May was another dry month
The total precipitation for May was 1.95 inches, which is only 55% of normal. April was drier than normal, so the two month deficit is 1.85 inches.

Despite the fact that precipitation was noted on nineteen days, it amounted to less than one quarter of an inch on all but one day; with the 1.07 inches measured on the morning of the 17th being the greatest daily total for the month.

This dry weather is not the way to be going into warmer and normally drier summer months. Unless it is a wet summer, evaporation exceeds precipitation, so soil moisture will continue to get drier.

The average temperature for the month of 56.3° was 0.9° below normal due to the many cloudy days. The high for the month of 81°, on the 27th, was lower than the high temperature of 85° noted in April. The last frost of the season was observed on the 1st, when it dropped to 28°.

Generally, it will be frost free until early October.

-- John Anderson

April had a delightful stretch of early summer weather
The most memorable part of the weather for the month was the ten day stretch of early summer weather between the 16th and the 25th.

That period saw every day at or above 67°, with a maximum of 85°, on the 23rd. The average high temperature was 73.9°, which is 12.4° above normal, and normal for June 2.

The average for the period was 57.0°, which is 7.2° on the mild side. Large ranges in daily temperatures were noted with three days having a diurnal of 40° or more, with the greatest being 44°, on the 18th, when it rose from a morning low of 32° to an afternoon high of 76°.

The carnival was in town that week, with no rain falling on the event. This was very unusual.

The month as a whole, with an average of 50.0º, was 2.8° above normal. Total precipitation was 3.86 inches, which is 94% of normal. The only record temperature set was a high minimum of 60°, on the 24th.

-- John Anderson

 

March continued a wet, mild pattern
March was the third consecutive month with above normal temperatures.

After a below normal November, the odds favored a below normal winter, which did not happen. In March, only three of the first sixteen days were below normal, while only two of the last fifteen were above normal. During those two periods, the temperature went from 4.6° above to 2.4° below the average. Despite the fact that the average increases ten degrees from the 1st to the 31st, the coldest days were at month's end. The high of 37° on the 29th was the coldest of the entire month, while the low of 19° on the 30th tied with three other days.

The average temperature for the month was 37.8°, which is 1.1° above normal. The only daily temperature record set was the high overnight low of 41° on the 4th.

Precipitation totaled 5.29 inches, which is 124% of normal and brings the last two months total to 13.46 inches, which is 5.51 inches on the wet side. A two day rain storm on the 8th and 9th brought two and one half inches of rain. Needless to say, ponds and low areas are full.

Snow fall for the month amounted to only 4.1 inches bringing the winters total to 54.2 inches. While northern New England measures their snow fall in feet, we got mostly rain. The ice went off most local ponds by mid month.

 



Wettest February on record
After a snowy December and a mild January, February decided to turn very wet.

The total precipitation for the month of 8.17 inches was the wettest for any February since local records began in 1948, surpassing the 7.52 inches measured in 1984.

The wettest day was 2.43 inches measured on the morning of the 14th. This was the second wettest February day of record, after 2.60 inches on the 7th, in the Blizzard of 1978. Precipitation was noted on nineteen days, with 6.33 inches falling in the first two weeks of the month.

Although most of the precipitation was in the form of rain, 14.6 inches of snow fell. The snowfall was scattered over several events, with the most bring 6.7 inches on the morning of the 23rd.

The month’s temperatures were divided into two portions.  The average for the month was 30.8°, which is 1.8° above normal. The first nineteen days were 5.3° above normal, while the last nine were 4.8° below normal. The high for the month was 60°, on the 18th, while the low was 5°, on the 29th.

The three winter months had an average temperature of 30.3°, which is 1.2° above normal. The total precipitation of 17.10 inches was 5.21 inches above normal, and the total snowfall of 49.4 inches was fifteen inches above normal.

The month of March brings definite spring warming, along with the lingering effects of winter. The average daily maximum and minimum temperatures rise from 41° and 23° on the first, to 52° and 32° on the 31st. Ten years ago the temperature rose to 90° on the 31st.

-- John Anderson

 

A mild January after a cold December

As November goes, so goes the winter.

Generally, the pattern set by November is followed through the winter. November was cold, but that has changed.

The first 21 days of December, the days prior to winter, were 5.2° below normal; while the last ten days, which were the first days of winter, were 5.5° above normal. The average temperature for January was 30.5°, which is 3.5° on the mild side, and 0.9° above the December average.

It is unusual when January is warmer than December. Most of this warmth occurred in the week between the 6th and the 12th, when the average of 44° was 17° above normal. Since then it has been closer to the average, with eleven days on the mild side and eight days on the cool side.

The high for the month was 64° on the 8th  which was a new record for the date, and the low was 1° on the 4th. The high and low of 60° and 45° on the 9th were both record warm temperatures for the date.

After a wet December, the total precipitation for January of 3.00 inches was 0.75 inches below normal. The total snowfall of  9.0 inches is about 70% of normal.

The wet, damaging snow storm of the 14th accounted for 6.2 inches of the month’s total, and was the weather highlight of the month.

--John Anderson

Global warming hibernated in December 2007

December was cold, wet, and snowy. The average temperature of 29.6°, was 1.8° below normal but far warmer than the record cold December 1989 average of 18.7°.

Only two of the first 21 days were slightly above average. As fall came to an end and winter started, the pattern changed and none of the last ten days were below normal. The last ten days averaged nearly 8 degrees warmer than the first twenty one.

The high temperature of 26° on the 2nd  was a new record low maximum for the date. The high for the month was 53°, on the 24th; while the low was 2°, on the 18th.

Total snowfall of 25.8 inches was the fourth greatest for December after 1970, 1981, and 2003, which was the record December with 29.4 inches. There was a continuous snow cover since the morning of the 3rd, which is very unusual for so early in the season. Snow was recorded on fourteen days, with measurable snow being recorded on nine days. Christmas Day saw 11 inches on the ground, which was the most since 1995.

Precipitation was observed on twenty one days. The longest stretch without precipitation was only two days, which occurred three times. The total for the month was 5.88 inches, which was 138% of normal. The total for the year was 43.51 inches, which was 94% of normal. The average temperature for the year of 50.6°, was 0.9° above normal but cooler that 2006. The high for the year was 94°, on four days; while the low was 1°, on January 26.

-- John Anderson

 

 

Coldest November in 11 years
After record warmth last November, this past month was 7.4 degrees colder, and the coldest November since 1997, with an average temperature of 40.0.

After the high for the month of 68 degrees, on the 1st, ten of the next eleven days were below normal, followed by three days above normal, six more below normal, and a mix for the last nine days.

The high temperature of 65 on Thanksgiving Day, the 22nd, was the only daily record established. The low for the month was 17, on the 24th.

Only three of the last fifteen days reached 50, and only three days did not drop below freezing. In the last 30 years, November has been colder only six times. Two of those occurrences were followed by mild winters, while the other four were below normal.

Snowfall was below normal on the two mild winters, and slightly below normal on the coldest winter of the other four. The remaining three cold winters had above normal snowfall. So, a forecast based on statistics would be for the winter to be colder and snowier than normal.

Total precipitation for the month was 3.05 inches, which was only 68 percent of normal. The first measurable snow of the season was the 0.7 inches that fell on the morning of the 20th.

-- John Anderson

October was a month of record warmth
With an average temperature of 58.0 degrees, October entered the record books as the warmest October since local records began in 1948, smashing the previous record of  55.9 degrees, in 1990.

Only eight days were slightly below normal.  Of the remaining 23 days, eleven were more than ten degrees on the warm side. New daily high temperature records were set on the 4th, 5th, and 6th with 83, 87 and 85 degrees respectively. The 87-degree maximum on the 5th was the high for the month. Daily high minimum records were set on the 3rd, 4th, 19th, and 23rd with lows of  62, 66, 64 degree and 60 degrees respectively.

The one week period from the 18th through the 24th was more than 15 degrees above normal.The first 32-degree temperature occurred on the morning of the 26th, nearly three weeks later than normal. The low for the month of 27 on the 29th, was the latest below-32 temperature since 1995.

Total precipitation for the month of 2.84 inches was only 72 percent of normal, but an increase over preceding months. This rain coupled with diminished daylight and heat allowed lawns to turn green before winter. Total precipitation for the year is now 34.58 inches, which is 92 percent of normal.

A normal November will see the first snow of the season and a decline in temperatures of over ten degrees. 

-- John Anderson 

September was warm and dry

After a very dry August, additional rain fell around mid September, but it remained mild.

From July 11 through September 8, only 1.76 inches of rain fell. Then, 2.07 inches fell in the eight days between the 9th and 16th. After that, it went dry again with only 0.03 inches falling on the last fourteen days. Total precipitation for the year is now 31.74 inches, which is 94 percent of normal.

The warm weather came at the beginning and the end of the month. Eight out of nine days from the 11th through the 19th were below normal, with the month’s low of 37 degrees being reached on the 18th. Daily high temperature records were established on the 7th, 8th, 25th, and 26th, with 91 degrees, 94, 87 and 90 degrees respectively. The 94 degrees maximum on the 8th was the high for the month.

The 90 degrees on the 26th was the latest 90 degrees temperature of record, surpassing 90 degrees on the 22nd in 1965.

The average temperature for the month of 65.6 degrees was 3.6 degrees above normal, but only the warmest since 66.5 degrees, in 2005. High overnight lows were established on the 26th and 28th, with 68 degrees and 65 degrees respectively.

-- John Anderson

August second driest on record

The August precipitation total of 0.80 inches was the second driest August after 0.36 inches in 1981, but only the driest month since 0.35 inches in March 2006.

Measurable rain fell on six days, with only three days exceeding one tenth of an inch. The dry spell is very noticeable on lawns and shrubs. Since a good soaking on July 9th and 10th, only 1.76 inches (29 percent of normal) has fallen. Up to July 11th, the summer rainfall was 123 percent of normal. The total for the three summer months of 7.23 inches is 68 percent of the mean, while the year is 99 percent of the mean.

The greatest amount measured on any day in August was 0.31 inches on the morning of the 18th. Since then, no rain has fallen.

The average temperature for the month of 71.8 degrees was 1.9 degrees above normal. Only four of the first seventeen days were on the cool side. The next six were below normal, and the remaining eight were mild. Five days exceeded 90 degrees, with the high being 94 degrees on both the 3rd and 25th.

The cool spell after mid month saw four mornings in the upper forties, with the lowest being 47 degrees, on the 19th. After one 90 degrees day in May, the three summer months had a total of nine additional 90 degrees days. The high for the summer was 94 degrees, on June 26 and the two August days.

With the arrival of September, definite cooling will be noticed. Although the first frost is usually in early October, some exposed areas can have a light frost in late September. Snow has never been observed in September.

-- John Anderson

 
September was warm and dry

After a very dry August, additional rain fell around mid September, but it remained mild.

From July 11 through September 8, only 1.76 inches of rain fell. Then, 2.07 inches fell in the eight days between the 9th and 16th. After that, it went dry again with only 0.03 inches falling on the last fourteen days. Total precipitation for the year is now 31.74 inches, which is 94 percent of normal.

The warm weather came at the beginning and the end of the month. Eight out of nine days from the 11th through the 19th were below normal, with the month’s low of 37 degrees being reached on the 18th. Daily high temperature records were established on the 7th, 8th, 25th, and 26th, with 91 degrees, 94, 87 and 90 degrees respectively. The 94 degrees maximum on the 8th was the high for the month.

The 90 degrees on the 26th was the latest 90 degrees temperature of record, surpassing 90 degrees on the 22nd in 1965.

The average temperature for the month of 65.6 degrees was 3.6 degrees above normal, but only the warmest since 66.5 degrees, in 2005. High overnight lows were established on the 26th and 28th, with 68 degrees and 65 degrees respectively.

-- John Anderson

 
July weather continued quiet

July’s weather continued where June left off, being uneventful.

The average temperature for the month of 72.6 degrees was only one degree above normal. Quite often a monthly average is made up of extremes, but July was not the case. All but three days were consistent with a maximum temperature between 77 and 90.

Only eight days were below the mean, with four of them being the first four days of the month. The high temperature on the 1st was only 72 degrees, followed by a low of 47 degrees on the 2nd. This was the coolest July morning since the 27th in 2001.

A cool damp day on the 23rd kept the temperatures in the 60’s, with little rain. The high for the month was 90 degrees on the 26th.

A ‘back door” cold front on the evening of the 8th  brought 1.39 inches of needed rain. However, since then less than one inch has fallen. Nearby areas have done better in the hit or miss showers. The lack of rainfall is now starting to show on the lawns and shrubs. The total precipitation for July was 2.74 inches, which is 82 percent of normal.

August usually brings more rain and noticeable cooling towards months end.

--John Anderson

June was a quiet month

After nearly one foot of rain in June 2006, this past month was relatively quiet.

The average temperature of 67.4 degrees was 1.2 degrees above normal; and the month’s precipitation total of 3.69 inches was 0.31 inches on the wet side. These totals are about as close to the mean as can be expected for any monthly period.

Thirteen days saw temperatures below normal, fourteen were above, and three days were exactly normal. Temperature swings were common, as the longest period of above or below normal readings was only four days. High temperatures of  94 degrees, 93 degrees, and 90 degrees on the 26th through the 28th were the maximum so far this summer; however, none were records for the date.

The high temperature of 59 degrees on the 14th was the lowest daytime reading, but not a record. The low temperature for the month was 43 degrees on the 7th. The only new record for June was the high overnight low of 73 degrees on the 28th.

Although total rainfall was 9% above the mean, most of it fell in two periods. The first five days of the month saw 2.23 inches fall, with an additional 1.21 inches measured from the 21st through the 23rd. By month's end the effects of the hot spell and the lack of rain were starting to show on area lawns.

The month of July is usually the warmest of the year with rainfall being scattered depending on thunderstorms and possible tropical storms. The daily average high and low of 82 degrees and 62 degrees are the highest of the year, with the peak being reached during the third week of the month.

-- John Anderson

A warm May

Because of two warm spells, the average temperature for May of 60.2 degrees was the 8th warmest of record.

Local weather records began in October 1948, and May 1977 was the first time the monthly average exceeded 60 degrees. Since then it has occurred eight times, and four times since 1998.

Eight days exceeded 80 during the month when the average maximum is 69 degrees. The maximum of 93 degrees, on the 25th, was the high for the month, a new record for the date, and was followed closely by 88 degrees on the 24th and 87 on the 9th. These high readings sandwiched the record low maximum of 46 degrees during the rain on the 18th.

The last frost was on the 7th, when the low for the month of 31 degrees was reached. The frost-free season usually extends from the first week in May to the first week in October.

Other new records for May were high overnight on the 11th, and 64 degrees on the 26th.

May consisted of two lengthy dry periods and one rainy period. The total precipitation for the month of 3.65 inches was just normal. However, 3.37 inches of the total fell in the five-day period between the 17th and the 21st.

Despite the dry stretches moisture levels are adequate as we head into June, which is normally the driest month of the year.

--John Anderson

 

Photo by Nicole Spadoni

April cool and damp

April was very wet with below normal temperatures. The nineteen days from the 2nd through the 20th were all below normal by an average of 5.9 degrees daily.

Despite that, the high temperature of 87 degrees, on the 23rd, was a new record maximum for the date. It was the warmest April day since 87 degrees on the 20th in 2005.

This was followed by a new maximum low of 59 degrees on the 24th. The average temperature for the month of 45.4 degrees was the lowest for April since 44.7 degrees in 2003. The low for the month was 24 degrees, on the 7th. By months end, the average daily low is 40 degrees and the high is 61 degrees.

Total precipitation was 7.98 inches, which was the wettest April since 9.72 inches was measured in 2004. The wettest day was the 16th, when 3.00 inches was measured at the morning observation.

62.79 inches of precipitation has fallen over the last twelve months and 115.70 inches over the last 24 months. Both of these measurements exceed the mean for that period by 16.31 inches and 22.74 inches respectively. The only snow measured in April was 0.3 inches on the morning of the 5th.

The last frost of the year normally occurs on the 5th of May.

--John Anderson

March had its ups and downs

March weather was near normal, but there were some records.

The average temperature for March of 37.3 degrees was 0.7 degrees above normal. However, as is usual for spring months there were many ups and downs.

The high temperature of 14 degrees on the afternoon of the 9th was one of the coldest March afternoons of record. Three days later the low of 2 degrees was a new record low for the date. This was followed shortly by a new record high for the 14th of 70 degrees. The three days from the 6th through the 8th did not go above freezing.

Precipitation for the month amounted to 5.79 inches, which is 1.56 inches on the wet side. The greatest daily total of 2.46 inches was measured on the morning of the 17th. 7.6 inches of new snow was also measured on the same morning. 12.6 inches of snow was measured in the eight day period from the 17th through the 25th. This is greater than the total snowfall for the entire previous three winter months. Total snowfall for March was 13.4 inches.

Total precipitation for the year is 10.78 inches, which is 93% of normal. Ice went out of most local ponds on the weekend of the 24th-25th, while the peepers were first heard on the 27th.

The turn of the calendar to April usually brings gradual warming and showers. The average date of the last freeze is during the first week in May, so frost can still be expected at any time.

-- John Anderson

February saw the return of a little winter

After a change from mild winter conditions on January 20, most of February was on the cold side, but the snow was still missing.

The average temperature for the month of 25.4 degrees was 3.5 degrees below normal; while total snowfall of 7.6 inches was about 50% of the average.

Only seven scattered days saw above normal temperatures. The sixteen day period between the 4th and the 19th, with an average of 21.1, was the coldest stretch of the entire winter. The average temperature for the 30 day period from January 21 through February 19 was only 22.1.

The low temperature for the month of 6, was reached on the 7th, while the high of 51 degrees, came on the 20th. Six of the last nine days reached at least 40. Despite the cold weather, the last time it dropped to zero was on January 29, 2005.

The month's snow came in three minimal events. The Valentine's Day storm, which dropped only two inches of snow, was very messy because of the amount of rain that was absorbed by the snow and turned to solid ice as the temperatures suddenly dropped before the snow was removed. The two feet of frost in the ground made for slow melting of the ice in shaded areas. A major dry snow storm would have made fewer problems.

The total snowfall for the entire season is only 10.3 inches, which is less than the previous record low snow season of 1979 Ð 1980, when 12.5 inches had fallen through the end of February.

As indicated in the November summary, statistically the winter should be on the mild side because last fall was mild. This was the case. The average temperature for the three winter months of 32.3 was 3.3 degrees above normal.

Total precipitation for the first two months of the year amounted to 4.99 inches, which is only 67% of the mean.

--John Anderson

January's weather was all over the place

The month started right where December left off, on the mild side.

It started so mild it seemed like last January's record warmth would be eclipsed. However, that all changed on the 17th. All but one of the first sixteen days had above average temperatures, while only three of the last fifteen days were on the mild side.

As is often the case, the month had two climatological portions, which were sharply divided. The average temperature for the first sixteen days of 40.8 degrees, was 13.6 degrees above the mean, while the average for the last fifteen days, of 22.8 degrees, was 3.9 degrees below the mean.

The overall average for the month of 32.1 degrees was 5.1 degrees above normal. Daily high temperature records were set on the 5th, 6th, and 7th, with maxima of 63 degrees, 67 degrees, and 62 degrees respectively. Many inland areas reached into the low 70's on the 6th, establishing all time January record maxima.

The low temperature of 56 degrees, on the 6th, was the highest January minimum of record. Daily lows of 40 degrees on the 8th, and 36 degrees on the 13th were new high minimum readings for the date. On the other end, the low of 1 degrees on the 26th, was the coldest since minus 6 on January 29, 2005. The maximum of 18 degrees on the 26th was the lowest on record for the date.

Since January 15, only one day has exceeded 40 degrees, while seven days did not drop below freezing before then.

Total precipitation for the month of 2.78 inches was 1.16 inches below normal. Snow was observed on seven of the last fifteen days. However, the total for the month was only 1.5 inches. Amazingly, six other January totals have been lower.

However, the total for the entire winter is only 2.7 inches. The previous lowest total through the end of January was 3.9 inches in 1969. That year was followed by the tremendous snows of February, so we're not out of the woods yet.

--John Anderson

 

In December, a gull and geese take advantage of a rare skim of ice on Memorial Pond

December 2006 was the warmest on record

Although only one daily high temperature record was set, December 2006, with an average temperature of 38.9 degrees was the warmest of record, surpassing the previous record of 37.9, set in December 2001.

The high of 65 degrees, on the 2nd, was a new record for the date. The low of 58, on the 1st, was a new maximum overnight low for any December. The high for the month was 66, on the 1st; while the low for the entire month was only 18, on both the 6th and 9th.

The high temperature on all but six days reached 40, 11 days reached 50, and 13 nights remained above freezing. Only six scattered days averaged below normal.

Snowfall for the month amounted to only 1.2 inches. This is not a record, as October, November, and December 1999 had a three month total of only a trace of snow. Precipitation for the month amounted to 2.13 inches, which was 50% of normal.

Precipitation for the year totalled 55.60 inches, which was 9.16 inches on the wet side, making this past year the 8th wettest of record. The average temperature for the year was 52.1, which is the third warmest year of local records.

Snowfall for 2006 was 32.9 inches, which was about twenty inches less than the mean. The high temperature last year was 97, on August 2; while the low was 7, on February 13th, 19th, and 27th.

-- John Anderson

November brought record warmth and rain

Since the recording of local weather records began in October 1948, this past month was the warmest November of all.

The average temperature of 47.4 degrees, surpassed the previous record of 47.2 degrees, set in 1999. The high for the month was 69 degrees, on the 1st and 16th, neither being records for the date. However, two daily maximum temperature records were set on the 17th and 30th, with both days reaching 68 degrees. Four other daily records were set with new high overnight minimums of 54 degrees on the 9th, 48 degrees on the 13th, 56 degrees on the 16th, and 54 degrees on the 17th.

The warm nights continued into December, with the minimum of 58 degrees, on the 1st, being the warmest over night low for any December day of record!! November saw only eight days below normal, with five in the first week and the remaining three during the third week. Three days were more than 20 degrees above normal.

The low for the month was 23 degrees, on the 5th. The month of November has averaged at least one degree above normal on seven occasions over the last twenty years. On six of those occasions, the average temperature for the following three winter months was also above normal. Snowfall for these mild three month periods was only about half of the amount measured when the same three months were below normal. So, statistically this winter should be on the mild side with less than normal snow.

This year, 1969, 1998, and 1999 are the only years when no measurable snow was observed through the end of November. There was no measurable snow in the 1999-2000 season until January 13, a date that is unlikely to be reached again. Precipitation for November amounted to 6.90 inches, which is 153% of normal, and bringing the annual total to 53.47 inches, which is 11.28 inches above the mean.

--John Anderson