Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Rainfall Down In May; But Still Up For Year

Rainfall in May was down somewhat from normal, according to local meteorologist John W. Teeter.

The normal amount of rain for the fifth month of the year is 5.10 inches, while only 4.43 inches fell last month. This left a shortfall of 0.67 inch for the month.

However, for the year, the area is well above normal. The usual amount received by this time of the year is 23.65 inches, while a total of 28.87 inches has fallen. This gives a surplus of 5.13 inches.

In Cale, according to weatherman Davis Benton, the rainfall in the southern part of Nevada County was only 2.79 inches for May, but has reached 28.08 inches for the year, making it slightly above normal.

Teeter said it rained eight days in May, with the largest one-day amount being 1.20 inches on May 5.

The mercury began climbing during the month as well, reaching all the way to 90 on May 22. This, Teeter said, was the first 90 degree day of 1999 and it came about a week later than usual.

The average temperature for May, he said, was 69.1 degrees, or 2.3 degrees below the normal 71.4 degrees.

It was a calm month as far as watches and warnings were concerned. There were only four posted, half of the usual amount of eight for a May.

Looking at June, Teeter said, the normal amount of rainfall is 3.99 inches, with the average daily temperature being 78.9 degrees.

He said the area usually experiences six weather watches or warnings during June.