Cranberry Weather Summaries Archive

Format: 2024

2006

May

May was very wet with average temperature and below average sunshine. The month of May was the fourth wettest in our 79 years of records in East Wareham. The temperatures for May averaged 56.5 degrees, 0.2 degrees per day above normal and 6.4 degrees warmer than last year. The maximum temperature was 80.0 degrees on the 27 th and a minimum temperature of 39.0 degrees was recorded on the 8 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 64.5 degrees, 0.3 degrees below the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 48.5 degrees, 0.8 degrees above the norm.

Sunshine totaled 43% of the possible sunshine hours, 9 points below the norm. We had 12 days with no sunshine at all and 7 days with dense fog in East Wareham.

Precipitation totaled 7.14 inches. As noted above, this was the fourth wettest May on record, measuring 3.69 inches above normal. This rainfall total is surpassed only three times; in 2005 with 8.41 inches, 1967 with 8.68 inches and 9.18 inches in 1948. We had 10 days with measurable precipitation of 0.10 inches or greater and 4 days with a trace to 0.10 inches. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 3.00 inches on the 13 th - 14 th with a total of 4.05 inches over the 3-day nor’easter. Due to the very dry March and April, our total year to date rainfall is 1.11 inches below the average in East Wareham.

The official spring (March-May) was warm and dry. Temperatures averaged 2.6 degrees above normal, with 2.78 inches below-average rainfall and 2.2 inches above average snowfall for this period. Sunshine was also above normal, with a sunny March and April and a very cloudy May.

April

April was mild, dry and quite sunny. The temperature averaged 47.2 degrees, 1.3 degrees above normal. The maximum temperature was 69.0 degrees on the 19 th and a minimum temperature of 28.0 degrees was recorded on the 9 th and 10 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 57.3 degrees, 3.1 degrees above the norm. Evening low temperatures averaged 36.9 degrees, 0.6 degrees below the norm.

Sunshine totaled 56% of the possible sunshine hours, 7 points above the norm. We had 7 days with over 90% sunshine and only 1 day with dense fog in East Wareham.

Precipitation totaled 2.13 inches, which is 2.26 inches below normal. We had measurable precipitation on 12 days, with only 4 days measuring over 0.10 inches. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 0.67 inches on the 8 th. Year-to-date rainfall for 2006 stands at 12.12 inches; this is 4.6 inches below normal and 6.71 inches below the year to date rainfall at this point in 2005.

In the past 10 years, we averaged 37.93 inches of snowfall during the winter season. The winter season of 2005-2006 snowfall recorded in East Wareham is 34.08 inches, just 3.85 inches short of the average. Please note that if we were to remove the record snowfall of 2004-2005 (104.13 inches), our 2004-2005 snowfall of 34.08 inches would be 5.89 inches above the current 10-year average of 28.19 inches and 2.68 inches above the 30-year average of 31.40 inches.

March

March roared in like a lion and went out like a lamb when it came to temperatures this year. On the whole, March was very sunny and extremely dry. The temperatures averaged 37.5 degrees, 4.5 degrees per day above last year. Maximum temperature was only 64.0 degrees on the 30th and a minimum temperature of 17.0 degrees was recorded on the 4th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 47.0 degrees, 1.8 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 28.0 degrees, 1.2 degrees below the norm.

Sunshine totaled 60% of the possible sunshine hours, 12 points above the norm. Three days had no sunshine, yet six days had over 95% sunshine. Sunshine data are from the Blue Hill Observatory.

Precipitation totaled 0.59 inches. This is 4.21 inches below normal. This is also an all time record for the driest March in the 80 years of data collecting here at the East Wareham . The past record was 1.12 inches of rainfall in March of 1962. We had measurable precipitation of 0.10 or greater rainfall on two days. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 0.42 inches on the 3 rd. We have received 9.99 inches of rainfall year to date, totaling 2.65 inches below average for the year to date in East Wareham . The only recorded snowfall for the month was 8.0 inches on March 2 nd. Year-to-date snowfall recorded in East Wareham is now at 34.08 inches.

Personnel

Dr. Justine Vanden Heuvel traveled to Davis, CA to attend the Review Panel Meeting on March 4 th. Dr. Hilary Sandler traveled to San Antonio , TX to attend the National Viticulture Extension Leadership Conference, March 28-30th. Dr. Frank Caruso traveled to Philadelphia , PA to meet with other researchers to discuss PMAP projects on March 30-31.

February

February was dry and windy, with above average sunshine and temperatures. The temperatures averaged 31.3 degrees, 1.3 degrees per day above normal. Maximum temperature was 56 degrees on the 5th and a minimum temperature of 9.0 degrees was recorded on the 28 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 39.6 degrees, 1.4 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 23.0 degrees, 1.3 degrees above the norm. Temperatures for February 2006 were almost the same as February 2004 and 2005. Sustained winds of 10mph or better were recorded on 9 days. There were wind gusts above 20 mph every day. Wind gusts above 50 mph were recorded on six days, topping out at 75 mph winds on the 12 th.

Sunshine totaled 64% of the possible sunshine hours, 14 points over the norm. Sunshine was above the norm, very much like the 15 points above normal in February 2004.

Precipitation totaled 2.38 inches. This is1.34 inches below normal. We had measurable precipitation on 8 days. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 0.68 inches on the 5 th. There were 3 days with measurable snowfall totaling 12.50 inches, 3.1 inches above normal. The greatest snowfall for one storm came on the 12 th with 12.0 inches. Year-to-date snowfall recorded in East Wareham is now 26.08 inches.

The official winter in East Wareham (Dec. 2005 - Feb. 2006) averaged 33.9 degrees, 3.0 degrees above normal. This is 2.7 degrees warmer than last season. The low mark was 9.0 degrees on Feb. 28 th and the high mark was 59 degrees on Jan. 18 th. The coldest daily high was a bitter 24.0 degrees on Feb. 27 th. Sunshine was 52%, 5 points above normal. Precipitation totaled 12.60 inches, 0.56 inches above average. Snowfall totaled 24.93 inches, 0.53 inches above normal.

Personnel

Dr. Frank Caruso traveled to Oregon as a guest speaker at the Oregon and Washington Cranberry Growers Association Meeting, February 4 -10 th. Dr. Frank Caruso, Dr. Hilary Sandler and Marty Sylvia traveled to Phoenix AZ to attend the 2006 IR-4 National Training Conference, Feb. 28 – March 2.

January

January averaged out to be a warm and wet month. The temperature average out at 37.5 degrees, 8.8 degrees above average. The maximum temperature was 59 degrees on January 18 th, just 6 degrees below last year’s high of 65 degrees. A minimum temperature of 11.0 degrees was recorded on the 26 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 45.0 degrees, 8.0 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 30.0 degrees, 9.7 degrees above the norm. There was only one days with day-time high temperatures below 32 degrees. Evening temperatures were below 32 degrees for only 18 nights. There were only 2 nights in the teens and no single digit or below zero temperatures recorded this month.

Precipitation totaled 7.02 inches. This is 2.48 inches above normal. We had measurable precipitation on 17 days; 7 of those days were less than 0.10 inches. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 2.58 inches on the 14 th -15 th. We had measurable snowfall of 0.10 inches or greater on 4 days of the month totaling 3.68 inches, 6.52 inches below average. All snow cover lasted for less than 24 hours. The largest 24-hour snowfall was 1.6 inches on the 23 rd of January.

Sunshine totaled 39% of the possible sunshine hours, 7 points below the norm.

Personnel

Dr. Sandler traveled to Providence RI to attend the Northeastern Weed Science Society 60 th Annual Meeting, from January 3rd to January 6th. Dr. DeMoranville and Dr. Vanden Heuvel traveled to Ithaca NY to attend the 2006 Northeast Region American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Meeting, from January 5th to January 7th. Dr. DeMoranville traveled to Wisconsin to attend the Wisconsin Cranberry Growers’ School as a guest speaker, from January 24th to January 25th. Dr. Caruso traveled to New Jersey to attend the American Cranberry Growers’ Association Meeting as a guest speaker, from January 24th to January 26th.

2005

Year in Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

December

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

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

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

November

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

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

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

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

October

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

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

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

September

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

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

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

August

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

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

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

Official Summer Season

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

2005 Crop Forecast

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

July

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

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

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

June

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

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

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

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