Robert J

Robert J. Renard, Meteorologist
Volunteer Observer
Nat'l Wea Serv Climate Station
Monterey, California 93940

SUMMARY of the JULY 2002 WEATHER ON THE MONTEREY PENINSULA

General: Below normal temperatures and rainfall continued during the first month of the new rain-year. Low clouds and fog were recorded on 75+% of the days; winds were seasonal with several days of high gustiness.

Temperature: July 2002 continued the more-than-a-year pattern of below normal temperatures – twelve out of the last thirteen months were below normal, with February 2002 the exception! The average maximum of 67.0° F is 1.0° F below the 50+ year normal, thanks to more than two-thirds of the July days below the norm. An 84° F maximum on the ninth, and eight days in the low 70’s, kept the feeling of summer in the mix. As for the night-time minimums, again, the average is below-normal: 51.2° F vs. 51.9° F. The 46° F reading on the 23^rd was not only the low for the month but set a cool record for the date, beating by 3° F the previous record set in 1962 and 2000. Overall average for the month, 59.1° F, is 0.8° F below normal. A few other records were set in July 2002, namely cool maximums – on the 17^th; 59° F, which replaced the previous record of 60° F set in 1981. Also, the 61° F maximum on 20 July is the new cool record for the date, previously 62° F in years 1998 and 2000. Relative Humidity (RH) became a comfortability factor in the last few days of the month, staying near 75% or higher most of the day while temperatures were in the high 60’s. More commonly, the coastal RH is in the 45-55% range when temperatures reach the high 60’s/low 70’s, with sun. The last several days of July were a bit unusual with south, southwest winds, humid conditions and relatively mild nights near/above normal.

Precipitation: Not much to say here! 0.02" was registered on two of the ten drizzly days on the Peninsula. 0.07" is normal for the month, on only six days with a trace or very light rain. So much for the climatologically driest month of the year! July 2002 drizzle amounts were highest in the Pacific Grove area, near the ocean and at elevation, while the flat areas distant from water measured a trace at best (see Comparative Weather Data page). El Nino is still in the works for the upcoming wet season – its strength and impact locally are unknown at this time.

Wind: Gusts reached 34 miles per hour at the NWS Climate Station on the 27^th during a late month period of somewhat unusual southwest winds. The winds were generated in connection with weak low-pressure systems in the extreme eastern North Pacific vice the usual west/northwest winds associated with the more common high-pressure influence west/northwest of the Central Coast. Hence, the mild nights and humid conditions of late month.

Fog: Fog was "the winner" for the month. No less than 24 days with one or more hours of fog observed from the NWS Climate Station. Twenty-one days is normal. Somewhat more than 24 days were associated with haze or very localized/short duration fog on the Peninsula. But, the 4^th of July was singularly great for viewing the fireworks, and July 2002 will be remembered for that! One more fog-month to go, August, also with an average of 21 fog days.

90-Day Average Temperature and Precipitation Outlook for the Central Coast: The National Weather Service 90-day outlook for August through September indicates near normal rainfall for the period. Temperatures are expected to average near to slightly below normal close to the Central Coast, but remain above normal inland. Above to well-above normal temperatures are expected inland over the western intermountain/desert/valley areas, especially southeast of the Central Coast.

Rainfall (inches)		Normal Max/Min Temps (^oF)
August	0.10	August	69.3	52.8
September	0.28	September	71.8	52.9
October	0.82	October	70.5	51.0

Comparative Weather Data for Stations on/near the Monterey Peninsula & Salinas

July 2002

Following are comparative figures from ten local observation sites:

National Weather Service Climate Station (NWSCS), (elevation 385') located in the western hilly section of Monterey;
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;
Naval Postgraduate School Campus (NPS) site, Monterey; (elevation 45')
Ft. Ord (NPS) site (elevation 167') located just north of the Marina Municipal Airport (formerly Fritzschie Army Airfield). This is the site of the Naval Postgraduate School's wind profilers managed by Department of Meteorology;
Marina site, SE end of Marina located about 2-1/2 miles ESE of Monterey Bay (elevation 80');
Carmel Valley site near Carmel Village, vicinity of Ford Rd. and Lilac Lane (elevation 475’) new this month;
Salinas site, vicinity of W. Blanco Rd. within 1/2 mile of S. Main St.;
Carmel site, 1/10 mile from Highway 1 and Rio Road;
Seaside site, NE end of Seaside, about 1 1/2 mi. east of Fremont St., near the Military Ave. boundary of Ft. Ord Village (elevation: 250').
Pacific Grove, vicinity of David and Forrest Avenues (elevation: 390').

Location	Temperature (^oF)				Precipitation (inches)			Wind (mph)
	Avg. Max.	Highest	Avg. Min.	Lowest	This Month	(01Jul-31 Jul) rain year	Norm	Max Gust /date(s)	Ave
NWSCS	67.0	84	51.2	46	0.02 ^a	0.02	0.07 ^@	34 (27^th)	----
NWSFO Ñ	70.0	79	53.2	47	trace ^b	trace	----	26 (21^st)	6.6*
NPS Ñ	68.7	81	55.5	50	trace ^c	trace	0.05 ^#	27 (21^st)	3.6^**
Ft. Ord (NPS)	65.1	79	51.1	48	0.00^b	0.00	----	27(21^st)	9.6^***
Marina	68.3	75	52.3	48	trace ^d	trace	0.10 ^&	----	----
Carmel Valley	80.3	99	50.1	42	0.00^a	0.00	----	----	----
Salinas	72.0	91	54.6	49	0.00	0.00	trace ⁺	----	----
Carmel	----	----	----	Data	not	Available	at	Publication	time
Seaside	71.0	81	52.5	45	0.00 ^b	0.00	----	----	----
Pacific Grove	65.6	79	50.6	48	0.09 ^d	0.09	----	----	----

FOOTNOTES:

Observations for precipitation: a = 5 or 6 PM PST, b = midnight PST, c = 4 PM local, d = 7 or 8 AM local
(NOTE: for d: 24-h rainfall measured 8 AM, first day of the month counts for previous month)
@ = 51-year average, # = 45-year average, + = 17-year average, & = 19-year average.

* = Winds NWSFO from Mry Pen Airport (24-h period, midnight to midnight PST from automated observations on the airfield).
** = Winds at NPS, based on 1-min averages over 24-h period, 4 pm to 4 pm PST
*** = Winds at Ft. Ord, based on 2-min averages over 24-h period, midnight to midnight PST
Ñ =data thru 25 Jul only available at publication time.