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Walpole Weather 2006
February was slightly mild and snowy.
Despite the fact that nine of the last eleven days of the
month were below normal, the average temperature for February
was 30.3°, which was 1.3° above normal. Thirteen days were on
the mild side, twelve on the cold side, and three were just on
their respective daily average. The only daily temperature
record set was the low of 41° on the 5th, which was a new record
high minimum for the date. The high temperature for the month
was 61°, on the 16th; while the low was 7°, on the 13th, 19th,
and 27th. Eight days failed to rise above freezing, while six
days rose above 50°. The main event of the month and the winter
was the 14.8 inches of snow that fell in the blizzard of Sunday,
the 12th. Other than that storm, only 1.2 inches of snow fell,
while the total for the entire winter season now stands at 44.7
inches, well below last years total, but slightly above normal
for this point in the season. Total precipitation was 3.26
inches, which was 93% of normal. However, the total for the
first two months was 8.59 inches, which is 15% above normal. The
ice, which was out of most ponds, returned about mid month, as
did the robins which were first noted on the 18th. Obviously,
March is usually milder than February, but big snow storms can
occur, and a 70° day is quite possible.
January
January was the warmest of record.
The
January average temperature of 35.1° was 8.2° above average,
and the warmest January of record surpassing 34.4°, in 2002.
As crazy as it may seem, January was only 17.5° cooler than
last May, when the difference should be over 30°. Only three
scattered days were below normal, while nine days rose to at
least 50°, six more than in 2002. The high for the month was
61°, on the 18th; while the low for the month was
8°, on the 16th, which is 18 degrees above last
years January minimum. Very mild conditions after the 16th,
melted the ice on local ponds by the 20th, and
they remained mostly ice free the remainder of the month.
The 60 degree maximum on the 21st was a new
record for the date, while high overnight low records were
set on the 12th and 14th, with 39° and
48° respectively. Despite the warmth, the total snow fall of
14.3” was near normal, with snow observed on 15 days. Total
precipitation for the month was 5.33 inches, which is 1.37
inches above normal. With such above average temperatures,
it is unlikely the trend can continue for long at the same
pace.
Walpole Weather 2005
Walpole Weather 2004
Walpole
Weather 2003
2005
November-December and annual summary of weather.
Because of computer problems in November, the November and
December weather summaries will be combined. The average
temperature for November was 45.0°, which is 3.1° above normal,
and the 6th consecutive month on the mild side. Week long above
normal periods were broken up by a few days of below normal
temperatures. The coldest period was from the 23rd through the
27th, when the low for the month was reached at 16°, on the
26th. 0.8” of snow was measured on the morning of the 25th. The
high for the month was 72°, on the 5th. The only daily record
set was the high overnight low of 55°, on the 30th. The total
precipitation of 3.97 inches was 89% of normal, with more than
half of that measured on the 22nd an 23rd. December will be
remembered for the cold start and the howling whiteout
conditions, with thunder, on the afternoon of the 9th. However,
only four inches remained on the ground by Christmas. Only four
of the first 22 days saw above normal temperatures, after which
only one day was slightly below normal. The average temperature
from the 3rd through the 22nd was 25.9° (-5.9°), but rose to
38.3° (+9.2°), from the 23rd through the 30th. The high
temperature for the month was 55°, on the 1st. Once the cold set
in, the temperature only reached 40° on three occasions. The low
for the month of one below zero on the 15th was the earliest
below zero reading since December 12, 1988, when it was 4 below
zero. The average temperature for the month was 30.1°, which is
1.0° below normal. December was the first below normal month
since May, and only the fourth of the year. No new daily
temperature records were set in December. The 9.5” of snow on
the 9th was the largest snow storm of the month, and combined
with two other smaller events, provided a monthly total of 12.2
inches and a calendar year total of 98.8 inches. Total
precipitation for December was 4.43 inches, which was 103% of
normal. Precipitation was evenly spread out in four periods,
about one week apart. The average temperature for the year of
50.5° was 1.2° above normal, while the total precipitation of
59.34 inches was 13.07 inches above normal, and the 6th wettest
year of record. The high temperature for 2005 was 96°, on August
5; while the low was minus 10°, on January 22nd.
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October
weather was wet, wet, and wet.
After having had one of the nicest Septembers of record, things
changed on October 8th. The day saw the beginning of a rainy
spell that lasted most of the next nine days, and a temperature
drop at 8PM that brought the end to the nice weather. Over ten
inches of rain fell in the next eight days culminating in nearly
seven inches from the afternoon of the 14th through the
afternoon of the 15th. 5.66 inches was measured on the morning
of the 15th, which was the greatest 24 hour total for any
October, and the most of any day since June 1998. The rain
didn’t end there, as nearly 3.5 more inches fell before month’s
end, bringing the total for the month to a whopping 14.11
inches, which is the wettest October of record and the second
wettest month of record. All the month’s rain fell on 18 of the
last 24 days. Total precipitation for the year is 50.94 inches,
which is 13.41 inches on the wet side. In addition to the rain
there was some warmth and snow. The first eight days averaged
over eleven degrees above normal, while the monthly average of
54.0° was 2.5° above the mean. New daily high minima were set on
the 6th, 7th, and 8th, with 65°, 66°, and 69° respectively. No
daily high records were established. The high for the month was
79°, on the 5th and 6th; while the low was 31°, on the 27th. The
31° minimum was the warmest for any October of record. Even with
the mild month, 1.4” of snow fell on the afternoon of the 29th.
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September was a continuation of the warm summer weather.
There
are not enough superlatives to describe the weather for this
past September. After a record warm summer and August,
September’s average temperature of 66.5° was only 0.1°
cooler than the warmest September of record, in 1999. That
makes the last four months the warmest of record, since
local records began in 1948. The high temperature for the
month was 91°, on the 12th, which was the latest
90 degree temperature of any summer since 91°, on the 20th,
in 1983. It was also the fourth latest 90 degree day of
record, and a new record high for the date. There were only
three days that failed to reach 70°, and those were in the
last week. The low for the month was a mild 40°, on the 25th
and the 30th. Precipitation for the month
amounted to 2.97 inches, which is only 78% of normal. 1.71
inches was measured at the morning observation on the 16th.
However, with less daylight and cooler temperatures, lawns
are greener despite the lack of frequent rain. Only four
days saw more than a tenth of an inch of rain. Despite the
warm fall weather, the first frost is just around the
corner.
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August and the summer were the warmest of record.
August’s average temperature of 74.7° was the warmest of
record, surpassing the 74.6° recorded in August 1988. This
would be normal for the Baltimore, MD area. The first
fourteen days, with an average of 78.6°, were very warm
followed by the beginning of the transition into late summer
over the last two weeks. Six of the first 14 days reached at
least 90°, with the high for the summer being 96°, on the
fifth. The temperature did not reach ninety during the
second half of the month. The low for the month was 54°, on
the 25th and 26th, which is the warmest August minimum since
1996. Record high overnight minima were set on the 13th,
21st, and 29th, with 75, 69, and 71 degree readings,
respectively. Precipitation for the month amounted to 4.56
inches, which was 116% of normal. Over two inches of rain
was measured between the 6th and the 16th, and over two
inches was again measured on the last few days. The average
temperature for the three summer months was 72.7°, which was
also the warmest of record, surpassing 72.4°, set in 1999.
The three months saw eighteen days when the temperature
reached at least 90°, and the same number of days when it
failed to drop below 70° overnight. Precipitation for the
summer was 9.09 inches, which was only 87% of the mean, due
to a dry June. July and August were slightly wetter then
normal. With the arrival of September, definite cooling will
be noticeable, with even the possibility of a light frost
towards months end.
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July’s
weather was typical for the month.
The weather summary for July included a damp cool spell, a
dry stretch, and some hot humid days. The Fourth of July
weekend started the month with beautiful sunny and cool
weather. But vacationers that week lost out, as it turned
rainy and very cool. The high temperatures of 63° on the
7th, and 61° on the 8th were record low maximum readings for
the dates. The only other record for the month was an
overnight low of 74° on the 18th, which was the highest
minimum for the date. Six scattered days reached 90°, with
the highest being 95° on both the 26th and the 27th. The
average for the month was 73.4°, which was 1.9° above
normal. The warmest two-week period was from the 14th
through the 27th, when the average was 77.7°, which was 5.4°
on the plus side. The low for the month was 53°, on the 3rd.
Other than the cool period during the week of the 4th, only
six other days were on the cool side. Precipitation for the
month amounted to 3.40 inches, which was 102% of normal.
However, 3.18 inches fell in the three-day period from the
7th through the 9th. Since then, only 0.17 inches, or 7% of
normal has fallen, and it’s beginning to show in the gardens
and lawns. A good rainy spell is needed and often happens in
August as the temperatures begin to cool.
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June’s weather was just the opposite of May.
After a wet and cold May, June’s weather went the other way.
June’s average temperature of 69.9° was the 5th warmest of
record, and the warmest since 2001.
As usually is the case, the month was split into
climatological sections. After the first of the month, the
next thirteen days were all above normal, followed by eight
out nine below normal, and the final seven all above normal.
Three days in the first two weeks reached 90°, followed by
three in row from the 25th – 27th. A sharp temperature drop
on the afternoon of the 14th ushered in the cool air at mid
month. The low temperature for the month, of 44° on the
20th, which was a new record minimum for the date, occurred
during this period. This was followed by the high for the
month, of 95° on the 26th. This high and a 94° maximum on
the 25th tied the previous records for their respective
dates. Also, the high of 86° on the 4th, and 91° on the 5th,
were new records for those dates. The overnight low of 72°
on the 13th, was the highest for that date. Precipitation
for the month amounted to 1.13”, which is the 9th driest
June of record. The rainfall was spread out through the
entire month, doing little for gardens and lawns. Despite
the fact that daylight hours gradually shorten, the upcoming
month of July is normally the warmest of the year.
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May’s weather was a setback after a nice April.
After a pleasant April, the month of May went the other way.
Twenty-three days had an average that was below normal, and the
monthly average of 52.6°, was 4.6° below normal, which was the
second coldest May of record. The May average was only two
degrees warmer than the April average. However, the average
daily high temperature was 2.4° lower the preceding month. The
high temperature for the month was 78°, on the 28th, which was
9° lower than the high for April! Frost was observed on the 5th
and the 13th , the latter date being about a week later than
usual. The high temperature of 46°, on the 24th, and 61°, on the
31st, were the lowest of record, for their respective dates. The
three days of the Memorial Day weekend all reached 70°, which
was the longest stretch of nice weather in the month.
Precipitation amounted to 6.77 inches, which was 3.25 inches
above the mean, and the 5th wettest May of record. The total for
the year is now 24.77 inches, which is 128% of normal.
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April’s weather was a great improvement over March.
After the snowiest winter on record through the end of March,
the month of April turned the corner in a big way. The average
temperature of 50.6°, which was 3.5° above normal, was 17.2°
higher than March. The normal rise for this period is 10.5°. The
average daily maximum of 63.5° was the warmest since 64.6°, in
1976. The five days, from the 12th through the 16th, plus three
other scattered days, were the only days below normal. The high
for the month was 87°, on the 20th, which was the highest
temperature since August 30. The low for the month was only 26°,
on the 16th. If there is no freeze in May, the last freeze was
on April 22nd, which is about two weeks earlier than the mean.
Total snowfall for the month was only a trace, on the evening of
the 12th; which is the least for April since 1999. Total
precipitation was 3.95 inches, which is 98% of normal, despite
the total of only 0.47 inches in the twenty days between the 4th
and 23rd. The total for the year is 18.00 inches, compared to a
normal of 15.76 inches. At this time water levels are adequate
for the upcoming growing season.
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March
continued the wild winter weather.
There was no letup in the winter weather in March. The
average temperature for the month of 33.4°, was 3.2° below
normal, making it the 9th coldest March of record locally.
Some years it rises into the 70’s or above, but this year it
only manage to reach 57°, on the 30th. The low for the month
was 5°, on the 10th. The coldest day was the 9th, when it
only rose to 26°, while by month’s end some nights did not
fall below freezing. While most months are split into at
least two climatological sections, this past month was
different. Only seven days were above average, with all but
one being no more than three degrees on the mild side, and
they were spread throughout the month. The coldest period
was the 9th through the 11th, when the temperature averaged
15° below normal. With all the cold and snow, the first
peepers were not heard until the 30th. Snow was the most
memorable event for the month and the winter. The month’s
total of 27.4 inches, puts this past month in 5th place
after 1956, 1967, 1993, and 2001. Despite apparent global
warming, three of the five snowiest months of March have
been in the last twelve years. The seasons total snowfall
through the last day of the month was 103.7 inches, which is
the most for any winter season since local records began in
October 1948. So, there was a reason why snow removal was so
costly this past winter. Continuous snow cover of one inch
or more ended at 71 days, on March 28, a little short of the
record 88 days ending in March 1994. Total precipitation for
the month was 5.64 inches, which is 132% of normal, and
bringing the year’s total to 14.05 inches, which is 120% of
the mean.
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February
was more of the same - snow.
February was similar to
January, in that the first half was mild and the second half
was cold – but both were snowy. After the first three days,
which were on the cold side, all but one of the next
fourteen days were on the mild side, culminating at 54°, on
the 7th. The remaining eleven days all had below
normal temperatures. The low for the month was one above
zero, on the first. The average for the month was 29.8°,
which is 0.8° above normal. The name of the game for
February, and the entire winter, has been snow.
Although the month’s total of
16.0 inches, was far from any record, the season’s total,
including the storm of February 28th and March 1st,
stands at 83.6 inches. This is the greatest amount of
seasonal snowfall at this time of the winter since local
records began in October 1948. The all time record snowy
winter of 1995-1996 had accumulated 80.3 inches to this
point, but added on a whopping 39 inches in March and April.
Currently, the season’s total ranks fifth in the most snowy
winter category, and needs only 6.5 inches more to make it
to second in the standings. Normal March and April snowfall
would bring us into this dubious spot easily. Usually
daytime March temperatures moderate into the low 50’s by
month’s end, but the cold ocean waters can put a damper on
these temperatures. Total precipitation for February was
3.05 inches, which is 87% of normal; while the total for the
year, of 8.41 inches, is 113% of normal. Ground water levels
are high, and the possibility of a rapid snowmelt and
flooding has to be considered.
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January was mild and snowy, then cold and very snowy.
January, as is the case
with most months, was divided into two climatological sections,
both with snow. The first two weeks was a period that averaged
over 8° above normal, followed by two weeks with an average 11°
below normal. The turning point was the morning of the 14th,
when the temperature reached 62°, and dropped to freezing in the
evening, and remained below the 32° mark until the afternoon of
the 29th. Six of the first 14 days rose to 40° or above, while
six days between the 19th and the 29th fell below zero. The
bottom was reached on the 22nd, at minus 10°, the lowest since
minus 16°, in February 1996. The average temperature for the
month was 25.3°, which is 1.4 degrees below the mean and five
degrees warmer than last January. Despite the mild first two
weeks, snowfall for that period amounted to 9.0 inches. The
second two weeks of the month saw the return of real winter,
comparable to a three week period observed in January 2004.
However, this year there was a record amount of snow. The 21.2”
that fell in the blizzard of the 22nd and 23rd, was the eighth
greatest storm total since local records began in October 1948;
and the month’s total of 41.0” was the greatest for any January,
and less than five inches shy of the record for any month, set
in February 1969. Four of our thirteen largest snowstorms have
occurred in the last four years. From December 27 through
January 27, snowfall amounted to 51.3 inches – almost an entire
seasons worth.
Despite “global warming”, we have seen some of our largest
snowstorms in recent years.
The first five days of the month was the longest snow free
period of the entire month.
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2004
December
couldn’t break into winter.
Although December had normal
snowfall and some low temperatures, persistent winter
weather did not develop. The average temperature of 32.9°
was 1.7° on the mild side, despite the fact that snowfall
was normal. Lengthy periods of above or below normal
readings could not be established, with the seven
consecutive days on the plus side from the 7th to the 13th,
being the longest. The high for the month of 61°, on the
23rd, was bracketed by the low of 3°, on both the 21st and
the 28th. A high of only 28, on the 15th, was preceded by a
low of only 39 on the 11th. Although ice developed on ponds,
a solid cover had not been established by month’s end.
Precipitation for the month was spread out and was mostly in
the form of rain on the four largest events, and 10.3” of
snow measured on the morning of the 27th. Total
precipitation totaled 4.80 inches, which is 0.52 inches
above the mean. December ended the year with 47.63 inches of
precipitation, which was 103% of normal. The first three
months were less than 50% of average, followed by 9.72
Inches in April, with the final eight months having four on
the wet side and four on the dry side. A cool, damp summer
kept most lawns green. The temperature reached 90° on two
occasions, with the 93°, on June 9th being the highest.
January was one of the coldest on record, with the
temperature falling to zero or below on eight days, reaching
a low of 9° below, on the 16th. Because of the cold,
snowfall amounted to only 8.6 inches for the month. The
year’s total of 45.6 inches was about 10 inches below the
mean. The growing season began with the last freeze on April
17th, and ended with the first freeze on October 6th, a
period about three weeks longer than usual. The average
temperature for the year of 50.0°, was 0.7° on the mild
side.
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The 7.3” of snow that fell on
the 13th and 14th, was the largest
early season snowfall since 8.9”, on the 11th – 13th,
in 1987; and also the most for any November since 1987.
As was the case then, November
snow does not last long – it just slows the leaf raking
process. Even December snow doesn’t always last all winter.
Last December, 24.5” fell on the first weekend of the month,
but it was gone by Christmas. Although November had snow,
the monthly average temperature of 42.0° was 0.1° on the
mild side. The high temperature for the month was 66°, on
the 7th; and the low for the month was 18°, on
the 10th and 14th. Eight out of nine
days from the 9th through the 17th had
below normal temperatures, while the remainder had only five
days on the cool side. No new daily temperature records were
established. Precipitation was evenly scattered through the
month, with a total of 3.91 inches, which was 88% of the
mean. Total precipitation for the year is now 42.83 inches,
or 102% of normal. Looking ahead to December, average
snowfall is about 12 inches; with the daily high and low
temperatures falling from 45 and 27; on the 1st,
to 37 and 20, by the 31st.
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October was a traditional fall transition month.
The average temperature for October was 52.0°, which was 0.6°
warmer than normal.
Because of a mild start to the month and more clouds to the end
of the month, the overnight lows averaged more than 3° on the
mild side, while the daily highs were 2° on the cool side. All
but one of the first thirteen days reached at least 60°, and
five days reached 70°. The high for the month was 75°, on the
8th, while the months low of 30°, was on the 6th. This was the
first frost of the season, and just about on the average date.
The only other day with a frost was the 29th, with a low of 31°.
The 14th through the 28th was a period of northeast winds that
kept the daily maximums all below the mean, while overnight lows
were mostly on the mild side because of the clouds and mixing of
the air.
The months precipitation total of 2.18” fell mostly between the
15th and 20th,. Rainfall was sparse and scattered the rest of
the month. No snow was observed in October, for the first time
since 2001. November is another transition month, from late fall
to early winter. Some snow can be expected. The average daily
high and low at the start of the month is 57 and 36, dropping to
45 and 27 by month’s end.
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August was an
active weather month.
August was an
active month with the remains of three tropical storms passing
the area, several rain events, and a small tornado in nearby
Wrentham. Precipitation was spread out over the entire month,
with showers passing about once a week. Total rainfall for the
month was 5.28 inches, and 11.39 inches for the three summer
months, being 1.36” and 0.87” above normal respectively. The
greatest 24 hour amount was 1.45”, measured on the morning of
the 22nd. The four days ending on the morning of the
17th saw a total of 2.52” of rain. Little watering
was required all summer, because of the numerous showers.
The average
temperature for the month was 71.3 degrees, which is 1.5 degrees
on the warm side. The average for the three summer months was
69.6 degrees, which is 0.4 degrees warmer than the mean. So, it
was not a cool summer as many thought. The high temperature for
August was 90, on the 28th, and the low was 48, on
the 26th. The high of 93, on June 9th, was
the only other 90 degree day of the three summer months. Above
and below normal temperatures were clustered in small groups,
with no more than five consecutive days consistently in one
group or the other. The warmest spell was from the 28th
through the 30th, which was eleven degrees above
normal; while the coolest stretch was from the 5th
through the 9th, when it averaged six degrees below
normal. A small tornado touched down in West Wrentham on the
afternoon of the 21st. It traveled in an
east-northeast direction, for six miles, finally lifting near
the Wrentham State School. The extension of it’s path across the
Pondville section of Norfolk, and into S. Walpole caused a few
tree branches to be broken around 4PM. Although unnoticed by
most, this was the highlight of the summer weather season,
followed by two separate hail events in early July.
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July’s weather was
very bizarre.
July was a month of strange weather events. It can be
several years between hail events in the local area. On the
second, hail was observed on the north side of town in the early
morning hours, and in the south part of town in the afternoon.
This was after hail fell in South Walpole in early June. Yet,
the center of town saw no hail at any time. Total precipitation
for the month was 3.76 inches which is 113% of normal; however,
most of this came in five hours scattered throughout the period.
The heavy showers on the 5th and 24th , combined with the
month’s cool temperatures and clouds was enough to keep things
green. The average temperature of 70.9°, was 0.5° below normal,
and the lowest for July since 2000. The clouds kept the
afternoon highs down, while the overnight lows were milder than
would be expected. The maximum for the month was only 88°, which
is the coolest July maximum since 2000. Only twice did the
afternoon high reach 80° on four consecutive days, with the
total for the month being only 15 days; compared to two years
ago when there were nine consecutive days that reached 90°, and
a total of 13 ninety degree days for the month. The low for July
was 55°, which is the highest monthly minimum for July since
1996. Nineteen out of twenty one days from the 5th to the 25th
did not go below 60° overnight. The highest overnight
temperature was 71°, on the 31st. New daily low maximums were
set established on the 14th, with 65°, and on the 28th, with
67°.
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June had some very
nice weather.
Although June tied for the third coolest in the last 15 years,
the average temperature was 0.4° above normal. The high of 93°,
on the 9th, tied the record for the date set in 1984, and was
the first time it reached ninety since August 22nd. Although
considered the first summer month, only ten days reached 80
degrees, while two failed to reach 70. There were no long
extended periods of warm or cold temperatures. The 9th was the
only day which averaged more than ten degrees from the mean. The
low temperature for the month was 43°, on the 12th. Rainfall
amounted to 2.35 inches, which is only 72% of normal, and was
scattered throughout the month. The first three days saw damp
conditions with 0.90” of precipitation. Hail was observed in the
South Walpole area on the afternoon of the 2nd. There were no
rainy days for the remainder of the month, with the
precipitation confined to typical summer showers. By month’s
end, lawns were beginning to show the effects of the dry
weather. Looking ahead, July is usually the warmest month, with
several 90 degree days, occasional heavy thunder showers, and
mild nights.
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May 2004
was damp, but on the dry side.
Although precipitation was noted on twenty two days of the
month, the total of 3.31 inches was only 96% of normal. But,
after a wet April, there is no concern for water levels.
Precipitation was observed on 18 of the 20 days, between the
10th and the 29th, but only five days had more than one quarter
of an inch. Eleven consecutive days, from the 19th through the
29th , had rain. The greatest for any day was 0.92 inches,
measured on the morning of the 4th. After several warm days
toward the end of April, May remained mild through the 23rd.
After that, there were no more mild days for the remainder of
the month. Only three of the first 23 days were below normal,
while 14 consecutive days were on the plus side. The high
temperature for the month was 89°, on both the 12th and 15th.
The 89° maximum on the 15th was a new record high for the date.
The low for the month was 34°, on the 5th , with some scattered
light frost. The recent rains should be helpful as we head into
the drier summer season. June is normally the driest month.
Thunder was noted on six days, which is a high number for May.
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April weather brought a much needed transition.
After the second driest first three months of any year, with
only 5.59 inches of precipitation, April turned the corner
abruptly with nearly four inches of rain in the first two days.
This was followed by another heavy event at mid month, and two
lesser storms during the last week of the month. The April total
of 9.72 inches, was the second wettest April of record, after
11.75 inches in 1987. This brings the total for the first four
months of the year to a respectable 15.31 inches, which is 96%
of normal. After the dry start, this was very helpful in
bringing ground water levels up before the warmer months ahead.
The 0.2 inches of snow measured on the morning of the 5th, was
probably the last of the season. New daily precipitation records
were set on the 2nd, with 1.93 Inches; and on the 14th, with
2.42 inches. Temperatures for the month had two faces. The
average for the first sixteen days was 43.1°, which was 1.3° on
the cool side; while the last fourteen days were 6.3° above
normal, at 56.4°. The transition day of the 17th, started at
31°, in the morning, and ended at 76°, in the afternoon, a rise
of 45 degrees! This was also the last freeze of the month, which
is very early if none occur in May. The high temperature for the
month was 86°, on the 19th, while the low was 27°, on the 6th.
The 22nd and the 30th reached 81°, while three other days
reached 70 degrees. No daily temperature records were set in
April. The month of May usually brings the last frost and the
first 90 degree day. Normally, precipitation will be less
frequent towards months end.
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March weather
was typical for spring.
The weather for March was very typical for a spring month – all
over the place. The month started very mild, with the first
eight days averaging 10.5° above normal, and with the first two
days exceeding 60 degrees. This was followed by a week of near
normal temperatures, and eight days, from the 16th through the
23rd, averaging 6.5° below normal. The month closed out with two
very mild days and some cooler days. The average for the month
was 38.6°, which is 1.9° on the mild side. The high for the
month was 69°, on the 26th, while the low was 13°, on the 20th.
Only the 17th, with a high of 28°, failed to reach the freezing
mark. Then, only two days of the last week, dropped below
freezing. Precipitation for the month was 2.22 inches, which is
the least for March since 1990, and only 52% of the mean. The
total of 5.59 inches, for the first three months of the year, is
only 0.11 inches wetter than the driest first three months of
record, which occurred in 1985. It appears that April will be
off to a very wet start, so any idea of a dry spring will
vanish. December started with a whopping snowstorm, but since
then there was only 16.3 inches, with 11.4 inches in both
January and February combined. The March total snowfall was 14.7
inches, which is nowhere near any records, but considerably more
than what the winter delivered. Ice was out of most local ponds
during the last week of the month, and the peepers were first
noted on the evening of the 26th.
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February
turns the corner out of winter.
After record cold January days, February turned out to average
1.6° on the mild side.
With a number of days in January remaining below 20, and
dropping below zero at night; February could only manage two
days that remained below freezing, and both of them reached 31
degrees. The low for the month was 4°, on the 16th. Cold spells
did not occur.
The four days below normal, from the 15th through the 18th, was
the longest such period, while only one of the last eleven days
was on the negative side. The high for the month was 55°, on the
28th and the 29th. Precipitation and snowfall were far below
normal. Total precipitation for the first two months was only
3.37 inches, which is 45% of normal, and the driest first two
months since 3.23”, in 1985. The last 21 days of February saw
only 0.02 inches of precipitation. The month’s total was 1.82
inches, with 1.22 inches of that measured on the morning of the
7th. The month’s snowfall of 2.8 inches was well below normal,
with 2.0 inches of that also measured on the morning of the 7th.
Since the blizzard of early December, it has been a relatively
snow free winter. The dry pattern brought record sunshine to the
area. At the nearby Blue Hill Observatory, it was the sunniest
January – February combination since records began in 1886.
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A Dry and Record
Cold January.
January went into the record books as having the coldest
days of any month since local records began, in October 1948.
The average temperature for the month, of 20.3°F, tied with 1994
for the 8th coldest January of record, and the coldest month
since December 1989. The average daily maximum temperature of
28.2°F was the coldest of any month of record. Because of the
almost continuous wind, which prevents the cold from settling at
night, the average daily minimum of 12.4°F was about four
degrees above what would be expected in a cold winter month. So,
while the monthly average was not extreme, the daytime high
temperatures were record cold. The temperature, which fell below
freezing at 3PM on the afternoon of the 6th, was followed by an
evening snow squall, and twenty four days when the temperature
rose above freezing for a total of only 26 hours. The high
temperature of 9°F, on the 15th, was the lowest maximum since
8°, on January 16, 1994. Five additional days did not reach 20
degrees. The high of 14, on the 10th, and 16, on the 25th, were
new record low maxima for the dates. The low for the month was
–9°F, on the 16th, which was the coldest since –16°F, in 1996,
and also a new record for the date. However, this year’s cold
was with a strong biting wind, and not the usual radiational
cooling with calm nights. The frost level was down about four
feet, in exposed areas, at months end. All this cold after the
record mild January of 2002. The high for the month was 47°, on
the 4th. Three of the first four days of the month were above 40
degrees. With all the cold, moisture was not available. Total
precipitation for the month was 1.55 inches, which was only 41%
of normal; while the total snowfall was only 8.6 inches, after a
single storm left two feet in early December. Some moderation
should be noted in February, which will probably bring more
precipitation. The coldest February of record was milder than
this past month.
2003
September 2003 was a very nice
month
September continued the mild tone set during the summer
months, and had near normal rainfall. The first thirteen
days started on the cool side (-1.6 degrees), followed
by the remaining seventeen days, which were 6.6 degrees
above normal. Despite the month’s average of 64.9
degrees, being 3.0 degrees on the plus side, no high
temperature records were set. This past month was the
third consecutive mild September, but 1.3 degrees cooler
than last year. Only five days reached the 80 degree
mark, with a high of 82 on the 20th. The 20th
and 28th set new records for high overnight
minima with 68 and 63, respectively. The low for the
month was 39, on the 10th. The nineteen day
stretch, from the 11th through the 29th,
saw every day average at or above normal. The average
temperature for the summer season was 71.5 degrees,
which was 2.7 degrees on the warm side, but almost a
full degree cooler than last summer. Precipitation for
the month amounted to 3.56 inches, which is 94% of
normal, bringing the years total to 38.83 inches, which
is 5.35 inches on the wet side. The green lawns of
summer were due to the season’s total of 14.79 inches,
compared to 8.17 inches last year, and an average of
10.53 inches. Western Massachusetts saw much more rain
with the remains of Hurricane Isabel passing closer and
additional heavy showers on the 28th. October
continues the down hill slide towards winter, with the
end of daylight savings, the first frost, and snowflakes
about 50% of the time. top
October was cool and wet
The October summary will start with November 1, when the high
temperature reached 76 degrees, tying the record previously set
in 1974. This was warmer than any day in October, when the high
reached 73, on the 8th and 9th. No other days in October
exceeded the 70 degree mark. The average temperature for the
month was 50.4 degrees, which is 1.0 degree below normal, but
0.7 degrees warmer than last October. The first frost occurred
on the 3rd, a full twelve days earlier than last year; and was
followed by seven additional days at or below 32. The low for
the month was 24, on the 25th. The first week of the month was
below normal, the second and last weeks were above normal, and
the intervening days were both above and below. The low
temperature of 59, on the 27th, was a new record high minimum
for the date. Four days earlier the high was only 39. That cold
saw 1.0” of snowfall. This was one day earlier than the first
snow last year, and the most in October since 1979. The total
precipitation of 6.08 inches, was the most in October since
1998. Just about half of the total fell in two storms on the
27th and 29th. The seven days between the 6th and the 12th saw
no precipitation, but nearly five inches of the month’s total
fell in three rainstorms.
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A mild and dry November.
A mild month of November started with a record high temperature
of 76, on the 1st. This was higher than any day the entire month
of October, and tied the record for the date set in 1974. It was
followed by 74 degrees on the 3rd, which was one degree shy of
the record set in 1990. From the first through the 17th, the
temperature was only slightly on the mild side. Of the remaining
13 days, only one was below normal, bringing the month’s average
to 44.0 degrees, which is 2.1 degrees on the warm side; compared
to last year’s average of 40.8 degrees. The low for the month
was 17, on the 9th, which was 3 degrees above the record for the
date, set in 1952. The mild weather left nearby ocean
temperatures higher than normal, which will make rain events
more likely than snow, especially if the wind turns to an
easterly component. Total precipitation for the month amounted
to only 2.69 inches, or 60% of normal, despite measurable rain
on 12 days.
The total for the year is now 47.60 inches, which is 5.85 inches
on the wet side. Last November saw 5.81 inches of precipitation
fall, including 6.5 inches of snow. This past month was the
first time since 1988, that snow fell in October, but not in the
following November. The last October and November with no snow
was in 1998. December is the first month of climatological
winter, with daylight beginning to lengthen towards months end.
The average daily high and low temperature at the beginning of
the month is 45 and 27, dropping to 37 and 19 by month’s end.
Chances of a white Christmas are 50 %, in Walpole.
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A wild
December ends a wet and snowy year.
December will be remembered for
the 24.5 inches of snow that fell on the weekend of the 6th
and 7th. This was the areas third greatest snow storm
in over 50 years of local records. Combined with 4.9 inches
that fell on the 14th, the month’s total of 29.4
inches is the greatest for any December of record. Total snow
fall for 2003 was 93.1 inches, which is the 4th
snowiest calendar year of record. Despite the early heavy snow,
we did not have a white Christmas. A climatological oddity is
that all the measurable snow fell in the fall, and no measurable
snow fell in the winter portion of December. The average
temperature for the first two weeks of the month was 28.8°F,
which was nearly 5° below normal; while the remainder of the
month averaged 38.2°, which was nine degrees on the warm side.
The warm period saw only one day average below normal. The low
for the month was 7°, on the 9th; while the high was
59°, on the 24th. The only record for December was
the low temperature of 42°, on the 24th. After the
first two weeks, there were nine days that reached at least 50
degrees, and five days that did not drop below freezing.
Precipitation for the month amounted to 6.86 inches, which is
2.59 inches on the wet side, making December the wettest month
of the year 2003. The year ended with 54.46 inches of
precipitation, which is 8.44 inches above normal, compared to
48.57 inches in 2002. Only January, September, and November were
drier than normal. After a very dry summer two years ago,
precipitation patterns have turned in the other direction. The
average temperature in 2003 was 49.4°, which is only 0.1° above
normal, compared to an average of 51.6°, in 2002. Six months
were above normal and six were below, with August (+3.7°) and
January (-4.7°) having the greatest departures from the mean.
Three days in June, three in July, and one in August reached
90°, with the highest being 93, on June 25th. The low
for the year was 6° below zero, on February14th, with five other
days falling below zero; the last being minus 1, on March 7th.
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