MONTHLY WEATHER SUMMARY
By Laura Edwards
Western Regional Climate Center
November 2004

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November 2004 was cooler and drier than normal statewide. The average temperature was 1.9 degrees below normal at 49.5 degrees. This was dominated by cooler than normal maximum temperatures, about -3.1 statewide. Monthly precipitation averaged statewide was 0.55 inches, or 78% of normal. Precipitation was below normal in all areas except for the southeast region.

Overall, a strong ridge in the eastern Pacific dominated the weather pattern, leaving most of the state high and dry, a stark contrast from October.

The story of the month was extreme precipitation in the Southeast Desert climate division on Nov 21-22. This division averaged 329% of normal precipitation for the month, with

Twentynine Palms leading at 629%, 1.11 inches above the normal 0.21 inches. Almost all of the precipitation in this region fell during these two days.

Thanksgiving weekend of November 28-29 brought some snow to the Sierra Nevada eastward, due to some polar air coming down from Canada around the Pacific high. Many ski areas in the Tahoe area and southward welcomed the new blanket of white.

The Northern Sierra 8-Station Precipitation Index accumulated 2.6 inches for November, 41% of the average 6.3 inches.

Page last updated 12/10/04.