HandheldWeather.com by WeatherMatrix
© 2002 WeatherMatrix.Net - Redistribution Prohibited. Usage logged.
HandheldWeather.com by
WeatherMatrix
© 2002 WeatherMatrix.Net - Redistribution
Prohibited. Usage logged.
From: smwincva_wxman{at}webtv.net
Date: Mon Jan 06 2003 - 20:18:44 EST
Winchester VA
Another hefty precip event on New Years Day, 1.32" of rain between 6am &
9pm. Many places in the mid Atlantic had close to 2" of rain.
The NWS issued the 1st flash flood warning at 3:35pm for Page Co VA. A
few hours later, 18 counties in 3 states would be under flood warnings.
It was the first time since Aug 2001 since widespread flood warnings
were needed here.
Most of the problems were caused by standing water & creeks/streams
above bankfull. There were a few water rescues. One happened here at the
Frederick/ Clarke Co (story below). Despite the information provided in
the story, only 2 were rescued (according to scanner traffic & other
local media info).
The record daily rainfall rates were broken at 2 stations:
Reagan National Airport, 1.42" (old 1.40" in 1948)
Dulles Airport, 1.73" (.96" in 1964)
According to Weathertap & NWS data, here are peak rainfall totals for
the Jan 1st storm.
Roanoke VA: 1.90" (4pm Tue to 8pm Wed)
Norfolk VA: 1.70" (3pm Tue to 8pm Wed)
Washington DC: 2.20" (7:30pm Tue to 8pm Wed)
The rivers rose sharply, to bankfull in places. The stage most watched
locally is the Shenandoah River at Front Royal. it crested at 5.5' (or
about half bankfull) about 3am Friday. It had the highest streamflow
since Oct 1 2000.
With a combination of snow melt from WV & western MD & heavy rainfall
in the region, the Potomac River between Harpers Ferry & Washingon DC
rose to near or just above floof stage.
These were crests reported by the USGS:
~Shepardstown WV 16.64' at 2:30am Fri (15' Flood Stage)
~Harpers Ferry WV 14.33' at 2:30am Fri (18' FS)
~Point of Rocks MD 16.25' at 6:15am Fri (16' FS)
~Little Falls, MD 9.37' at 3:30pm Fri (10' FS)
~Wisconsin Ave, Wash DC, 6.29' at 8:30pm Fri (7' FS)
At Point of Rocks MD, the peak streamflow was 115,000 cubic feet per
second. That is the highest in nearly 5 years, since March 98!
(Year end remarks at the bottom)
--- Widespread Flood Warnings New Year's Day http://attach4.wxmatrix-membersonly/v1/cAoaPqXasoqKvk5VBOKxd1nivlC-2qOnUyyPzqYN0ggNjv1j7hJOB8NHyeJPboMWHSkJ9-CwOw0wflw5tZQ66rbou-pyL7vOko6IkA/snapshot.jpg - 24 hour rain totals in the mid Atlantic Jan 1st from Accuweather.com http://attach6.wxmatrix-membersonly/v1/cAoaPjjNpoOKvk5Vmpzs4YpskebKt6Kul9j-ppkRlo2706l_3JjpT_kGjZ1oI3aWAUaX2KQ3XAK9grqKpswYno46v17wRJPW0SFEPg/snapshot.jpg - (Washington Post, Jan 2) Soaking Rain Accompanies The New Year Water Supplies Get Boost http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A64204-2003Jan1?language=printer - (Winchester, (VA) Star, Jan 2) New Year's Get Off to Soggy Start http://www.winchesterstar.com/TheWinchesterStar/030102/Area_soggy.asp - 24 hour high/low/rain data, for Wed & Thur http://wxmatrix-membersonly/group/VA_StormNet/message/18595 - (AP story via Baltimore Sun, Jan 3) Flooding predicted along Potomac Rain brings warnings, road closings in W. Md. http://www.sunspot.net/templates/misc/printstory.jsp?slug=bal%2Dmd%2Eflooding03jan03 - River Flood Warnings & Crest Info issued Thur AM http://wxmatrix-membersonly/group/VA_StormNet/message/18576 - (Winchester Star Jan 3rd) 4 Rescued After Vehicle Stalls on Flooded Bridge http://www.winchesterstar.com/TheWinchesterStar/030103/Area_bridge.asp - The Potomac River, at bankfull, northwest of Washington DC, Friday afternoon. Image © WRC tv Washington DC http://attach2.wxmatrix-membersonly/v1/cAoaPgZ_Ve6Kvk5V4TvvPcp0pyhSTvPA_EqN3t2UYpTztUp5cp-RSca2_HAWieyLKtOuAa0Ffvoh2sbFjkvKtkpaPFhL2nFIMWJf_g/snapshot.jpg - Minor street flooding occurs at Bankfull as it did Friday Night in Alexandria VA. Image © WUSA tv Washington Dc http://attach3.wxmatrix-membersonly/v1/cAoaPhxavEyKvk5VvN51yHjLP0aeV_C6MKh--YmFcQ37b17cRszvxgouadwrGzmcTxwwMEzFf35s5EOD_MOT21FPZdwqSibknPPmJA/snapshot.jpg - (AP story via Washington DC Times on Jan 5) It's wet, but end to drought debatable http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20030105-83910766.htmWater table info for VA (only 2 stations) http://va.waterdata.usgs.gov/va/nwis/current/?type=gw -------- For 2002 i measured 38.72" of precip, or 3.5" above a yearly average. The driest month was Feb, at .17". May, Sept, & Oct each had more than 4" of rain. I measured 20.25" of snow, all except 8.25" of that in the last 6 weeks of the year.
I measured .5" of ice in the Dec 12th ice storm. (My album is at http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=4003288&a=30486411&f=0 )
About 40% of the year's precip came during the last 4 months.
And the Winchester Star ranked the drought as the 3rd biggest local story of 2002. (A series of violent deaths & VA's budget deficit outranked it). http://www.winchesterstar.com/TheWinchesterStar/021230/Area_conditions.asp
In addition, the Northern Virginia Daily, which serves the central & northern Shenandoah Valley, ranked as number 2, superceded only by the "local impact" of the Sniper spree this past fall. Steve Minghini
==================================================================== StormReports Email List -- TO UNSUBSCRIBE, EMAIL A BLANK MESSAGE TO: stormreports-unsubscribe{at}wxmatrix-membersonly ; For Options Including 1 Per Day, Temporary Suspending, And More, Visit This Web Address: http://wxmatrix-membersonly/group/stormreports/join THESE REPORTS ARE MADE PUBLIC ON THE WEATHERMATRIX.NET WEBSITE!
Thank you for using HandheldWeather.com's Handheld / PDA / Palm Content