May was a very warm grey month with well above average temperatures, rainfall and below average sunshine. The temperatures for May averaged 60.0 degrees, 3.7 degrees per day above normal. This is 2.6 degrees warmer than May 2011. The maximum temperature was 81.0 degrees on the 31st and a minimum temperature of 40.0 degrees was recorded on the 7th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 67.7 degrees, 2.9 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 52.4 degrees, 4.7 degrees above the norm. May 2012 is the 16th month in a row with above average temperatures.
Sunshine totaled 40% of the possible sunshine hours, 13 points below the norm and just about the same as May 2011. There were 6 days with 90% or better sunshine and 18 days with no sunshine at all. There were 6 days with fog in East Wareham.
Precipitation totaled 6.55 inches, 2.82 inches above the average rainfall for May in East Wareham. There were 15 days with measurable precipitation. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 2.66 inches on the 9th and the 10th. Our total year-to-date rainfall is 14.76 inches, 6.77 inches below the average in East Wareham and 8.85 inches below the average for the past 7 months.
The official spring (March-May) was warm and dry with just about average sunshine. Temperatures averaged 51.0 degrees, 4.5 degrees above average; rainfall totaled 10.31 inches, 1.99 inches below average and snowfall only totaled 0.3 inches, 5.50 inches below average. Sunshine for the spring average was just a little above normal, coming in with 49% of possible points. While sunshine during April was extremely high, March and May were well below average.
Cranberry Weather Summaries Archive
2012
April was very warm, dry and sunny this year. The temperature averaged 50.1 degrees, 4.3 degrees above normal. This is the 2nd warmest April recorded in the 86 years of data collection in East Wareham, surpassed only by April 1946 with a monthly average temperature of 50.8 degrees. For the past 4 years, April has had an average temperature in the top 9 warmest on record. The maximum temperature was 80.0 degrees on the 17th and a minimum temperature of 28.0 degrees was recorded on the 1st. Daytime high temperatures averaged 59.8 degrees, 4.9 degrees above the norm. Evening low temperatures averaged 40.4 degrees, 3.6 degrees above the norm.
Sunshine totaled 64% of the possible sunshine hours, 15 points above the norm and 20 points above April 2011. We had 12 days with 90% or better sunshine and only 3 days virtually no sunshine. We only experienced heavy fog on 1 day during the month of April.
Precipitation totaled 1.95 inches, which is 2.66 inches below normal. This is also 5.15 inches less than April 2011.
We had measurable precipitation on 6 days, 3 of those days had 0.10 inches or greater rainfall. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 1.67 inches on the 23rd. Year-to-date rainfall for 2012 stands at 8.21 inches; this is 9.60 inches below normal and 8.89 inches below the 2011 year-to-date rainfall at this point. This marks the 6th month in a row with below average rainfall, giving us an 11.68 inch deficit over the last 6 months. We had no snowfall in April. This is 1.4 inches below average and keeps the 2011 – 2012 season at a total of 15.05 inches of snow. In the past 30 years, we averaged 36.10 inches of snowfall during the winter season. Snowfall recorded during the winter season of 2011-2012 in East Wareham was 21.05 inches below the average. This is also 28.90 inches less than the winter season of 2010-2011.
March started out like a tamed lion this year, during which time we experienced above average temperatures and sunshine with below average precipitation and snowfall. The temperatures averaged 43.0 degrees, 5.8 degrees per day above the average, tying the record average high set in 1946 for the month of March. This is also 4.9 degrees above last year’s average. Maximum temperature was 73.0 degrees on the 21st and a minimum temperature of 20.0 degrees was recorded on the 6th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 51.5 degrees, 6.3 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 35.2 degrees, 6.0 degrees above the norm. Winds can be a big factor in March, yet this year we only had 2 days with damaging winds and a peak gust of 49 mph.
Sunshine totaled 44% of the possible sunshine hours, 2 points below the norm, and 5 points below last year. Sunshine data are from the Blue Hill Observatory. Year-to-date sunshine for 2012 is 54% of the possible, 3 points above the normal at this time of year.
Precipitation totaled 1.81 inches. This is 2.75 inches below normal and is the 4th lowest rainfall recorded for the month of March in East Wareham. In the 85 years of record keeping in East Wareham, there have been only 6 years in which March has had less than 2 inches of rain. We had measurable precipitation of 0.10 inches or greater on 5 days. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 0.96 inches on the 1st. Most of the monthly rainfall came in the first three days of the month. We have received a total of 6.26 inches of rainfall year-to-date, totaling 6.56 inches below average for East Wareham. If we look at the past 5 months, we are 8.52 inches below the average rainfall. We had just 1 day with measurable snowfall during the month, totaling 0.3 inches, 4.4 inches below average. Snowfall for the month of March will also come in as the 10th lowest in the records in East Wareham. The 2011–2012 winter season snowfall recorded in East Wareham is now at 15.1 inches, 15.2 inches below the seasonal average.
February was extremely warm and sunny, with very low rainfall and snowfall. The temperatures averaged 36.4 degrees, 6.4 degrees above normal. This is the 13th consecutive month with above normal temperatures. The maximum temperature was 60.0 degrees on the 1st and a minimum temperature of 16.0 degrees was recorded on the 13th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 45.7 degrees, 7.5 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 27.0 degrees, 5.3 degrees above the norm. The monthly average was 6 degrees warmer than February 2011 and was the 3rd warmest February in the 86 years of recorded keeping in East Wareham. There were no nights with single digit temperatures recorded in February, and all but 8 nights had temperatures below 32 degrees.
Sunshine totaled 61% of the possible sunshine hours, 11 points above the norm. Nine days had 90% or better sunshine while 4 days had no sunshine data recorded at all. The sunshine hours are recorded at the Blue Hill Observatory in Milton, MA.
Precipitation totaled 0.96 inches, 3.17 inches less than February 2011. This was 2.76 inches below the norm. February 2012 is the second driest February in the 86 years of weather data recorded in East Wareham, surpassed only by 1968 with 0.91 inches of rainfall. This is the 4th consecutive month with below normal rainfall. We had measurable precipitation on 13 days of which only 3 were 0.10 inches or greater. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 0.20 inches on the 22nd. There were 3 days with measurable snowfall totaling 1.40 inches, 8.0 inches below normal. The greatest snowfall for one storm came on the 9th with 0.60 inches. Year-to-date snowfall recorded in East Wareham is now 14.80 inches, 13.20 inches less than this time in 2011; the 2011-2012 season to date is also 14.80 inches, 16.6 inches below the seasonal average.
The official winter in East Wareham (Dec. 2011 - Feb. 2012) was extremely warm and sunny, with well below average precipitation and snowfall. The season temperatures averaged 35.67 degrees, 4.8 degrees above normal. The low mark was 9.0 degrees on Jan. 16th and the high mark was 60 degrees on Feb. 1st. The coldest daily high was 29.0 degrees on Jan. 4th. Sunshine was 56%, 9 points above normal. Precipitation totaled 7.79 inches, 4.96 inches below average. Snowfall totaled 14.80 inches, 9.60 inches below normal. Most of the snowfall came in January this year. December actually turned out to be the warmest month with no snowfall recorded in East Wareham. January was the coldest and snowiest of the season. February had the least amount of rainfall and the most sunshine hours.
January had above average temperatures, snowfall, and sunshine with below average rainfall. The average temperature was 35.0 degrees, 6.3 degrees above normal. The maximum temperature was 55.0 degrees on January 7th and 27th. A minimum temperature of 9.0 degrees was recorded on the 16th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 44.0 degrees, 7.0 above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 26.0 degrees, 5.7 degrees above the norm. Daytime high temperatures were below 32 degrees on 4 days. Evening temperatures were 32 degrees or below for all but 10 nights. There was only 1 night with temperatures in the single digits. January 2012 ranked 10 warmest January in the 87 years of record keeping in East Wareham.
Precipitation totaled 3.49 inches. This is 1.05 inches below normal. We had measurable precipitation on 14 days; 5 of those days had less than 0.10 inches. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 1.05 inches on the 27th. A Northeaster hit on January 12th with rain and very high winds. We had measurable snowfall of 0.10 inches or greater on 5 days, totaling 13.40 inches for the month, 3.2 inches above average. The largest 24-hour snowfall was 10.8 inches on the 21st of January. We had snow cover on the ground for only 4 days in January. There were also 3 days with heavy fog this month.
Sunshine totaled 57% of the possible sunshine hours, 11 points above the normal. There were 5 days with no sunshine and 4 days with 90% or better sunshine.
2011
2011 Year in Review
The year 2011 had above average temperature, rainfall, snow and sunshine. Temperatures averaged 51.8 degrees, 1.9 degrees above the 30-year average in East Wareham. The average monthly temperature was above normal 11 out of 12 months of the year. The maximum temperature for the year was recorded on July 22nd of 99 degrees. The minimum temperature of 1.0 degrees was recorded on January 24th. We started the year with 21.00 inches of snow in January and the last snowfall for the year was on April 1st. During the winter season of 2010-2011 we had 71 consecutive days with 1 inch or more snow cover.
The official winter season of 2010 - 2011 was below average in temperature and rainfall with above average snowfall and sunshine hours. Snowfall for the winter of 2010 - 2011 in East Wareham was 40.20 inches. Our seasonal average snowfall is 24.40 inches in East Wareham. The record low snowfall was set in 1997 with only 5.07 inches of snow. The official spring 2011 season had a slightly above average temperatures and rainfall with just below average sunshine hours and snowfall, just the opposite from the winter season. The official summer of 2011 was warm, damp and very sunny. The official fall season for 2011 was again warm, wet with above average sunshine.
By the year’s end, precipitation totaled 55.46 inches, 6.86 inches above normal. October was the wettest month with 9.16 inches of rainfall. The driest month was March with 2.25 inches of rain. January gave us the greatest snowfall in 2011 with 21.0 inches. January was the only month this year with below average temperatures. We had adequate rainfall every month with the exception of April and October, which had well above average rainfall.
There were five months with low sunshine hours and seven months with above sunshine hours. Possible sunshine for the year was above normal.
Overall, we started the 2011 year very warm and dry with above-average snowfall. After the rain that fell in April, the weather was characterized by being very warm, sunny and wet. The year ended warm, damp and with lots of sunshine and no snowfall.
Looking back over our 85 years of collecting weather data in East Wareham, we wanted to note that 3 of our top 5 years of warmest annual temperatures have occurred in the past 6 years and that 3 of our top 5 highest total annual rainfalls has occurred in the past 15 years.
December was very warm, sunny and dry. The temperature averaged 38.7 degrees, 4.8 degrees per day above normal. Maximum temperature was 60.0 degrees on the 6th; a minimum temperature of 13.0 degrees was recorded on the 19th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 48.0 degrees, 5.9 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 30.0 degrees, 4.3 degrees above the norm. This was our 4th warmest December in the 85 years of record keeping. Three of the 4 warmest Decembers have occurred in the past 10 years.
Precipitation totaled 3.34 inches, 1.15 inches below normal. We had 8 rain events spread out evenly during the month. Measurable rain of 0.10 inches or more was recorded on 5 days. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 1.85 inches on the 7th. Total rainfall for 2011 was 55.46 inches, 6.86 inches above average for East Wareham. There were no days with measurable snow this month. Last year we set the record for the highest monthly total snowfall for December, while this year was 1 of only 7 years in which there was 0.00 snowfall during the month of December in the 60 years of record keeping in East Wareham.
Sunshine for the month totaled 51% of possible, 5 points above the norm.
November was extremely warm and sunny with just under the average rainfall for the month. The temperature averaged 48.5 degrees, 5.3 degrees above normal. Maximum temperature was 72.0 degrees on the 8th; a minimum temperature of 25.0 degrees was recorded on the 6th.. Daytime high temperatures averaged 58.7 degrees, 7.3 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 38.2 degrees, 3.2 degrees above the norm. November 2011 averaged 5.5 degrees warmer than November 2010. The monthly average temperature for November tired with November 2006 for the 2nd warmest November, surpassed only by the record warmest average temperature for November; which was 51 degrees set in 1998.
Precipitation totaled 3.71 inches, 0.79 inches below normal and 0.90 inches less than 2010. Measurable rain of 0.10 inches or more was recorded on 5 days. The largest rainfall was over a 24-hour period with 2.09 inches on the 23rd. Year-to-date rainfall for 2011 is 52.12 inches, 8.02 inches above the year-to-date average for East Wareham. This is 2.41 inches above November 2010 year-to-date average for East Wareham. There was no recorded snowfall for the month of November in East Wareham. The average snowfall for November in East Wareham is 1.2 inches.
Sunshine totaled 60% of the possible, 13 points below average and 8 points higher than November 2010. There was only 1 day with full sunshine, 9 with 90% or more, and 3 days with near zero.
The official fall season Sept – Nov. 2011 was extremely warm, wet, and sunny. Temperatures averaged 56.8 degrees, 4.0 degrees above normal. A maximum temperature of 85.0 degrees was recorded on the 9th of October and a minimum temperature of 25.0 degrees was recorded on the 6th of November. Rainfall totaled 17.85 inches, 5.38 inches above normal. Average snowfall for the fall season for East Wareham is 1.2 inches; we have not received any snow this season. Sunshine was just 3 points above normal. Overall this season was 3.0 degrees warmer, 3.16 inches wetter, and much sunnier than the fall season of 2010.
October was extremely mild and wet, with just below average sunshine. The temperature averaged 56.0 degrees, 3.7 degrees per day above normal. This is the 7th warmest monthly average temperature for October since 1926, the record being 58.0 degrees set in 1990. Maximum temperature was 85.0 degrees on the 9th; a minimum temperature of 27.0 degrees was recorded on the 31st. Daytime high temperatures averaged 64.0 degrees, 2.7 degrees above the norm. Evening low temperatures averaged 47.0 degrees, 3.7 degrees above the norm. October 2011 was 2.3 degrees warmer than October 2010.
Sunshine totaled 52% of the possible sunshine hours, 1 point below the norm. We had 7 mostly clear days and 2 days with fog in East Wareham. Year-to-date sunshine is running well below the norm.
Precipitation totaled 9.16 inches, 5.27 inches above the 30-year average. This is the 3rd highest monthly rainfall for October since 1926, surpassed only by 9.34 inches in 1997 and 12.07 inches in 2005. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 2.42 inches on the 29th and 30th. This month’s rainfall was 2.35 inches more than rainfall in October 2010. Measurable rain was recorded on 14 days, 10 days of which measured rainfall was 0.10 or greater. Year-to-date rainfall for 2011 is 48.41 inches, 8.81 inches above average for East Wareham and 3.31 inches more than 2010. During the month, we also had one thunderstorm on the 14th. There was no reported snowfall on the Cape this month, but also noting, the very unusual storm that left massive amounts of snow, up to 31 inches, in certain locations in Northern and Western Massachusetts.
September was extremely warm and wet with below average sunshine. The temperature averaged 66.0 degrees, 3.0 degrees per day above normal. Maximum temperature was 82.0 degrees on the 26th; a minimum temperature of 45.0 degrees was recorded on the 17th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 74.0 degrees, which is 2.6 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 59.0 degrees, 4.5 degrees above the norm. This was the 8th warmest September in the 85 years of record keeping in East Wareham. Both 2010 and 2011 September’s average temperatures were in the top 10 highest years. The first 5 days of September were dry, followed by 3 days of rain, totaling 2.61 inches, followed by 10 dry days, ending the month with 5 days of humid, overcast, and wet days with daily fog.
Sunshine totaled 51% of the possible sunshine hours, 3 points below the norm. We only had 3 days with 90% or better sunshine, compared to the 13 days in September 2010 and 5 days with no sunshine at all. We also had 7 days with morning fog in East Wareham.
Precipitation totaled 4.98 inches, 0.92 inches above normal and 1.72 inches above last year’s September rainfall. We had measurable rain of 0.10 inches or greater on just 7 days, and 6 days with spotty showers and drizzle with less than 0.10 inches recorded. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 1.72 inches recorded on the 8th. There were two thunderstorms this month. Year-to-date rainfall for 2011 is 39.25 inches, 3.55 inches above average for East Wareham and 0.96 inches above 2010 total rainfall at the same time last year.
August had average temperatures and slightly above average rainfall, with lots of sunshine. The temperature averaged 72.0 degrees, 1.3 degrees per day above normal. Maximum temperature was 89.0 degrees on the 2nd and a minimum temperature of 55.0 degrees was recorded on the 30th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 81.0 degrees, 2.6 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 64.0 degrees, 1.1 degrees above the norm. Hurricane Irene passed west of our area as a tropical storm on August 28th. Irene brought damaging winds for our area with gusts up to 50 mph and heavy rain for western Massachusetts.
Sunshine totaled 58% of the possible sunshine hours, which is the norm. We had 17 mostly clear days, 5 partly cloudy days, and 9 cloudy days. We had 4 days with heavy morning fog in East Wareham.
Precipitation totaled 4.84 inches, 0.77 inches above normal. We had measurable precipitation on 11 days, and of those 11 days, 7 had measurable rainfall of 0.10 inches or more. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 2.22 inches, on the 15th. Year-to-date rainfall for 2011 has received 34.27 inches of rain, 3.37 inches above the yearly average for East Wareham and 0.76 inches lower than last year at this time. We had 3 thunderstorms and hail and damaging winds on the 28th from the passing of Tropical Storm Irene.
Official Summer Season
The official summer (June, July and August) was very warm, wet and sunny. The average temperature was 70.3 degrees, 0.93 degrees above the 30-year average and total rainfall with 13.79 inches, 2.92 inches above the normal precipitation. Sunshine average was 60% of possible hours, 3 points above the same as the sunshine for 2010. We had a maximum temperature of 99.0 degrees recorded on July 22nd and a minimum temperature of 43.7 degrees recorded on June 4th. Rainfall totaled 13.79 inches, 3.74 inches more than the 2010 summer season. This year’s summer rainfall was one of the top 15 wettest seasons in the 85 years of record keeping in East Wareham. The 2011 summer season will be remembered for Tropical Storm Irene on August 28th. The storm passed well west of this area, giving us steady winds and heavy tree damage. We had only 2 days this summer with 90 degrees or higher temperatures, 6 days less than 2010.
2011 Crop Forecast
New England Agricultural Statistics Service released the United States forecast for the 2011 cranberry crop. This year’s forecast is for 7.5 million barrels, up 10 percent from 2010. Massachusetts’ cranberry crop is forecasted to reach 2.10 million barrels (up 11 percent from 2010). New Jersey’s forecast is for 540,000 barrels (down 4 percent from 2010), Oregon: 385,000 barrels (up 33 percent from 2010), Washington: 173,000 barrels (up from 2010), and Wisconsin: 4.3 million barrels (up 9 percent from 2010).
July’s weather was hot and sunny with above average rainfall. The temperature averaged 73.0 degrees, 1.1 degrees above average and 2.0 degrees cooler than July 2010. Maximum temperature was 99.0 degrees, recorded on the 22nd, and a minimum temperature of 56.0 degrees was recorded on the 15st. Daytime high temperatures averaged 82.0 degrees, 2.4 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 65.0 degrees, 0.9 degrees above the norm. There were 6 days with temperatures above 85 degrees recorded this month.
Sunshine totaled 66% of the possible sunshine hours, 9 points above average. July 2010 was 11 points above the average. We had 7 days with 90% or greater of possible sunshine, while on 3 days we had less than 10% sunshine.
We recorded 4.46 inches of rainfall, which is 1.23 above the average for July. Rainfall was recorded on 8 days, and 4 of these days had measurable precipitation over 0.10 inches. The first 3.90 inches of rain came in the first half of the month, leaving the last half very dry. The largest 24-hour rainfall of 2.10 inches occurred on the 13th and 14th. Year-to-date rainfall for 2011 is 29.43 inches, 1.26 inches above average year-to-date rainfall for East Wareham and 1.01 inches below 2010 rainfall at this time. Thunderstorms were recorded on 4 days.
June had near average temperatures and sunshine, with above average rainfall. The temperature averaged 66.0 degrees, 0.4 degrees above average and 2.0 degrees below 2010. Maximum temperature was 88.0 degrees on the 8th and 9th; a minimum temperature of 44.0 degrees was recorded on the 5th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 74.0 degrees, 0.4 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 58.0 degrees, 0.5 degrees above the norm.
Sunshine totaled was 54% of the possible sunshine hours. This is 1 point less than the average sunshine.
Precipitation totaled 4.49 inches, which is 0.89 inches above normal. The total rainfall for April – June is 14.96 inches above the 30-year average for the same 3-month period and 9.18 inches above the same time period in 2010. We had measurable precipitation on 11 days, with 6 of those days having measurable precipitation greater than 0.10 inches. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 1.51 inches on the 12th. Year-to-date rainfall for 2011 is 24.97 inches, 0.47 inches above average for East Wareham. There were 4 thunderstorms and 1 day with reported hail.
