Cranberry Weather Summaries Archive

Format: 2024

2005

May

May was very wet and cold with well below average sunshine. The month of May was the 2 nd coldest and third wettest in our 79 years of records here in East Wareham. Temperatures averaged 50.9 degrees, surpassed only by 49.3 degrees in 1967. Rainfall totaled 8.41 inches of rain, surpassed in 1967 with 8.68 inches and 9.18 inches in 1948. The two months (May 1967 and May 2005) were very similar, both having continuous light rains from the 5 th through the 9 th, a dry period for about two weeks and then experiencing a very strong, cold, three day nor’easter on the 24 th-26 th, with 3 or more inches of rain accompanied by damaging winds.

The temperatures for May averaged 50.9 degrees, 5.0 degrees per day below normal and 6.0 degrees colder than last year. Maximum temperature was 73.0 degrees on the 28 th and a minimum temperature of 34.0 degrees was recorded on the 13 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 58.1 degrees, 7.8 degrees below the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 43.7 degrees, 2.1 degrees below the norm. Also, note worthy was that the daytime high did not go above 64 degrees until after the 28 th of the month.

Sunshine totaled 34% of the possible sunshine hours, 18 points below the norm. We had 10 days with no sunshine at all and 2 days with dense fog in East Wareham. This was the 2 nd lowest sunshine recorded for Blue Hill Observatory for the month of May, surpassed only by 31% sunshine recorded in 1886.

Precipitation totaled 8.41 inches. As noted above, this was the third wettest May on record, measuring 4.96 inches above normal. We had 13 days with measurable precipitation and a trace on one other day. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 2.44 inches on the 25 th, with a total of 3.11 inches over the 3 day nor’easter. Rainfall was 6.87 inches above average for the year to date in East Wareham. Last year at this time, rainfall was 5.62 inches below average, a difference of 12.49 inches between the two years.

The official spring (March-May) was cold and wet. Temperatures averaged 2.3 degrees below normal, with 7.1 inches above average rainfall and 16.5 inches above-average snowfall (due to the six snowstorms in March and the heavy rains in the nor’easter in May). Sunshine was also much below normal, but only due to the record low sunshine set in May. March and April both had above average sunshine.

April

April was mild, with periods of rain and quite sunny. The temperatures averaged 46.9 degrees, 1.2 degrees per day above normal. Maximum temperature was 72.0 degrees on the 21 st and a minimum temperature of 28.0 degrees was recorded on the 16 th and 17 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 56.5 degrees, 1.4 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 37.2 degrees, 0.9 degrees above the norm.

Sunshine totaled 60% of the possible sunshine hours, 11 points above the norm. We had 11 days with over 93% sunshine and only 1 day with dense fog here in East Wareham.

Precipitation totaled 4.16 inches. This is 0.12 inches below normal. We had measurable precipitation on 12 days and a trace on one other day. The largest 30-hour rainfall was 1.78 inches on the 2 nd and 3 rd. It rained sporadically nine out of the last ten days of the month in East Wareham. Year-to-date rainfall for 2005 stands at 18.83 inches; this is 1.91 inches above normal. Snowfall for the 2003-2004 winter season in East Wareham totaled 104.13 inches, 12.22 inches above the norm. The previous record snowfall in one season for East Wareham was recorded in 1995-1996 at 84.60 inches.

March

March roared in like a lion during a major snowstorm. On the whole, March was rather sunny, quite cold and wet. The temperatures averaged 33.0 degrees, 3.1 degrees per day below normal and 4 degrees below the average recorded in 2004. Maximum temperature was only 54.0 degrees on the 28th and a minimum temperature of 9.0 degrees was recorded on the 10 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 42.0 degrees, 3.0 degrees below the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 24.0 degrees, 3.0 degrees below the norm. We had 4 days (2 more then average) in March with high temperatures below 32 degrees and 27 nights (5 more then average) below 32 degrees. The first quarter year has been 0.9 degrees below normal, with an average of 30.5 degrees.

Sunshine totaled 56% of the possible sunshine hours, 8 points above the norm. Five days had no sunshine, yet ten days had over 94% sunshine. Sunshine data are from the Blue Hill Observatory.

Precipitation totaled 7.02 inches. This is 2.22 inches above normal. We had measurable precipitation on nine days. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 2.69 inches on the 28 th. We have received 14.67 inches of rainfall year to date, 2.03 inches above average for the year to date in East Wareham . There were six days with measurable snowfall totaling 23.20 inches, 16.6 inches above normal. The record snowfall for March was set in 1956 with 24.4 inches. The greatest snowfall for one storm came on the 1 st and 2 nd with 13.5 inches. The snowfall of March 1 st put us over the all time record of total snowfall in one season. The previous record snowfall in one season for East Wareham was recorded in 1995-1996 at 84.60 inches. At this time we now have a season total of 104.13 inches.

February

February was dry with above average sunshine and temperatures. The temperatures averaged 31.0 degrees, 2.0 degrees per day above normal. Maximum temperature was 54 degrees on the 16th and a minimum temperature of 4.0 degrees was recorded on the 1 st and 26 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 39.0 degrees, 0.3 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 23.0 degrees, 3.6 degrees above the norm. Temperatures for February 2005 were almost the same as February 2004.

Sunshine totaled 49% of the possible sunshine hours, 1 point over the norm. Sunshine was above norm but not like the 15 points above normal in February 2004.

Precipitation totaled 2.79 inches. This is 0.75 inches below normal. We had measurable precipitation on 7 days. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 0.50 inches on the 25 th. There were 5 days with measurable snowfall totaling 13.73 inches, 6.53 inches above normal. The greatest snowfall for one storm came on the 25 th with 9.75 inches. Year-to-date snowfall recorded in East Wareham is now at 80.93, just 3.7 inches below the all-time record. We ended the month on the 28 th with snow falling, which continued after midnight with an additional 11.5 inches of snow recorded on March 1 st. This put us well over the 84.60 inches of recorded snowfall for the 1995-1996 season here in East Wareham .

The official winter in East Wareham (Dec. 2004 - Feb. 2005) averaged 31.2 degrees, 1.2 degrees above normal. This is 1.3 degrees warmer than last season and 3.3 degrees warmer than the 2002 -2003 season. The low mark was -0.9 degrees on Jan. 29 th and the high was 65 degrees on Jan. 7 th. The coldest daily high was a bitter 14.0 degrees on Jan. 18 th. Sunshine was 44%, 3 points above normal. Precipitation totaled 12.28 inches, 0.24 inches above average. Snowfall totaled 80.93 inches, 61.13 inches above normal. This was attributed to the January blizzard of 2005 that yielded 27.5 inches of snow and sustained winds of 45 mph for a 12 hour period and gusts from 70 to 100 mph with a top speed of 101 mph.

January

January average out to be a cold, wet and snowy. The first half of the month was warm and wet. The temperatures for the month averaged 27.5 degrees, 1.5 degrees per day below normal and 6.5 degrees above January 2004. This was due to the warm start. Maximum temperature was 65 degrees on January 7th, just 2 degrees below the record high of 67 set in 1932. Minimum temperature of -0.9 degrees was recorded on the 29th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 36.0 degrees, 2.5 degrees below the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 19.0 degrees, 0.5 degrees below norm. There were thirteen days with day-time temperatures 32 degrees or below, the first below 32 day did not come until the 17th. Evening temperatures were under 32 degrees every night with the exception of January 3, 4, 13, & 14. There were also 3 nights with temperatures below zero.

Precipitation totaled about 4.86 inches. We were not able to get an accurate reading on the 23rd during the blizzard of 2005. This is 0.56 inches above normal. We had measurable precipitation on 15 days. Just about double the average 8 days. The largest 24-hour rainfall without the measurement on the 23 was 0.88 inches both on the 4th and 9th. We had snow cover on 21 days of the month. There were nine days with snowfall totaling 54.6 inches, an all time record snowfall for not only January but for any month. This record surpasses 29.75 inches set in January 1996, and the 31.0 inches recorded for the month of February in 1994. The largest 24 hour snowfall was 27.5 inches on the 22nd and 23rd of January surpasses the record single storm set in March 1960 of 18.9 inches. This storm was noted as the blizzard of 2005. Winds were sustain at 35 to 40 mph for a 12 hour period with gusts each hour running as high as 70+, 80+, 90+ and even a recorded gust here in East Wareham of 101 mph. Then we received another 12.35 inches of snow two days later on the 26th and 27th. Most towns on Cape Cod and Southeast Massachusetts came to a stand still for 5 days.

Sunshine totaled 41% of the possible sunshine hours, 5 points below the norm. Some different from 2004 when the sunshine was 12 points above normal.

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