BR-R-ADFORD: As you put those geraniums and tomato plants into
the ground, here’s some food for thought. Wade E. Confer in
Bradford keeps a “bad weather calendar,” and he has reams of data
to suggest that gardening is a bit dicey in these parts.

In fact, we couldn’t fit all his June data into one column;
we’ll have to pick up the remainder tomorrow. His calendar, running
from 1977-1988, includes some temperatures taken from the airport
and others from his home on Lang Maid:

“On the first of June in 1981, temperatures fell to 32 degrees —
making Bradford the coldest spot in the nation — and also 32
degrees on June 2, 1983. On June 2, 1988, Bradford reached 35
degrees.

On June 3, 1981, the Bradford and Olean area had severe
cloudbursts and experienced lots of low-area flooding. Also on that
day in 1982, Bradford only reached 35 degrees. A year later on that
day, the low of 35 degrees was repeated, and Bradford again became
the coldest spot in the nation.  A year later, in 1984, Bradford
only reached 30 degrees. On June 3, 1986, Bradford’s temperatures
fell to 26 degrees.

A year later, on June 5, 1987, the temperature was 38 degrees.
On that same date in 1989, the temperature was 40 degrees. On June
6, 1987, Bradford also experienced 40-degree weather, as it did a
year later on that date. The temperature plunged to 28 degrees on
June 8, 1977, with lots of frost in the valley. On that date in
1984, the temperature stalled at 45 degrees; and in 1988, 42
degrees.

On June 9, 1980, Bradford again had the dubious honor of being
the coldest place in the nation with a temperature of 32 degrees.
Three years later on that date, the temperature plunged to 22
degrees.  On June 9, 1986, the temperature was 35 degrees.

It was 40 degrees on June 10, 1980; again, 40 degrees on that
date in 1986.  But on that date in 1988, the temperature was only
28 degrees, earning Bradford the coldest spot in the nation
again.

That same honor went to Bradford on June 11, 1979, when the
thermometer fell to 31 degrees. The city again made the national
news for coldest spot a year later on that date when low
temperatures reached the freezing mark. On June 11, 1988,
Bradford’s low was 28 degrees.”