Narrative Summary - December 2005

The average temperature for December 2005 was colder than normal, averaging 27.4ºF, 4.3º below normal
(31.7ºF). The warmest December (1957) averaged 38.5ºF, while the coldest (1985) averaged 21.0ºF. The period
from December 1-18 averaged 12 degrees below normal, while the period from December 21-31 averaged nearly 9
degrees above normal. The maximum temperature of 19ºF on December 12 established a new record low
maximum for the day - the previous record was 22ºF in 1972.




Precipitation for December 2005 totaled 2.01 inches, 181% of normal (1.11 inches).  Precipitation from December 

19-31 totaled 1.86 inches.  The wettest December (1996) received 3.69 inches, and the driest (1999) received 0.07 

inch.  Snowfall for December totaled 2.4 inches, compared to a normal of 5.8 inches.  The snowiest December on 

record (1996) received 22.6 inches.



The average wind speed for December 2005 was 4.7 miles per hour (mph), which was 1.4 mph below normal (6.1 

mph).  The windiest December on record (1968) averaged 8.3 mph, while the December with the lightest winds 

(1985) averaged 3.3 mph. The peak gust for December 2005 was 35 mph on December 23.  The record wind gust 

for December was 71 mph in 1955.



Calendar year 2005 averaged 53.5ºF, which was slightly below normal (53.6ºF).  The warmest years (1992 and 

1998) averaged 56.4ºF, while the coolest year (1985) averaged 49.6ºF.  The hottest temperature during 2005 was 

106ºF on July 28.  The coldest temperature was 4ºF on December 18.  Precipitation for 2005 totaled 6.39 inches, 

92% of normal (6.98 inches).  The wettest year (1995) received 12.31 inches, while the driest (1976) received 2.99 

inches.  Calendar year snowfall totaled 12.1 inches, compared to a normal of 15.4 inches.



The monthly climatological data summaries, as well as other information, are available on the Internet.  

Address:  http://hms.pnl.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.