Narrative Summary - April 1999

April 1999 was cooler than normal, averaging 50.9ºF, 1.8º below normal (52.7ºF). The
warmest April occurred in 1994 and averaged 58.2ºF, while the coldest was 47.5ºF in
1955. No new daily temperature records were established in April.

Precipitation for April 1999 totaled only a trace, 0% of normal (0.41 inch), tieing four prior
Aprils (1986, 1977, 1973 and 1956) as the driest on record. The wettest April, in 1995,
received 1.54 inches. No snowfall was recorded in April 1999, compared to an April normal
of a trace. The snowiest April received 1.0 inch (1982), while numerous Aprils have
received no snowfall. Snowfall for the 1998-1999 winter season totaled only 0.9 inch, the
second lowest total on record. The lowest total was 0.3 inch in the winter of 1957-1958;
while highest was 56.1 inches during the winter of 1992-1993. (Normal is 13.4 inches.)
Total precipitation since January 1, 1999 is 1.65 inches, 72% of normal (2.29 inches).

The average wind speed for April 1999 was nearly normal, with an average speed of 8.8
miles per hour (mph), 0.2 mph below normal (9.0 mph). The windiest April on record
averaged 11.1 mph (1972), while the April with the lightest winds (1989) averaged 7.4
mph. The peak gust for the month was 40 mph on April 2. The record wind gust for April
was 73 mph in 1972.

The monthly climatological data summaries, as well as other information, are available
on the Internet. Address: http://etd.pnl.gov:2080/HMS/. Hanford Site personnel can
access the HMS Intranet site at: http://hms.rl.gov/

For additional information contact:
Ken Burk373-3215
Dana Hoitink372-6414

Note: The information in this summary pertains specifically to
the Hanford Meteorology Station (HMS), which is located
approximately 25 miles northwest of Richland, Washington. No
attempt should be made to infer meteorological conditions at other
locations from these data.