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From: smwincva_wxman{at}webtv.net
Date: Wed Jan 07 2004 - 04:13:11 EST
Winchester VA
Pardon my delay in sending this out, but I was busy with the holidays
and did not have the time to compile this post until now.
The Mid Atlantic saw one of wettest years on record in 2003. At least 2
locations had the highest annual total ever, & most stations had the 1st
or 2nd highest number of wet days on record.
(Numbers on this page are for cities served by 3 NWS offices in VA.)
Most of the stations have record keeping that began in the 1870's. A few
began in the 1900's & I note the period of record (POR) on those
stations. Also noted is the ranking.
Washington Dulles 65.71" (wettest) (POR 39 years)
Charlottesville VA 61.01" (wettest)
Richmond VA 63.29" (2nd)
Baltimore MD 62.66" (wettest)
Norfolk VA 61.76" (5th)
Washington Reagan National 60.83" (2nd)
Lynchburg VA 58.95" (2nd) (POR 99 years)
Roanoke VA 54.34" (tie for 2nd)
Richmond VA set a record for the most number of wet weather days ever
recorded. (The POR for this data is shorter.) Other stations with the
2nd most wet days include Roanoke, Lynchburg, Norfolk, all in VA.
More Wet Year Record information by NWS office:
Balitmore/Washington (Sterling)
http://wxmatrix-membersonly/group/VA_StormNet/message/35824 Blacksburg
(southwest VA)
http://wxmatrix-membersonly/group/VA_StormNet/message/35823 Wakefield
(Norfolk/Richmond region)
http://wxmatrix-membersonly/group/VA_StormNet/message/35822
Wet Year News Stories:
http://wxmatrix-membersonly/group/VA_StormNet/message/35836 and
http://wxmatrix-membersonly/group/VA_StormNet/message/35827
-----
Locally, I measured 51.67' of precip. More than 6" of rain fell in May,
June, & September. I had 11 days where at least at least 1 inch fell.
Normally, that only happens 2-4 days a year.
I measured 88 inches of snow (yes that is more than 7 feet) for the
calendar year. Both Feb & March saw whopping totals of over 30" each.
Seasonable normals is about 28" for the entire winter.
Although one would think that Isabel would have produced the highest
wind gusts of the year. Actually, her PWG (peak wind gusts) was only
37mph on my gauge, & I measured higher gusts 4 other months. The highest
PWG's were 46mph on 10/15 and 44mph on 11/13.
WINC radio now measures offically for the NWS here, and reported 54.62"
in 2003. That is 2nd only to the 57.86" measured in 1996. They recorded
151 wet days, a new record. Before 1992, the Fruit Research Lab kept the
NWS records locally. The POR for daily records go back to 1948. Monthly
records go back further, to the 1910's.
Hometown newspaper ranks the year's wild weather as the number 1 local
story.
Mother Nature Puts on a Show
http://www.winchesterstar.com/TheWinchesterStar/031231/Area_nature.asp
Hurricane Isabel's impact here was 1 reason a local orchardist calls it
quits.
Orchardist Has Seen Enough
Bad Weather and China's Market Strength Convince Byrd to Uproot Clarke
Apples
http://www.winchesterstar.com/TheWinchesterStar/031227/Area_enough.asp
=========
December Recap
The highlight of December was the snowfall of Dec 4-6th, which was wet &
heavy. I have finished a photo album at
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=4003288&a=31027644&f=0
It opens with my home video, then forecast graphics, & then tv vidcaps.
Some of those shots include the New England blizzard.
Snowfall & Ice reports for the Baltimore/Washington region:
http://wxmatrix-membersonly/group/VA_StormNet/message/34796
Elsewhere in VA:
http://wxmatrix-membersonly/group/VA_StormNet/message/34798
News stories
http://wxmatrix-membersonly/group/VA_StormNet/message/34799 and
http://wxmatrix-membersonly/group/VA_StormNet/message/34801
Also hometown coverage at
http://www.winchesterstar.com/TheWinchesterStar/031206/Default.asp
A few days later 1-2 inches of rain fell. The ground was wet to
saturated, & in some areas, a light snow pack remained. A minor flood
occurred on the Potomac & lower Shenandoah Rivers. In some cases, the
crests were 2-4 feet above flood stage.
The next weekend, a moderate snow & ice storm create woes for Christmas
shoppers.
Staewide Reports:
http://wxmatrix-membersonly/group/VA_StormNet/message/35306
Thanks to cold air, 1-2 inches remained on the ground until 2 days
before Christmas. Then a warming trend began that lasted until this
Monday.
======
Warm to Record High Temperatures
Between Dec 27th & Jan 2nd daytime highs here were in the 50's daily
here. As warm air surged in this past weekend, temperatures pushed into
the 70's nearly statewide. Many record fell, including:
(previous record in parenthesis)
Saturday
Norfolk 76 (74 in 2000)
Roanoke 74 (tie w/ 1977)
Danville 74 (70 in 1966)
Charlottesville 72 (71 in 1971)
Washington Reagan National 68 (tie w/ 2000)
Salisbury MD 66 (tie w/ 1951)
Blacksburg 67 (63, unofficial, 2000)
Sunday
Norfolk 78 (76 in 2000)
Elizabeth City NC 75 (tie w/ 1990)
Roanoke 73 (70 in 1997)
Monday
Elizabeth City NC 78 (74 in 1950)
Nolfolk 76 (73 in 1950)
Bluefield WV 62 at 12:33am! (60 in 1997)
In addition, several sw VA locations set record warm lows for Jan 5th.
They include:
Danville 59 (52 in 1950)
Bluefield 57 (52 in 1997)
Roanoke 56 (55 in 1950)
Lynchburg 55 (tie w/ 1950)
High/Low temperatures & precip 24 hours enfing 8am Monday
http://wxmatrix-membersonly/group/VA_StormNet/message/36041
Locally, I measured 71º on Saturday, as did WINC, and the old record
was beaten by 1 degree.
On Sunday, I had 70º at 11:30am, tying the daily record (from 1950).
=====
Artic Intrusion
I wore shorts Saturday, but had to work Sunday so I did not wear them
the next day. Just before i left work I asked someone who went out to
smoke what the weather was like outside. The reply was "spinkles &
cooler".
I wore just a short sleave shirt to work, but also brought a rain coat &
sweat shirt, just in case. To say cooler was an understatement. After
the late am high of 70, an east west cold front sagged south & brought
tempertures down sharply. When i left at 3pm, it was 50 and still
falling. It fell to the low 40's that evening.
Temperatures remained balmy (for Jan) in the upper 40s Monday.
On Tuesday, we had morning snow flurries and a burst of heavier snow
that briefly dusted the ground about 1pm. It kind of surprised me since
the wind trajectory was not right for Lake Efect snow here. After
reading the NWS discussion, i realized it was the Artic intrusion
pushing east.
The temp fell from 34 before the snow shower to 29 during it, & then
rebounded w/ sunshine.
It fell sharply after sunset. At 4am, it is is now down to 16, & still
falling.
Snow
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4003288&a=30417851&p=66358802&f=0
Dusting
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4003288&a=30417851&p=66358824&f=0
=======
Those that use snowblowers should read this from the Washington Post:
Some Find Snowblowers Remove More Than Snow
http://wxmatrix-membersonly/group/VA_StormNet/message/35825
========
A story about changing weather from a local resident who is a
consultting meteorologist with the NWS & NOAA.
Weather 'Anomalies' Just Keep Happening
http://www.winchesterstar.com/TheWinchesterStar/040107/Area_weather.asp
=============
With the cold air in place, no major snow storms are in the forecast.
However flurries & snow showers might whiten the ground Thurs night &
Friday. Another shot is possible Mon/Tue next week.
One thing is for sure, Mother Nature left the freezer door open, & we
won't likely break the 32º mark in the next few days.
Steve Minghini
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