MONTHLY WEATHER SUMMARY
By Bill Mork
California Department of Water Resources
May 2004

[EDITOR'S NOTE: This month's summary is by Laura Edwards. Bill Mork is out on vacation.]

Read the full California Climate Watch newsletter here: Word Format or PDF format

The Golden State was again warmer and drier than average in May 2004, continuing the statewide trends for the third month in a row. The average temperature was 63.8 degrees, 1.6 above normal. Maximum temperatures were almost 2 degrees above average and minimum temperatures were just more than 1 degree over May's average.

Statewide precipitation was well below average for the month. Northern portions of the state fared better than the south, averaging more than 90% of normal in the Sacramento drainage. No precipitation was recorded in most Southland locations, signaling the start of the dry season.

May 1-4 brought record heat, with 116 record high temperatures set in the 4 day period. 102 of those records were in the southern regions. A sample of records on the 3rd include: 113 at Death Valley, 107 at Needles, 105 at Blythe and 104 at Imperial. Further north, temperatures reached the century mark at Bakersfield (101) and Fresno (100) on the 4th.

The first week of the month went out with a bang with thunderstorms in the north. Precipitation for the weekend of May 7-9 totaled over one inch in some locations, including 1.28 at Lassen Lodge and 1.17 at Stouts Meadow. 3.84 inches were reported for the 3-day period in Mineral after heavy thunderstorms on the 7th.

Mid-month brought little activity weather-wise, with little or no precipitation falling in most regions and near- to above-average temperatures.

Starting on the 17th, rain was again welcomed to NorCal, and temperatures started falling.

A long wave trough and low pressure hung around the West coast for a few days to produce scattered thunderstorms throughout the mountainous areas until the 19th, with some areas not tapering off until the 21st. 24-hour precipitation totals of 0.50 inch for the 17th-18th were common in northern locations.

A short-lived warmer and drier trend began on the 24th. By May 27, thunderstorms were back in action with over an inch reported at Snow Mountain and Ebbetts Pass. Rain fell as far south as the Fresno/Harford area.

The end of May ended dry and warm, without any new records being set. Most of the state enjoyed climbing temperatures over Memorial Day weekend with few clouds to dampen picnics.



Page last updated 6/07/04.