The Atlantic Coast Observer Network - Virginia/North Carolina/South Carolina

http://www.genserva.com/acon

SUMMARY OF CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA 


APRIL 2015


...TEMPERATURES & RAINFALL AVERAGE ABOVE NORMAL THROUGHOUT THE REGION...


  • PASSINGS - Member Lauck Walton, Woodstock, Virginia (WOO)   Long-time ACON VA/NC/SC member Lauck Walton, who last posted his monthly weather observations here in fall 2014. has died. During the years of his participation in ACON (20+), Lauck kept meticulous records and never missed a monthly posting of his data, earlier by sending reports through the USPS and then by migrating with us all to email! Mr. Walton attended Randolph-Macon Academy, Front Royal and Randolph-Macon College, Ashland. He served in the US Army for three years. He attended law school at the University of Virginia and worked for 25 years with the law firm of Donovan Leisure Newton & Irvine. After retiring to Woodstock he agreed to work for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as counsel.

  • SOAP BUBBLES BLOWN IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES TURN INTO STUNNING ICE CRYSTALS   Hope Thurston Carter captured beautiful images after blowing bubbles on several freezing days in Michigan. Temperatures between -9 and -12C are ideal for creating the ice bubbles. See this fascinating read with a click here!

  • NWS AKQ CWA April 2015 Precipitation Summary      Visit http://genserva.com/acon/April 2015FINAL.pdf or click here: NWS Wakefield (AKQ) CWA April 2015 Precipitation Summary

  • DAY OF THE LAST SPRING FREEZE?   Here is a very helpful message from the Midwestern Regional Climate Center: Just when you think winter is over … Every spring, we are teased with intermittent warm periods that motivate us to plant flowers, plant our vegetable garden, or sit back and watch our local farms, orchards, and communities green up. If we are lucky, once we take that action, a freeze event will avoid us for many months - long after farms have been harvested and flowers have lost their luster. If we’re unlucky, at least one more freeze event will make an appearance and damage our positive planting efforts. So, how long to do we have to wait before we know it’s safe? Every year is different, and weather forecasts can certainly help. However, climatology of past spring freeze can help remind us when there’s still a chance. NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) has recently updated their map of the “Day of the Last Spring Freeze” [http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/news/when-expect-your-last-spring-freeze] based upon the 1981-2010 US Climate Normals. This product shows when the average last spring freeze occurred over that 30-year period. If you’re interested in when the latest last spring freeze occurred during that period, the earliest last spring freeze occurred, or multiple other combinations, check out the “Midwestern Regional Climate Center’s (MRCC’s http://mrcc.isws.illinois.edu/)” Vegetation Impact Program’s (VIP’s) Frost/Freeze Guidance website http://mrcc.isws.illinois.edu/VIP/index.html. This website provided various climatological products including not only a freeze event defined as <=32F, but also “hard freeze” events defined as <=28F. There are also a variety of climate monitoring tools on this site that provide daily, updated information such as: date of the most recent freeze event, days since the most recent freeze event, number of freezing days over the past 2 weeks, lowest minimum temperature this past season, and accumulated growing degree-days since the most recent freeze event. All of these products are designed for the public, gardeners, forecasters, and other stakeholders to understand the potential for spring (and fall) freeze events given what has happened in the past - both recent and over the past 30 years. For more information about the MRCC’s VIP Frost/Freeze program, please send an email to: vip-info@illinois.edu

  • NWS AKQ Monthly Rainfall Analysis      From NWS Wakefield compiled from ASOS...COOP...RAWS REPORTS | Monthly Rainfall Analysis - http://www.weather.gov/akq/MONTHLY_RAINFALL_ANALYSIS -

  • THE 2015 HURRICANE AWARENESS TOUR IS SCHEDULED AT NORFOLK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (ORF) LANDMARK AVIATION FACILITY - TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015.   NOAA hurricane experts will visit five U.S. East Coast cities and one city in Canada, flying aboard a USAF Reserve WC-130J Hurricane Hunter aircraft along with the NOAA G-IV aircraft to raise awareness of the impacts from tropical cyclone threats and the danger of being caught without a personal hurricane plan. National Hurricane Center Director, Dr. Rick Knabb, hurricane specialists Daniel Brown and John Cangialosi, the USAF Hurricane Hunter crew members, and the NOAA aircraft crew members will be on hand to educate residents of vulnerable communities about hurricane preparedness. Officials from Virginia Department of Emergency Management, local emergency management offices, non-profit organizations such as the American Red Cross, and personnel from NOAA's National Weather Service Wakefield, VA forecast office will be part of the team at the Norfolk stop... along with local media. The public will be able to tour the aircraft, and meet with flight crews between 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm on Tuesday, May 5th. The official flyer regarding this event can be viewed with a click here. The file contains additional information about the aircraft that will be on hand. If you have any questions regarding the Hurricane Awareness Tour, please feel free to contact Jeff Orrock, Meteorologist In Charge, at (757) 899-5730 or at jeff.orrock@noaa.gov


  •    DROUGHT MONITOR       Information on drought can be found at NOAA's Drought Information Center          http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/




    Visit Member Bob Woodson's Central Carolina (Raleigh) Homepage with a click to the image above!



  • 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 Station Extremes - APRIL 2015
    State
    Maximum Temperature
    Minimum
    Temperature
    Warmest
    Average
    Temperature
    Coldest
    Average
    Temperature
    Maximum
    Precipitation
    Minimum
    Precipitation
    Virginia
    87°
    Norfolk (ORF)
    26°
    Blacksburg
    60.7°
    Norfolk (FHC)
    53.3°
    Blacksburg
    5.95"
    Portsmouth
    2.46"
    Dulles
    North Carolina
    88°
    Charlotte
    29°
    Asheville
    64.2°
    North Whiteville
    58.5°
    Asheville
    6.14"
    Charlotte
    1.39"
    Beaufort
    South Carolina
    92°
    Columbia
    37°
    Columbia
    68.3°
    Charleston (CHS,CXM)
    63.4°
    Greenville-Spartanburg
    6.18"
    Greenville-Spartanburg
    3.12"
    Orangeburg


    ( For an explanation of column headers in the following tables,
    please note the column denotations table below. )

    TEMPERATURE / WINDS/ ELEMENTS FOLLOWED BY
    PRECIPITATION / BAROMETRIC PRESSURE

    VIRGINIA | NORTH CAROLINA | SOUTH CAROLINA
    [Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL]
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    BCB 64.3 42.3 53.3 2.6 79 18 26 5 0 0 2 0 67% 44 330 8 5.4 5 1 0 0 4 LWX 2400
    CHT 68.9 44.5 56.7 2.3 82.1 18 31.7 0 0 1 0 0 65% 27 140 2 0.8 360 2 2 0 0 0 LWX 2400
    CHO 68.6 45.2 56.9 1.6 79 18,20 32 5 0 0 1 0 41 200 2 6.6 5 0 0 0 2 LWX 2400
    DAN 71.8 47.6 59.7 1.4 84 8,10 29 5 0 0 1 0 63% 39 250,030 4,8 6.4 5 0 0 0 1 RNK 2400
    DCA 69.4 49.4 59.4 2.6 84 18 39 24 0 0 0 0 54% 45 230,300 3,4 9.5 3 1 0 0 0 LWX 2400
    IAD 66.9 42.5 54.7 0.3 80 18 31 1 0 0 2 0 59% 49 290 4 8.3 2 0 0 0 0 LWX 2400
    GAV 69.77 47.11 58.44 -0.56 81 18 32 5 0 0 1 0 64% 33 203 22     4 0 0 0 0 AKQ 2400
    HDV 67.0 43.8 55.4 -0.6 79 20 30 1 0 0 1 0 64% 27 180 22 225 3 0 0 0 0 LWX 2400
    LYH 67.8 44.4 56.1 0.7 80 18 28 5 0 0 1 0 64% 40 190 20 6.2 4 0 0 0 3 RNK 2400
    NPN 69.1 47.3 58.6 -0.3 84.4 10 33.3 5 0 0 0 0 31 270 4 3.6 203 0 0 0 0 0 AKQ 2400
    FHC 69.9 51.5 60.7 2.5 85 10 40 2 0 0 0 0 66% 37 203 3 2.0 202 2 0 0 0 1 AKQ 2400
    NOR 68.7 47.9 58.3 0.4 86 10 34 2 0 0 0 0 33 203 3 0 0 0 0 1 AKQ 2400
    ORF 68.5 49.6 59.1 0.9 87 10 35 2 0 0 0 0 63% 41 220 3 9.6 0 0 0 0 3 AKQ 2400
    POR 70.5 49.4 60.0 0.7 86 10 35 2,5 0 0 0 0 70% 38 230 3 4.6 350 2 0 0 0 1 AKQ 2400
    CTR 71.1 45.4 58.2 1.1 83.2 18 29 20 0 0 1 0 68% 25 230 3 0.7 197 0 0 0 0 0 AKQ 2400
    MEC 72.0 48.0 60.0 83 18 31 5 0 0 1 0 47%     3 0 0 0 0 AKQ 2400
    RIC 71.1 47.9 59.5 1.3 83 10,18 33 5 0 0 0 0 60% 44 260 22 8.4 3 0 0 0 1 AKQ 2400
    ROA 67.8 46.4 57.1 0.4 80 17,18 32 5 0 0 1 0 61% 49 150 8 7.0 4 0 0 0 1 RNK 2400
    SVC 66.8 44.5 55.7 0.1 78 13,17,18 31 1 0 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 5 LWX 2400
    WAL 63.6 45.4 54.5 0.6 73 18 31 2 0 0 2 0 44 350 4 10.2 1 0 0 0 3 AKQ 2400
    WSH 66.2 44.7 55.5 -0.11 79.0 18 31.3 1 0 0 1 0 64% 26 70 4 1.1 70 5 0 0 1 0 LWX 2400
    Averages 68.56 46.42 57.52 0.90 81.70 32.11 0.00 0.05 0.9 0.0 62% 37.5 5.7 2.6 0.2 0.0 0.0 1.2
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    AVL 69.0 48.1 58.5 3.3 83 9 29 5 0 0 1 0 65% 42 320,330 22,30 6.8 3 0 0 0 1 GSP 2400
    MRH 70.4 55.3 62.8 1.8 76 18,19 37 2 0 0 0 0 37 230 25 9.2 0 0 0 0 0 MHX 2400
    CLT 72.4 52.0 62.2 2.8 88 9 36 5 0 0 0 0 63% 35 210 3 6.8 4 0 0 0 0 GSP 2400
    ECG 69.9 48.8 59.3 0.6 84 10 32 2 0 0 1 0 67% 39 220 20 9.1 1 0 0 0 3 AKQ 2400
    FAY 75.0 53.1 64.1 1.4 87 8,10 36 5 0 0 0 0 66% 38 250 14 8.0 4 0 0 0 1 RAH 2400
    GSO 70.8 50.1 60.5 1.7 84 8 32 5 0 0 1 0 61% 45 240 4 7.8 2 0 0 0 2 RAH 2400
    HSE 67.5 52.7 60.1 0.6 75 19 34 2 0 0 0 0 73% 37 170,230 20,21 8.8 0 0 0 0 0 MHX 2400
    HKY 69.7 49.7 59.7 1.3 86 9 30 5 0 0 1 0 36 200 20 5.3 2 0 0 0 4 GSP 2400
    LBT 75.2 53.0 64.1 2.4 87 9 33 5 0 0 0 0 70% 32 320 4 6.5 3 0 0 0 4 ILM 2400
    EWN 73.7 53.0 63.3 1.5 86 8 37 2 0 0 0 0 67% 35 180 3 7.3 3 0 0 0 2 MHX 2400
    RDU 72.5 50.6 61.5 1.3 84 8,10 33 5 0 0 0 0 66% 38 30 8 6.3 5 0 0 0 2 RAH 2400
    RAL 72.7 49.9 61.3 1.1 85 8 31 5 0 0 1 0 29   9 5 0 0 0 0 RAH 2400
    WHI 75.0 53.4 64.2 3.3 87.3 8 34.9 5 0 0 0 0 74% 23 29 15 2.1 156 3 0 0 0 0 ILM 2400
    ILM 73.5 54.2 63.9 1.0 83 8 39 5 0 0 0 0 72% 36 220,180 4,19 8.4 2 0 0 0 0 ILM 2400
    Averages 71.95 51.71 61.82 1.7 84.0 33.9 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.0 68% 35.9 7.1 2.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.4
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    AND 74.2 54.3 64.2 4.0 89 9 39 24 0 0 3 0 40 280 5 6.4 1 0 0 0 8 GSP 2400
    CAE 77.8 56.1 67.0 3.6 92 9 37 5 1 0 1 0 64% 38 190 19 6.6 3 0 0 0 1 CAE 2400
    CRE 72.3 56.5 64.4 2.8 76 22,23 43 5 0 0 0 0 75% 35 190,50 10,15 8.6 3 0 0 0 3 ILM 2400
    CHS 77.8 58.8 68.3 3.5 88 26 47 5 0 0 0 0 35 190 25 8.0 4 0 0 0 0 CHS 2400
    CXM 75.0 61.6 68.3 2.9 88 26 53 5 0 0 0 0 29 200 25 9.3 CHS 2400
    FLO 76.4 55.4 65.9 2.6 91 9 40 5 1 0 0 0 67% 40 190 19 7.8 5 0 0 0 3 ILM 2400
    GSP 73.0 53.7 63.4 2.9 87 9 41 5 0 0 0 0 69% 35 230,270 10,22 6.8 4 0 0 0 4 GSP 2400
    OGB 77.0 56.3 66.7 3.2 90 9 44 5 1 0 0 0   32 250 19 6.7 1 0 0 0 2 CAE 2400
    Averages 75.44 56.59 66.03 3.2 87.63 43.00 0.4 0.0 0.5 0.0 69% 35.5 7.5 3.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.0
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    TRI 70.5 45.8 58.2 3.0 84 9 27 5 0 0 3 0 45 230 26 4.8 5 0 0 0 3 MRX 2400
    DAV 56.2 35.3 45.7 75 14 23 1,2 0 0 15 0 PBX 2400
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    BCB 5.31 1.83 1.29 19 1.29 19 15 1 11.99 T 20 1 0 T 28.4 RNK 2400
    CHT 3.28 -0.19 0.78 20 0.99 19-20 14 0 11.96         0.0 27.9 30.413 16 29.443 20 29.988 LWX 2400
    CHO 4.67 1.31 1.34 19 1.80 19-20 12 2 10.84   29.500 20 LWX 2400
    DAN 2.85 -0.61 0.77 14 0.78 14-15 12 0 8.76         0.0 9.8 30.380 16 29.550 20 29.965 RNK 2400
    DCA 3.41 0.35 0.77 20 1.09 19-20 14 0 12.86         0.0 18.1 30.430 16 29.500 20 29.965 LWX 2400
    IAD 2.46 -1.01 0.74 20 0.89 19-20 12 0 11.40 T 25 1 0 T 36.9 30.420 16 29.460 20 29.940 LWX 2400
    GAV 3.13   0.80 14 0.88 25-26 10 0 13.20         0.0 14.7 30.410 16 29.560 20 30.010 AKQ 2400
    HDV 3.10 -0.52 0.95 20   14 0 13.14         0.0 28.2 30.400 16 29.430 21 29.915 AKQ 2400
    LYH 4.06 0.75 1.10 14 1.10 14 15 1 11.72         0.0 22.9 30.410 16 29.530 20 29.970 RNK 2400
    NPN 3.91 0.14 1.11 20 2.02 19-20 12 1 14.51         0.0 16.5 30.400 16 29.600 21 30.000 AKQ 2400
    FHC 5.84 2.43 1.70 14 1.70 14 10 3 15.88         0.0 12.5 30.389 12 29.599 26 29.994 AKQ 2400
    NOR 4.79 0.92 1.69 14 1.71 19-20 11 2 14.81         0.0 12.8   AKQ 2400
    ORF 4.62 1.21 1.80 14 1.80 13-14 10 2 13.49         0.0 12.7 30.390 16 29.610 26 30.000 AKQ 2400
    POR 5.95 2.44 2.08 14 2.26 19-20 12 2 16.24         0.0 13.5 30.370 12 29.600 26 29.996 AKQ 2400
    CTR 4.77 0.81 0.99 9 1.20 19-20 12 0 15.13         0.0 14.5 30.340 12 29.530 20 29.966 AKQ 2400
    MEC 4.11   1.62 20 1.63 20-21 11 1 15.30         0.0 11.4 AKQ 2400
    RIC 5.33 2.06 0.94 14 1.72 19-20 11 0 16.37         0.0 12.8 30.410 16 29.570 20 29.990 AKQ 2400
    ROA 4.99 1.62 1.80 19 1.84 19-20 14 1 13.23         0.0 21.5 30.430 16 29.560 20 29.995 RNK 2400
    SVC 5.07 1.53 2.38 20 2.68 19-20 14 1 15.49         0.0 26.0 LWX 2400
    WAL 3.81 0.74 1.48 14 1.48 14 12 2 14.98         0.0 11.3 30.420 16 29.590 21 30.005 AKQ 2400
    WSH 5.37 1.37 1.22 19 2.27 19-20 15 2 12.39 T 25 1 0 T 26.2 30.460 16 29.530 20 29.995 LWX 2400
    Averages 4.33 0.90 1.30 1.56 12.5 1.0 13.51 0.00 0.2 0.0 0.0 18.9 30.405 29.539 29.981
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    AVL 4.94 1.61 1.32 15 1.32 15 15 1 12.90         0.0 13.3 30.370 5 29.530 26 29.950 GSP 2400
    MRH 1.39 -2.16 0.65 19 0.77 19-20 10 0 14.71         0.0 T     29.540 26 MHX 2400
    CLT 6.14 3.10 2.65 19 2.65 19 13 2 14.15         0.0 3.1 30.390 5 29.560 26 29.975 GSP 2400
    ECG 4.11 0.97 1.43 14 1.66 19-20 10 2 13.88         0.0 T 24 29.590 26 AKQ 2400
    FAY 2.66 -0.16 0.95 19 0.95 19 14 0 13.01             RAH 2400
    GSO 2.50 -1.07 0.83 19 0.83 19 10 0 9.90         0.0 9.6     RAH 2400
    HSE 1.92 -1.72 0.61 14 0.61 14 9 0 16.42         0.0 2.0 30.380 13 29.540 26 29.960 MHX 2400
    HKY 4.93 1.22 1.98 19 1.98 19 13 2 11.98     30.360 16 29.520 26 29.940 GSP 2400
    LBT 2.59 -0.23 0.68 15 0.68 15 12 0 15.53     30.370 5 29.530 26 29.950 ILM 2400
    EWN 2.06 -1.11 0.66 19 0.98 19-20 12 0 13.99       0.0 3.0 30.400 5 29.560 26 29.980 MHX 2400
    RDU 5.26 2.34 1.23 14 1.50 14-15 12 1 14.80         0.0 7.9   RAH 2400
    RAL 3.34 0.42 0.37 24-25 14 0 12.29         0.0 8.9 30.250 15 29.660 25 RAH 2400
    WHI 3.40 0.46 1.14 18 1.28 18-19 15 1 14.27         0.0 0.5 30.366 5 29.518 26 30.025 ILM 2400
    ILM 2.16 -0.66 0.63 9 1.08 8-9 14 0 14.91         0.0 0.3 30.380 5 29.530 26 29.955 ILM 2400
    Averages 3.39 0.22 1.14 1.19 12.4 0.6 13.77       0.0 4.4 30.363 25.006 29.967
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    AND 5.40 2.28 1.58 15 1.58 15 17 3 13.65 0.0 30.370 5 29.530 26 29.950 GSP 2400
    CAE 4.03 1.41 1.19 7 1.19 7 13 1 14.17         0.0 T 30.370 5 29.540 26 29.955 CAE 2400
    CRE 3.64 0.68 1.02 19 1.02 19 12 1 13.26 30.360 6 29.540 26 29.950 ILM 2400
    CHS 3.67 0.76 1.47 29 1.47 29 12 1 13.86         0.0 T 30.330 6 29.570 26 29.950 CHS 2400
    CXM 3.81 1.28 1.24 29 1.24 29 12 1 13.95 CHS 2400
    FLO 3.40 0.78 1.04 18 1.08 17-18 12 1 13.73 0.0 T 30.370 5 29.530 26 29.950 ILM 2400
    GSP 6.18 2.82 1.61 19 1.61 19 16 3 15.59         0.0 3.7 30.370 5 29.520 26 29.945 GSP 2400
    OGB 3.12 -1.01 1.28 19 1.28 19 12 1 12.94   30.360 5 29.560 26 29.960 CAE 2400
    Averages 4.16 1.13 1.30 1.31 13.3 1.50 13.89       0.00 0.9 30.361 29.541 24 29.951
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    TRI 4.98 1.65 1.58 7 1.58 7 12 2 14.22         0.0 15.5 30.320 5 29.460 26 29.890 MRX 2400
    DAV 6.75 1.15 20 19 1 23.67 1.6 23 6 1 2.2 152.1 PBX 2400
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED


    Virginia:

    Arlington/Washington, D.C. - "THE APRIL MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOVE NORMAL. MONTHLY PRECIPITATION WAS SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL. THIS WAS THE FIRST MONTH OF 2015 TO HAVE AN ABOVE NORMAL MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE. IT WAS ALSO THE WARMEST APRIL SINCE 2010. ON THE 18TH...WASHINGTON DC HAD A HIGH OF 84 DEGREES. THIS WAS THE WARMEST TEMPERATURE OBSERVED SINCE SEPTEMBER 27TH 2014. DESPITE THE MILDER WEATHER THE TEMPERATURE DID NOT REACH OR EXCEED 85 DEGREES IN THE MONTH OF APRIL FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2006. " - [ + + ] - from NWS Sterling, VA

    Chantilly - " April average temperatures were above normal and precipitation was below normal. The mean monthly temperature was 56.7° (+2.3°). The mean high temperature was 68.9° (+2.2°) and the mean low temperature was 44.5° (+2.4°). A record high minimum temperature was set on the 3rd (60.0°). April precipitation of 3.28” was slightly below average (-0.19”). No snow was observed and the 2014-15 season total stands at 27.9”. Thunder was observed on the 20th and thunderstorms with hail were observed on the 21st (0.25” hail) and 30th (pea sized hail). *Please note, anemometer is currently partially obstructed from the North and East " - [ + - ] - Member Russ Topping

    Dulles - from NWS Sterling (KLWX): " THE MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE WAS SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL. MONTHLY PRECIPITATION WAS BELOW NORMAL. A RECORD DAILY HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 59 DEGREES WAS SET ON THE 3RD...BREAKING THE OLD RECORD OF 58 SET IN 2000. THIS WAS THE FIRST MONTH OF 2015 TO HAVE AN ABOVE NORMAL MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE. ON THE 18TH...DULLES AIRPORT HAD A HIGH OF 80 DEGREES. THIS WAS THE WARMEST TEMPERATURE OBSERVED SINCE OCTOBER 28TH 2014. DESPITE THE MILDER WEATHER THE TEMPERATURE ONLY REACHED 80 DEGREES THE ONE TIME. THIS WAS THE FEWEST DAYS OF 80 DEGREE OR HIGHER TEMPERATURES IN APRIL SINCE 1998. A BRIEF PERIOD OF SLEET RESULTED IN A TRACE OF SNOWFALL BEING RECORDED ON THE 25TH. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SNOW OR SLEET HAS BEEN RECORDED ON THIS PARTICULAR DAY SINCE RECORDS BEGAN AT THE AIRPORT IN 1962. " - [ + - ]

    Herndon - from member Randy Ashby: " April was below normal for temperature and for precipitation. The temperatures ranged between a high of 79 and a low of 30 and was 0.6 degrees below normal. On the precipitation side, the month was 0.56” below normal, with 3.10” measured. We had no snow; and finished the year with 28.2” of snow. " - [ - - ]

    Norfolk - from NWS Wakefield (AKQ): "View the NWS AKQ Wakefield April 2015 Climate Summary with a click here " - [ + + ]

    Portsmouth - from Bill Trotter: " The month's average temperature of 60.0° was 0.7° ABOVE NORMAL. Precipitation (5.95") was ABOVE NORMAL by 2.44" or 170% of the April average during the period from 1977 to 2014. Rainfall for the year through April 30th was 16.24" (+1.92" or 113% of normal). To view the station monthly and year-to-date climatological summary (LCD) for this Portsmouth station, please click here. Frontal passages were recorded on the 4th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 20TH (WARMFROPA), 21st, and 22nd. No frost was observed. STATION RECORDS: 2nd - TEMPERATURE TIED Minimum 35° [previous 1980], 5th - TEMPERATURE TIED Minimum 35° [previous 1987], 14th - RAINFALL 2.08" [previous 0.69" 1984], 19th - RAINFALL 0.92" [previous 0.65" in 1988], 25th - TEMPERATURE Minimum high 55° [previous 56° in 2000], and 27th - TEMPERATURE TIED Minimum 41° [previous 1993]. " - [ + + ]

    Glen Allen - from Lowell Koontz: " April was slightly cooler than average by -0.6°F. The monthly mean temperature for April was 58.4°F the third lowest on record for April. April was the third wettest at Glen Allen with a total of 3.13 inches, a departure of -0.29 inches based on the average of the past 6 years. Measurable precipitation occurred on 10 days and none was intense as the most rain to fall in an hour was 0.26 inches and 0.06 inches in five minutes. The cloud cover and average relative humidity were both a little more than average for April. The high temperature for April was only 81°F on the 18th which was a new record for the lowest maximum temperature for the month of April; previous record was 83°F in 2014. This was April’s only 80 degree day; the previous 6 year record for the least was 3 in 2014. The lowest maximum temperature was 50°F which tied with 2009 for an April record. The warmest nights were April 3rd and 20th both with a low of 62°F which tied with last year for the lowest in the past six years. The maximum daily temperature range was only 34°F which tied with 2011 for the lowest on record for April. The lowest minimum was 32°F recorded on the 5th and there were two days with frost which were the 5th and 24th. The highest daily mean temperature of 70.8 °F occurred on the 18th which was the second lowest on record. The maximum wind gust was 33 mph from the SSW that occurred on the 22nd at 1430 preceding a cold front. " - [ - - ]

    Richmond - from contributor Lowell Koontz (GAV): " The Airport had one tied daily record for the highest minimum temperature on April 20th with 65°F that also occurred in 1927, 1941 and 2002. The lowest minimum temperature at the Airport was 33 °F on the 5th. The highest temperature in April was 83°F occurring on the 10th and 18th which tied for the lowest since 2000. The lowest maximum temperature for April in the past 118 years is 80°F which occurred in 2000, 1933, 1918, and 1911. The coldest day in April was on the 25th with a daily mean of 48°F which was a departure of 5.8°F warmer than average lowest daily mean for April. Only four years in the past 118 years have had an April day on which the lowest daily mean temperature for the month was warmer. The Richmond International Airport’s April mean temperature was 59.5 °F which was a departure of negative 1.3°F and was the 26th warmest April since 1897. Their precipitation total was 5.33 inches which was a departure of +2.06 inches. Only 10 Aprils in the past 128 years have been wetter. It is interesting that the Airport had 2.20 inches more precipitation than Glen Allen during April. " - [ + + ]

    Richmond - from NWS Wakefield (AKQ): " View the NWS AKQ Wakefield April 2015 Climate Summary for Richmond with a click here " - [ + + ]

    North Carolina:

    Fayetteville - from NWS Raleigh (RAH): " THE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE ON APRIL 10TH AT THE RALEIGH-DURHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WAS 65 DEGREES. THIS TIED THE RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE LAST SET IN 1929. " - [ + - ]

    Raleigh - from contributor Bob Woodson (RAL): " THE AVERAGE DAILY TEMPERATURE WAS 1.1 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL, AND PRECIPITATION WAS 0.42” ABOVE NORMAL. LAST FREEZING TEMPERATURE FOR THE SEASON OCCURRED ON APRIL 5TH. NO DAMAGE IN THE AREA DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER, HOWEVER BOTH A TORNADO AND SEVERE THUNDER WATCH WERE ISSUED FOR THIS REGION DURING APRIL. " - [ + + ]

    Greensboro - from NWS Raleigh (RAH): " THE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE AT THE PIEDMONT TRIAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON APRIL 8TH WAS 60 DEGREES. THIS TIED THE RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR THAT DATE LAST SET IN 2001. " - [ + - ]

    South Carolina:

    North Charleston - from NWS Charleston (CHS): " RECORDS ESTABLISHED THIS MONTH: *APR 14 - RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 69 DEGREES *APR 29 - RECORD RAINFALL OF 1.47 INCHES 5TH WARMEST APRIL ON RECORD WITH MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 68.3 DEGREES. " - [ + + ]

    Downtown Charleston - from NWS Charleston (CHS): " RECORDS ESTABLISHED DURING THE MONTH: *APR 9 - RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 68 DEGREES *APR 10 - RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 68 DEGREES " - [ + + ]

    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 VRB Variable
    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 2014-2015 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 STN  Station
      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



    For Weather Headlines visit the National Weather Service Homepage
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    http://www.weather.gov
     

    National Weather Service Web Sites & Current Email Addresses
    Within or Nearby the ACON VA/NC/SC Area Can Be Found At:

         NWS Washington/Baltimore, VA/MD
         NWS Wakefield, VA
         NWS Blacksburg, VA
         NWS Raleigh, NC
         NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC
         NWS Wilmington, NC
         NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
         NWS Columbia, SC
         NWS Charleston, SC
         NWS Morristown, TN

         National Weather Service Homepages

         National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, NC

    STATION / LOCATION (MILES & DIRECTION FROM MAIN POST OFFICE)/OBSERVER / YEAR RECORDS BEGAN / EMAIL ADDRESS:
    [ includes current stations, inactive stations, and closed stations since database inception ]

        
    AKQ    Wakefield, VA NWS Wakefield Municipal Airport 36-58-53N 077-00-04W 33M SVC    Seven Corner, Fairfax County, VA John Iekel Latitude 38.857404 Longitude -77.151696
    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   
      WOO  Woodstock, VA 5NW Lauck Walton 12/1/85 STATION CLOSED 08/2014
       LDY Ladysmith, VA Danny Jessee 2003 STATION CLOSED 8/31/2010 danny@dannyjessee.com
    BRI     Bridgewater, VA Clayton Towers Ctowers19@aol.com WAL   Wallops Island, VA 37° 56'26" N 75° 27'47" W Wallops Flight Facility Airport
    CEN  Centreville, VA Paul Bassett 1985,
    38° 50.9788' N LAT. 77° 25.6374' W LON. | Elevation 324' | STATION CLOSED         		AVL    Asheville, NC  Asheville Regional Airport 35-25-55N 082-32-15W 670M
    CHO   Charlottesville, VA  Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport ASOS 
    (Rappahannock County) 38-08-18N 078-27-21W 192M    		 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  CLT    Charlotte, NC NWS Charlotte/Douglas International Airport 35-12-48N 080-56-55W 220M
    IAD   Dulles - Washington-Dulles International Airport  38-56-05N 077-26-51W 93M   
    FCH    Falls Church, VA Erica Page 3/7/94 Windie1970@aol.com HKY  Hickory, NC 
    HAM    Hampton, VA 5NE Dave Kessel 1989 kesseld1@cox.net ECG  Elizabeth City, NC,  Coast Guard Air Station 36-15-47N 076 10-58W 11M
    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
    CTR  Winterpock in Chesterfield County, VA Albert Arnold 06/03 FAY  Fayetteville, NC Fayetteville Regional Airport, 34-59-22N 078-52-48W 55M
      GSO   Greensboro, NC NWS Piedmont Triad International Airport 36-05-51N 079-56-37W 275M
    CHT   Chantilly, VA Russ Topping -  12/2006  russ.topping@gmail.com HSE   Cape Hatteras, NC  Mitchell Field 35-13-56N 075-27-21W 3M
    HDV    Herndon, VA  Randoplh W. Ashby, 3.3 SM South,
    Lat: 38.922127, Lon: -77.38015, Elev: 390'. 1993 randy_ashby@msn.com    		 LBT    Lumberton, NC  Lumberton Municipal Airport 34-36-26N 079-03-36W 37M
    GAV - Glen Allen, Henrico County, VA - Lowell Koontz  8/1/08  wwkoontz@verizon.net EWN    New Bern, NC  Craven County Regional Airport 36-04-03N 077-02-50W 3M
      MON    Moncure, NC  Chatham County - Mac McIlwain mac.mcilwain@embarqmail.com
      RAL    Raleigh, NC 7NNW  Bob Woodson -  6/1/93 kf4mmm@qsl.net
    LKU     Louisa, VA 1N Joseph Bowers 1944 - NWS ID  44-5050-02 STATION CLOSED RDU   Raleigh-Durham, NC Raleigh-Durham International Airport 35-52-14N 078-47-11W 130M
    LOU     Louisa, VA 6S John Bullock (about 1970) STATION CLOSED ROX    Roxboro, NC 2SE Merriell A. Jay 1/93 ending 12/13
         WHI   North Whiteville, NC Christopher Crawley 12/10 34.413744N / 078.751908W ccawley.kk4csr@gmail.com
    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 STATION CLOSED 5/31/10 CHS   Charleston, SC NWS Charleston Air Force Base 32-53-56N 080-02-26W 13M
      CXM    Downtown Charleston, SC NWS 32.77° N 79.93 W
    NPN     Newport News, VA 7N Gary Leonard -  6/91 mikey0781@cox.net 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@yahoo.com