May 2012 Revisited

Here's May 2012, summarized into 3 simple categories, all compared to Hood River historical averages:

Above average: Rain, wind speed
Average or near: Temperature, solar radiation
Below Average: Nothing
 
My station's average temperature of 56.8° was a little warmer than the long term May average of 56.2°, but a little cooler than the more recent (2001-2011) average of 57.1°.  So, I'm calling it, on average, a wash.  The official average temperature in Hood River, recorded at HOXO, was 56.1°.

The maximum temperature (at my station) was a blazing 94° (which was very unusual for May, but very welcome), and the low temp was 35°. Official Hood River highs and lows (at HOXO) were 92° and 33°. The high heat index for the month was 89°, and the low wind chill was 35°.

Solar radiation averaged 542 Ly/day, compared to an average May solar radiation of 543 Ly/day, about as average as one can get. 

Precipitation was a little above average.  I had 1.47" at my station, and HOXO officially recorded 1.17", compared to an historical average of 1.08". The official high rain day was 0.71" on the 3rd, while my station recorded 0.70" on that day.  Good match, which is pretty much coincidental.

Winds picked up, as they often do in May.   The 24 hour average wind speed at my weather station was 4.2 mph, compared to an average May wind speed of 3.6 mph. The peak wind gust was 34 mph.   Wind speeds at other less sheltered locations, such as the Columbia River, were, of course, higher.  

Barometric pressure peaked at 30.50" on the 5th, and low barometric was 29.68", just 2 days earlier.  Barometric whiplash!

There was one local weather record set this month. On the 15th, the low temperature only dipped to 59°,  breaking the old record "high low" of 56° in 2005.   That was at the end of a couple days of very warm temperatures, as these sort of high low records usually are.

These monthly summaries use data from my weather station located near May and Rand Streets in Hood River. To view my weather station's data for May 2012, click here.  For official Hood River data, and historical averages/records, the data comes from both the manually read NOAA station at MCAREC, and HOXO, the automated station located right next to MCAREC.

Not sure what country roads have to do with May, but there's probably a connection somewhere, and besides, it's a catchy tune by a talented singer/songwriter who, like last month's talented singer, is no longer with us.  Except in spirit, which counts for a lot.