Cranberry Weather Summaries Archive

Format: 2024

2010

May

May was very nice and dry with well above average temperatures and sunshine.  The temperatures for May averaged 60.0 degrees, 3.7 degrees per day above normal.  This was the second warmest May in 84 years of records, surpassed only by 1991 when a recorded average temperature of 60.4 degrees was recorded.  The maximum temperature was 84.0 degrees on the 26th and a minimum temperature of 34.0 degrees was recorded on the 11th.  Daytime high temperatures averaged 70.0 degrees, 5.2 degrees above the norm.  Evening temperatures averaged 50.0 degrees, 2.3 degrees above the norm. 

Sunshine totaled 66% of the possible sunshine hours, 10 points above the norm and 19% above May 2009. There were 10 days with 90% or better sunshine and only 3 days with no sunshine at all.  There were 5 days with fog in East Wareham. 

Precipitation totaled 2.16 inches, 1.54 inches below the average rainfall for May in East Wareham.  There were a total of 9 days with measurable precipitation.  The largest 24-hour rainfall was 1.51 inches on the 18th-19th.  Our total year-to-date rainfall is 24.98 inches, 4.08 inches above the average in East Wareham, and 2.57 inches above the amount measured at this point last year.  We had 3 days with thunderstorms and 1 day with damaging winds.

The official spring (March-May) had well above average temperatures, rainfall and sunshine.  Temperatures averaged 50.7 degrees, 4.2 degrees above average; rainfall totaled 17.20 inches, 4.52 inches above average (due to the extremely heavy rain in March) and snowfall totaled 4.0 inches, 1.80 inches below average.  Sunshine for the spring average was well above normal, coming in with 56% of possible, 6 points over the normal.  While sunshine during March was slightly below average, April and May were well above average.

April

April was very warm, dry and sunny this year.  The temperature averaged 50.0 degrees, 4.1 degrees above normal.  This is the second warmest April recorded in the 84 years of data collection here in East Wareham, surpassed only by 1945 with an average of 50.8 degrees.  The maximum temperature was 76.0 degrees on the 30th (9 degrees lower than the 85 degree recorded in 2009) and a minimum temperature of 34.0 degrees was recorded on the 28st.  Daytime high temperatures averaged 60.0 degrees, 5.8 degrees above the norm.  Evening low temperatures averaged 40.0 degrees, 2.5 degrees above the norm.  The first half of the month day time temperatures averaged 62 degrees, 5 degrees warmer than the second half of the month.

Sunshine totaled 59% of the possible sunshine hours, 10 points above the norm and 4 points above April 2009.  We had 6 days with virtually no sun, and only 6 days had over 90% sunshine.

Precipitation totaled 1.52 inches, which is 2.87 inches below normal.  This is 4.72 inches less than April 2009 in East Wareham.  We had measurable precipitation on 9 days.  The largest 24-hour rainfall was 0.43 inches on the 10th.  The highest rainfall in one storm was 0.56 inches over a two-day period.  Year-to-date rainfall for 2010 stands at 22.82 inches; this is 5.62 inches above normal and 6.60 inches above the 2009 year-to-date rainfall at this point.  We did experience heavy fog on 4 days during April.

In the past 10 years, we averaged 34.07 inches of snowfall during the winter season. Snowfall recorded during the winter season of 2009-2010 in East Wareham was 43.55 inches, 11.20 inches above the average.  This is 1.98 inches less than the winter season of 2008-2009.

March

March was much like a lion for the first half of the month, during which time we experienced mixed snow, rain and winds the first five days and then on the 13-15th, a Northeaster delivered 5.37 inches of rain, damaging winds and fog.  On the whole, however, March had a record high average temperature, near record precipitation and below average sunshine. The temperatures averaged 42.2 degrees, 5.1 degrees per day above the average.  This was a record high average surpassing the old record of 41.9 degrees in 2000.   Maximum temperature was 67.0 degrees on the 18th and a minimum temperature of 24.0 degrees was recorded on the 28th.  Daytime high temperatures averaged 50.8 degrees, 5.6 degrees above the norm.  Evening temperatures averaged 33.7 degrees, 4.5 degrees above the norm. 

Sunshine totaled 46% of the possible sunshine hours, 2 points below the norm, and 11 points below last year.   Sunshine data is from the Blue Hills Observatory.  Year-to-date sunshine for 2010 is 49% of the possible. 

Precipitation totaled 13.52 inches. This is 8.96 inches above normal and is the second largest rainfall recorded for the month of March in East Wareham, surpassed only by 13.82 inches in 2001.  We had measurable precipitation of 0.10 inches or greater on thirteen days.  The largest 24-hour rainfall was 3.55 inches on the 13th - 14th.  We had two major rainstorms this month; on the 13th-15th, we received a total of 5.37 inches, creating much flooding, and again on the 29th-31st, we received another 4.18 inches with added flooding.  We have received a total of 21.30 inches of rainfall year-to-date, totaling 8.50 inches above average for East Wareham.  We had three days with measurable snowfall during the month, totaling 4.0 inches, just 0.7 below average, all in the first 5 days of the month.  The 2009–2010 winter season snowfall recorded in East Wareham is now at 44.55 inches.  This will come in as 13.15 inches above the average snowfall in East Wareham.

February

February was warm with above average rainfall, well below average snowfall and slightly below average sunshine.  The temperatures averaged 32.0 degrees, 2.0 degrees above normal.  The maximum temperature was 49.0 degrees on the 20th and a minimum temperature of 14.0 degrees was recorded on the 7th.  Daytime high temperatures averaged 39.0 degrees, 0.8 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 26.0 degrees, 4.3 degrees above the norm.  There were no nights with single digit temperatures recorded in February, and all but one night had temperatures below 32 degrees. 

Sunshine totaled 49% of the possible sunshine hours, one point below the norm.  Five days had almost full sunshine while 9 days had no sunshine data recorded at all.

Precipitation totaled 4.15 inches. This was 0.43 inches below normal.  We had measurable precipitation on 8 days, accruing mostly in the last 5 days of the month. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 1.36 inches on the 26th.  There were 4 days with measurable snowfall totaling 7.20 inches, 2.2 inches below normal.  This snowfall came in the first half of the month. The greatest snowfall for one storm came on the 11th with 5.20 inches.  Year-to-date snowfall recorded in East Wareham is now 15.95 inches.

The official winter in East Wareham (Dec. 2009 - Feb. 2010) was warm with above average precipitation and sunshine. The season temperatures averaged 31.3 degrees, 0.5 degrees above normal.  The low mark was 8.0 degrees on Jan. 10th and the high mark was 64 degrees on Dec. 3rd.  The coldest daily high was 21.0 degrees on Jan. 29th.  Sunshine was 51%, 2 points above normal.  Precipitation totaled 13.70 inches, 0.95 inches above average.  Snowfall totaled 39.55 inches, 15.15 inches above normal.  Most of the snowfall came in December.  December actually turned out to be the wettest, snowiest, warmest and sunniest month of the official winter season.  January was the coolest and driest, while February had the least amount of snowfall and sunshine for the season.

January

January was just slightly above average in temperature with below average rain and snowfall and above average sunshine.  The average temperature was 29.0 degrees, 0.3 degrees above normal.  January 2010 was about 3 degrees warmer than 2009.  The maximum temperature was 56.0 degrees on January 25th.   A minimum temperature of 8.0 degrees was recorded on the 10th and 30th.  Daytime high temperatures averaged 37.0 degrees, right on the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 21.0 degrees, 0.7 degrees above the norm.  Daytime high temperatures were below 32 degrees on 8 days.  Evening temperatures were 32 degrees or below for all but one night.  There were only 3 nights with temperatures in the single digits.

Precipitation totaled 3.63 inches.  This is 0.91 inches below normal. We had measurable precipitation on 12 days; 6 of those days had less than 0.05 inches.  The largest 24-hour rainfall was 1.67 inches on the 17th and 18th.  We had measurable snowfall of 0.10 inches or greater on 6 days, all of which came in the first 9 days of the month, totaling 8.25 inches for the month, 1.45 inches below average.  The largest 24-hour snowfall was 3.0 inches on the 3rd of January.  We had snow cover on the ground the first 16 days of January.  The first week of the month was cool and snowy; the next two weeks had warmer temperatures with 2 major rain storms, both of which had very strong and damaging winds.  However, the windiest day was the 29th with 25 mph winds and peak gusts of more than 50 mph.  The month ended with falling temperatures and bright sunshine. 

Sunshine totaled 49% of the possible sunshine hours, 3 points above the normal and 8 points below last January.

2009

2009 Year in Review

The year 2009 was cool with well above average rainfall, below average sunshine and record snowfall during the month of December.  Temperatures averaged 49.6 degrees, 0.3 degrees below the 30-year average in East Wareham.  The average monthly temperature was above normal only 4 out of 12 months of the year.  The maximum temperature for the year was recorded on August 10th and 18th at 90 degrees.  The minimum temperature of -1.0 degrees was recorded on February 6th.  We started the year with 21.25 inches of snow in January and ended the year with record snowfall of 23.60 inches of snow in December.  February was very sunny much like 2008 while June was one of the cloudiest months with very low sunshine.  The months of May, June and July all had low sunshine and above average rainfall.  The fall continued with the very wet and cloudy conditions.

The official winter of December 2008 – February 2009 was above average in temperature, sunshine and  rainfall.  Snowfall for the winter of 2008 - 2009 in East Wareham was 46.53 inches.  Our yearly average snowfall is 31.40 inches in East Wareham. The record low snowfall was set in 1997 with only 5.07 inches of snow.  The official spring 2009 had slightly above average temperatures, rainfall, and sunshine hours.  The official summer of 2009 was very cold and wet with well below average sunshine.  The official fall season for 2009 was mild and wet with low sunshine.    

By the end of December, precipitation totaled 63.99 inches, 15.16 inches above normal.  October was the wettest month with 8.66 inches of rainfall.  The driest month was February with 1.43 inches of rain.  December had a record snowfall in 2009, with 23.60 inches in just 2 storms.  This set two new records: one for highest monthly total snowfall in December, surpassing the record set in 1954 of 19.15 inches and one for the highest daily snowfall with 22.00 inches of snow on December 20th, surpassing the record set in 2009 of 10.5 inches.

Sunshine hours for the year totaled 51%.  There were five months of the year with low sunshine hours.  The total possible sunshine for the year was very close to normal.

Overall, we started the 2009 year very warm and dry with above-average snowfall.  After the rain that fell in April, the weather was characterized by being cool, cloudy and extremely wet until December.  The year ended with lots of sun, very wet conditions and with well above average snowfall.

December

December was cool and sunny with record snowfall.  The temperature averaged 33.0 degrees, 0.9 degrees per day below normal.  Maximum temperature was 64.0 degrees on the 3rd; a minimum temperature of 9.0 degrees was recorded on the 23rd.  Daytime high temperatures averaged 41.0 degrees, 1.1 degrees below the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 25.0 degrees, 0.7 degrees below the norm.  

Precipitation totaled 5.92 inches, 1.43 inches above normal.  We had 11 rain events spread out evenly during the month.  Measurable rain of 0.10 inch or more was recorded on 8 days.  The largest 24-hour rainfall was 1.53 inches on the 3rd.  Year-to-date rainfall for 2009 was 63.93 inches, 15.16 inches above average for East Wareham.  We also had 3 days with measurable snow, totaling 23.60 inches for the month, which is 18.80 inches above normal.  The largest snowfall was on December 20th with 22.0 inches.  This set a new record for the highest daily total snowfall in December, surpassing the 2008 record of 10.5 inches and a record for highest monthly total snowfall for December, surpassing the 1995 record of 16.0 inches.

Sunshine for the month totaled 52% of possible, 6 points above the norm.

November

November was a very warm, sunny and dry month.  The temperature averaged 48.0 degrees, 4.8 degrees above normal, and 6.0 degrees above 2008.  Maximum temperature was 66.0 degrees on the 8th, a minimum temperature of 27.0 degrees was recorded on the 7th..  Daytime high temperatures averaged 55.0 degrees, 3.6 degrees above the norm.  Evening temperatures averaged 41.0 degrees, 6.0 degrees above the norm.

Precipitation totaled 2.65 inches, 1.87 inches below normal. The first 13 days of the month were very dry.   Measurable rain of 0.10 inches or more was recorded on 6 days.  The largest 24-hour rainfall was 0.81 inches on the 20th.  Year-to-date rainfall for 2009 is 58.07 inches, 13.97 inches above the year-to-date average for East Wareham.  This is 9.38 inches above November 2008 year-to-date average for East Wareham.  We had no snowfall for the month of November in East Wareham. The average snowfall for November in East Wareham is 1.2 inches.

Sunshine totaled 39% of the possible, 9 points below average.  There was only 1 day with full sunshine and 8 days with none.

The official fall season Sept – Nov. 2009 was very wet with average temperatures and below average sunshine.  Temperatures averaged 53.3 degrees, 0.5 degrees above normal.  A maximum temperature of 79 degrees was recorded on the 24th of September and a minimum temperature of 27.0 degrees was recorded on the 7th of November.  Rainfall totaled 19.84 inches, 7.37 inches above normal.  Average snowfall for the fall season for East Wareham is 1.2 inches; we have not received any measurable snow this season.  Sunshine was just 5 points below normal.

October

October was cold, extremely wet with well below average sunshine. The temperature averaged 51.0 degrees, 1.3 degrees per day below normal, the same as October 2008.  Maximum temperature was 72.0 degrees on the 7th; a minimum temperature of 31.0 degrees was recorded on the 20th.  Daytime high temperatures averaged 60.0 degrees, 1.3 degrees below the norm.  Evening low temperatures averaged 42.0 degrees, 1.2 degrees below the norm. 

On the 7th, 18th and 24th, there were very high winds.  Wind gusts above 25 mph were recorded on 6 days.

Sunshine totaled 41% of the possible sunshine hours, 14 points below the norm.  We had 10 mostly clear days and only 1 day with morning fog in East Wareham.  Year-to-date sunshine is running just slightly below the norm.

Precipitation totaled 8.66 inches, 4.77 inches above the 30-year average. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 2.59 inches on the 3rd.   This is the third highest rainfall recorded in the 83 years of records for October in East Wareham, with the record being 12.07 inches in 2005.  Measurable rain was recorded on 14 days.  Year-to-date rainfall for 2009 is 55.42 inches, 16.82 inches above average for East Wareham and 12.41 inches more than 2008.  There was no reported snowfall in Southeast New England this month.

September

September was extremely cold and wet with above average sunshine.  The temperature averaged 61.0 degrees, 2.0 degrees per day below normal.  Maximum temperature was 79.0 degrees on the 24th; a minimum temperature of 41.0 degrees was recorded on the 26th.  Daytime high temperatures averaged 71.0 degrees, which is 0.4 degree below the norm.  Evening temperatures averaged 52.0 degrees, 2.5 degrees below the norm.  This was the 14th coolest September in the 83 years of record keeping in East Wareham. 

Sunshine totaled 62% of the possible sunshine hours, 6 points above the norm.  We had 12 days with 90% or better sunshine; 10 with mixed sun and clouds and 8 days with 20% or less sunshine.  There were 2 days with morning fog in East Wareham.

Precipitation totaled 8.53 inches, 4.47 inches above normal.  This was the 5th highest rainfall for September in the 83 years of records in East Wareham.  On the whole, September was dry with only two rain events.  The first 11 days of the month were dry followed by 36 hours of rain totaling 7.42 inches.  The next 13 days were dry when the second rain event deposited 1.10 inches of rain over a 48-hour period.  Year-to-date rainfall for 2009 is 46.76 inches, 10.86 inches above average for East Wareham and 6.12 inches above 2008 total rainfall at the same time last year.

August

August had above-average temperatures and rainfall, with lots of sunshine.  The temperature averaged 72.0 degrees, 1.3 degrees per day above normal.  Maximum temperature was 90.0 degrees on the 10th and 18th and a minimum temperature of 55.0 degrees was recorded on the 8th, 9th, 30th and 31st. Daytime high temperatures averaged 80.0 degrees, 1.6 degrees above the norm.  Evening temperatures averaged 65.0 degrees, 2.1 degrees above the norm. 

Sunshine totaled 64% of the possible sunshine hours, 6 points above the norm.  We had 14 mostly clear days, 8 partly cloudy days, and 9 cloudy days.  We also had 7 days with heavy morning fog in East Wareham.

Precipitation totaled 5.34 inches, 1.27 inches above normal.  We had measurable precipitation on 9 days, and of those 9 days, only 5 had measurable rainfall of 0.10 inches or more.  The largest 24-hour rainfall was 3.00 inches when a tropical storm passed by the outer cape, on the 28th and 29th.  Year-to-date rainfall for 2009 is 38.23 inches, 6.50 inches above the yearly average for East Wareham and 7.42 inches above last year at this time. 

Official Summer Season

The official summer (June, July and August) averaged 67.3 degrees, 2.1 degrees below the 30-year average.  The summer was very wet, 7.11 inches above normal precipitation (due to the very wet July).  Sunshine average was 47% of possible hours, 9 points below the average (due to the very cloudy June).  We had a maximum temperature of 90 degrees recorded on the August 10th and 18th and a minimum temperature of 42 degrees recorded on June 1st.  Rainfall totaled 17.98 inches, 8.15 inches more than the 2008 summer season.  The 2009 summer season will be remembered for the near record low temperatures and sunshine for June and record setting rainfall recorded in July.

2009 Crop Forecast

New England Agricultural Statistics Service released the United States forecast for the 2009 cranberry crop on August 18th in Carver, MA.  This year’s forecast is for 7.09 million barrels, up 10 percent from 2008.  Massachusetts’ cranberry crop is forecasted to reach 1.90 million barrels, down 20 percent from 2008.  New Jersey’s forecast is for 540,000 barrels (up 5 percent from 2008), Oregon: 490,000 barrels (up 23 percent from 2008), Washington: 155,000 barrels (up 42 percent from 2008), and Wisconsin: 4.00 million barrels (down 11 percent from 2008).   For Massachusetts, cooler temperatures and above average rainfall during the growing season reduced pollination.  Frost in late spring damaged some bogs as well as winter sanding contributed to the decrease projection in production.

July

July was very cold and wet with very low sunshine.  The temperature averaged 69.0 degrees, 2.9 degrees below average and 5.0 degrees cooler than July 2008.  The maximum temperature of 86.0 degrees was recorded on the 30th, and a minimum temperature of 48.0 degrees was recorded on the 10th.  Daytime high temperatures averaged 77.0 degrees, 2.6 degrees below the norm.  Evening temperatures averaged 61.0 degrees, 3.1 degrees below the norm. 

Sunshine totaled 51% of the possible sunshine hours, 6 points below average.  2008 was 4 points above the average.  We did have 5 days with dense fog in East Wareham.

Total precipitation for July in East Wareham set an all-time record.  We recorded 8.23 inches; this is 5.0 inches above normal.  We surpassed the record of 7.20 set in 1988.  The next highest rainfall for July was set in 1928 with 5.87 inches.  Rainfall was recorded on 12 days, and ten of these days had measurable precipitation over 0.10 inches.  The largest 24-hour rainfall of 1.80 inches occurred on the 18th.  Year-to-date rainfall for 2009 is 35.89 inches, 5.89 inches above average for East Wareham.  Thunder storms were recorded on four days.

June

June was very damp, with well below average temperatures and sunshine.  The temperature averaged 61.0 degrees, 4.6 degrees below average and 7.5 degrees below 2008.  Maximum temperature was 82.0 degrees on the 7th; a minimum temperature of 42.0 degrees was recorded on the 1st.  Daytime high temperatures averaged 69.0 degrees, 4.6 degrees below the norm.  Evening temperatures averaged 55.0 degrees, 2.5 degrees below the norm. This was the third coldest June recorded in East Wareham, surpassed only by 1926 (60.2 degrees) and 1982 (59.7 degrees).
     
Sunshine totaled only 27% of the possible sunshine hours, 2nd lowest total sunshine recorded for June, surpassed only by June 1903 with 25%.  We had 0 days with 90% or greater possible sunshine recorded at Blue Hill; 11 days with less than 50% sunshine and 11 days with 0 sunshine.
  
Precipitation totaled 4.41 inches, which is 0.84 inches above normal.  We had measurable precipitation on 17 days, with 13 of those days having measurable precipitation greater than 0.10 inches.  We had a three-day Nor’easter with strong winds and heavy rain on June 21 – 23.  The largest 24-hour rainfall was 1.05 inches on the 19th followed by the Nor’easter, totaling 1.26 inches.  Year-to-date rainfall for 2009 is 24.66 inches, 0.16 inches above average for East Wareham and 0.81 inches more than 2008.

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