General: April 1999 featured the coldest April since April 1976, along with above normal rainfall, below normal fog, but above seasonal expectation for average wind and wind gustiness.

Temperature: What can be said for April 1999 can also be said for April 1984. In both April's the average daily maximum is 60.8°F (2.9°F below the 48-year 'normal'), the average daily minimum is 44.8°F (1.1°F below the 'normal') and the overall mean temperature is 52.8°F (2.0°F below 'normal'). Thus, both April 1999 and April 1984 are the coldest April's since April 1976, with a 52.7°F mean and April 1975, with a 50.5°F mean ... 23 and 24 years ago, respectively.

High for the month, 84°F, was registered on the 16^th C also a record for the date (beats 81°F in 1966). Low for the month, 37°F, was observed on 6, 9 and 10 April. The reading on the 10^th is a record low for the date (39°F in 1953 was the record). On the average, temperatures 39°F and lower do not occur beyond 17 March. Frost at ground level usually occurs with temperatures 39°F or lower in the thermal shelter, at approximately the six-foot level. The last April with 39°F or lower was in April 1977. There were five April 1999 days with minimums 40°F or lower. It=s been 24 years since that many cool nights were recorded in April.

There were many other daily temperature records in April:

The month was one of distinct contrasts at all stations in the local and Central Coast areas. The wet, record/near record cold season "unofficially" ended with the moderate/heavy rain on the 11^th, followed closely by a three-day heat wave, and then it was front stage for the wind with maximum daily gusts exceeding seasonal expectation every day but one from 19 April to the end of the month. Wind-chill temperature (considering wind and temperature) were in the mid 20's to lower 30's late afternoon and evening on several days C especially on the 3^rd and 24^th. The weatherman kept a low profile in April; he wasn't very popular! The extended temperature outlook (see below) is not very encouraging either.

Precipitation: The 2.04" in April 1999 (0.39" above normal) assured another above normal rain yearC the fifth consecutive. Normal to the end of April is 18.90" and to the end of the rain year (30 June), 19.62", while the actual value is 19.85" at the end of April 1999. More will be said in the June issue on rainfall records.

There was a constant stream of moderately wet, cold lows generated out of the Gulf of Alaska, and the Central Coast benefitted moisture-wise from each and every one through the 11^th. April's total of 2.04" is considered moderately heavy. Last year's April total was 3.39". Last rain year El Niño, this rain year La Niña! Differences? Yes, distinctive ones. When considering temperature and rainfall the El Niño of 1997/98 was marked by historically excessive rainfall (47.15") and mild temperatures, the La Niña of 1998/99 is marked by record/near-record cold temperatures and moderate, but above normal rainfall. Not all growing things on the Central coast have been able to cope with this two-year diverse anomaly in temperature and rainfall.

Hail (up to 1/4" in diameter) and ice pellets (sleet) were observed on the 8^th and there was snow on the higher reaches of Carmel Valley early month and at other times through the 9^th. Beyond the rainy period, Gulf of Alaska weather systems, especially cold lows, continued to influence the local weather but their track resulted in excessive wind, no rain. (See Wind section.)

Wind: The average Monterey Airport wind in April, 7.9 miles-per-hour (mph), is above seasonal expectation. Wind gusts to 41 mph (on the 24^th) at the National Weather Service Climate Station (NWSCS) and to 45 miles-per-hour on the 3^rd at the Airport and Ft. Ord were in the damaging-wind category. Winds on the 3^rd, probably exceeding 50 mph near the open coast and at higher elevations, were particularly damaging C trees down, some structure damage, power outages, auto accidents related to weather, and even two county deaths were blamed on the wind. Most of the high wind situations were in the last half of the month, initiated by passing dry cold fronts, with strong pressure rises to the north and northwest while the low-pressure system intensified to the south, southeast and east. The result: a strong pressure gradient and associated strong gusty winds. Wind gusts reached 30 mph or more on seven days in April, at the NWSCS.

Fog: Only six fog days in April compared to a normal of eight. Fog has been of minor consequence throughout this La Niña weather year.

90-Day Temperature and Precipitation Outlook for the Central Coast: The National Weather Service 90-day outlook for May through July indicates near normal precipitation, with below normal temperatures, especially near the coast.

Following are comparative figures from seven local observation sites: 1) the National Weather Service Climate Station (NWSCS), (elevation 385') located in the western hilly section of Monterey; 2) the National Weather Service Forecast Office (NWSFO) site (elevation 122'), located in the flat area of eastern Monterey, on the NPS Annex grounds adjacent to Airport; 3) the Naval Postgraduate School Campus (NPS), Monterey; (elevation 45') 4) the Ft. Ord site (Ft. Ord (NPS)) (elevation 167') located just northwest of the Marina Municipal Airport (formerly Fritzschie Field). This is the site of the Naval Postgraduate School's wind profiler (managed by Department of Meteorology); 5) Site SE end of Marina, located about 2.5 miles ESE of Monterey Bay (elevation 80'); 6) Carmel Valley site (CV) near Village (elevation 500'); south facing slope; 7) SW Salinas (SAL) vicinity of W. Blanco Rd. within 2 mile of S. Main St; . 8) Carmel, 1/10 mile from Highway 1 and Rio Road.