ACON - VA/NC/SC Summary of Climatological Data

ACON - VA/NC/SC
The Atlantic Coast Observer Network: Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina
http://members.cox.net/wxr/acon.htm

SUMMARY OF CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA
APRIL 2005

...TEMPERATURES BELOW NORMAL FOR MUCH OF THE CAROLINAS...

...PRECIPITATION SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL FOR MANY
WITH NOTABLE EXCEPTIONS...

Briefly, March and April are usually the transition months from winter to spring with temps beginning to warm nicely. As noted by RAH, there were some significant temperature swings and what warming occurred didn't last very long as temps would cool off as yet one more high pressure would ridge down the coast in the continuing saga of an upper trough carving out over New England and affecting the lower Mid-Atlantic into North Carolina allowing for cooler than normal temps to drop in from Southeastern Canada. The southern storm track was supressed farther south and precip was below normal for the Carolinas. More active weather was observed over the northern half of Virginia where precip totals were above normal. The severe weather outbreaks usually associated with the transition between seasons were almost non-existent through the month.

NEW STATION: MEBANE, NC We are pleased to add Sean McManus to our weather group. Sean's station will be noted as MNC in Mebane, North Carolina. (about halfway between Durham and Burlington, NC just off Interstate 85/40. Sean writes: " What I have for a weather station is a Wireless Davis Instrument Vantage Pro1 and reporting to Davis WeatherLink 5.5.1 software. It is located on my back deck and the anemometer is located above my roofline. My website is at http://www.pipeline.com/~micman2b/Current_Vantage_Pro.htm. I have had a weather station running here for the past three years but the data I have goes back since April 2004. I am also a Datsun 510 enthusiast as well. I own three >1972 Datsun 510's!"

U.S. DAILY WEATHER MAPS PROJECT Looking for that NOAA Daily Weather Map for a given date since 1871? Look no further! Visit the NOAA Central Library U.S. Daily Weather Maps Project [1871-2001] at http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/dwm/data_rescue_daily_weather_maps.html. A link to maps for 2002 to the present is found at the top of the page. Great resource! Note: You will need to download and install a small program in order to view the maps.

REMINDER All National Weather Service station data listed herein is preliminary and may be subject to change. The data has not been certified and cannot be used in legal actions. Only reports certified by the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, NC can be used for these purposes.

**ACON VA/NC/SC Member Station Extremes - APRIL 2005**
State	Maximum Temperature	Minimum Temperature	Warmest Average Temperature	Coldest Average Temperature	Maximum Precipitation	Minimum Precipitation
Virginia	90° Newport News, Norfolk (FHC) Chesterfield	22° New Market	59.58° Mechanicsville	51.6° Blacksburg	4.88" Centreville	1.83" Danville
North Carolina	87° Fayetteville, Mebane Raleigh(RAL)	29° Asheville	61.4° Fayetteville	54.5° Asheville	4.96" Beaufort	1.60" Fayetteville
South Carolina	86° Columbia	34° Anderson Greenville-Spartanburg	63.2° Charleston	59.0° Anderson	4.36" Anderson	1.73" Charleston

(Please note the column denotations table below.)
TEMPERATURE / WINDS/ ELEMENTS
VIRGINIA [Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL]


     STN  A      B    C     C1    D    E  F     G   H  I  J K K1  L  M     N   N1   N2   O P Q R R1 R2  S    CWA
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     ANN 67.7  45.10 56.43 +1.0  86    20 33   16   0  0  0 0 62% 40 W     3             2 0 0 0  0     2400 LWX
     BCB 64.4  38.7  51.6  +1.6  79    11 26   16   0  0  5 0 60% 55 300°  3   6.6       2 0 0 0  4 50% 2400 RNK
     BRI 67.4  42.8  55.1  +2.3  84    20 27   16   0  0  3 0                            1              2400 LWX
     CEN 68.1  44.5  56.3  +3.6  86     6 33   16   0  0  0 0     33 325°  3             2 0 0 0  1     2400 LWX
     CHO 68.0  43.4  55.7  -1.4  85    20 29   16   0  0  3 0     33 290°  3   5.7       3 0 0 0  3     2400 LWX
                                                                  35 280°
     DAN 69.9  44.3  57.1  -0.2  85    20 31   17   0  0  2 0 62% 44 360°  3   8.1       5 0 0 0  4 30% 2400 RNK
     DCA 67.2  47.4  57.3  +1.2  86    20 40 17,25  0  0  0 0 58% 46 310°  2   9.2       2 0 0 0  0 60% 2400 LWX
     IAD 67.7  42.8  55.2  +2.2  86  6,20 31 16,17  0  0  2 0     43 280°  3   7.2       3 0 0 0  0     2400 LWX
     FCH                                                                                                2400 LWX
     HAM 66.0  48.0  57.0  -1.0  87    20 41  5,17  0  0  0 0 45% 39 SW   29   9.0  N    3 2 0 0  2 50% 2400 AKQ
     HER 66.1  44.7  55.4  +1.7  83.8   6 34.3 16   0  0 16 0     28       3             3 1 0 0        2400 LWX
     HRN 66.1  44.3  55.3  +2.2  85.0  20 32.4 16   0  0  0 0 57% 52 W     3   3.7  S    3 0 0 0  0     2400 LWX
     LYH 68.0  43.2  55.6  +0.3  85    20 31 16,17  0  0  3 0 61% 37 260°  2   6.1       3 0 0 0  1 40% 2400 RNK
                                                                  37 260°  3
     NEW 68.60 39.23 53.91  0.0  86    20 22   16   0  0  0 0 58% 45 W     3   5.36 S    1 0 0 0  1     1800 LWX
     NPN 69.0  47.4  58.2        90    20 37   17   1  0  0 0     39 NW    3             3 1 0 1  1     2400 AKQ
     NOR 67.4  47.5  57.5  +0.1  88    20 40  4,12, 0  0  0 0                            1 0 0 0  0     2400 AKQ
                                               17
     ORF 66.5  48.4  57.4   0.0  88    20 39    4   0  0  0 0   % 46 080° 15  11.9       2 0 0 0  1   % 2400 AKQ
     FHC 68.0  49.4  58.7        89.9  20 42.1 17   1  0  0 0 63% 36 216°  2   6.0  202° 1 0 0 0  0 40% 2400 LWX
     POR 68.2  48.7  58.5  -0.6  88    20 41  17,25 0  0  0 0 65% 47 045° 15   6.76 137° 1 0 0 0  0 40% 2400 AKQ
     CTR 71.3  25.3  56.9  -0.2  89.9  20 29.3 17   1  0  1 0 64% 28 WSW   3   1.2  ENE  1 0 0 0  0 50% 2400 AKQ
     MEC 72.48 46.68 59.58       89    21 32   17   0  0  0 0                            2 0 0 0  0     1700 AKQ
     RIC 70.5  46.4  58.4  +1.3  89    20 35   17   0  0  0 0 64% 40 280°  3   8.9       1 0 0 0  0 50% 2400 AKQ
     RGL 69.2  44.9  57.0  -0.5  89.2  20 32.2 17   0  0  1 0 57% 35 SSW   3   3.0  S    3 1 0 0  0     2400 AKQ
     ROA 67.9  45.6  56.7  +0.6  83    20 31   16   0  0  1 0 58% 55 300°  3   8.3       2 0 0 0  1 50% 2400 RNK
     AKQ 71    44    57.5        89    20 29   17   0  0 17 0                                           2400 AKQ
     WAL 62.6  45.2  53.9  +0.7  85    20 35 12,17  0  0  0 0     47 040° 15  12.3       0 0 0 0  3     2400 AKQ
     WOO 66.2  46.8  56.5  +1.5  85    20 35   25   0  0  0 0                            0 0 0 0  3     2400 LWX
     WSH 67.5  45.0  56.3  +1.0  87.1   6 35.3 16   0  0  0 0 56% 23 ENE   3   1.8  NE   3 0 0 1  0     2400 LWX

NORTH CAROLINA [Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL]


     STN  A      B    C     C1    D    E  F     G   H  I  J K K1  L  M     N   N1   N2   O P Q R R1 R2  S    CWA
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     AVL 67.1  41.8  54.5  +0.4  78 20,21 29   24   0  0  2 0     62 330°  3   6.7       6 0 0 0  3     2400 GSP
     MRH 66.6  52.0  59.3        75   1,4 39   11   0  0  0 0     48 020° 15  13.5       4 0 0 0  1     2400 MHX
     CLT 70.8  46.2  58.5  -2.4  84    21 31   25   0  0  1 0     39 300°  3   7.0       4 0 0 0  2     2400 GSP
     ECG 68.5  47.3  57.9  -2.2  86    20 36   17   0  0  0 0 64% 48 020° 15  12.1       2 0 0 0  1 30% 2400 AKQ
     FAY 74.1  48.8  61.4        87    20 35   17   0  0  0 0 57% 51 250°  2  10.2       2 0 0 0  2 30% 2400 RAH
     GSO 69.9  46.7  58.3  +0.7  83 11,21 35 17,24  0  0  0 0 61% 44 280°  3   9.5       2 0 0 0  1 40% 2400 RAH
     HSE 63.0  51.2  57.1  -2.7  74     1 38   17   0  0  0 0     49 360° 15  12.0       0 0 0 0  2     2400 MHX
     HKY 69.4  46.9  58.2  -0.1  82 20,21 34 17,24  0  0  3 0     49 300°  2   6.7       4 0 0 0  3     2400 GSP
     LBT 72.5  46.4  59.5  -1.0  83 20,22 32   25   0  0  1 0     41 270°  2   8.3       0 0 0 0  2     2400 ILM
     MNC 70.5  446.6 58.6  -0.4  87.4  20 31.9 17   0  0  1 0     33 W     3   1.9  SSE      0 0  2     2400 RAH
     EWN 71.2  48.3  59.7  -1.4  86 20,21 36   17   0  0  0 0     41 200° 30  10.2       2 0 0 0  2     2400 MHX
     RAL 72.0  45.3  58.7  -0.4  87    21 30   17   0  0  1 0     31       8   1.9       2 0 0 0  1     2400 RAH
     RDU 71.6  46.7  59.2  +0.1  86 20,21 35 17,35  0  0  0 0     43 250°  3   8.5       3 0 0 0  1     2400 MHX
                                                                  43 190° 30                         
     ROX 70.2  46.5  58.4  +1.1  86    21 32   16   0  0  1 0 60% 42 NW    2        VAR  3 0 0 0  0 46% 2200 RAH
     ILM 72.2  49.8  61.0  -1.7  85    21 38   17   0  0  0 0     46 260°  2  10.9       2 0 0 0  1     2400 ILM

SOUTH CAROLINA [Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL]


     STN  A      B    C     C1    D    E  F      G  H  I  J K K1  L  M     N   N1   N2   O P Q R R1 R2  S    CWA
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     AND 70.8  47.2  59.0  -1.6  83    21 34    25  0  0  0 0     45 270°  2   7.2       6 0 0 0  2     2400 GSP
     CAE 74.3  49.2  61.8  -1.4  86 19,21 36 17,25  0  0  0 0     49 270°  2   8.2       5 0 0 0  1     2400 CAE
     CRE 69.5  50.0  59.8  -2.2  78     4 37    17  0  0  0 0     44 260°  2   9.3       3 0 0 0  1     2400 CHS
     CHS 75.4  51.0  63.2  -1.0  85     5 38    17  0  0  0 0     49 270°  2   9.4       4 0 0 0  0     2400 CHS
     FLO 74.0  48.4  61.2  -1.9  85 21,22 37    17  0  0  0 0     52 250°  2   9.3       3 0 0 0  1     2400 ILM
     GSP 70.9  47.4  59.2  +0.2  83 19,21 34    25  0  0  0 0     53 250° 22   7.9       7 0 0 0  2     2400 GSP
     OGB 74.1  48.3  61.2        85    21 36    25  0  0  0 0     55 260°  2   8.0       4 0 0 0  1     2400 CAE
                                                                  46 260°  8
                                                                  46 230° 11

NEARBY STATIONS [Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL]


     STN  A      B    C     C1    D    E  F      G  H  I  J K K1  L  M     N   N1   N2   O P Q R R1 R2  S    CWA
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     TRI 67.9  42.1  55.0  +0.4  81   5,6  31  24  0  0  2 0     43 220°  22   5.5       4 2 0 0  5     2400 MRX
     DAV 56.8  35.3  46.1        72  7,20  22  24, 0  1 15 0                             1 0 0 1  2     0700 PBZ
                                               25

(Please note the column denotations table below.)
PRECIPITATION / BAROMETRIC PRESSURE
VIRGINIA [Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL]

STN  T      T1     U  U1   V    V1   W X   Y     Z   1  2 3   4    5     6    6A   7    7A    8     S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANN  4.53        1.68  2 1.81   1-2 11 2 14.95  0.0           0.0 21.1  30.58  16 29.21   2 29.94  2400
BCB  2.52  -1.31 0.71  2 0.71     2 12 0 11.64  0.2   3  3 0  0.2 23.1                             2400
BRI  2.81  +0.07 0.83 22 0.93 21-22  8 0  8.41  0.0           0.0 11.0  30.47  16 29.26   2        0515/1600
CEN  4.88  +1.44 1.95  2 1.95     2  9 2 14.15  0.0           0.0 21.1  30.58  16 29.23   2        2400
CHO  3.38  +0.04 0.99  2 1.24   1-2 10 0 12.78                          30.56  16 29.20   2        2400
DAN  1.83  -2.00 0.87  7 0.88   7-8 13 0  8.22  0.0           0.0  4.3  30.49  16 29.31   2        2400
DCA  4.33  +1.56 1.79  2 1.92   1-2 11 2 13.73  0.0           0.0 12.4  30.58  16 29.18   2        2400
IAD  4.34  +1.12 2.07  2 2.34   1-2 12 1 12.82  0.0           0.0 17.3  30.59  16 29.18   2        2400
FCH                                       7.37 <-- through 3/31-->16.0                             2400
HAM  3.32  +0.32 1.05  2 1.72   1-2 12 1 10.39  0.0           0.0 14.0  30.67  26 29.21   3 29.94  2400
HER  4.50  +1.28 2.39  1 2.39     2  7 1 14.53    T   2  1 0    T 19.4                             2400
HRN  4.59  +1.37 2.21  2            11 1 14.35  0.0           0.0 19.0  30.528 16 29.190  8 29.90  2400
LYH  2.25  -1.21 0.66  2 0.73   1-2 10 0 10.28  0.0           0.0  6.1  30.53  16 29.30   2        2400
NEW  2.36   0.00 1.18  2 1.18     2  9 1  8.24  0.0           0.0 23 ¼  30.72  16 29.56   2        1700
NPN  3.11        1.26  2 1.26     2 12 1 12.10  0.0           0.0 18.5  30.42  16 29.16   2        2400
NOR  3.26  -0.72 1.04  2 1.04     2 11 1 11.72  0.0           0.0  7.8                             2400
ORF  2.74  -0.64 0.92  2 0.97   1-2 11 0  9.79  0.0           0.0  8.0  30.45  16 29.20   2        2400
FHC  3.32        1.07  2 1.13   1-2 12 1 11.88  0.0           0.0  8.0  30.432 16 29.194  2 29.917 2400
POR  2.94  -0.51 0.92  2 0.99   1-2 10 0 11.16  0.0           0.0  8.3  30.459 16 29.217  2 29.946 2400
CTR  2.19  -1.04 0.81  2 0.81     2  9 0  9.70  0.0           0.0  5.3  30.50  16 29.20   2 29.919 2400
MEC  2.07        1.04  2 1.04     2  9 1  5.81  0.0           0.0 10.4  30.24  16 29.03   2        1700
RIC  2.05  -1.13 0.99  2 0.99     2 10 0 10.85  0.0           0.0  5.6  30.52  16 29.21   2        2400
RGL  4.70  -0.19 0.73 2& 1.33   7-8 11 0 11.49  0.0           0.0  3.7  30.53  16 29.20   2 29.938 2400
                       8
ROA  2.63  -0.98 0.77 22 1.04   1-2 13 0 10.70  0.0           0.0 16.1  30.55  16 29.36   2        2400
AKQ  3.42        1.11  2            10 2 12.38  0.0           0.0  9.1                             2400
WAL  2.96  -0.18 1.65  2 1.65     2 10 1 12.34  0.0           0.0 11.6  30.00  29 28.75  30        2400
WOO  3.42  +0.41         0.90   2-3 11 0  8.76  0.0           0.0 16.1  30.62  16 29.51  24        0800
WSH  4.43  +0.64 1.62  2 1.97   1-2 10 1 12.37  0.0           0.0 15.1  30.58  16 29.22   2        2400

NORTH CAROLINA [Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL]

STN  T      T1     U  U1   V    V1   W X   Y     Z   1  2 3   4    5     6    6A   7    7A    8     S
---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------
AVL  2.86  -0.64 0.64 12 0.77 12-13 13 0 10.76  0.1  24 2 0  0.1  6.6  30.45  16 29.43   2         2400
MRH  4.96        2.27  8 2.42   7-8 10 1 10.87  0.0          0.0    T  30.37  16 29.40   2         2400
CLT  3.00  +0.05 1.06 12 1.25 12-13 11 1 12.88  0.0          0.0    T  30.46  16 29.44   2         2400
ECG  2.65  -0.35 1.12  2 1.21   1-2  9 0 11.18  0.0          0.0  3.3  30.41  16 29.26   2         2400
FAY  1.60        0.81  8 0.81     8  6 0  5.70  0.0          0.0                                   2400
GSO  2.24  -1.19 0.58 12 0.58    12 12 0  9.89  0.0          0.0  1.7                              2400
HSE  3.76  +0.47 1.21  8 1.21     8 11 1 12.42  0.0          0.0  0.0  30.33  16 29.35   2         2400
HKY  3.29  -0.41 1.57 13 1.57    13 12 1 12.18  0.0          0.0  3.0  30.44  16 29.37   2         2400
LBT  2.41  -0.42 0.48 14 0.79   8-9 10 0  7.90  0.0          0.0  0.0  30.39  17 29.46  23         2400
MNC  1.76  -1.60         0.60     8 10 0 10.13  0.0          0.0  5.0  30.538 16 29.380  2         2400
EWN  2.43  -0.97 0.99  2 1.29   1-2 11 0 11.41  0.0          0.0  1.5  30.39  16 29.37   2         2400
RAL  3.84  -0.19         0.94     8 11 0 10.55  0.0          0.0  1.1  30.47  17 29.47  23         1900
RDU  3.13  +0.33 2.08  8 2.10   8-9 10 1 11.36  0.0          0.0  0.2                              2400
ROX  2.22  -0.71 0.59 13 0.59    13 10 0 12.00  0.0          0.0  5.7  30.48  16 29.31   2  29.89  2100
ILM  4.06  +1.12 1.66  2 1.90   1-2  9 1 10.76  0.0          0.0    T                              2400

SOUTH CAROLINA [Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL]

STN  T      T1     U  U1   V    V1   W X   Y     Z   1  2 3  4     5     6    6A   7    7A    8    S
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
AND  4.36  +1.01 1.31 22 1.31    22 12 1 17.81  0.0          0.0  1.0  30.45  16 29.50   2        2400
CAE  2.16  -0.82 0.47 12 0.56 22-23  8 0 13.08  0.0          0.0    T  30.42  17 29.52   2        2400
CHS  1.73  -1.04 0.72  2 0.95   1-2 10 0 10.81  0.0          0.0    T                             2400
CRE  2.32  +0.20 0.75  2 0.84   1-2 12 0 10.63  0.0          0.0    T                             2400
FLO  2.37  -0.42 0.63 13 0.63    13 10 0 10.69  0.0          0.0  0.0  30.39  17 29.46  23        2400
GSP  3.41  -0.13 0.61  7 1.00   7-8 11 0 13.83  0.0          0.0  1.2  30.44  16 29.44   2        2400
OGB  2.09        0.79  8 0.80   8-9  9 0 12.78  0.0          0.0    T  30.40  17 29.54  23        2400

NEARBY STATIONS [Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL]

STN  T      T1     U  U1   V      V1   W X   Y     Z   1  2 3  4     5    6   6A   7   7A    8     S
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRI  5.44  +2.21 1.25 29 1.28 28-29 15 2 13.97  2.4 24  1  1  2.4   4.0                           2400
DAV  5.73        1.32 25            11 2 23.67  6.9 25  4  4 17.2 161.8                           0700

Virginia:
Annandale - Lowell notes: " April was warmer and wetter, windier than average, and had skies that were a little clearer than average. April's mean monthly temperature was + 1.0° F warmer than the 25-year average. The mean monthly temperature was 56.4° F which was the highest since 2002. The lowest minimum temperature was 33° on the 16th which made this April the first April since 1999 not having a day with the temperature freezing or below. The lowest monthly maximum temperature was only 51° F, the highest since 1998, when 53° F was recorded. April rainfall of 4.53 inches was the fifth wettest April in the last 25 years with a +1.03 inch departure from the average. Last year April was the fourth wettest. It was the first time since 1990 we had two days in April with more than one inch of rain and both set new 25-year records for the date. The 1.81 inches of rain that fell in 24 hours on the 1st and 2nd was the greatest 24-hour rain since 2.25 inches was recorded in 2000. The 1.68 inches of rain on the 2nd was also the most on a calendar day in April since 2000 and was the third greatest daily rain in April in the last 25 years. But April's skies were clearer than average and had an average daily temperature range of 22.7° F the highest since 1995. The average ground temperature at one foot was 52.5° F which was the highest in April since 2002. The lowest barometer reading of 29.21 inches on the second was the lowest barometer reading in April since 1982 when a reading of 29.17 inches was recorded. The average barometer reading for the month was 29.94 inches the lowest since 1998 when 29.93 inches was the monthly average. The lowest relative humidity for April of 16% on the 17th was the lowest recorded in April since 2003. The maximum gust of 40 mph from the west on the 3rd at 0940 was the sixth strongest wind gust recorded for April in the past 25 years. Wind run records have been recorded for only the last three years and this April had the highest wind run total. April records included (25-years of records): 1 daily HIGH maximum temp: 6; 1 daily HIGH minimum temp: 7; 2 daily LOW minimum temps: 16, 25; 2 daily HIGH range temps: 5, 10; 1 daily LOW range temps: 22; 2 daily HIGH precip: 2, 30. " [ + + ]
Arlington - Report from NWS LWX (Strong): " APRIL 2005 WAS ALL OVER THE BOARD AS SPRING MONTHS TEND TO BE. THERE WAS FLOODING...HAIL...STRONG DAMAGING THUNDERSTORMS...COOL DAYS AND HOT DAYS. IN THE END... IT AVERAGED OUT A BIT WETTER THAN AVERAGE AND A LITTLE WARMER THAN AVERAGE. WITH TEMPERATURES...THERE WERE SHORT PERIODS OF COLD AND HOT EXTREMES...BUT NO LONG EXTENDED COLD SNAPS OR WARM STRETCHES. SOME DAYS WERE MIRED IN THE 50S...WHILE THE WARMEST TEMPERATURE OF THE MONTH WAS A SUMMERLIKE 86 DEGREES. PRECIPITATION WAS WETTER THAN NORMAL. THERE WAS A BIG RAINSTORM TO START THE MONTH AND A BIG RAIN TO END IT. ON THE 1ST THROUGH THE 3RD A LARGE LOW MOVED OVER THE REGION AND PRODUCED OVER TWO INCHES OF RAIN. ON THE 30TH A SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT CROSSED THE AREA LEAVING ANOTHER INCH OF RAIN. IN BETWEEN ON THE 23RD A STRONG COLD FRONT CROSSED THE MID ATLANTIC AND BROUGHT WITH IT A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS. " [ + + ]
Bridgewater - " The average temperature was 2.3° above normal and precipitation was slightly above normal. The barometer on the second was extremely low. We have had 3 very low barometer readings this year so far. Snow could be seen on the mountains to the west of us on the 24th. No snow occurred in Bridgewater, not even a flake. Precipitation for the year is now 2.52 inches below normal. " - [ + + ]
Centreville - " The hottest topic for the month of April comes from the two days with a tie for the maximum temperature of 86°. This happened on the 6th and the 20th, while nearly in between those two days on the 16th, our monthly low of 33° was recorded. Seventeen days had highs above the average high, while nine days had lows below the average low. This swing to the high side may account for the monthly average of 56.3° being 3.6° warmer than normal. The average nightly low temperature for April stayed in line with the average daily temperature and exceeded the normal average low of 40.2° by 4.3° this month. Two major rain events for April occurred on the 1st and 2nd, and again on the 30th and accounted for 75% of our monthly rain accumulation. For the month, we were over our average of 3.44" by 1.44", or 141% of normal. With our yearly accumulation at the end of April sitting at 14.15", we are running an annual surplus of almost half an inch now. Keep up the good work, men! " - [ + + ]
Chesterfield - Albert reported the levels of the creek in his backyard ranged three inches during the month. The highest level was 3 inches deep while the shallowest level was 1 inch. - [ - - ]
Falls Church - " Again, we send our condolences to Erica upon the recent death of her father. Erica will resume sending data soon. " - report from Erica [ M + ]
Hampton - Dave emails: " A rather cool April with frequent chilly nights and afternoons, with water temps still near 50 at best. A couple or rare hail events, even though only pea to nickel size, are not that common for April. " - [ - + ]
Herndon - Bob reports:" My average MAX temperature was VERY NEAR the Dulles "normal" and the average MIN was 4.5 DEGREES ABOVE "normal". Many trees in full leaf at month's end. " - [ + M ]
Herndon - Russ reports:" April temperatures were 2.2 degrees above normal and precipitation was 1.37" above average. We had thunderstorms on the 2nd, 23rd and 30th. Maximum rainfall was 2.21 inches and maximum wind gust was 52mph, both of which occurred during the thunderstorm on the 2nd. Rainfall of 2.21 inches on the 2nd set a new daily record. " - [ + + ]
Portsmouth - " April 2005 station records: 2ND - DAILY PRECIPITATION - 0.92" [PREVIOUS 0.79" 1990]; 15TH - TEMPERATURE - MINIMUM MAXIMUM - 51° [PREVIOUS 59ø°1989]; 15TH - WIND - MAXIMUM GUST - 47 MPH [PREVIOUS 40 MPH 1996]; 16TH - TEMPERATURE - MINIMUM MAXIMUM - 55° [PREVIOUS 56ø 1978]. Precipitation was below normal for the month (85%) and temps (-0.6°) were below normal. - [ - - ]
Ruther Glen - Danny emails these notes: " April was another month of spring-like extremes, with the month's minimum and maximum temperatures (32 and 89) occurring within a 72-hour span. Slightly below average precipitation for the month makes for the third month of below average precipitation thus far in 2005. Temperatures finished a half-degree below normal and a full degree lower than April 2004. Strong thunderstorms on April 2 dropped pea sized hail. " - [ - - ]
North Carolina:
Raleigh - " April was a rather uneventful month with the average daily temperature 0.4° below normal and precipitation 1.37 inches below normal. Since January, total precipitation is 3.27 inches below normal. There were only 2 thunderstorm days observed during the month. " - report from Bob [ - - ]
Raleigh - NWS Raleigh (RAH) reports: " Temperatures during April 2005 fluctuated wildly from week to week, and at times from day to day. Wild temperature swings are typical during the spring across North Carolina. After all of the up and down swings in temperature, temperatures during April averaged very close to the 30 year normal. A storm track that had been active across the southern United States and North Carolina earlier in the year shifted south during April. This was especially true during the mid to latter part of the month as significant rain events became virtually non-existent. The drier than normal pattern that had been confined to southeastern North Carolina in previous months expanded northwest to encompass much of central North Carolina during April. The less active storm track across North Carolina not only brought lower than normal precipitation amounts to much of the state but a minimum of severe weather reports as well. The big severe weather highlight during April was a strong pressure gradient wind event on April 3rd. The strong winds were accompanied by snow showers across the northern Mountains. The full April 2005 NC Weather Review is available at: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/rah/climate/data/MonthlySummary.Apr.2005.doc. " - [ -/+ - ]
Wilmington - " RECORD RAINFALL SET ON THE 2ND (1.66"). PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 1.34" SET IN 1915. " - report from NWS ILM
South Carolina:
Florence - " RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE SET ON THE 25TH (39°). PREVIOUS RECORD 40 SET IN 1995. RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE TIED ON THE 28TH (40°). RECORD WAS SET IN 1967. " - report from NWS ILM
Elsewhere:
Tri-Cities - " Tri-Cities received 5.44 inches of rain in April, which was 2.21 inches above normal. It ranked as the 5th wettest April on record at Tri-Cities. Measurable rainfall occurred on fifteen days, and two of those days received more than an inch. The heaviest rainfall occurred on the 29th when 1.25 inches fell, which also broke the old daily rainfall record of 0.73 inches set back in 1963. Another 1.01 inches of rain fell on the 2nd, which also broke the previous record of 0.99 inches set back in 1970. The wettest April at Tri-Cities was back in 1998 when 7.03 inches was recorded. The monthly average temperature at Tri-Cities was 55.0 degrees, which was only 0.4 degrees above normal. A new record high was set on the 6th when the high temperature peaked at 81 degrees, breaking the previous record of 80 degrees set back in 1978. In addition, a record low was tied on the 28th when the temperature dipped to 32 degrees, tying the old record set last year. The warmest April at Tri-Cities was back in 1954, when the average temperature was 61.8 degrees. " - [ + + ] - report from NWS MRX

COLUMN DENOTATIONS:

A maximum mean temperature	T total precipitation (inches) T1 departure from normal
B minimum mean temperature	U maximum calendar day precipitation (inches)
C monthly mean temperature C1 departure from normal	U1 date of maximum calendar day precipitation
D maximum temperature	V date(s) of maximum daily precipitation
E date(s) of maximum temperature	V1 maximum 24-hour precip. & date(s)
F minimum temperature	W number of days with precip. >= .01"
G date(s) of minimum temperature	X number of days with precip. >= 1.0"
H days with maximum temperature >=90	Y year-to-date precipitation (inches)
I days with maximum temperature <=32	Z maximum calendar day snowfall (inches)
J days with minimum temperature <=32
K days with minimum temperature <= 0	1 date of maximum calendar day snowfall (inches)
K1 average relative humidity	2 number of days with snowfall
L peak wind gust (miles per hour)	3 number of days with snowfall >= 1.0"
M direction of peak wind gust	4 total snowfall for month (inches)
N date(s) of peak wind gust	5 total snowfall for 2004-2005 season (inches)
N1 average wind speed (miles per hour)	6 maximum barometric pressure (inches)
N2 dominant wind direction	6A date of maximum barometric pressure
O number of days with thunder	7 minimum barometric pressure (inches)
P number of days with hail	7A date of minimum barometric pressure
Q number of days with glaze	8 average sea-level pressure
R number of days with ice pellets
R2 sky cover percentage	NR not recorded
R1 number of days with dense fog [1/4 mile and less visibility]	(i) incomplete data
S local observation time for temps/precipitation	(M) missing, if listed in data table
~ "about"	E estimated
+ additional indeterminate number of days	CWA - NWS Office County Warning Area

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STATION / LOCATION (MILES & DIRECTION FROM MAIN POST OFFICE)/OBSERVER / YEAR RECORDS BEGAN / EMAIL ADDRESS:

	ROK Roanoke, VA 6SW Wendell Prillaman 4/76 wlprillaman@cox.net
ANN Annandale, VA 1 3/4 ENE - Lowell Koontz 8/31/79 wwkoontz@verizon.net	AKQ Wakefield, VA NWS Wakefield Municipal Airport 36-58-53N 077-00-04W 33M
DCA Arlington, VA Washington, DC, Reagan Washington National Airport 38-50-54N 077-02-03W 18M	WSH Washington, VA David Yowell runamok@runamok.com
BCB Blacksburg, VA NWS Virginia Tech Airport 37-13N 080-25W	WEE Weems, VA 3WNW Francis J. Socey
BRI Bridgewater, VA Clayton Towers Ctowers@rica.net	WOO Woodstock, VA 5NW Lauck Walton - 12/1/85 jwalton@shentel.net
CEN Centreville, VA Paul Bassett 1985, 38° 50.9788' N LAT. 77° 25.6374' W LON. \| Elevation 324' \| m.psb@verizon.net	RGL Ruther Glen, VA 38°0'45" N 77°32'29" W Danny Jessee 2003 danny@dannyjessee.com
	WAL Wallops Island, VA 37° 56'26" N 75° 27'47" W Wallops Flight Facility Airport
CHO Charlottesville, VA Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport ASOS (Rappahannock County) 38-08-18N 078-27-21W 192M	AVL Asheville, NC Asheville Regional Airport 35-25-55N 082-32-15W 670M
	MRH Beaufort, NC Michael J. Field Airport 34-44-01N 076-39-38W 3M
DAN Danville, VA, Danville Regional Airport, 36-34-22N 079-20-10W 175M	BRE Brevard, NC 1SE Bob Keehn 1/1/90 rkeehn@brinet.com
IAD Dulles - Washington-Dulles International Airport 38-56-05N 077-26-51W 93M	CLT Charlotte, NC NWS Charlotte/Douglas International Airpot 35-12-48N 080-56-55W 220M
FCH Falls Church, VA Erica Page - 3/7/94 Windie1970@aol.com	HKY Hickory, NC
HAM Hampton, VA 5NE Dave Kessel 1989 davidkessel@cox.net	ECG Elizabeth City, NC, Coast Guard Air Station 36-15-47N 076-10-58W 11M
CTR Winterpock in Chesterfield County, VA Albert Arnold 06/03	FAY Fayetteville, NC Fayetteville Regional Airport, 34-59-22N 078-52-48W 55M
HER Herndon, VA R.M. Beall P- 10/76 T- 1/91 beall47@earthlink.net	GSO Greensboro, NC NWS Piedmont Triad International Airport 36-05-51N 079-56-37W 275M
HRN Herndon, VA 4SW Russ Topping - 1985 weatherwatcher@cox.net	HSE Cape Hatteras, NC Mitchell Field 35-13-56N 075-27-21W 3M
	MNC Mebane, NC Sean McManus 2005 - micman2b@pipeline.com
	LBT Lumberton, NC Lumberton Municipal Airport 34-36-26N 079-03-36W 37M
	EWN New Bern, NC Craven County Regional Airport 36-04-03N 077-02-50W 3M
LXI Lexington, VA Scott M. Lancey, WREL Radio - 06/96 weather@wrel.com	RAL Raleigh, NC 7NNW Bob Woodson - 6/1/93 kf4mmm@qsl.net
LKU Louisa, VA 1N Joseph Bowers 1944 - NWS ID 44-5050-02jmbiii@earthlink.net	RDU Raleigh-Durham, NC Raleigh-Durham International Airport 35-52-14N 078-47-11W 130M
LOU Louisa, VA 6S John Bullock (about 1970) INACTIVE 1/1/02 - MEMBER DECEASED FALL 2004	ROX Roxboro, NC 2SE Merriell A. Jay 1/93
LYH Lynchburg, VA NWS Lynchburg Regional Airport 37-19-15N 079-12-24W 295M	ILM Wilmington, NC NWS New Hanover International Airport 34-16-06N 077-54-22W 9M
NEW Newmarket, VA 2W Joyce Winfree joywood@shentel.net	CHS Charleston, SC NWS Charleston Air Force Base 32-53-56N 080-02-26W 13M
NPN Newport News, VA 7N Gary Leonard - 6/91 GaryMLeonard@aol.com	CAE Columbia, SC NWS Columbia Metropolitan Airport 33-56-31N 081-07-05W 73M
NOR Norfolk, VA 3NE Jim Fentress 6/1/77	FLO Florence, SC Florence Regional Airport 34-11-16N 079-43-51W 44M
ORF Norfolk, VA 5NE 36-54-13N 076-11-31W 14M 1871	GSP Greenville-Spartanburg, SC NWS Greenville-Spartanburg Airport 34-53-02N 082-13-15W 286M
POR Portsmouth, VA 36.81° North 76.33° West 3S Bill Trotter - 7/1/76 wxr@cox.net	CRE North Myrtle Beach, SC Grand Strand Airport 33-48-42N 078-43-26W 10M
MEC Mechanicsville, VA Glen Martin 11/19/91	OGB Orangeburg, SC Orangeburg Municipal Airport 33-27-50N 080-51-13W 59M
FHC Norfolk, VA Fred Heutte Center 36° 54'N 76° 16'W 01/01/03 fhcgarden@cox.net	AND Anderson, SC
RIC Richmond, VA Richmond International Airport 37-30-40N 077-19-24W 50M	TRI Tri-cities, TN (Bristol / Johnson / Kingsport), Tri-City Regional Airport 36-28-47N 082-23-56W 474M
ROA Roanoke, VA Roanoke Regional Airport 37-19-01N 079-58-27W 362M	DAV Davis, WV Dave Lesher canaanwx@canaantv.tv