April 2013 Revisited

April 2013 was:

Above average:  Temperature, wind, rainfall (at my station)
Average or near: Solar radiation, rainfall (at HOXO)
Below Average: Nothing

My station's average temperature of 51.6° was warmer than the long term April average of 49.8°, and warmer than the more recent (2001-2012) average of 49.5°. The official average temperature in Hood River, recorded at HOXO, was 50.8°.  This was the 8th consecutive month to experience above average temperatures.

The maximum temperature (at my station) was 80°, and the low temp was 31°. Official Hood River highs and lows (at HOXO) were also 80° and 31°.   Coincidence?  I think not; just another confirmation of the old saying that "Great thermometers think alike (except when they don't)."

The high heat index (at my station) for the month was 76°, and the low wind chill was 31°.

Solar radiation averaged 429 Ly/day, compared to an average April of 435 Ly/day.

Regarding precipitation, April started off with a bang, and then fizzled out in the second half of the month.  Still, my station received 2.63" rain for the month, but HOXO officially recorded only 1.62".   An average April receives 1.66".   So, a bit of a reprieve from this otherwise dry calendar year, but not by much.

The max daily precipitation was April 7th, when my station recorded 0.61" and HOXO tallied up 0.79" (see daily record note below).

There was no measurable snowfall here at my May and Rand location.  Average April snowfall, as historically measured by MCAREC, is 0.1", which is hardly even worth mentioning, but I have to.   It's the rules, which I made up myself.

The 24 hour average wind  speed at my weather station was 3.4 mph, compared to an average March wind speed of 3.2 mph.  The peak wind gust was 32 mph on the 11th.  Wind speeds at other less sheltered locations (such as on the Columbia River) were, of course, higher.  

Barometric pressure peaked at 30.49", and the low barometric was 29.58".

There was one local weather record set this month.   On April 7th, HOXO received 0.61" (my station 0.79"), which broke the previous record for the date (0.50" in 1945).

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 April 2013, 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.

Whereas April showers tend to bring May flowers, they also bring occasional rainbows (and frogs).  Which brings to mind one of my favorite songs about rainbows (and frogs).   :)

March 2013 Revisited

March 2013... Here's how things shaped up (or down):

Above average:  Temperature
Average or near: Solar radiation
Below Average: Wind, rain, snow

My station's average temperature of 46.1° was way warmer than the long term March average of 43.8°, and warmer than the more recent (2001-2012) average of 44.4°. The official average temperature in Hood River, recorded at HOXO, was 45.7°.  This was the 7th month in a row to have above average temperatures, and also the warmest March since 2007.

The maximum temperature (at my station) was 75°, and the low temp was 27°. Official Hood River highs and lows (at HOXO) were 74° and 24°.  

The high heat index (at my station) for the month was 72°, and the low wind chill was 27°.

Solar radiation averaged 292 Ly/day, compared to an average March of 286 Ly/day.  This made it... average...

Regarding precipitation, my station had 2.32" rain for the month, and HOXO officially recorded 1.87".   Since an average March receives 3.17", this was another pretty dry month, the 3rd month in a row to have below average rain.

The max daily precipitation was March 20th, when my station recorded 0.58", and HOXO recorded 0.52".

There was no measurable snowfall here at my May and Rand location.  Average March snowfall, as officially (and historically) measured by MCAREC, is 2.2".

The 24 hour average wind  speed at my weather station was 2.2 mph, compared to an average March wind speed of 2.9 mph.  The peak wind gust was 33 mph on the 15th.  Wind speeds at other less sheltered locations, such as the Columbia River, were, of course, higher.  

Barometric pressure peaked at 30.46", and the low barometric was 29.59".

There were no local weather records set this month.

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 March, 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.