Cranberry Weather Summaries Archive

Format: 2025

2007

September

September was warm, extremely dry and sunny. The temperature averaged 64.3 degrees, 1.3 degrees per day above normal. Maximum temperature was 81.0 degrees on the 3rd and the 8th; a minimum temperature of 42.0 degrees was recorded on the 17th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 73.4 degrees, 2.0 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 55.1 degrees, 0.6 degrees above the norm.

Sunshine totaled 74% of the possible sunshine hours, 18 points above the norm. We had 18 mostly clear days, of which 7 days had 97% or better sunshine. Only 3 days had no sunshine. There were 2 days with morning fog and also 2 days with very heavy evening fog in East Wareham.

Precipitation totaled 1.32 inches, 2.74 inches below normal. This was the driest September in the past 20 years. There were only 3 rain events. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 0.80 inches on the 11th. Year-to-date rainfall for 2007 is 31.57 inches, 3.23 inches below average for East Wareham and 9.38 inches below 2006 total rainfall at the same time last year. The total rainfall for the past two mouths (August and September) was 2.42 inches. This is the second driest two-month total for this period in the 81 years of records in East Wareham , surpassed only by 1.87 inches in 1948.

August

August had average temperatures with lots of sunshine, it was extremely dry. The temperature averaged 70.8 degrees, 0.1 degrees per day above normal. Maximum temperature was 89.0 degrees on the 26 th and a minimum temperature of 48.0 degrees was recorded on the 19 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 80.6 degrees, 1.0 degrees above last year and 2.2 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 61.3 degrees, 1.3 degrees warmer than last year and 1.6 degrees below the norm.

Sunshine totaled 65% of the possible sunshine hours, 7 points above the norm. We had 12 mostly clear days, 15 partly cloudy days, and 4 cloudy days. We also had morning fog on 2 days in East Wareham .

Precipitation totaled 1.10 inches, 2.80 inches below normal. We had measurable precipitation on 6 days, and of those 6 days, only 2 had measurable rainfall of 0.10 inches or better. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 0.52 inches on the 13 th. Year-to-date rainfall for 2007 is 30.25 inches, 5.81 inches below last year at this time and 0.65 inches below the average year to date for East Wareham . In the last 17 days of August there was only 0.08 inches of rainfall.

Official Summer Season

The official summer (June, July and August) averaged out at 69.4 degrees, just about average, 0.1 degrees above the average. The summer was extraordinarily dry, 4.0 inches below normal (due to the very dry June and August). Sunshine was 65% of possible, 7 points over the average (due to the very sunny August). We had a maximum temperature of 89 degrees recorded on the August 26 th and a minimum temperature of 45 degrees recorded on June 7 th. Typically, our region averages 4 days of 90 degrees or higher, our only 90+ degree day came back on May 25 th. Rainfall total 6.6 inches for the season. This was the 6 th driest August in the 81 years of record keeping in East Wareham .

2007 Crop Forecast

New England Agricultural Statistics Service gave the United States forecast for the 2007 cranberry crop on August 21 st in East Wareham , MA . This year’s forecast is for the production of 6.90 million barrels, up slightly from 2006 and 11 percent above 2005. Massachusetts ’ cranberry crop is forecasted to reach 1.8 million barrels, down 5 percent from 2006. New Jersey ’s forecast is for 520,000 barrels (up from 2006), Oregon : 500,000 barrels (up from 2006), Washington : 180,000 barrels (up from 2006), and Wisconsin : 3.90 million barrels (down from 2006). The pollination conditions during late June and into the mouth of July were good. Growers experienced an average bloom and set conditions for this year’s crop, and the berry size was rated as medium as of early August. The total crop yield for Massachusetts may be lower due to heavy sanding of bogs this past winter and the number of cranberry acreage taken out of production for bog renovation.

July

July’s weather had normal temperatures, rainfall, and sunshine. The temperature averaged 72.0 degrees, 0.1 degrees above average. Maximum temperature was 87.0 degrees on the 8 th, 17 th, and 29 th and a minimum temperature of 51.0 degrees was recorded on the 2 nd and 3 rd. Daytime high temperatures averaged 80.2 degrees, 0.6 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 64.0 degrees, 0.1 degrees below the norm.

Sunshine totaled 60% of the possible sunshine hours, 3 points above average. We did however have 4 days with dense fog here in East Wareham.

Precipitation totaled 3.77 inches; this is 0.57 inches above normal. Rainfall was recorded on 13 days, and only five of these days had measurable precipitation over 0.10 inches, the largest 24-hour rainfall of 1.47 inches on the 30 th. Year-to-date rainfall for 2007 is 29.15 inches, 2.15 inches above average for East Wareham. Our year-to-date total is 4.00 inches below last year’s total at this same time. Thunder storms were recorded on two evenings.

PERSONNEL

Dr. DeMoranville traveled to Scottsdale, AZ to attend the 2007 Annual International Conference of the American Society for Horticultural Science, from July 15th to July 20th.

Dr. Frank Caruso traveled to San Diego, CA to attend the American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting, from July 25th to Aug. 2nd.

June

June was very dry, with below average temperatures and average sunshine. The temperature averaged 64.0 degrees, 1.6 degrees per day below normal. Maximum temperature was 83.0 degrees on the 25 th; a minimum temperature of 45.0 degrees was recorded on the 7 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 73.3 degrees, 0.3 degrees below the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 56.5 degrees, 1.0 degrees below the norm. The first half of the month was cool and damp, while the second half was warm and humid.

Sunshine totaled 57% of the possible sunshine hours, 1 point above the norm. We had 3 days with 90% sunshine and 3 days with dense fog in East Wareham.

Precipitation totaled 1.77 inches, which is 1.8 inches below normal and 10.48 inches less then June 2006. We had measurable precipitation on 13 days, but only 4 days had measurable precipitation greater than 0.10 inches. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 0.58 inches on the 4 th. In the first five days, we received 1.41 inches of the 1.77 monthly total and also had 2 of the 3 thunderstorms recorded in June. Year-to-date rainfall for 2007 is 25.38 inches, 1.58 inches above average for East Wareham. This is 6.13 inches less than 2006.

Personnel

Dr. Hilary Sandler traveled to Charlottesville, VA to attend and present a paper at the World Congress of Parasitic Plants Meeting, from June 4th to June 7th.

May

May was warm and dry with above average sunshine. The temperatures for May averaged 57.0 degrees, 0.7 degrees per day above normal. The maximum temperature was 91.0 degrees on the 25 th and a minimum temperature of 32.0 degrees was recorded on the 7 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 66.9 degrees, 6.3 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 47.1 degrees, 6.4 degrees below the norm.

Sunshine totaled 63% of the possible sunshine hours, 11 points above the norm. This was also 20% greater than May of 2006. There were 10 days with 90% or more sunshine and we had 4 days with no sunshine at all, compared to May 2006 when we had 12 days with no sunshine. There were only 2 days with dense fog in East Wareham.

Precipitation totaled 2.99 inches. We had 10 days with measurable precipitation. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 2.06 inches on the 18 th -19 th. Our total year to date rainfall is 23.61 inches, 3.31 inches above the average in East Wareham.

The official spring (March-May) was warm and wet. Temperatures averaged 2.4 degrees above normal, with 5.35 inches above-average rainfall and 1.2 inches below-average snowfall for this period. Sunshine was also above normal, with a sunny March and May and a very cloudy April

April

April was cold and wet. The temperature averaged 44.0 degrees, 1.9 degrees below normal. The maximum temperature was 76.0 degrees on the 24 th and a minimum temperature of 25.0 degrees was recorded on the 7 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 52.0 degrees, 2.2 degrees below the norm. Evening low temperatures averaged 36.0 degrees, 1.5 degrees below the norm.

Sunshine totaled 40% of the possible sunshine hours, 9 points below the norm. This is also 16 points below last year. We had 10 days with virtually no sun, and only 5 days had over 90% sunshine.

Precipitation totaled 8.13 inches, which is 3.83 inches above normal. This is the third wettest April in the 80 years of records in East Wareham. We had measurable precipitation on 11 days. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 2.30 inches on the 16 th. This was the start of a four day Nor-easter, which gave us a total of 3.78 inches of rain and winds gusting to 77 mph. Year-to-date rainfall for 2007 stands at 20.62 inches; this is 3.92 inches above normal and 8.5 inches above the year to date rainfall at this point in 2006.

In the past 10 years, we averaged 34.67 inches of snowfall during the winter season. Snowfall recorded during the winter season of 2006-2007 in East Wareham was only 10.72 inches, 23.95 inches below the average.

Personnel

Dr. Frank Caruso traveled to Washington DC to participate with other scientists on the review panel for USDA/CSREES Pest Management Alternative Program, April 23-26.

March

March was much like a lion for the first three weeks and then like a lamb the final week when it came to temperatures this year. On the whole, March was cold, very wet and had above average sunshine. The temperatures averaged 37.0 degrees, 0.2 degrees per day below the average. Maximum temperature was 62.0 degrees on the 27 th and 30 th and a minimum temperature of 6.0 degrees was recorded on the 9th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 47.0 degrees, 1.8 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 27.0 degrees, 2.2 degrees below the norm. Temperatures for March averaged out to be very similar to last year’s March temperatures.

Sunshine totaled 54% of the possible sunshine hours, 6 points above the norm. Four days had no sunshine, yet four days had over 95% sunshine. Sunshine data are from the Blue Hill Observatory.

Precipitation totaled 6.53 inches. This is 2.13 inches above normal. We had measurable precipitation of 0.10 inches or greater rainfall on seven days. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 2.96 inches on the 16 th and 17 th. We have received 12.49 inches of rainfall year to date, totaling 0.09 inches above average for the year-to-date in East Wareham . We had three events with measurable snowfall during the month, totaling 4.8 inches. The 2006 – 2007 winter season snowfall recorded in East Wareham is now at 10.72 inches. This will come in as the 6 th lowest snowfall here in East Wareham , the record low set in 1997 with only 5.07 inches of snow.

Personnel

Dr. Hilary Sandler traveled to Nashville, TN to attend the National Viticulture Extension Leadership Conference, March 27-29th.

February

February was dry and windy, with below average temperatures and well above average sunshine. The temperatures averaged 27.0 degrees, 3.0 degrees below normal. The maximum temperature was 49 degrees on the 20th and a minimum temperature of 10.0 degrees was recorded on the 5 th, 7 th, and the 19 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 35.5 degrees, 2.7 degrees below the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 18.6 degrees, 3.1 degrees below the norm. There were no single digit temperatures recorded in February, yet the evening lows were below 30 degrees every night.

Sunshine totaled 63% of the possible sunshine hours, 13 points over the norm. Sunshine was above normal, very much like the 14 points above normal last year and the 15 points above normal in February 2004.

Precipitation totaled 1.93 inches. This was 1.79 inches below normal. We had measurable precipitation on 8 days. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 1.13 inches on the 14 th. There were 4 days with measurable snowfall totaling 3.7 inches, 5.7 inches below normal. The greatest snowfall for one storm came on the 26 th with 2.5 inches. Year-to-date snowfall recorded in East Wareham is now 4.9 inches.

The official winter in East Wareham (Dec. 2006 - Feb. 2007) averaged 33.3 degrees, 2.5 degrees above normal. The low mark was 4.0 degrees on Jan. 4 th and the high mark was 63 degrees on Dec. 1 st. The coldest daily high was a bitter 15.0 degrees on Jan. 26 th. Sunshine was 53%, 6 points above normal. Precipitation totaled 8.80 inches, 1.32 inches below average. Snowfall totaled 5.9 inches, 6.17 inches below normal. This is the 3 rd lowest snowfall for a winter season, surpassed only by 2000 – 2001 season of 5.15 inches and the 1997 – 1998 season with the record low of 4.05 inches.

Personnel

Dr. Hilary Sandler traveled to Vancouver, BC to speak at the First Annual Cranberry Congress, Feb. 7th – Feb. 11th.

January

January was warm with slightly below average rain and very little snow. The average temperature was 33.0 degrees, 4.3 degrees above normal. The maximum temperature was 59 degrees on January 6 th, the same as last January’s high. A minimum temperature of 4.0 degrees was recorded on the 26 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 41.0 degrees, 4.0 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 26.0 degrees, 5.7 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures were below 32 degrees for 20 nights. Only 2 nights had temperatures in the single digits.

Precipitation totaled 4.03 inches. This is 0.51 inches below normal. We had measurable precipitation on 13 days; 4 of those days had less than 0.10 inches. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 1.22 inches on the 1 st. We had measurable snowfall of 0.10 inches or greater only on 2 days of the month totaling 1.20 inches, 9.0 inches below average. All snow cover lasted for less than 24 hours. The largest 24-hour snowfall was 0.9 inches on the 23 rd of January.

Sunshine totaled 49% of the possible sunshine hours, 3 points above the normal and 10 points over last January.

Personnel

Dr. Hilary Sandler traveled to Baltimore, MD to attend the Northeastern Weed Science Society 61st Annual Meeting, from January 2nd to January 5th.

Dr. Carolyn DeMoranville traveled to College Park, MD to attend the 2007 Northeast Region American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Meeting, from January 4th to January 6th.

Dr. Frank Caruso traveled to New Jersey to meet with researchers and discuss future research projects, from January 22nd to January 24th.

2006

Year in Review

The year 2006 was very warm with average rainfall and above average sunshine. This was the second warmest year on record, averaging 51.9 degrees, 3.8 degrees above the 30-year average in East Wareham. This year matched 1990 and was surpassed only by 1998, when temperatures averaged 53.3 degrees. The average monthly temperature was above normal for 10 out of 12 months of the year. The only two months in which the monthly high averages were below the normal average temperatures were May and June. The maximum temperature for the year was recorded in August at 100 degrees. The minimum temperature was 9.0 degrees, recorded in February. January had only 1 day with daytime high below 32 degrees, compared to 2005’s 21 days. Only 18 nights had temperatures below 32 degrees and of those 18 nights, only 2 nights were in the teens; no single digit or below zero temperatures were recorded. February was very sunny, much like 2005. June had record-breaking rainfall, totaling 12.25 inches of rain, surpassing the record set in 1938 of 9.65 inches.

The official winter of 2005 - 2006 was above average in temperature with above average rainfall and sunshine. Snowfall for the winter of 2005 - 2006 in East Wareham was 34.08 inches, just 3.85 inches short of the past 10-year average. The official spring 2006 had averages above normal in temperatures, rainfall and sunshine hours. This was the fourth wettest May in the 79 years of records in East Wareham. The official summer of 2006 was above average in temperature with below-average sunshine. The maximum temperature was 100 degrees on August 2 nd. After the record breaking rainfall in June of 12.25 inches, rainfall came evenly throughout July and August. The official fall season for 2006 was wet, mild and cloudy.

By year’s end, precipitation totaled 54.69 inches, 7.39 inches above normal. January and June had the greatest number of days (17) with measurable rainfall; June was the wettest month with 12.3 inches of rainfall. The most rainfall in a 24-hour period also came in June, with 5.73 inches. We had two 3-day Nor’easters; one in May that produced a total of 4.05 inches of rain and one in October, yielding less rain. The remains of Hurricane Florence passed by well off shore in September and did not affect our area. The driest month was March with 0.60 inches of rain. February gave us the most snowfall in 2006, with 12.5 inches in just 3 storms.

Sunshine hours for the year totaled 52%. There were four months with low sunshine hours and eight months with above sunshine hours. February was the sunniest month, at 64%, and May was the dreariest, at 39%.

Overall, we started the 2006 year very warm and wet with below-average snowfall. After the rains that fell in June, the weather was characterized by a warm and sunny summer. A 3-day Nor’easter in May left 4.05 inches of rain and little to no damage. While the October 3-day Nor’easter yielded less rain (2.11 inches), there was lots of high wind damage. We ended the year on a very warm and dry note.

December

December was very warm, with slightly above average sunshine and below normal precipitation. The temperature averaged 40.0 degrees, 6.1 degrees per day above normal. This was the second warmest December in the 79 years of records in East Wareham, surpassed only by 2001 average temperature of 40.1 degrees. Maximum temperature was 63.0 degrees on the 1 st; a minimum temperature of 19.0 degrees was recorded on the 6 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 48.6 degrees, 6.5 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 31.4 degrees, 5.7 degrees above the norm.

Precipitation totaled 2.84 inches, 1.46 inches below normal. We had 10 rain events spread out evenly during the month. Measurable rain, of 0.10 or more, was recorded on 8 days. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 0.80 inches on the 23 rd. Year-to-date rainfall for 2006 was 54.69 inches, 7.39 inches above average for East Wareham . We also had 2 days with measurable snow, totaling 1.1 inches for the month, and 3.78 inches below normal. The largest snowfall was on December 4 th with 0.6 inches.

Sunshine for the month totaled 47% of possible, 1 point below normal.

November

November was a very warm, cloudy and wet month. The temperature averaged 48.0 degrees, 4.8 degrees above normal and 2.0 degrees warmer then 2005. Maximum temperature was 68.0 degrees on the 16 th, a minimum temperature of 25.0 degrees was recorded on the 5 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 56.0 degrees, 4.6 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 41.0 degrees, 6.0 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 5.0 degrees higher then 2005.

Precipitation totaled 6.23 inches, 1.71 inches above normal. We had 12 rain events spread out evenly during the month. Measurable rain, of 0.10 inches or more, was recorded on 9 days. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 2.86 inches on the 23 rd. Year-to-date rainfall for 2006 is 51.85 inches, 6.30 inches above November 2005 year-to-date and 8.85 inches above the average for East Wareham . Snowfall for the month of November in East Wareham averaged 1.5 inches and we received 0.0 inches of snow.

Sunshine totaled 39% of the possible, 8 points below average. There were no days with full sunshine.

The official fall season Sept – Nov. 2006 was wet, mild and cloudy. Temperatures averaged 54.0 degrees, 1.2 degrees above normal. A maximum temperature of 81 degrees was reached on the 17 th of Sept. and a low of 25 degrees was reached on the 5 th of November. Rainfall totaled 15.79 inches, 3.32 inches above normal. Sunshine was just 1 point below normal.

Personnel

Dr. Hilary Sandler, Dr. Justine Vanden Heuvel and technician Seasons Suder traveled to Hampton , NH on November 2 nd to attend the New Wine Grape Grower’s Meeting and give presentations.

Dr. Frank Caruso travel to Burlington , VT on November 6 th – 9 th to attend the Northeastern Division American Phytopathological Society meeting.

Dr. Hilary Sandler traveled to Worcester on Nov. 10 th to attend and present a paper at the Northeastern Society of Wetland Scientists meeting.

October

October had average temperatures, above average sunshine, and above normal rainfall. The temperature averaged 52.2 degrees, 0.1 degree per day below normal. Maximum temperature was 73.0 degrees on the 4 th and the 18 th; a minimum temperature of 31.0 degrees was recorded on the 27 th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 62.6 degrees, 1.3 degrees above the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 43.0 degrees, 0.3 degrees below the norm. October was a very quiet month with no record-breaking temperatures or rainfall. The mixture of cloudy days, sunny days, and rainy days was evenly divided over the month except for a Nor’easter on October 28-30, which produced 2.11 inches of rain and very strong damaging winds. Wind gusts over 40 mph were reported on the 28 th and gusts over 56 mph on the 29 th. Wind damage was reported throughout New England .

Sunshine totaled 57% of the possible sunshine hours, 18% over last year and 2 points below the norm. We had 5 mostly clear days and only 1 day with morning fog in East Wareham .

Precipitation totaled 4.67 inches, 0.78 inches above the 30-year average, unlike last year’s record-breaking rainfall of 12.07. Measurable rain was recorded on 9 days. The Largest 24-hour rainfall was 2.11 inches on the 28 th. Year-to-date rainfall for 2006 is 45.62 inches, 7.02 inches above average for East Wareham and 6.74 inches below 2005. There was no reported snowfall in Southeast New England this month.

Personnel

Dr. Hilary Sandler traveled to Baltimore, MD to attend the Northeastern Weed Science Society Executive Committee Meeting held Oct. 2-3 rd.

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