If coastal Humboldtians have been wondering just where the heck our summer is, you have good reason: Last month was tied for the cloudiest ever recorded in Eureka, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, whose database stretches from 1887 through 2005. According to Shawn Palmquist, a meteorologist at the group’s Woodly Island station, 22 of July’s 30 days were considered “cloudy.” Only three times has a Eureka July been so gloomy — in 1889, 1972 and 1998.
Palmquist explained NOAA’s methodology: Each day (from sunrise to sunset) gets divided into eight sections. If zero-to-two of those sections are predominantly cloudy, then the day is considered “clear.” If three-to-six sections have cloud cover, the day is deemed “partly cloudy.” A full-fledged “cloudy” day is one that’s at least seven-eighths blocked from the sun.
Our June was normal, with 12 cloudy days, Palmquist said. So far in August, six of the nine days have been cloudy, putting us on pace to exceed the monthly average of 14.
As Hank Sims pointed out on the Lost Coast Outpost last month, it’s been unseasonably chilly, too: Eureka was the most unusually cold place in the U.S. thorugh the first six months of this year, again according to NOAA.
It should be acknowledged that the rest of the country would probably trade their summer weather for ours in a hot minute: July was the hottest month on record in the United States.
This article appears in Occupy Broadband.
why did they stop collecting data in 2005?
Re. “it should be acknowledged…” — please spare us the “it could be worse” stuff.
A little moderation (i.e., a few sunny days? please?) in our local climate would be nice.
If you live where its frequently hot, then, yes, a little cool is nice. Duh.
If where you live its seemingly always either raining or drizzling or foggy/cold (Arcata/Eureka), then a little sunny and warm on occasion would be nice.
it may be the cloudiest summer on record but this IS normal go inland if you want melanoma.
Ahhhh. I was just talking about summer in Arcata the other day when it was seventy degrees and my son was in the pool. Friends commented on how it was too cold to swim. I said “he’s got Arcata blood in him.” The way I remember it, if it was sunny, it was usually windy as well. But then again, that could be my doldrums teenage-brain-memories talking.
…and before Hank, there was HOJ saying the weather the past two years since the Jap Quake / Tsunami event took place……July Humboldt weather ain’t the only clues. How about the massive underwater volcanic explosion that created a wasteland of 10,000 square miles of quater sized balls of pumice…. Hank seems to take credit for the thoughts and “hint hints” of other people. Just sayin’….. – HOJ
I stopped complaining about our summer, or lack of summer, to friends and family who have been blistered by 114 degree summer heat. Felt foolishly spoiled and guilty since I only have to go inland a few miles to get the rays of warmth. Rather this “cool” summer than what the mid section is suffering through.
how about a real local denizen’s perspective unjaded by popular media influence, given due respect by local media for a change…
Where’d the rain go? ? Used to rain more days than not between november and february. Where’d the foggy mornings go? Used to be foggy more days than not throughout the bottoms. One would wake up and see the fog of their breath more days than not.
etc, etc…