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Climatological Data U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE SINCLAIR WEEKS, Secretary WEATHER BUREAU F. W. mICmIWKEIKE Chief CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA NATIONAL SUMMARY MAY 1956 Volume 7 No.5 ASUIUMZ: 196 C O N T E N T S SURFACE DATA Page General Summary of Weather Conditions------------------------ 143 Condensed Climatological Data - States----------------------- 144 Climatological Data - Stations------------------------------- 145 Heating Degree Days--------------------------------------- 149 Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena-------------------- 150 General Summary of River and Flood Conditions--------------- 168 Flood Stage Data---------------------------------------------- 172 UPPER AIR DATA Rawinsonde Data----------------------------------------------- 173 SOLAR RADIATION DATA Solar Radiation Intensities---------------------------------- 179 Blue Hill Data--------------------------------------------- 180 Daily Totals and Average Daily Totals by Weeks-------------- 181 CHARTS I-XV NOTE.--This publication contains all of the climatic data formerly printed in the MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: Monthly 30 cents and annual 50 cents per copy; yearly subscription, including monthly and annual issues, $4.00 domestic, $5.50 foreign. Checks and money orders should be made payable to the Superintendent of Documents. Remittance and corres- pondence regarding subscriptions should be sent to "Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C." CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA NATIONAL SUMMARY Volume 7 No. 5 MAY 1956 GENERAL SUMMARY OF WEATHER CONDITIONS Contrasting weather conditions in different 17th; Albuquerque, N. Mex., 970 on 31st; and parts of the country featured the weather of May Grand Junction, Colo., 950 on 31st. Minnesota 1956. While the central Great Plains was experi- reported that ice in all northern Lakes melted encing one of the warmest Mays on record, winter during the second week. doggedly held on in the Northeast where late-season PRECIPITATION.--The most serious rainfall de- snows and freezes retarded vegetative growth and ficiencies for May occurred in the western por- agricultural activities by as much as 3 weeks. tions of the central and lower Great Plains and The freeze on the 25th damaged crops severely in the Far Southwest. In most of this large area New England and to a lesser extent in nearby states. rainfall was less than 50 percent of normal with In large areas of the central and lower Great monthly totals diminishing from less than an inch Plains the winter and spring drought was greatly in western Nebraska and Kansas to no rain at all relieved by rains during the last 10 days. Drought along the Mexican Border. Similar deficiencies continued, however, in local areas of this region in both the preceding months of March and April and in the Far Southwest. During the latter half had virtually exhausted soil moisture reserves, of the month, above normal temperatures in the and the combination of heat and lack of moisture Northwest caused rapid snowmelt which resulted in during the first two decades of May in the Great local overflows along many streams. Severe storms Plains and during the entire month in the Far brought death and destruction to Michigan and Ohio Southwest further deteriorated the small grain on the 12th. and pasture outlook. TEMPERATURE.--Temperatures for the month averaged Moderate to heavy rains fell over nearly all slightly below normal in California and Nevada the central and lower Great Plains area during and up to 40 below north of a line joining Hatteras, the last decade. These rains were particularly N. C., and Havre, Mont. In the remainder of the heavy in Oklahoma and northwestern Texas where Country the month was relatively warm with the they contributed to monthly totals which ranged center of greatest departures of 60 or more lo- up to 12.05 inches in Vinson, Okla., and 11.33 cated in the central Great Plains. at Stephenville, Tex. The 12.05 inches in Okla- Persistent below-normal temperatures in the homa was the Nation's greatest total for the Northeast dropped below freezing and set new month. records for so late in the season on the 8th, 9th, Precipitation was also less than 50 percent of 17th, and 25th. On the 9th Albany, N. Y., and normal in northern and western Washington, and by Providence, R. I., reported late season lows of the end of May, which was preceded by a dry April, 270 and 290 respectively. A record low of 280 rain was badly needed in western portions and in occurred at Green Bay, Wis., on the 16th, and 310 the eastern wheat belt. at Syracuse, N. Y., and 350 at Wilmington, Del., Northwestern Florida and southern portions of on the 17th. On the 24th and 25th most stations Alabama and Georgia were parts of still another in New England and many others in the remainder area which received less than 50 percent of normal of the Northeast as well as in the Great Lakes precipitation in both April and May. The situation region reported late season lows. Heavy frost was was not serious here, although rain was badly deposited at Burlington, Vt., on the 25th, the needed locally at the end of the month. latest on record, and the month was the coldest In the remainder of the Country precipitation May there since 1917. Freeze damage in the North- generally ranged from 1 to over 4 inches, and was east on the 24th and 25th was estimated at ample for agricultural purposes except in scattered $10,000,000 in New England, one-half of which oc- local areas. Some individual stations reported curred in Massachusetts. The apple crop was be- unusually heavy amounts for May. Akron, Ohio, lieved to have sustained a 75 to 90 percent loss, measured 9.60 inches for its wettest May in 70 and the first strawberry crop was completely wiped years; Wilmington, N. C., 9.12 for its wettest Out. Early truck also suffered heavy losses. May on record; and Red Bluff, Calif., had 4.04 Temperatures responsible for these losses ranged inches, also a new record. in the 20's in the interior lowlands. New Jersey Snow fell in the northern Rockies on the 4th and estimated its losses in the hundreds of thousands. 5th (Cutbank, Mont., reported 2 inches on the Additional freeze damage, less extensive and of ground on the latter date) and from the upper unestimated amount, was reported from New York Mississippi to New England on the 6th. Snowfall State, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and in central and northeastern Delaware. Wisconsin on the 6th ranged up to 9 inches at Wausau, and glaze damaged The hot weather in the Great Plains and Rocky trees in the southern portion of the State. Harris- Mountains set several new records. Among stations burg, Pa., observed a trace of snow on the 16th, With long-term records reporting their hottest its latest snowfall on record. May were Wichita Falls, 76.60, Fort Worth, 77.7°, DESTRUCTIVE STORMS.--The worst outbreak of severe El Paso, 75,70, Dallas ;8.30, all in Texas; Wichita, storms occurred in Michigan and Ohio on the 12th. 70.1° and Dodge City, 70.00, both in Kansas. Also More than 20 funnel clouds were observed in lower several individual stations reported temperatures Michigan and severe thunderstorms with suspected as high as or higher than they had ever before tornadic activity extended into Northern Ohio. recorded in May. Among these were Salt Lake City, In the Cleveland, Ohio, area 7 persons were killed, Utah, 936 on the 31st; Salem, Oreg., 950 on the a hundred or more injured, and property damage- - 143 - GENERAL SUMMARY OF WEATHER CONDMONS-Continued MAY 1956 was estimated at $8,000,000. Additional damage as a result of severe thunderstorm activity (also of $750,000 occurred at Ravenna, Ohio. Destruction suspected tornado) and local flooding. Hail caused was as great or greater in Michigan, with the $600,000 crop damage in Columbus County, N. C., severest tornado in that State striking in the on the 20th, $210,000 in Polk County, Nebr., on Flint area. On the 13th damage estimated at the 12th, and $100,000 in Jeff Davis and Appling $1,000,000 occurred in southwestern Pennsylvania Counties, Ga., on the 24th. CONDENSED CLIMATOLOGICAL SUMMARY Tabl. 1 MAY 1956 T-mp-ranoe Mo-tily wwt-aw Sntidora Moastialyttitowma Staikioa W| Station dII w) I In. 1R. A lab-.- Gnneva 23. Heflin 34 1 7 Falls City Rik Pond Tar 7 41 Fops W~organ 0.45 Arizona 3 StntionS IT Alpine 14 15 gig Lake 1 t0892 Stotiona .00 Ark.nsas 40 Subi.co 10 6ravette 13 11.63 Shri ly .15 Call forial Cow Creok 21 White Mo.ntain 2 0 13 Pit Hiver PR S 7.05 17 Statio.. .00 Ca larado Haily 20 Ieatclife a Woetoore 25 5 28 Durengo 02 Conoerticut 4. Nra Oartford Oranierd Flid 31 2 Stations 22 9 North Orarford 13 Ozetford 1.02 Delse Drldgesii 1 INK 14 Geoegntoan SOII 30 3r idgei lie WINi 3. 11 Ne.arI College Far- 1.03 Florid. 2 Staslsna 24 Jasp.r 9ESE 42 17 Raifond Stoop Prisor 9.45 TO 00rtier 33 G.or. in S.':idsboro 31 Blairnville Exp. St. 32 17 Adel 9.52 Macv WB FAP 32 Id-ho Crand Vinv 31 Ohsidian 4NNE 16 14 Cottonwood 4.98 Virie 12ESE 48 Illi-ai. 2 Stations 22 Fro:port 29 O LeRoy 10.85 Waro 00 .01 mIdi:., Vincennes 30 Wabash 29 I White.ttnn 11. 13 Peter-borg 61 Bridge 1.91 2 stations 12, Chariton 3E 20 It DrlIzoom 2W 8 12 Kouqa No. 2 84 Kansas 3 Station- 108 4 Stat ion- 34 lo Toronto 8014 Canber City 42 K.en.trky Barhorrvi lie 13 3 Stationt 33 25 gartford 6NW 7.66 |Baedstior Si Prop Srt, Lasmisana 4 Statlon- 19. C onoerse 45 16 Franklin 10.68 Ore Oldder 35W I91 do 31 Millinockelt S 18 7 Woodlard 4.85 lOroro 1.I0 Mary iand 3 Stati.on 13.
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