May weather outlook: Expect more fog

  • Published
  • 30th Weather Squadron
Coastal stratus becomes progressively frequent, indicating summer is rapidly approaching. 

Between the months of May and October, fog and stratus (marine layer) are the rule at Vandenberg. This is a result of relatively warmer (moist) air moving over very cold ocean water. The resulting marine layer is carried onshore by prevailing northwesterly wind flow, the end result being a monthly increase in the number of days with fog and stratus. May has 16 days of fog and stratus which is up three from April, followed by June with 26. 

The following is an outlook for the month of May. The data was obtained from records kept since 1952.

Average high temperature: 62
Average low temperature: 50
Extreme maximum temperature: 93
Extreme minimum temperature: 36
Average precipitation: 0.3 inch
Maximum precipitation (1995): 2.7 inches
Average snowfall: 0 inches
Maximum snowfall: 0 inches
Average wind speed and direction: 330 degrees at 8 mph
Maximum wind speed: 38 mph
Expected days with thunderstorms: 0
Expected days with fog (visibility less than seven miles): 16