Ithaca Climate Summary for May 2002

Temperature

• With an average temperature of 51.7 degrees, the month averaged 3.7 degrees cooler than normal.
• This was the coolest May since 1997.
• This month ended the string of 7 consecutive months with a positive temperature departure.
• The last month with a larger negative departure was March 2001 (-4.8 degrees).
• High temperatures this month didn't approach the warmth experienced during the middle of April.
• The warmest temperature of the month was 80 degrees on the 27th.
• The coldest temperature of the month was 27 degrees on the 1st.
• Three record low temperatures were set this month: 28 degrees on the 20th (old record 31 in 1981), 28 degrees on the 21st (old record 29 in 1906), and 29 degrees on the 22nd (old record 31 in 1936).

Precipitation

• May precipitation totalled 5.01 inches, which represented 156% of normal.
• This was the first wetter-than-normal month since September 2001.
• This was the 18th wettest May in 124 years of record.
• Year-to-date precipitation now stands at 13.34 inches, 0.09 inches above normal.
• Total precipitation for the last twelve months is 37.41 inches, 0.70 inches above normal.

Snowfall

• There was no snowfall this month.
• Seasonal snowfall was 25.2 inches, which was 43 inches below normal.
• This was the second least snowiest season on record. The record is 25.1 inches set in the winter of 1918-19.