Climate Summary May 2001

 

 

 

Brilliant sunshine and warm temperatures characterized the first week of May 2001.  However this trend would not continue as temperatures became progressively cooler and clouds dominated the skies for much of the month.

 

The month of May began with very warm temperatures.  The clear skies associated with the large high-pressure area centered over the Eastern US allowed temperatures to soar.  Many regions of Pennsylvania recorded record high temperatures on both Thursday May 4th and Friday May 5th as the mercury broke the 90-degree mark in many of the major cities.  A cold front moved through the state producing little or no precipitation on Saturday May 5th, dropping temperatures into the upper 70’s.  However, the temperatures were still above normal.

 

The second week of May featured beautiful warm days as a high-pressure area built into the region.  The temperatures throughout the state moderated from the mid 60’s until Saturday May 12th when they reached the 80’s.  A cold front moved through Pennsylvania late Saturday producing scattered thunderstorms.  Mother’s Day was sunny but rather cool for this time of year. 

 

The following week was cool and rather cloudy, a trend that would continue throughout the rest of the month.  Temperatures were unseasonably cool, with highs in the mid 60’s, in most of Pennsylvania.  On May 21st, many areas saw their first significant rainfall in almost a month.  Philadelphia had gone 29 days before this storm dropped 0.11 inches of rain over the area.

 

For the next two weeks, system after system moved through the state, keeping the cloud cover and drizzle mixed with periods of heavier rain.  Memorial Day Weekend was cloudy and cool for many regions.  A weak front moved through the state on Sunday producing heavy thunderstorms and this same system later spawned a tornado in New Jersey.  By late in the day on Memorial Day, the sun finally peaked through the clouds.

 

A very cold air mass moved over the state the last few days of May allowing night time lows to sink into the 30’s the nights of May 30th and 31st, and a few areas in Western and Central Pennsylvania neared record low temperatures.

 

Despite what seemed like a very cool month, May had an above normal average temperature.  This was due to the very warm days at the beginning of the month.  After a very dry beginning, most regions in the state still received almost 4 inches of rain, the normal for the month of May, with the exception of Pittsburgh who only measured 2 inches of rain for the entire month.  However, many areas of Pennsylvania are still far below normal for yearly precipitation.

 

 

-Erin Roberts

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 2001 Extremes for Pennsylvania

 

 

Maximum High

Town

Date

102

Spring Grove

May 5th, 2001

 

 

 

Minimum Low

Town

Date

25

Ridgeway

May 31st, 2001

21

Kane

May 1st, 2001

 

 

 

Max. Monthly Precipitation

Town

5.32 inches

Bucksville

 

 

Min. Monthly Precipitation

 

1.06 inches

Confluence Dam