Weather was drier and warmer in 2007
By PAT FRIDGEN Echo Pilot

Precipitation last year fell short of the norm in Greencastle. The area saw 34.79 inches of precipitation, compared to the longterm average of 40 inches. However, that was not unduly dry, according to Robert Wertime, local weather observer and spotter for the National Weather Service. He said any amount between 36 and 42 inches was close enough to the normal range to not be of great concern. The extra inch shy of that was not a reason to worry.

January, May, June, July, September and November showed shortfalls of precipitation in 2007. July and September were the most significant, with just .58 and .52 inches respectively. The normal level for both months is 3.5 inches.

At the opposite end of the scale, March, August, October and December were wetter than usual. August ended with 6.72 inches of precipitation compared to a standard of 3.5 inches.

March was the snowiest month at 10.75 inches. February followed with 8.24 inches of snow and December 5.77. The highest incidence of sleet was in February, amounting to 2.81 inches.

In all, Greencastle saw 145 days of measurable precipitation last year.

Temperatures

Daily temperatures ran above normal. The average low came in at 46.3 degrees against the norm of 40 degrees. The average high was 65.29 degrees, above the norm of 63 degrees.

Wertime recorded 11 months of low temperatures that ranged from three to nearly 12 degrees above the norm. January and October showed the largest discrepancy, with measurements 9.5 and 11.9 degrees higher than usual.

Only the February low temps were below the norm by just over one degree.

People felt extra warmth during nine months of average highs exceeding the norm. January 2007 was the most significant, with highs measuring over seven degrees warmer than the norm of 38 degrees. February was at the opposite end of the spectrum, with the average high 4.4 degrees below the norm of 40.