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

SUMMARY of the MAY 2005 WEATHER ON THE MONTEREY PENINSULA

General: May is a transition month between the cool wet season and milder dry season. Temperatures in May 2005 were above average, thanks to mild nights, while rainfall exceeded normal by nearly 60%. Winds were above-average, gusty on many days, while mostly light fog was observed on half the May days.

Temperature: The overall average temperature for May 2005 is 1.2°F above the 56.4°F normal (based on 54-years of record). Unfortunately, it was the night-time readings that determined the “above” category since average daytime maximums were slightly below (0.1°F) normal (64.5°F), while night-time minimums were significantly above normal: 50.7°F vs. 48.1°F. High for the month was 72°F on 18 May. Only six May’s in the last 54 years observed a lower absolute maximum. Low for the month was 46°F on 10 May 2005. Only one other May can boast of a higher absolute minimum -- 48°F on May 1992. (46°F was also the month’s minimum in May 1957). May 2005 is the warmest month since October 2004. Only one daily temperature record to report: the mild 59°F minimum on 19 May 2005 is the new warm record for the date: beats 57°F set in 1953.

There were still near-frost conditions in the local valleys in May 2005. See Carmel Valley on Comparative Weather Data page. Sea-surface temperatures in outer Monterey Bay generally stayed in the 54-58°F range in May 2005, with considerable up and down variability.

Precipitation: Rainfall continued its above-normal “binge” that began in December 2004. A total of 0.81” was recorded on six days with measurable rain, classified as moderate/heavy for the month. That compares to four days with 0.51” as normal (54-year record). Rain-year total to end of May stands at 30.50”, compared to 19.53” expectation at this time. Rain-year normal (1 July thru 30 June) is 19.73”. Only two rain-years in at least the last 57 years exceed this year’s amount: 47.15” in rain-year 1997/98 and 40.64” in rain-year 1982/83. The Big Sur rainfall value is over 59” to date. See Comparative Weather page.

Wind: Again, wind gustiness was prominent this past month. Wind gusts 23 mph or higher occurred on 11 days in May at the NWSCS, even gusting to 35 mph on the 21^st. Since the highest gusts generally occurred late afternoon and were ocean derived, wind-chill temperatures frequently dipped into the chilly 30’s.

Fog: There were 15 fog-days in May 2005 (visibility 6 miles or less for one or more hours). Normal is 13 (based on 45 years of record). However the fog events were mostly confined to late night/early daylight hours and localized to within a few miles downstream from the Bay and at nearby hilly Peninsula elevations.

Temperature and Precipitation Outlook for the Central California Coast for period June thru August 2005: The latest National Weather Service outlook for the Central Coast area indicates equal chances for above, near and below normal temperatures and rainfall in June, followed by more of the same for rainfall, but near-to-above normal temperatures in the period July/August.

Rainfall (inches)		Normal Max/Min Temps (^oF)
June	0.20	June	66.8	50.3
July	0.07	July	68.0	51.7
August	0.10	August	69.2	52.9

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

May 2005

Following are comparative figures from eleven 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’);
Salinas site, vicinity of W. Blanco Rd. within 1/2 mile of S. Main St.;
Carmel, located on Rio Road near east end;
Seaside, vicinity of Paralta and Military Aves;
Pacific Grove site, vicinity of Sunset and Congress Streets;
Big Sur Ranger Station, Highway 1, Big Sur.

Location	Temperature (^oF)				Precipitation (inches)			Wind (mph)
	Avg. Max.	Highest	Avg. Min.	Lowest	This Month	01 Jul-31 May (rain year)	Normal	Peak Gust (dates)	Avg. Speed
NWSCS	64.5	72	50.7	46	0.81 ^a	30.50	19.53^@	35 (21^st)	----
NWSFO	67.9	76	52.0	48	0.79 ^b	24.50	----	28 (10^th)	6.9 *
NPS	66.8	76	52.7	48	0.71 ^d	25.39	15.89 ^#	30 (19^th)	3.5 ^**
Ft. Ord (NPS)	65.0	75	48.9	44	0.61^b	23.88	----	32(10^th)	10.7 ^***
Marina	67.5	78	50.9	44	0.63 ^d	21.93	16.26 ^&	----	----
Carmel Valley	72.0	81	46.8	38	0.65 ^a	24.37	----	----	----
Salinas	70.2	81	50.3	43	0.64 ^d	21.40	14.42 ⁺	----	----
Carmel	68.8	79	54.5	48	0.97 ^a	31.27	----	----	----
Seaside	69.4	80	49.1	43	0.87 ^d	22.64	----	----	----
Pacific Grove	69.3	76	52.8	49	0.68 ^a	26.07	----	25 (28^th)	----
Big Sur	71.5	83	48.2	41	1.19 ^c	59.13	----	----	----

FOOTNOTES:

Observations for precipitation: a = 5 or 6 PM PST, b = midnight PST, c = 3 or 4 PM local, d = 6 to 8 AM local
(NOTE: for d: 24-h rainfall measured 8 AM, first day of the month counts for previous month)
@ = 54-year average, # = 48-year average, + = 23-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