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From: JimTheWeatherGuy{at}aol.com
Date: Thu Jan 02 2003 - 20:47:12 EST
Hidi-ho good neighbors. Greetings from the high desert of the Mid Atlantic.
It is time again for my longest email of the year! I have been keeping
records for the Smithsburg, MD area since December 28, 1976. As a 12 year old
I was not able to keep detailed records as I keep now. I found some missing
data buried in storage right next to my Spiderman underroos. And even though
my wind and barometer records are still incomplete I am able to update
several items. In this email I will highlight any important notes from each
month of 2002. Then I will break down the seasons. And finally I will provide
a yearly recap. I will even throw in a small piece on why I am a tornado
magnet. Let us get this show on the road. Until later.
Jim
January 2002
The month was warm and dry.
Top Five January Mean Temps
1. 39.2 - 1998
2. 39.0 - 1990
3. 38.3 - 2002
4. 36.5 - 1989
5. 36.1 - 1993
January 29 - Max temperature of 70 degrees is the second highest January
temperature on record behind 71 degrees set on both Jan. 14, 1995 & 1997.
Precipitation was below average for the tenth consecutive month. (15 out of
16) Precipitation deficit for the year of 1.41 inches, and 37.52 inches since
the drought began in July 1998.
February 2002
February was warm and excessively dry.
Bottom Five February Precips
1. 0.24 - 2002
2. 0.54 - 1978
3. 0.62 - 1977
4. 0.85 - 1980
5. 1.18 - 2001
Bottom Five February Snowfalls
1. 0.1 - 2002
2. 0.6 - 1991, 1999
3. 0.7 - 1990
4. 0.8 - 1988
Windiest month on record. More on that in my yearly recap.
Seven days with wind gusts at or above 40 mph. A then record.
Precipitation was below average for the eleventh consecutive month. (16 out
17) Precipitation deficits were 3.84 inches for the year, 39.95 inches
overall.
March 2002
March was warm and just dry enough to keep the streak of months with below
average precipitation going. Snow was still hard to come by.
Bottom Two March Snowfalls
1. 0.0 - 2000
2. 0.1 - 1977, 1979, 1985, 1987 & 2002
Seven days with wind gusts at or above 40 mph, two days at or above 50 mph.
Both tie records.
Precipitation is below average for the twelfth consecutive month. (17 out of
18)
April 2002
April was warm and dry. Do you see a pattern here?
Top Five April Means
1. 59.0 - 1994
2. 57.4 - 1985
3. 56.9 - 1981
4. 56.1 - 1977
5. 55.0 - 2002
April 6 - Max of 44 degrees is the third lowest April max on record. The
record is 42 degrees set on April 1, 1996.
April 20 - Min of 63 degrees is the third highest April min on record. The
record is 65 degrees set on both April 22, 1985 and April 27, 1990.
Precipitation was below average for the thirteenth consecutive month. (18 out
of 19) The precipitation deficit was 4.46 inches for the year, 40.57 inches
overall.
May 2002
May was actually cool and dry.
May 21 - Min temperature of 31 degrees is the second coldest May temperature
on record behind 30 degrees set on both May 1, 1978 and May 23, 1997. Snow
flurries this day marks the latest date by far any snow was observed falling
in any snow season surpassing April 23, 1986 when 0.1 inches fell.
June 2002
June was quite a month. Again, it was warm and dry.
Top Five June Mean Temps
1. 75.3 - 1994
2. 74.5 - 1987 & 2002
3. 74.0 - 2000
4. 73.6 - 1991
5. 73.2 - 2001
June 12 - Min of 71 degrees is the third highest June min temperature on
record. Record is 73 degrees set on June 27, 1998.
June 26 - Max of 100 degrees is the second highest June temperature on record
behind 101 degrees set on June 15, 1994.
June 27 - A F-0 tornado struck my homestead in the hills. The NWS did not
come out to investigate though several people, including my wife spotted a
funnel cloud imbedded in a rain shield. My wife saw the tornado pick up our
800 pound wooden swing set, spin it around and then smash it to the ground.
It then struck the house. I lost some siding and a section of my roof. My
anemometer which was held to the house by four 4 inch wood screws was ripped
from the house. The anemometer (may it rest in peace) was showing a wind gust
from the WNW at 45 mph before it abruptly switched to the SE at 81 mph before
all data stopped. The tornado took out some of my fencing, placed my
neighbor's boat in his neighbor's yard, took that neighbor's roof off his
shed before tearing off the roof of a house further down the street. This
wasn't the first tornado to hit my homestead in the hills. Heck, it wasn't
even the second. My station has moved with me three times around the
Smithsburg, MD area since 1976 and all four places have either been hit or
nearly hit by tornadoes. Here is a quick recap:
June 1982 - A rare high country tornado invaded my home station (Smithsburg,
MD 4 SE). My station was located at the 1,255 foot level. The scary part
about this tornado was that is was nearly silent. The NWS confirmed it as a
F-1. It ripped the roof off my neighbors house further up the mountain before
it set it's sights on my home. My entire family and myself were out in the
yard watching this unfold. I didn't hear it make a sound until it was a
quarter mile away. It sucked a large pine tree straight out of the ground and
it sounded like a large truck as it was passing by. It was so quiet you could
hear the arcing of electricity as the tornado ripped out our power lines.
June 29, 1994 - A tornado (not confirmed by the NWS) landed less than a mile
from my home station (Smithsburg, MD 1 W). I will always remember this
tornado because the base of the twister extended out from the bottom of a
microburst. It traveled into Smithsburg ripping the roof off an apartment
house. I was able to snap a photo of it before it dissipated.
July 19, 1996 - A F-1 tornado (confirmed by the NWS) rambled through
Waynesboro, Pa before paying a visit to my homestead in the hills
(Smithsburg, MD 2 NE). I just bought the property where my present home was
to be built. I lost some large trees as the tornado dissipated as it went up
the mountain. I should have known that this land was cursed from that. {:0>}
June 16, 1998 - A F-1 tornado (confirmed by the NWS) struck my home station
(Smithsburg, MD 4 SW) slightly injuring my wife and our dog. The tornado was
part of a series of tornadoes that struck my immediate area. My wife was
outside trying to bring the dog in when the twister swept in. They were both
hit by tree branches as the twister chopped off the tops of our larger trees.
I recorded a wind gust of 83 mph.
June 29, 2000 - A F-0 tornado (not confirmed by the NWS) again struck my
homestead in the hills (Smithsburg, MD 2 NE). Ironically I was watching a
tornado special on the Learning Channel when I heard a loud "groan" in the
fields behind my house. Until this day I have never heard another storm make
that noise. This twister was very short lived. It traveled about a half mile
before dissipating. I looked out the window after hearing the groan and saw
what appeared to be a small funnel spinning in what again appeared to be a
microburst. I was standing there dumbfounded because this swirling mass was
less than 100 feet from my home heading right for me. It struck the house
ripping off some siding and then dissipating as it headed further up the
mountain. I recorded a wind gust of 74 mph.
July 10, 2001 - A F-1 tornado (confirmed by the NWS) imbedded in a rain
shield missed my house by five miles. I am able to see the valley floor from
my home and watched this rain shield move just to my north but I did not see
any rotation. Several homes were damaged.
June 27, 2002 - The aforementioned F-0 tornado. I wouldn't recommend visiting
my homestead in the hills in late June or early July. {:0>}
Precipitation was below average for the fifteenth consecutive month. (20 out
of 21) The precipitation deficit was 6.08 inches for the year, 42.19 inches
overall.
July 2002
Here is something I think you wouldn't expect. July was.........warm and dry.
Top Five July Mean Temps
1. 80.2 - 1988
2. 80.0 - 1987 & 1993
3. 79.8 - 1991
4. 79.2 - 1999
5. 78.9 - 2002
July 4 - The max of 103 degrees is tied for the second warmest July and
overall temperature on record behind 104 degrees set on July 16, 1988.
The precipitation was below average for the sixteenth consecutive month. (21
out of 22) The precipitation deficit was 7.29 inches for the year, 43.40
inches overall.
August 2002
August was warm and wet! The streak of consecutive months with below average
precipitation ended. People danced in the street.
Top Five August Mean Temperatures
1. 78.9 - 1988
2. 78.6 - 2001
3. 78.3 - 2002
4. 78.0 - 1993
5. 77.9 - 1991
August 2 & 3 - Max temperatures of 103 degrees tied the record for the
highest August temperature on record first set on August 20, 1983.
Five days at or above 100 degrees was a record for any month.
August 13 - Max temperature of 103 degrees.
September 2002
September was the second consecutive month with above average precipitation.
The people still danced.
October 2002
October was the third consecutive month with above average precipitation. The
people were too tired to dance but where bouncing around happily.
October 3 - Max of 88 degrees tied the record for the highest October
temperature set on October 1, 1986.
October 4 - Min of 69 degrees set the record for the highest October min
temperature surpassing 67 degrees set on October 1, 1986.
October 30 - Max of 35 degrees set the record for the lowest October max
surpassing 41 degrees set on October 31, 1993.
October snowfall of 0.3 inches is the second largest October snowfall total
behind 1.1 inches set in 1979.
November 2002
November is the fourth consecutive month with above average precipitation.
The people are too busy drying out their basements to dance but they are
still happy.
November 28 - Max of 32 degrees is tied for the third lowest November max on
record. Record is 30 degrees set on November 22, 1984.
November had three days with wind gusts 50 mph or greater. A new record.
December 2002
December precipitation is above average for the fifth consecutive month. The
record for the most December snowfall was set this month.
Top Five December Snowfalls
1. 14.8 - 2002
2. 12.6 - 1996
3. 11.9 - 1997
4. 11.2 - 1990
5. 10.0 - 1992
December 5 - Snowfall of 7.2 inches is the third largest December daily
snowfall. The record is 11.2 inches which fell on December 27, 1990.
December 25 - Snowfall of 5.7 inches is a new Christmas record. An additional
0.9 inches fell on Christmas eve. It hasn't snowed on Christmas day since
1993.
December had 12 days with wind gusts at or above 40 mph. That surpasses the
old record of 8 days set in November 2002.
Winter 2001-02
The winter of 2001-02 was very warm and dry.
Top Five Winter Mean Temps
1. 39.5 - 1997-98
2. 38.4 - 2001-02
3. 37.5 - 1998-99
4. 37.3 - 1990-91 & 1996-97
Bottom Five Winter Precips
1. 3.74 - 2001-02
2. 4.08 - 1979-80
3. 5.32 - 1980-81
4. 5.97 - 1987-88
5. 6.09 - 1988-89
Bottom Five Winter Snowfalls
1. 6.1 - 1980-81
2. 6.9 - 2001-02
3. 7.1 - 1994-95
4. 7.5 - 1987-88
5. 8.9 - 1991-92
Spring 2002
Still no snow to be seen.
Bottom Five Spring Snowfalls
1. Trace - 1979
2. 0.1 - 2002
3. 0.2 - 1983
4. 0.3 - 1988
5. 1.1 - 1987
Summer 2002
Very, very warm.
Top Five Summer Mean Temps
1. 77.2 - 2002
2. 77.1 - 1991
3. 76.8 - 1987 & 1988
4. 76.7 - 1993
5. 75.8 - 1995
Summer of 2002 saw 56 days with temperatures of 90+ degrees. And 9 days with
temperatures of 100+ degrees. Both new records.
Fall 2002
I found the snow!
Top Five Fall Snowfalls
1. 15.3 - 1995
2. 5.7 - 1987
3. 5.1 - 1989
4. 4.4 - 1978
5. 1.8 - 2002
Yearly Recap
Temperatures
Mean Normal High Date Low Date
55.6 + 1.9 103 8/13+ 9 12/7
Days >= 90 Days >= 100 Days <= 32
58 9 60
Precipitation
2002 Normal Max Date Max Month Since July 1998
40.80 - 1.65 2.17 8/24 5.42 - Oct. - 37.76
Days >= 0.01 Days >= 1"
112 9
Snowfall
2002 Normal Max Date Max Month
23.6 - 7.3 7.2 12/5 14.8 - Dec.
Days >= 0.1 Days >= 1"
16 6
Wind
Average Direction Peak Gust Direction Date
13.2 NNW 81 SE 6/27
Days >= 40 Days >= 50 Days >= 60
62 14 4
Barometer
Low Date High Date
29.32 12/25 30.56 12/9
Records
Bottom Five Monthly Precips
1. 0.22 - April 1985
2. 0.24 - February 2002
3. 0.38 - January 1981
4. 0.54 - February 1978
5. 0.58 - November 1998
Bottom Five Snowfall Seasons
1. 7.0 - 2001-02
2. 12.3 - 1994-95
3. 18.1 - 1980-81
4. 19.5 - 1987-88
5. 20.8 - 1991-92
Top Two Max Temps
1. 104 - July 16, 1988
2. 103 - August 20, 1983
103 - July 4, 2002
103 - August 2 & 3, 2002
103 - August 13, 2002
Top Five Yearly Mean Temps
1. 57.9 - 1997
2. 56.9 - 1991
3. 56.7 - 1998
4. 56.4 - 1990
5. 55.6 - 2002
Least Temperature Departure
2 degrees - Oct. 11, 2002 (high 60 low 58)
Highest Average Wind
20.1 mph - February 2002
Most 40+ Mph Wind Gusts (month)
12 - December 2002
Most 40+ Mph Wind Gusts (year)
62 - 2002
Most 50+ Mph Wind Gusts (month)
3 - November 2002
Most 50+ Mph Wind Gusts (year)
14 - 2002
Top Five Wind Gusts *indicates recorded during tornadic event
1. 97 mph - January 26, 1978
2. 83 mph* - June 16, 1998
3. 81+ mph* - June 27, 2002
4. 75 mph* - June 29, 1994
5. 74 mph* - June 29, 2000
Most Days at or above 90 Degrees
58 - 2002
Most Days at or above 100 Degrees
9 - 2002
That is it!!!!!!! Thanks for taking the time to weed through this all. It has
been one whale of a year.
To those who have received a previous revision of my records, please forgive
me. I was finally able to track down every piece of weather information I had
which numbered several hundred pieces of paper spread over two states. I have
spent the last couple of weeks going over and then re-going over the numbers.
I am confident that this will be my last revision. Until later.
Jim
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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