.3 degrees, 2.7 degrees above normal. A maximum temperature of 90 degrees was reached on the 12 th of Sept. and a low of 18 degrees was reached on the 26 th of November. Rainfall totaled 24.77 inches, 12.30 inches above normal. Sunshine was just 1 point above normal (about plus 19 hours).

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December
December was cool and snowy with lots of sunshine. The temperature averaged 32.7 degrees, 0.8 degrees per day below normal. Maximum temperature was 55.0 degrees on the 25 th; a minimum temperature of 10.0 degrees was recorded on the 14 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 40.6 degrees, 1.5 degrees below the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 24.8 degrees, 0.9 degrees below the norm.

Precipitation totaled 3.20 inches, 1.29 inches below normal. We had 12 rain events spread out evenly during the month. Measurable rain, of 0.10 inches or more, was recorded on all 12 days. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 0.80 inches on the 10 th. Year-to-date rainfall for 2005 was 61.35 inches, 14.47 inches above average for East Wareham . We also had 6 days with measurable snow, totaling 8.75 inches for the month, 3.7 inches above normal. The largest snowfall was on December 6 th with 4.25 inches.

Sunshine for the month totaled 54% of possible, 8 points above normal.

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Year-End Summary
The year 2005 was just about average in temperatures but very wet with above average sunshine (+76 hours). The average monthly temperature was just below normal for 7 out of 12 months. The maximum temperature for the year was 91 degrees, which occurred twice in July. The minimum temperature was -0.90 degrees in January. January will be remembered by the Blizzard of 2005. We started the month with a daytime high temperature of 65 degrees on January 7th, coming within 2 degrees of the record daytime high of 67 degrees set in 1932. Then, two weeks later the Blizzard of 2005 delivered 27.5 inches of snow in about 26 hours, surpassing the record of 18.9 inches in a single snowstorm set in March of 1960. In East Wareham the winds were gusting at 90 + mph and topping out at 101 mph. Three days later, we received another 12 inches of snow. The monthly total snowfall reached 54.6 inches, surpassing all previous records. The snow on January 16 started a stretch of 67 days with snow cover. The total winter snowfall for the season 2004 – 2005 was 104.13 inches of snow, surpassing the record of 84.60 inches set in 1995 – 1996.

By year’s end, precipitation totaled 61.34 inches, 14.47 inches above normal. The greatest snowfall occurred in January 2005, with 54.6 inches. Total snowfall for the 12 months of 2005 was 101.43 inches, 70.03 inches above normal. October was the wettest month with 12.07 inches of rain. The longest dry spell was 22 days during July and Aug. We only had two rain events with over 0.10 inches of rain in June, one in July and four in August.

Sunshine hours for the year were above average (+76 hours). There were five months with low sunshine hours and seven months with above sunshine hours. September had +54 hours being the sunniest month. May had the lowest sunshine with a -81 hours.

The official winter (Dec. 2004 – Feb 2005) averaged warm, wet and sunny. Temperatures averaged 31.2 degrees, 1.2 degrees above normal. Sunshine averaged 44%, 3 points above average. Precipitation totaled 12.28 inches, 0.24 inches above average and snowfall totaled 80.93 inches, 61.13 above normal.

The official spring season (March – May) averaged cold and wet. On March 1 st we received 13.5 inches of snow. A total of 23.20 inches of snow fell in the month, 16.60 inches above average. May was the 2 nd coldest and 3 rd wettest on record. A 3-day Nor’easter with damaging winds delivered heavy rain totaling 3.21 inches.

The official summer season (June – Aug) had average temperatures, very dry, and above average sunshine. June and July rainfall totaled 2.05 inches, the driest 2-month total for East Wareham. Had we not received rain from the remnants of TS Katrina on the last two days of the season, we would have been 7.71 inches below average; making the summer season the driest on record with only 2.72 inches. However, TS Katrina drop 3.42 inches of rain on the 28 th and 29 th of August, giving us a total of 6.14 inches, 4.29 inches below average, making this the second driest summer season surpassed only by the record of 4.14 inches set in 1993.

The official fall season (Sept – Nov) was mild and wet. In September we received 4.94 inches of rain prior to TS Ophelia, which passed well out to sea. We set another record in October with 12.07 inches of rain, surpassing the previous record of 9.34 inches set in 1996. This came from eight out of nine days of rain that totaled 9.12 inches, which was followed by another 3-day Nor’easter with damaging winds and rainfall that totaled 2.17 inches. We then received 0.75 inches of snow to end the month of October, 0.40 inches of snow in November, and 8.75 inches in December.

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