Cranberry Weather Summaries Archive

Format: 2018

2015

October

October weather was very similar to the norm, with close to average temperature and just above average sunshine. Rainfall was above average but mostly due to an end of September event with some of the rain recorded on the morning of October 1st. The temperature averaged 53.1 degrees, 0.5 degrees per day above average, similar to 2013 but cooler than 2014. Maximum temperature of 70.7 degrees was recorded on the 7th, the 12th, the 13th, and the 29th; a minimum temperature of 29.3 degrees was recorded on the 19th. The 19th saw the first freeze of the season; overnight lows on the 27th were also below freezing. Daytime high temperatures averaged 62.0 degrees, 0.1 degrees above the norm. Evening low temperatures averaged 44.7 degrees, 1.8 degrees above the norm. After three years of warmer than average daytime highs in October 2015 was almost exactly average.

Sunshine totaled 57% of the possible sunshine hours, 2 points above the norm and 13 points above 2014. We had 10 days that were mostly clear (90% of possible) and only 4 days with no sunshine. There were no days with fog in East Wareham this month. Year-to-date sunshine is running well above the norm.

Precipitation totaled 5.61 inches, 1.41 inches above the 30-year average. However, 1.60 inches were recorded on the morning of the 1st; most of that occurred on the previous day (Sept. 30th). Measurable rain was recorded on 8 days, 7 days of which had rainfall of 0.10 inches or greater. Year-to-date rainfall for 2015 is 32.77 inches; 8.42 inches below average for East Wareham. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 1.61 inches on the 28th to 29th. We have had 7 months with below average rainfall and 3 months with above average rainfall this year. There was one thunderstorm this month with brief hail.

September

September was very warm with above average sunshine and continued dry conditions for most of the month. The temperature averaged 67.0°, 4.1 degrees per day above normal. Maximum temperature was 89.6° on the 8th; a minimum temperature of 39.2° was recorded on the 20th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 77.4°, which is 5.4 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 57.5°, 3.7 degrees above the norm. There were 13 days with a maximum temperature above 80°.

Sunshine totaled 70% of the possible sunshine hours, 14 points above the norm. We recorded 19 sunny days in East Wareham and 3 days with morning fog. The Blue Hills Observatory (official site for sunshine hour data), recorded 20 sunny days, the most in September since 1914. The 72% of possible sunshine for the period from August through September is a new record for that location.

Precipitation totaled 2.73 inches, 1.77 inches below normal, making this the third consecutive month of below average rain. The month started dry (first 9 days) and ended with 15 days of no rain until the last day of the month. We had measurable rain of 0.10 inches or greater on just 3 days, and 2 days with spotty showers and drizzle with less than 0.10 inches recorded. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 1.62 inches, including a thunderstorm, on the 10th (recorded on the 11th), accounting for 60% of the month's total. We recorded 0.8 inches on the 30th, the beginning of a 3.67 inch event starting that day, most of the rain from the event will be recorded in October.

Year-to-date rainfall for 2015 is 27.12 inches, 9.88 inches below average for East Wareham and 8.8 inches below the total rainfall at the same time in 2014.

2015 has thus far been a year of extremes with above average snow and below average temperatures for the first three months, and well above average sunshine and temperature and below average rain for the most recent three months.

August

August was a very warm, dry, and very sunny month. The temperature averaged 73.7 degrees, 3.4 degrees above normal, matching the record from 1937 and more than 5 degrees warmer than August 2014. Despite matching the record, there were no 90° days; the maximum for the month was 89.6° on the 2nd. However, there were 26 days with maximum temperature over 80° and 18 of those were above 85°. Daytime high temperatures averaged 84.0 degrees, 5.2 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 64.8 degrees, 3.1 degrees above the norm. The minimum temperature of 55.4 degrees was recorded on the 10th. There were 4 nights with temperatures above 70 and and only 7 nights with temperatures below 60.

Sunshine at 315 hours totaled 73% of the possible sunshine hours, 15 points above the norm. This was the 2nd sunniest August on record at the Blue Hills Observatory. We had 20 clear days, and only one day with morning fog in East Wareham.

Precipitation totaled 2.60 inches, 1.34 inches below normal. We had measurable precipitation on 7 days, but only 4 of those had more than 0.05 inch. Virtually all of the rain was in three events - a thunderstorm on the morning of the 4th (0.51"), and steady rain on the 11th (1.54") and 22nd (0.46"). Year-to-date, 2015 has received 24.43 inches of rain, 8.06 inches below the yearly average for East Wareham.

Official Summer Season

The official summer (June, July and August) was warm, dry, and sunny. The average temperature was 70.2 degrees, 1.2 degrees above the 30-year average for the 3-month period. Both July and August were above average in temperature, August equaling the 1937 record. Total rainfall for the season was 8.25 inches, 2.71 inches below the normal precipitation for this time of year; while June was about average, both July and August saw below normal rainfall. Sunshine hours totaled 816 hours; this is 73 hours above the average. June had below average sunshine but July and particularly August were above the norm. We had a maximum temperature of 92.3 degrees recorded on July 29th and a minimum temperature of 41.0 degrees recorded on June 4th. There were 6 days of 90° or more, the last occurring on July 29th. We had no official heat wave this season.

2015 Crop Forecast

New England Agricultural Statistics Service released the United States forecast for the 2015 cranberry crop on August 13. Overall production is predicted to be 8.41 million barrels, up slightly from 2014. All of the major growing regions anticipate better crops than in 2014 with the exception of New Jersey. The forecast for Massachusetts is for 2.114 million barrels.

July

July 2015 was warm, dry and sunny. With 5 days of 90+ temperatures, July's temperature was 1.3 degrees above average and 1.1 degrees warmer than July 2014, but cooler than the Julys from 2010-2013. Maximum temperature was 92.3 degrees, recorded on the 29th, and a minimum temperature of 52.7 degrees was recorded on the 5th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 82.6 degrees, 2.6 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 63.6 degrees, 0.7 degrees above the norm.

Sunshine totaled 62% of the possible sunshine hours, 7 points above average and similar to the sunshine in July 2014. We had 6 days with 90% or greater of possible sunshine, while on only 2 days was there less than 10% sunshine.

We recorded 1.87 inches of rainfall, which is 1.44 inches below the average for July. Almost an inch of the rain came on the 1st, while the second half of the month saw less than a quarter inch fall. Rainfall was recorded on 9 days, with 5 having over 0.10 inch. Year-to-date rainfall for 2015 is 21.83 inches, 6.72 inches below the average for East Wareham. Three of the last four months have been substantially below normal in rainfall. There were 2 thunderstorms recorded this month.

June

June was a cloudy month with just below average temperature and average rainfall. The mean temperature for the month was 64.1 degrees, 1.2 degrees below average. Maximum temperature was 90.5 degrees on the 24th; a minimum temperature of 41.0 degrees was recorded on the 4th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 73.2 degrees, 0.8 degrees below the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 55.5 degrees, 1.2 degrees below the norm.

Sunshine was well below average with only 47% of the possible sunshine recorded. This is 8 percentage points below the average for June sunshine. Only 3 days were rated as sunny (for the entire day) with 13 being cloudy.

Precipitation totaled 3.78 inches, which is 0.07 inches below the 30-year average. We had measurable precipitation on 13 days, with 10 of those days having measurable precipitation of 0.10 inches or greater. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 1.17 inches on the 28th. Year-to-date rainfall for 2015 now stands at 19.92 inches, 5.38 inches below average, 2.93 inches below this time in 2014 and 11.14 inches below the total rainfall at this time in 2013.

Precipitation totaled 3.78 inches, which is 0.07 inches below the 30-year average. We had measurable precipitation on 13 days, with 10 of those days having measurable precipitation of 0.10 inches or greater. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 1.17 inches on the 28th. Year-to-date rainfall for 2015 now stands at 19.92 inches, 5.38 inches below average, 2.93 inches below this time in 2014 and 11.14 inches below the total rainfall at this time in 2013.

May

May was a warm and very dry month with well above average sunshine. The temperatures for May averaged 59.5 degrees, 3.7 degrees above the 30-year average. The maximum temperature was 79.7 degrees on the 17th and a minimum temperature of 39.2 degrees was recorded on the 2nd. Daytime high temperatures averaged 69.0 degrees, 4.1 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 50.2 degrees, 3.2 degrees above the norm.

Sunshine totaled 65% of the possible sunshine hours, 13 percentage points above the norm. There were 7 days with 90% or better sunshine (only one more than last year) but only 1 day with no sunshine at all (there were 12 in 2014!). There were 3 days with fog in East Wareham.

Precipitation totaled 0.95 inch, 2.75 inches below the average rainfall for May in East Wareham. May 2014 was also drier than the 30-year norm but not as dry as May 2015. There were only 3 days with measurable precipitation. The largest 24-hour rainfall, accounting for more than half the monthly total, was 0.53 inches on the 19th. Our total year-to-date rainfall is 16.18 inches, 5.46 inches below the average in East Wareham.

Official Spring Season

The official spring (March-May) had slightly below average temperatures - 45.8 degrees, 0.4 degrees below average. Snowfall for the period totaled 20.3 inches (all in March), 12.8 inches above average. Despite the above average snowfall, precipitation was 8.62 inches below normal due to extremely dry conditions in April and May. Total precipitation was 8.62 inches, 5.06 inches below average. Sunshine for the spring was above normal each month, coming in with 55% of possible hours for the three month period, a very rare occurrence. Sunshine during March and April was slightly above the norm, with May well above average.

April

April was cool, dry and sunny this year. The temperature averaged 46.4 degrees, 0.6 degrees above normal. The maximum temperature was 67.1 degrees on the 18th and a minimum temperature of 22.0 degrees was recorded on the 2nd. Daytime high temperatures averaged 54.6 degrees, 0.3 degrees below the norm. Evening low temperatures averaged 37.2 degrees, 0.4 degrees above the norm.

Sunshine totaled 51% of the possible sunshine hours, 2 points above the norm. We had 6 days with 90% or better sunshine and 13 days virtually no sunshine. We experienced heavy fog only on 1 day during the month of April.

Precipitation totaled 1.79 inches, which is 2.82 inches below normal. We had measurable precipitation on 11 days; 6 of those days had 0.10 inches or greater rainfall. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 0.35 inches on the 3rd. Year-to-date rainfall for 2015 stands at 15.23 inches; this is 2.66 inches below last year's total at this time and 2.58 inches below the normal average for this time of year. We did have 1 thunderstorm on the 21st.

We had 0.00 inches snowfall in April. This is 1.4 inches below average for the month and brings the 2014 – 2015 season at a total of 86.00 inches of snow. This is 27.10 inches more then the 2013-2014 season. In the 30 years from 1979 to 2010, we averaged 31.66 inches of snowfall during the winter season. Snowfall recorded during 2014-2015 in East Wareham was 86.00 inches, 54.34 inches above the average.

March

Overall, the month of March had extremely low temperatures, with above-average rainfall, snowfall and sunshine. The temperatures averaged 31.5 degrees, 5.5 degrees per day below the average and about 2.1 degrees colder than March 2014. Maximum temperature was 59.9 degrees on the 11th and a minimum temperature of -5.0 degrees was recorded on the 1st. This -5.0 minimum temperature ties the earlier record low set in March 1948. Daytime high temperatures averaged 41.3 degrees, 4.4 degrees below the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 21.8 degrees, 6.6 degrees below the norm and 1.6 degrees below 2014. Winds can be a big factor in March, yet this year we only had 1 day with damaging winds and 2 days with fog.

Sunshine totaled 50% of the possible sunshine hours, 2 points above the norm. Sunshine data are from the Blue Hill Observatory. Year-to-date sunshine for 2015 is a little below the normal at this time of year.

Precipitation totaled 5.91 inches. This is 0.56 inches above normal. We had measurable precipitation of 0.10 inches or greater on 12 days. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 1.57 inches on the 27th. The monthly rainfall was spread out evenly over all four weeks of the month. We have received a total of 13.44 inches of precipitation year-to-date, totaling 0.34 inches above the average for East Wareham. We had 7 days with measurable snowfall during the month, totaling 20.3 inches, which is 11.6 inches above average. March 2015 will be recorded as the 4th snowiest March in our records here in East Wareham since 1953. The 2014–2015 winter season snowfall recorded in East Wareham is now at 86.0 inches, 49.9 inches above the seasonal average and 2nd highest snowfall total for a season in the 62 years of record keeping on snowfall here in East Wareham. I would also like to note that this winter season we had snow cover starting back on January 27 and lasting until March 28, for a total of 61 consecutive days, with the deepest snow cover being between 25 and 30 inches during the first week of March.

February

February was extremely cold and cloudy, with above normal precipitation. The temperatures averaged 19.6 degrees, 11.3 degrees below normal. This was the second coldest February in the 89 years of record keeping in East Wareham, surpassed only by February 1934 with an average temperature of 17.0 degrees. The maximum temperature was 39.0 degrees on the 22nd and a minimum temperature of -13.0 degrees was recorded on the 21st. Daytime high temperatures averaged 30.3 degrees, 9.2 degrees below the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 8.8 degrees, 13.5 degrees below the norm. The monthly average was 8.7 degrees colder than February 2014. All night time low temperatures were below 32 degrees; 1 night was 31 degrees, 4 nights in the 20's, 9 nights in the teens, 8 night in the single digits and 6 nights with minus zero temperatures.

Sunshine totaled 43% of the possible sunshine hours; 7 points below the norm and 11 points lower than February 2014. 8 days had 90% or better sunshine while 8 days had no sunshine data recorded at all. The sunshine hours are recorded at the Blue Hill Observatory in Milton, MA.

Precipitation totaled 3.43 inches, 0.24 inches below the norm. We had measurable precipitation on 13 days of which 9 were 0.10 inches or greater. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 0.85 inches on the 22nd. There were 13 days with measurable snowfall totaling 40.3 inches, 31.6 inches above normal. This is a sets a new record for the highest monthly snowfall total for February, surpassing the past record of 31.0 inches in 1994. This is also the third years in a row with more than 22 inches of snowfall in February. The greatest snowfall for one storm came on the 14th and 15th with 15.0 inches during near blizzard conditions and strong winds. Year-to-date snowfall recorded in East Wareham is now 64.60 inches, 18.60 inches more than this time in 2014; the 2014-2015 season to date is 65.70 inches, 38.10 inches above the seasonal average. Snowfall records go back to 1952 in East Wareham. Also we can note that we have had 33 consecutive days with 10 plus inches of snow cover.

Official Winter Season

The official winter in East Wareham (Dec. 2014 - Feb. 2015) was cold, wet and snowy, with below average sunshine, much like the 2013-2014 winter season. The season temperatures averaged 28.7 degrees, 2.6 degrees below normal and 1.2 degrees cooler than 2014. The low mark was -13.0 degrees on Feb. 21st and the high mark was 67.0 degrees on Dec. 1st. The coldest daily high was 19.0 degrees on Jan. 6th and Feb. 20th. The total sunshine hours were 41%, 6 points below normal. Both December and February had well below average sunshine while January's sunshine was a little above the average. Precipitation totaled 13.50 inches, 1.22 inches above average. Snowfall totaled 64.60 inches, 37.0 inches above normal. December 2014 turned out to be much like December 2013, being the warmest month, with the highest rainfall, lowest snowfall and with very low sunshine. January had highest sunshine hours, February had the coldest temperatures, least rainfall and the highest snowfall for the winter season.

January

January started with heavy rain followed by very cold temperatures. Then we had a 20-day stretch of seasonable weather to be followed with a strong blizzard and very cold temperatures again. We had below-average temperatures and rainfall with above-average sunshine and almost double the average snowfall. The average temperature was 27.3 degrees, 1.7 degrees below normal and 0.4 degrees below January 2014. The maximum temperature was 54.5 degrees on January 4th. A minimum temperature of 0.5 degrees was recorded on the 8th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 35.3 degrees, 2.4 degrees below the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 19.0 degrees, 1.3 degrees below the norm. Daytime high temperatures were above 50 degrees or greater on 3 days. Evening temperatures were 32 degrees or below for all but 1 night. There were 4 nights with temperatures in the single digits.

Precipitation totaled 4.10 inches. This is 0.08 inches below normal. We had measurable precipitation on 13 days; 5 of those days had less than 0.10 inches. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 0.94 inches on the 4th. We had measurable snowfall of 0.10 inches or greater on 9 days, totaling 24.30 inches for the month, 12.30 inches above average. This is the 6th largest snowfall recorded here in East Wareham for January in the 62 years of snowfall recordings. The largest snowfall came during the 36-hour blizzard, on the 26th and 27th of January, with 21.0 inches of snow, high winds up to 75 mph and considerable drifting. So far this season we have recorded a total of 25.40 inches of snow. There was also 1 day with heavy fog this month.

Sunshine totaled 46% of the possible sunshine hours, 2 points above the normal. There were 9 days with no sunshine and 8 days with 90% or better sunshine. Total sunshine hours for January 2015 was 2 points lower than the sunshine hours recorded in January 2014.

2014

2014 Year in Review

The year 2014 had well-above average precipitation (rainfall and snowfall) with above average temperatures and sunshine. The first six months of the year were cool and dry, while the last six months of the year were warm and very wet. Temperatures averaged 50.1 degrees, 0.3 degrees above the 30-year average in East Wareham. The average monthly temperature was above normal 7 out of 12 months. The maximum temperature of 87 degrees for the year was recorded on June 18th. The minimum temperature of -1.3 degrees was recorded on January 4th. We started the year with 23.2 inches of snow in January and the total snowfall for the year was 56.60 inches, 2.3 inches above the yearly average.

December

December was very warm, cloudy and wet. The temperature averaged 39.3 degrees, 5.1 degrees per day above normal. Maximum temperature was 67.0 degrees on the 1st; a minimum temperature of 15.0 degrees was recorded on the 30th & 31st. Daytime high temperatures averaged 46.0 degrees, 2.9 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 32.6 degrees, 7.2 degrees above the norm. This was our 4th warmest December in the 88 years of our record keeping. Three of the four warmest Decembers have occurred in the past 13 years.

Precipitation totaled 5.97 inches, 1.54 inches above normal and 1.48 inches more than December 2013. We had 17 rain events spread out evenly during the month. Measurable rain of 0.10 inches or more was recorded on 8 days. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 2.15 inches on the 9th. Total rainfall for 2014 was 56.98 inches, 6.66 inches above average for East Wareham and 8.64 inches more than the total rainfall for 2013. There were zero days with measurable snow this month. Normal snowfall for the month of December in East Wareham is 6.9 inches.

Sunshine for the month was very low, totaling 35% of possible, 11 points below the norm. There were only four days with 90% or greater sunshine hours and 12 days with no sunshine at all.

November

November was cool and extremely wet with average sunshine for the month. The temperature averaged 42.1 degrees, 1.5 degrees below normal. Maximum temperature was 63.0 degrees on the 4th and 5th; a minimum temperature of 19.0 degrees was recorded on the 22nd.. Daytime high temperatures averaged 50.7 degrees, 1.9 degrees below the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 33.4 degrees, 1.2 degrees below the norm. November 2014 averaged 0.3 degrees warmer than November 2013.

Precipitation totaled 7.15 inches, 2.45 inches above normal and 2.89 inches more than 2013. Measurable precipitation of 0.10 inches or more was recorded on 8 days. There were three major rain events this month, each recording over 1.80 inches of rain: 1.83 inches on the 2nd, 1.88 inches on the 17th and 1.82 inches on the 26th. Year-to-date rainfall for 2014 is 51.01 inches, 5.12 inches above the year-to-date average for East Wareham at this time of year. This is 7.16 inches higher then November 2013 year-to-date average for East Wareham. There were 1.1 inches of recorded snowfall for the month of November in East Wareham. The average snowfall for November in East Wareham is 1.0 inch. We only had 1 day with damaging winds.

Sunshine totaled 46% of the possible, 1 point above average and 12 points lower than November 2013. There were 11 days with 90% or more sunshine, and 14 days with near zero.

Official Fall Season

The official fall season Sept – Nov. 2014 was warm, very wet, with above average sunshine. All but one month (October) had above average sunshine hours. Temperatures averaged 54.1 degrees, 1.2 degrees above normal and 1.6 degrees warmer then 2013. A maximum temperature of 85.1 degrees was recorded on the 3rd, 4th and 6th of September and a minimum temperature of 19.0 degrees was recorded on the 22nd of November. Rainfall totaled 16.61 inches, 3.21 inches above normal and 8.77 inches more than the rainfall in the 2013 fall season. Average snowfall for the fall season for East Wareham is 1.0 inch; we have received 1.1 inches of snow this season. Sunshine was 52% of the possible and 8 points lower then 2013. Overall, this season was 1.2 degrees warmer, 3.21 inches wetter, and with more sunshine than the average fall season.

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