Narrative Summary - November 1998

November 1998 was much warmer than normal, averaging 45.6ºF, 5.4º above normal (40.2ºF),
and was the third warmest November on record. The warmest November occurred in 1990 and
averaged 46.5ºF, while the coldest was 24.8ºF in 1985. The following daily temperature records
were established in November:

			  New        Old
Date      Category        Record     Record     Year
  13	 High Minimum       56         46       1990
  14	 High Minimum	    47         47       1945 Tie
  15	 High Maximum	    67         65	1953
  15	 High Minimum	    47	       46	1983
  25	 High Maximum	    67	       65	1962
  25	 High Minumum	    50	       48	1962

Precipitation for November 1998 totaled 1.29 inches, 142% of normal (0.91 inch). The wettest
November, in 1996, received 2.67 inches, while the driest, in 1976, received only a trace. There
was no snowfall recorded in November 1998, compared to a November normal of 1.8 inches.
Total precipitation since January 1, 1998 totals 6.01 inches, 115% of normal (5.23 inches).

November 1998 was a very windy month with an average wind speed of 8.8 miles per hour (mph),
compared to a November normal of 6.4 mph. For the period from November 20 through 26 the
average wind speed was 16.2 mph, and every day during the period had gusts in excess of 40
mph. The peak wind gust for the month was 56 mph recorded on November 21. There were a
record number of days (10) in November 1998 with wind gusts >= 40 mph. The previous record
was 8 days in 1990 (normal is 2 days). There were 4 days during the month with wind gusts
>= 50, tieing the record of 4 days, also recorded in November 1990. The record wind gust for
November was 67 mph in 1993. The windiest November averaged 10.0 mph (1990); while the
November with the lightest winds (1956) averaged 2.9 mph.

Autumn 1998 (September, October and November) was much warmer than normal, averaging
56.3ºF, 3.4º above normal (52.9ºF), and was the 4th warmest autumn on record. The warmest
was 57.1ºF in 1990, while the coolest was 44.5ºF in 1985. Autumn 1998 precipitation totaled
1.67 inches, 104% of normal. The wettest autumn received 4.79 inches (1973), while the driest
received only 0.04 inch (1976).

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.