2001 Fresno, California (FAT)

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2001 FRESNO, CALIFORNIA (FAT)

Fresno is located about midway and toward the eastern edge of the San Joaquin Valley, which is oriented northwest to southeast and has a length of about 225 miles and an average width of 50 miles. The San Joaquin Valley is generally flat. About 15 miles east of Fresno the terrain slopes upward with the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. The Sierra Nevada attain an elevation of more than 14,000 feet 50 miles east of Fresno. West of the city 45 miles lie the foothills of the Coastal Range.

The climate of Fresno is dry and mild in winter and hot in summer. Nearly nine–tenths of the annual precipitation falls in the six months from November to April.

Due to clear skies during the summer and the protection of the San Joaquin Valley from marine effects, the normal daily maximum temperature reaches the high 90s during the latter part of July. The daily maximum temperature during the warmest month has ranged from 76 to 115 degrees. Low relative humidities and some wind movement substantially lower the sensible temperature during periods of high readings. Humidity readings of 15 percent are common on summer afternoons, and readings as low as 8 percent have been recorded. In contrast to this, humidity readings average 90 percent during the morning hours of December and January.

Winds flow with the major axis of the San Joaquin Valley, generally from the northwest. This feature is especially beneficial since, during the warmest months, the northwest winds increase during the evenings. These refreshing breezes and the normally large temperature variation of about 35 degrees between the highest and lowest readings of the day, generally result in comfortable evening and night temperatures.

Winter temperatures are usually mild with infrequent cold spells dropping the readings below freezing. Heavy frost occurs almost every year, and the first frost usually occurs during the last week of November. The last frost in spring is usually in early March, however, one year in five will have the last frost after the first of April. The growing season is 291 days.

Although the heaviest rains recorded at Fresno for short periods have occurred in June, usually any rainfall during the summer is very light. Snow is a rare occurrence in Fresno.

Fresno enjoys a very high percentage of sunshine, receiving more than 80 percent of the possible amounts during all but the four months of November, December, January, and February. Reduction of sunshine during these months is caused by fog and short periods of stormy weather.

During foggy periods, at times lasting nearly two weeks, sunshine is reduced to a minimum. This fog frequently lifts to a few hundred feet above the surface of the valley and presents the appearance of a heavy, solid cloud layer.

Spring and autumn are very enjoyable seasons in Fresno, with clear skies, light rainfall and winds and mild temperatures.

NORMALS, MEANS, AND EXTREMES

FRESNO, CA (FAT)

LATITUDE:      LONGITUDE:      ELEVATION (FT):      TIME ZONE:      WBAN: 93193

36 46′ 48″ N    119 43′ 10″ W    GRND: 372    BARO: 375    PACIFIC (UTC + 8)

ELEMENTPORJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECYEAR
TEMPERATURE FNORMAL DAILY MAXIMUM3054.161.766.675.184.292.798.696.790.179.764.753.776.5
MEAN DAILY MAXIMUM5254.461.566.874.683.491.598.096.290.479.965.354.676.4
HIGHEST DAILY MAXIMUM527880901001071101121121111028976112
YEAR OF OCCURRENCE198619911972198119841964199119961955198019491958AUG 1996
MEAN OF EXTREME MAXS.5267.573.279.989.798.4104.5106.7105.5101.993.979.567.289.0
NORMAL DAILY MINIMUM3037.440.543.447.353.760.465.163.858.850.742.537.150.1
MEAN DAILY MINIMUM5237.640.543.547.754.060.165.163.759.250.942.237.050.1
LOWEST DAILY MINIMUM5219242632364450493727261818
YEAR OF OCCURRENCE196319901966198219751955195519661950197219751990DEC 1990
MEAN OF EXTREME MINS.5227.431.033.938.544.050.956.456.050.540.832.227.740.8
NORMAL DRY BULB3045.751.255.161.269.076.681.980.374.565.253.645.463.3
MEAN DRY BULB5246.151.255.161.268.775.781.579.974.865.553.845.663.3
MEAN WET BULB1743.947.350.953.457.161.865.560.861.956.148.642.554.1
MEAN DEW POINT1741.043.045.544.843.847.354.550.552.348.243.839.446.2
NORMAL NO. DAYS WITH:
MAXIMUM 90300.00.0*2.19.419.528.526.316.94.20.00.0106.9
MAXIMUM 32300.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.10.1
MINIMUM 32308.53.10.70.10.00.00.00.00.00.12.08.923.4
MINIMUM 0300.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
H/CNORMAL HEATING DEG. DAYS30598386314182340008843426082556
NORMAL COOLING DEG. DAYS300076815835252447429391001967
RHNORMAL (PERCENT)3083776957474239455058748460
HOUR 04 LST3091908680726460677278879278
HOUR 10 LST3084776551433937424552718558
HOUR 16 LST3067564634262321252834546940
HOUR 22 LST3088837462504340465264818964
SPERCENT POSSIBLE SUNSHINE4647657785909597969488664679
W/OMEAN NO. DAYS WITH:
HEAVY FOG (VISBY 1/4 MI)5211.75.81.70.30.10.00.00.00.10.95.411.537.5
THUNDERSTORMS520.30.40.90.50.60.40.30.20.70.50.20.35.3
CLOUDINESSMEAN:
SUNRISE–SUNSET (OKTAS)
MIDNIGHT–MIDNIGHT (OKTAS)
MEAN NO. DAYS WITH:
CLEAR13.05.06.04.0
PARTLY CLOUDY11.01.0
CLOUDY12.03.01.01.0
PRMEAN STATION PRESSURE(IN)2829.8029.7129.7029.7029.6029.5029.5029.5029.6029.6029.7929.8029.65
MEAN SEA–LEVEL PRES. (IN)1730.1530.0930.0430.0029.9329.9929.8829.8829.8929.9830.1030.1630.01
WINDSMEAN SPEED (MPH)405.25.76.77.48.28.37.46.86.15.24.74.86.4
PREVAIL. DIR (TENS OF DEGS)2613133231313130303031301331
MAXIMUM 2–MINUTE:
SPEED (MPH)629362936322823252626302636
DIR. (TENS OF DEGS)09133029323008303031283029
YEAR OF OCCURRENCE200119981997199919981999199919991996200020012001APR 1999
MAXIMUM 5–SECOND:
SPEED (MPH)641433740373230303135373143
DIR. (TENS OF DEGS)31292929323030313031293129
YEAR OF OCCURRENCE199819991997199919981998200119991996199820012001FEB 1999
PRECIPITATIONNORMAL (IN)301.961.801.890.970.300.080.010.030.240.531.371.4210.60
MAXIMUM MONTHLY (IN)528.566.127.244.411.651.930.220.251.192.453.506.738.56
YEAR OF OCCURRENCE196920001991196719901998199219641976200019721955JAN 1969
MINIMUM MONTHLY (IN)520.04T0.000.020.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.00
YEAR OF OCCURRENCE197619641972199719821983198319811981197819591989DEC 1989
MAXIMUM IN 24 HOURS (IN)522.591.992.431.391.421.800.220.250.971.761.351.762.59
YEAR OF OCCURRENCE196919691995198319901998199219641978199219531955JAN 1969
NORMAL NO. DAYS WITH:
PRECIPITATION 0.01306.87.07.34.21.60.70.20.41.12.36.26.744.5
PRECIPITATION 1.00300.20.30.10.1*0.00.00.00.0 *0.00.10.8
SNOWFALLNORMAL (IN)300.1T0.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.*0.1
MAXIMUM MONTHLY (IN)472.2TT0.00.0T0.00.00.0T0.01.22.2
YEAR OF OCCURRENCE196219941991199519741968JAN 1962
MAXIMUM IN 24 HOURS (IN)471.5TT0.00.0T0.00.00.0T0.01.21.5
YEAR OF OCCURRENCE196219941991199519741968JAN 1962
MAXIMUM SNOW DEPTH (IN)460000000000011
YEAR OF OCCURRENCE1968DEC 1968
NORMAL NO. DAYS WITH:
SNOWFALL 1.0300.*0.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.*0.0
PRECIPITATION (inches) 2001 FRESNO, CA (FAT)
YEARJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECANNUAL
19720.370.670.000.270.150.60T0.000.290.223.501.407.47
19731.913.692.840.09TT0.00T0.001.021.391.7412.68
19742.820.252.560.640.000.00TT0.001.440.341.269.31
19750.690.972.440.55T0.00T0.050.221.070.200.146.33
19760.044.720.440.93T0.370.010.211.191.550.870.7111.04
19770.680.091.040.041.160.06TTT0.010.463.026.56
19783.164.414.252.850.000.00TT1.050.001.340.6217.68
19792.712.532.270.070.060.000.080.00T0.481.010.749.95
19803.833.302.050.250.18T0.010.000.000.030.140.4910.28
19812.671.292.591.01T0.000.000.000.000.581.220.6510.01
19822.110.584.760.890.000.310.00T1.101.583.161.5916.08
19835.143.704.532.760.010.000.000.091.030.092.511.7521.61
19840.151.050.480.250.020.20TT0.000.701.941.986.77
19850.430.711.730.120.000.330.040.020.430.853.020.728.40
19862.123.663.420.360.160.00T0.000.380.000.012.3012.41
19871.931.362.390.070.870.010.000.00T0.850.521.199.19
19881.520.830.272.410.450.030.000.000.000.001.422.469.39
19890.481.182.250.050.890.000.000.031.110.420.500.006.91
19902.821.330.670.921.650.00T0.000.150.050.460.688.73
19910.131.017.240.020.03T0.00TT0.800.041.2210.49
19921.944.732.140.18TT0.22TT2.19T2.6814.08
19935.182.441.760.200.251.610.000.000.000.121.161.0313.75
19941.151.920.521.361.300.00T0.000.200.771.571.3310.12
19955.420.935.881.081.190.660.01T0.000.00T2.1217.29
19962.073.571.521.170.380.08T0.000.001.971.944.2716.97
19973.530.170.10TT0.01T0.000.150.072.660.997.68
19983.404.893.441.261.371.930.000.000.150.160.430.6217.65
19992.821.180.490.930.030.200.000.01TT0.480.036.17
20003.156.121.351.160.050.560.00T0.322.450.010.0715.24
20012.662.220.961.870.000.000.080.00T0.291.991.9512.02
POR=124 YRS2.051.941.880.970.340.170.020.020.160.571.091.6410.85
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE (F) 2001 FRESNO, CA (FAT)
YEARJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECANNUAL
197240.652.560.761.169.977.581.579.771.862.650.240.962.4
197345.151.950.461.272.978.680.478.572.063.352.947.262.9
197447.949.156.360.069.577.781.379.377.566.053.144.563.5
197543.449.951.553.968.474.778.175.975.861.449.543.960.5
197644.349.652.457.269.772.979.472.772.265.153.446.561.3
197744.353.552.465.563.679.881.580.674.066.854.651.364.0
197851.452.660.358.969.976.382.481.473.070.052.142.864.3
197947.051.457.462.771.177.982.279.979.567.854.046.964.8
198049.453.853.761.867.273.784.080.775.668.454.246.864.1
198147.952.054.563.270.982.884.982.976.561.455.547.765.0
198241.750.551.458.069.372.981.080.472.365.051.145.461.6
198345.253.155.957.969.776.379.082.178.868.554.651.164.3
198447.850.758.460.874.877.587.083.581.062.453.646.565.3
198543.351.353.167.269.481.886.080.572.365.052.543.863.9
198653.655.760.362.771.279.481.984.271.366.956.747.566.0
198745.352.855.666.771.878.477.080.275.570.152.344.264.2
198846.052.256.861.667.075.685.581.276.468.754.344.564.2
198942.948.857.967.369.677.082.579.374.365.354.343.863.6
199045.548.057.365.768.176.884.080.675.867.752.941.563.7
199147.055.851.559.566.174.783.878.679.970.555.847.064.2
199242.755.558.866.876.077.081.383.277.068.654.345.365.5
199347.151.960.361.769.975.780.279.775.767.853.945.664.1
199446.949.959.363.268.577.783.382.375.464.848.145.363.7
199551.954.156.260.766.273.380.782.676.366.858.750.564.8
199648.354.257.263.669.977.885.483.474.864.153.949.165.1
199748.750.360.063.575.375.881.380.677.363.856.944.764.9
199849.050.055.559.062.071.582.184.175.863.153.142.862.3
199944.749.953.558.568.075.980.678.477.368.756.947.063.3
200050.253.856.564.271.079.878.881.274.563.949.247.864.2
200146.248.758.858.677.379.781.681.977.068.556.447.465.2
POR=114 YRS45.951.255.261.168.275.581.880.074.265.054.246.263.2

REFERENCE NOTES:

PAGE 1:

THE TEMPERATURE GRAPH SHOWS NORMAL MAXIMUM AND NORMAL MINIMUM DAILY TEMPERATURES (SOLID CURVES) AND THE ACTUAL DAILY HIGH AND LOW TEMPERATURES (VERTICAL BARS).

PAGE 2 AND 3:

H/C INDICATES HEATING AND COOLING DEGREE DAYS.

RH INDICATES RELATIVE HUMIDITY

W/O INDICATES WEATHER AND OBSTRUCTIONS

S INDICATES SUNSHINE.

PR INDICATES PRESSURE.

CLOUDINESS ON PAGE 3 IS THE SUM OF THE CEILOMETER AND SATELLITE DATA NOT TO EXCEED EIGHT EIGHTHS (OKTAS).

GENERAL:

T INDICATES TRACE PRECIPITATION, AN AMOUNT GREATER THAN ZERO BUT LESS THAN THE LOWEST REPORTABLE VALUE.

+ INDICATES THE VALUE ALSO OCCURS ON EARLIER DATES.

BLANK ENTRIES DENOTE MISSING OR UNREPORTED DATA.

NORMALS ARE 30–YEAR AVERAGES (1961–1990).

ASOS INDICATES AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM.

PM INDICATES THE LAST DAY OF THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

POR (PERIOD OF RECORD) BEGINS WITH THE JANUARY DATA MONTH AND IS THE NUMBER OF YEARS USED TO COMPUTE THE MEAN. INDIVIDUAL MONTHS WITHIN THE POR MAY BE MISSING.

WHEN THE POR FOR A NORMAL IS LESS THAN 30 YEARS, THE NORMAL IS PROVISIONAL AND IS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF YEARS INDICATED.

0.* OR * INDICATES THE VALUE OR MEAN–DAYS–WITH IS BETWEEN 0.00 AND 0.05.

CLOUDINESS FOR ASOS STATIONS DIFFERS FROM THE NON–ASOS OBSERVATION TAKEN BY A HUMAN OBSERVER. ASOS STATION CLOUDINESS IS BASED ON TIME–AVERAGED CEILOMETER DATA FOR CLOUDS AT OR BELOW 12,000 FEET AND ON SATELLITE DATA FOR CLOUDS ABOVE 12,000 FEET.

THE NUMBER OF DAYS WITH CLEAR, PARTLY CLOUDY, AND CLOUDY CONDITIONS FOR ASOS STATIONS IS THE SUM OF THE CEILOMETER AND SATELLITE DATA FOR THE SUNRISE TO SUNSET PERIOD.

GENERAL CONTINUED:

CLEAR INDICATES 0–2 OKTAS, PARTLY CLOUDY INDICATES 3–6 OKTAS, AND CLOUDY INDICATES 7 OR 8 OKTAS. WHEN AT LEAST ONE OF THE ELEMENTS (CEILOMETER OR SATELLITE) IS MISSING, THE DAILY CLOUDINESS IS NOT COMPUTED.

WIND DIRECTION IS RECORDED IN TENS OF DEGREES (2 DIGITS) CLOCKWISE FROM TRUE NORTH. "00" INDICATES CALM. "36" INDICATES TRUE NORTH.

RESULTANT WIND IS THE VECTOR AVERAGE OF THE SPEED AND DIRECTION.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IS THE SUM OF THE MEAN DAILY MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURE DIVIDED BY 2.

SNOWFALL DATA COMPRISE ALL FORMS OF FROZEN PRECIPITATION, INCLUDING HAIL.

A HEATING (COOLING) DEGREE DAY IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE AVERAGE DAILY TEMPERATURE AND 65 F.

DRY BULB IS THE TEMPERATURE OF THE AMBIENT AIR.

DEW POINT IS THE TEMPERATURE TO WHICH THE AIR MUST BE COOLED TO ACHIEVE 100 PERCENT RELATIVE HUMIDITY.

WET BULB IS THE TEMPERATURE THE AIR WOULD HAVE IF THE MOISTURE CONTENT WAS INCREASED TO 100 PERCENT RELATIVE HUMIDITY.

ON JULY 1, 1996, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BEGAN USING THE "METAR" OBSERVATION CODE THAT WAS ALREADY EMPLOYED BY MOST OTHER NATIONS OF THE WORLD. THE MOST NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IN THIS ANNUAL PUBLICATION WILL BE THE CHANGE IN UNITS FROM TENTHS TO EIGHTS (OKTAS) FOR REPORTING THE AMOUNT OF SKY COVER.

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (base 65 F) 2001 FRESNO, CA (FAT)
YEARJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNTOTAL
1972–730021084377406103584441401222853
1973–74000943605445224382601603302411
1974–75000593506286614194093255332907
1975–760001544556486364403852421092979
1976–7701563342566636313386429802452
1977–78000463024174153431431821901867
1978–7900630382682549372234963402385
1979–80000563235554733183431294602243
1980–8100069318553521359316114902259
1981–820001182785307113984122172142689
1982–830013624116026073272762065502559
1983–840013304421530408198149602020
1984–8500012833556666437836139832482
1985–8600063369651345258156983001970
1986–87001322242537602337282562602117
1987–88000737463658336625112469122422
1988–8900020316629679450213521402373
1989–9000773310649598470236351912398
1990–91000173567225492534121636502537
1991–920008127655168326718325012067
1992–93000183166025493591451139122123
1993–9400012326595553414168973702202
1994–950005850060239829826914660162347
1995–960003018444451330423899801820
1996–9700014832948650040516997202136
1997–980009224662149041229322610472491
1998–990077935168261941834822735122778
1999–0000014235550452317259722731929
2000–01000103466526577451208222002553
2001–00023251538
COOLING DEGREE DAYS (base 65 F) 2001 FRESNO, CA (FAT)
YEARJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECANNUAL
197200171819538351846421342001850
19730003226441948442321847401891
19740002017938451244838196002020
1975000016430341334432949001602
19760021616225445624622873001437
19770006260451518494275108001968
19780036179342546516250187002029
197900237229396541471442149002267
198000039120265594493326181002018
19810006720054562256235214002362
19820001216225150148324070001719
19830000207343440537422119002068
19840013031838268858148755002542
198500011115351665748722769202222
198601183423144053060320687002150
1987000114243409379480323172002120
198800328139338642511349143302156
198900412916636654644929190002041
199000261122360595490333108002071
19910006107298588428454259502145
199200088350366511572365135002387
199300320168342476462331105001907
19940015215138957654731859002093
19950002510427349455134791001885
199600466162389640579300125002265
1997001861330334514492373611102194
1998006501821053660033825001783
199900039135348487423373135001940
20000005421745443450929181002040
2001002037389447521533365137002449
SNOWFALL (inches) 2001 FRESNO, CA (FAT)
YEARJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNTOTAL
1972–730.00.00.00.00.0T0.00.0T0.00.00.0T
1973–740.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
1974–750.00.00.0T0.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0T
1975–760.00.00.00.00.00.00.0T0.00.00.00.0T
1976–770.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
1977–780.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
1978–790.00.00.00.00.00.00.0TT0.00.00.0T
1979–800.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
1980–810.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
1981–820.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
1982–830.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
1983–840.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
1984–850.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
1985–860.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
1986–870.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
1987–880.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
1988–890.00.00.00.00.00.00.0T0.00.00.00.0T
1989–900.00.00.00.00.00.00.0T0.00.00.00.0T
1990–910.00.00.00.00.0T0.00.0T0.00.00.0T
1991–920.00.00.00.00.00.00.0T0.00.00.00.0T
1992–930.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
1993–940.00.00.00.00.00.00.0T0.00.00.00.0T
1994–950.00.00.00.00.00.0T0.00.00.00.0TT
1995–960.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
1996–97
1997–98
1998–990.5
1999–00
2000–01
2001–
POR=46 YRS0.00.00.0T0.0T0.0TT0.00.0TT

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