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  AUGUST 2002

...Some Improvement in Rainfall... Still, Temperatures Above Normal and the Drought Continues...

Our observers' notes tell it all!  Continued above normal temperatures for most (but cooler than those of July!) with some stations bone-dry while coastal sites in North and South Carolina received significant rainfall.  Thunderstorms provided most of the moisture, particularly near the end of the month.  A rather high number of records noted not only in your reports, but also from National Weather Service locations.  Of particular interest, Cape Hatteras - thanks to its proximity to the Gulf Stream - had the highest monthly average temperature in North Carolina!  And, a rather noticeable effect of the drought was the dropping of leaves far earlier than usual.  Trees shed these leaves - known as abscission - to provide more moisture to other parts of their biological system for the production of carbohydrates.  This defense mechanism is a rather common process.  Seems we're raking earlier this year, but this means fewer leaves in the fall.

 
ACON VA/NC/SC Member Station Extremes - August 2002
State
Maximum Temperature
Minimum
Temperature
Warmest
Average
Temperature
Coldest
Average
Temperature
Maximum
Precipitation
Minimum
Precipitation
Virginia
105°
Mechanicsville
48°
Louisa, Blacksburg
81.1°
Arlington
72.1°
Blacksburg
5.56"
Wakefield
0.23"
Lexington
North Carolina
103°
Raleigh (RAL,RDU)
51°
Asheville
80.2°
Cape Hatteras
73.3°
Asheville
12.09"
Wilmington
2.09"
Asheville
South Carolina
104°
Columbia
56°
Florence
80.9°
Columbia
78.5°
Greenville-Spartanburg
11.37"
Charleston
4.23"
Greenville-Spartanburg
VIRGINIA
[Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL]
STN  A      B    C    D      E F     G    H I  J K L  M     N  O P Q R R1 S
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AHB 89.9  66.6  77.8 100.7   2 53.5  8  19  0  0 0 20 WNW   6  4 0 0 0  0 2400
ANN 87.29 69.42 78.35 98     2 59  7,8, 15  0  0 0 33 W    12  6 0 0 0  0 2400
                                  29,30
BCB             72.1  93     3 48    8                                    2400
BRI 87.5  64.4  76.0  98     3 52    9  17  0  0 0             3 1 0 0  0 0515/1600
CEN 88.6  69.0  79.0 101     2 56  7,8  11  0  0 0 30 096°  3  3 1 0 0  0 1200/2400
CHO 88.0  64.5  76.2  99    23 50    9  18  0  0 0 52 310° 18  7 0 0 0  1 2400
DAN 89.7  66.0  77.9 101    23 52    8  22  0  0 0                        2400
DCA 90.4  71.8  81.1 100  2,13 61 28,29 19  0  0 0 44 080°  3  5 0 0 0  0 2400
IAD 89.5  66.5  78.0  99   2,4 52    8  19  0  0 0 39 150°  3  6 0 0 0  0 2400
FCH 90.3  71.0  80.1 100   2,3 60 7,8,  20  0  0 0             5 0 0 0  0 2400
                                28,29,30
HAM 88.5  72.2  80.4  99    24 63    9  18  0  0 0 47 W    18  4          2400
HRG 84.6  62.9  73.5  93.8   3 50.8  9  11  0  0 0 25 NW    3  1 1 0 0  0 2400
HER 86.9  67.1  77.0  96.8  14 54.5  7  16  0  0 0 23       5  3 0 0 0 NR 2400
HRN 85.7  66.7  76.2  96.4   2 52.5  7  12  0  0 0 38 E     3  4 0 0 0  0 2400 
LKU 90.6  63.7  77.3 101    23 48    8  22  0  0 0 26 W    22  2 0 0 0  0 2400
LYH 87.7  64.5  76.1  98    23 53  8,9  18  0  0 0 44      18             2400
                                    10
LXI 89.3  62.4  75.9  99.2  13 50.9 10  17  0  0 0 19 N    14  2 0 0 0  4 2400
NEW 88.76 66.65 77.76 99  2,3, 49    7  20  0  0 0 34 E    20  4 0 0 0  3 1700
                            23
NPN 88.9  70.0  79.5  99    24 58    8  18  0  0 0 27 NW    6  6 0 0 0  1 2300 
NOR 87.9  70.3  79.1 101    24 59    8  17  0  0 0             2 0 0 0  0 2400
ORF 87.2  71.8  79.5  98    13 62    8  15  0  0 0 44 240° 17  6 0 0 0  0 2400
POR 88.7  71.6  80.2 100    24 62 9,10  18  0  0 0 25  W   15  5 0 0 0  0 2400
MEC 87    70    78.5 105    13 55    9  25  0  0 0 11.6 E  25  3 0 0 0  0 1800
RIC 90.3  68.3  79.3 101    23 57    8  21  0  0 0 32 270° 24  4 0 0 0  0 2400  
ROA 87.6  66.3  77.0  97    23 55    9  16  0  0 0 30      18             2400
ROK 87.7  65.0  76.4  97 12,23 53    8  16  0  0 0 23 NW   24  4 0 0 0  0 2400
AKQ 90.3  66.1  78.2 100 13,23 51    8  20  0  0 0                        2400
                            24
WEE 90.67 69.52 80.9 100 1,13, 56    9  18  0  0 0             3 0 0 0  0 0800/2000
                            23
WOO 83.9  66.8  75.4  93    15 55   30  10  0  0 0             5 0 0 0  1 0800
WSH 87.0  64.8  75.9  97.3   2 53.5  7  16  0  0 0 15 SSW   6  4 0 0 0  0 2400
                                                   13 SE   27
NORTH CAROLINA
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STN  A      B    C    D      E F    G     H I  J K L  M     N  O P Q R R1 S
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
AVL 85.1  61.5  73.3  92     5 51    8   4  0  0 0 33 330° 19  7 0 0 0  6 2400
CLT 89.1  66.9  78.0  97    23 56    9  20  0  0 0 35 130°  2  7 0 0 0  0 2400
ECG 87.6  70.1  78.8  97 24,25 55   10  12  0  0 0 38 310° 24  7 0 0 0  0 2400
FAY 89.5  69.5  79.5 102    24 59    9  19  0  0 0 40 250° 20  7 0 0 0  2 2400
GSO 86.6  67.1  76.9  96    23 57    9  17  0  0 0 35 340° 18  5 0 0 0  0 2400
HSE             80.2
LBT 88.9  68.5  78.7 102    24 56 9,10  19  0  0 0 36 300° 17 11 0 0 0  0 2400
RAL 89.8  66.4  78.1 103    23 52    8  23  0  0 0 28      15  6 1 0 0  0 1900
RDU 89.1  67.5  78.3 103    23 55    8  21  0  0 0 30 220° 14  8 0 0 0  1 2400
ROX 88.6  66.7  77.7 100    23 54    8  21  0  0 0 37 N    24  7 0 0 0  1 2100 
ILM 87.7  70.8  79.2  98    24 59    8   9  0  0 0 37 220° 17  9 0 0 0  0 2400
SOUTH CAROLINA
[Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL]
STN  A      B    C    D      E F    G     H I  J K L  M     N  O P Q R R1 S
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
CAE 91.5  70.4  80.9 104    24 58     8 22  0  0 0 64 290° 24 13 0 0 0  2 2400
CHS 88.1  71.0  79.6  98    24 62   8,9 13  0  0 0 36 090° 22             2400
CRE 86.6  70.6  78.6  95    23 60  8,11  9  0  0 0 33 170° 30  0 0 0 0  0 2400 
FLO 90.0  69.4  79.7 103    24 56     8 20  0  0 0 32 100°  4  8 0 0 0  2 2400
GSP 88.5  68.5  78.5  97     5 61    10 18  0  0 0 30 260° 17  7 0 0 0  1 2400
OGB 91.0  69.1  80.0 100    24 58     8 21  0  0 0 36 040°  4 13 0 0 0  3 2400
NEARBY STATIONS
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STN  A      B    C    D      E F    G    H  I  J K L  M     N  O P Q R R1 S
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRI 88.5  63.3  75.9  95     5  53   8  12  0  0 0                        2400 
DAV 73    57    66    82     2  46   8   0  0  0 0             7 0 0 0  1 1900

(Please note the column denotations table below.)
PRECIPITATION / BAROMETRIC PRESSURE

VIRGINIA
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STN  T     U       V      V1   W X   Y      Z  1  2 3    4    5      6       7        S 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AHB  2.08  1.44 28 1.67 28-29  4 1 19.93  0.0          0.0  2.5  30.383 31 29.708 24 2400
ANN  3.37  2.07 28 2.18 28-29  8 1 20.18  0.0          0.0  4.9  30.43  31 29.78  24 2400
BCB  0.88  0.31 26                 20.65  0.0          0.0  6.9                      2400
BRI  3.22  2.03  3 2.03     3  5 1 23.27  0.0          0.0  9.25 30.36     29.91     0515/1600
CEN  4.91  2.19 28 2.40 28-29  7 2 22.17  0.0          0.0  3.1  30.41  31 29.49  24 2400
CHO  2.02  1.38 28 1.39 28-29  5 1 20.49  0.0          0.0  0.0  30.37  31 29.74  24 2400 
DAN  3.74  0.99 31 0.99    31 12 0        0.0          0.0       30.34  31 29.79  24 2400
DCA  1.63  1.36 28 1.46 28-29  6 1 18.44  0.0          0.0  3.2  30.40  31 29.74  24 2400
IAD  2.92  1.73 28 1.92 28-29 10 1 22.55  0.0          0.0  2.6  30.40  31 29.74  24 2400 
FCH  1.73  1.50 28 1.54 28-29  8 1 17.46  0.0          0.0  2.2                      2400  
HAM  5.20  3.35 28 3.35 28-29  7 2 27.48  0.0          0.0       30.40  31 29.90  27 2400
HRG  3.25  1.99  3 1.99   3-4  7 1 21.59  0.0          0.0  8.7  30.42  31 29.87  24 2400
HER  3.90  1.95 28 2.23 28-29  8 1 25.48  0.0          0.0  2.6  30.42  31 29.65  24 2400
HRN  3.96  1.96 28 2.22 28-29  8 1 25.27  0.0          0.0  2.4  30.389 31 29.760 24 2400 
LKU  3.92  3.56 28 3.56    28  6 1 26.55  0.0          0.0  7.5  30.36     29.72     2400
LYH  1.77  0.60 28 0.60 27-28 10 0 20.39  0.0          0.0  1.6  30.38  31 29.82  24 2400
LXI  0.23  0.09 28 0.11 17-18  4 0 25.66  0.0          0.0  6.5  30.38  30 29.85  24 2400
NEW  1.48  0.62  3             9 0 21.14  0.0          0.0  8.0                      1700
NPN  4.86  2.73 28 2.84 27-28 10 1 29.05  0.0          0.0 10.3  30.32  31 29.76  24 2300
NOR  3.64  1.56 28 1.56    28  9 1 31.88  0.0          0.0  9.0                      2400
ORF  4.27  1.79 28 1.84 27-28 10 1 28.55  0.0          0.0  7.4                      2400 
POR  3.48  2.00 28 2.00    28 10 1 28.93  0.0          0.0  9.2  30.309 31 29.785 24 2400 
MEC  2.55  1.44 28 1.90 28-29  7 1 22.88  0.0          0.0  8.1  30.15  31 29.56  24 1800
RIC  3.18  1.27 28 1.61 27-28  8 1 21.07  0.0          0.0  8.7                      2400 
ROA  2.21  1.21 26             9 0 17.95  0.0          0.0  4.1  30.24  21 29.84  24 2400
ROK  5.27  2.62 15 2.16    15 10 1 23.15  0.0          0.0  4.0  30.30  31 29.89  24 2400 
AKQ  5.56  1.59 28             9 2 30.62  0.0          0.0  9.0                      2400
WEE  3.55          2.10 27-28  9 2 29.23  0.0          0.0  9.4  30.48  23 29.76  24 1630
WOO  1.53  0.55  4             8 0 25.29  0.0          0.0 10.0                      0800
WSH  3.32  1.95 28 2.07 28-29  9 1 27.05  0.0          0.0  3.1  30.49  31 29.88  24 2400
NORTH CAROLINA
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STN  T     U       V      V1   W X   Y     Z   1  2 3  4     5       6       7        S 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AVL  2.09  0.49 15 0.83 15-16 10 0 30.04  0.0          0.0  1.6  30.30  31 29.88  25 2400
CLT  4.32  1.62 31 1.62    31 11 1 22.07  0.0          0.0  4.4  30.29  31 29.83   6 2400 
ECG  7.51  2.61 29 2.61 28-29 13 2 38.92  0.0          0.0  6.0                      2400
FAY  8.49          4.57 27-28 13 2        0.0          0.0                           2400
GSO  4.42          1.44 30-31  9 2 23.41  0.0          0.0  8.2                      2400
HSE  7.67
LBT  5.32  2.08 27 2.33 27-28 13 1 28.09  0.0          0.0  0.0  30.29  16 29.78  24 2400
RAL  5.91          1.74 25-26 13 0 27.22  0.0          0.0 12.0  30.34  31 29.83  24 1900
RDU  4.73  1.69 31 1.69    31 14 2 25.92  0.0          0.0 12.3                      2400
ROX  6.45  2.91 31 2.91    31 13 1 27.88  0.0          0.0 12.0  30.41  31 29.79  19 2100
ILM 12.09  3.83 28 4.03 28-29 13 4 36.47  0.0          0.0  1.8  30.29  16 29.80   6 2400
SOUTH CAROLINA
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STN  T     U       V      V1   W X   Y     Z   1  2 3  4     5       6       7        S 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
CAE  5.09  1.39 28            13 2 27.99  0.0          0.0  5.0  30.29  16 29.77   6 2400 
CHS 11.37                     15 5 36.85  0.0          0.0    T                      2400 
CRE  7.53  1.85 28 2.43 29-30 15 3 24.49  0.0          0.0  0.0  30.29  16 29.79   6 2400
FLO  7.21  3.89 27 4.98 27-28 12 2 26.05  0.0          0.0  0.0  30.29  16 29.78  24 2400 
GSP  4.23  2.36 15 3.37 15-16  7 2 25.10  0.0          0.0  4.1  30.29  16 29.81   6 2400 
OGB  5.96  1.55 27 2.51 27-28 13 3 21.86  0.0          0.0  0.0            29.78   6 2400
NEARBY STATIONS
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STN  T     U       V      V1   W X   Y     Z   1  2 3  4     5       6       7        S 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRI  3.20          0.96 16-17 12 0 24.38  0.0          0.0                           2400 
DAV  2.32  0.80 20            13 0 41.31  0.0          0.0 81.5                      1900

Virginia:

Annandale - Lowell reports: " Headlines: August the second hottest on record... Hottest summer at this station--22 years of records... Greatest calendar day rainfall ever for the month of August - - 2.07 inches. August was hot and dry. The average mean temperature was 78.35 degrees, a departure of +3.08° F. It was the second hottest August in the last 22 years and the warmest since 1980. It would have been a record except for the cloudy and cooler weather of the last week. We had 15 days equal to or above 90° F and 7 days equal to or above 95ø F. Only two years had more (1980, 1988) ninety-degree days in the last 22 years. Only 1983 and 1988 had a higher maximum temperature reading for August in the last 22 years than this month's 98° F recorded on the 2nd. The 22nd was the 50th day this year with a maximum temperature of 90°F or more a new 22- yr. record. The old record was 49 days set in the years 1980, 1983, and 1988. We had eight days with measurable precipitation that was the least since 1998. The August rainfall was essentially average but two-thirds of the rain came on the 28th. The 2.07 inches of rain on the 28th was the greatest amount of rain ever to fall in a calendar day in the month of August in the last 22-years. The old record was 2.03 inches on August 20th in 1997. Since last year at this time only three of the last twelve months have had above average rainfall and two were less than +0.09 above the average. For the year we now have a deficit of -9.44 inches in precipitation and with last year's deficit of -7.84 inches we are still behind a total of -17.28 inches. The 33mph wind of the 12th in a single wind gust at 1949 hours in a thunderstorm was the highest wind recorded in August since 1987. August DAILY Records Tied or Broken- (22-Years of records): August had 5 daily HIGH maximum 22-year temperature record/s for the date. August 2,12,13,18,19; August had 8 daily HIGH minimum 22-year temperature record/s for the date August 14-20 and 23, 24; August had 0 daily LOW minimum 22-year temperature record/s for the date; August had 3 daily HIGH range 22-year temperature record/s for the date. August 10, 11, 12; August had 1 daily HIGH 22-year precipitation record/s for the date. August 28. Summer Records-- June, July, August---: The average mean temperature for June, July and August was 78.03° F. It was the hottest summer on record at this station in the last 22-years. The old record was 77.05° F set in 1999. Rainfall for the summer was 8.32 inches and because of the heaviest August rain in the last 22 years occurring on the 28th and 29th, the summer came out as the 7th driest in the last 22 years. Otherwise it would have been the driest summer on record. 1985 with only 6.13 inches stands as the record " [ + - ]

Arlington - Dewey Walston of NWS WBC reports: " ...RECORDS... RECORD HIGH OF 99F SET ON THE 1ST. OLD RECORD WAS 98F IN 1999; RECORD HIGH OF 100F SET ON THE 2ND. OLD RECORD WAS 98F IN 1980; RECORD HIGH OF 99F SET ON THE 14TH. OLD RECORD WAS 98F IN 1995; RECORD HIGH OF 98F SET ON THE 18TH. OLD RECORD WAS 97F IN 1995; RECORD HIGH OF 98F SET ON THE 19TH. OLD RECORD WAS 97F IN 1914. AUGUST 2002 WAS THE 4TH WARMEST AUGUST IN WASHINGTON DC SINCE RECORDS BEGAN IN THE LATE 1800'S. THE WARMEST AUGUST ON RECORD WAS IN 1980 WHEN THE TEMPERATURE AVERAGED 82.8 DEGREES. THERE WERE 19 DAYS ON WHICH THE TEMPERATURE REACHED 90 DEGREES OR HIGHER. BESIDES BEING HOT...IT WAS ALSO DRY. PRECIPITATION TOTALED 1.63 INCHES WHICH MADE AUGUST 2002 THE 20TH DRIEST AUGUST ON RECORD. THE DRIEST AUGUST ON RECORD WAS IN 1962 WHEN ONLY 0.55 INCHES OF RAIN FELL. THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL OF THE MONTH OCCURRED ON THE 28TH." Rainfall for the month was 1.81" below normal while average temps were 3.7° above normal. The average wind speed was 8.5 mph. [ + - ]

Ashburn - Gary reports: " A rather high pressure month, with a high pressure of 30.383 topping off the month as the pressure spiked in the last couple of days of the month. Pressure spread was only 0.675". Temperature spread was a bit more dramatic, ranging 47.2°. The high temp of 100.7 on the 2nd was a new record for my station's relatively short life. Temperatures ran 3.6° above normal. Nineteen days reached temperatures higher than 90°, also a new station record. Speaking of records, the 395.9 heating degree days for August is also a station record. Rainfall was a full 1.86" below normal, and would have been much worse were it not for the 1.67" of rain that came on the 28th/29th (and far short of the 6.56" received in August 2001). Grass was as dry as I've seen it in the area, and trees were clearly showing the stress, with premature browning and leaf loss, as well as bark stress, being quite evident. Winds were pretty minimal, with a high gust of only 20 mph, and a wind run for the month of 866 miles. The relatively low winds were probably a blessing in terms of not making evapotranspiration any worse than it was. " [ + - ]

Blacksburg - NWS Blacksburg reports the monthly mean temp was 2.1° above normal while rainfall was 2.80" below normal. [ + - ]

Bridgewater - " The temperature was 3.3 degrees above normal, and the precipitation was .59 inches below normal. Precipitation for the year now is 2.91 inches below normal. Lots of hail occurred on the third during a heavy thunderstorm. The Bridgewater-Harrisonburg area has been rather lucky. Of course, we have been dry, but not nearly as dry as some other places. The gardens have done fairly well, and the cornfields look great. The grass is fairly green, but with some dry spots. However, we could use a lot more rain! We got very little from the coastal storm during the last part of the month. " - notes reported by Clayton [ + - ]

Centreville - " The hot temperatures of the end of July continued into August and brought us nine continuous days of 90's plus. Actually, the average for that period worked out to be 96.1ø with the high for the month of 101ø occurring on August 2nd. A five-day cold snap began on the 6th followed by 11 days of 90's plus again. The average daily high of 89° was just 2.8° above the statistical average high of 86.1°. Along with four record highs and two ties, there were six days with maximums only in the 70's and were responsible for helping to keep the average high for the month mostly in check. A pair of 56° nights on August 7th and 8th were the coolest, but weren't low enough to offset the highest low temperature of 82° on the 23rd. Together with over a third of our daily lows of 75° or greater, we really blew a hole in the 59.9° historical average monthly low by 9.1°. During the first and last five days of August, nearly three-quarters of our monthly rain fell. Overall we accumulated 4.91" compared to the suggested retail of just 3.64", or 134% of normal for the month. The greatest amount during a 24 hour period happened on the 28th and 29th, but the most notable precipitation event occurred on August 3rd. It was a 98° day, with a dew point in the mid-seventies when, what appears to have been, a few rogue thunderstorms developed a little before 3 pm. They seem to have been the most intimidating just south of me near Manassas, but allowed me to record pea-sized hail and a rainfall rate that approached four inches per hour. What caught my eye was the barometric pressure activity. From a dip to 30.09" just prior to the rainfall to a peak of 30.26" during the three minutes of hail and back down to 30.15" twenty minutes later, an interesting graph of pressure vs. precipitation developed. I'm not going to have the thing framed, but it is a good demonstration of inflow/outflow during a thunderstorm of moderate proportions. The brief peak rate of rainfall was an interesting feature of the storm, but I'm sure that I would have never had the chance to verify this deluge if I had been using what someone was advertising on ebay as an "All Weather Weatherproof Rain Gauge". The price wasn't bad, but something just struck me as being a bit out of place. - notes from Paul [ + + ]

Charlottesville - The monthly average temperature was 0.8° above normal while rainfall was 2.12" below normal. The average wind speed was 3.5 mph. [ + - ]

Dulles - The mean temp was 3.6° above normal. The monthly rainfall was 0.86" below normal. Average wind speed, 5.7 mph. - from NWS WBC [ + - ]

Falls Church - " August 2002 was a very warm and dry month. Even though we did have a week towards the end of the month with some rain, it still wasn't enough to replenish what has been lost due to this prolonged drought. Also this month 2 days hit 100. " - report from Erica [ + +/- ]

Hampton - Report from Dave: " Another very hot and dry month until the final week when beneficial rains fell on the Peninsula, some areas getting 5-6 inches on the 28th. Looking at the summer (June, July, August) some very interesting stats are observed. Just how hot was it? The total number of days with max temps >= to 90 was 49 days. This is the more than in 1980 and 1977. There were also 13 days of temps between 95-99° also a record. This would have been the third driest August if the rains had not occurred the final week. " - [ + - ]

Harrisonburg - Terry notes: " Temperatures for August averaged 2.4° above normal. Total precipitation for the month was 3.25" which was .47" below normal. Yearly precipitation totals 21.59" which is 2.25" below normal. 1.99" of the August rain total was received in one 30 minute thunderstorm on 8/3. Pea and marble size hail were also very heavy in this storm. Heavy enough at one point to entirely cover the ground. Rain totals for the period September 2001 through August 2002 are 10.90" below normal or only 70% of the normal total of 36.44" for that time period. " [ + - ]

Herndon Bob notes: " As referenced to Dulles normals--my average max was 1 degree above and the average min was 4 degrees above normal. My precip was 0.12 inches below "normal." Not a bad month, but the distribution was poor The year so far is 2.75 inches below "normal" but the deficiency began in October'01. " [ + - ]

Herndon - " The monthly temperature was 1.8 degrees above average and rainfall was only 0.18 inches below average. We had thunderstorms move through on the 3rd, 5th,15th, 24th. We had the "week of darkness" as clouds hung low over the area the entire last week of August. They just would not budge off the East coast. I was unlucky enough to have a one week reservation at the Delaware beaches for that entire week. No need for sunscreen! Better luck next year?? " - notes from Russ [ + - ]

Lexington - Scott from WREL notes: " Well, when it comes to precipitation, we are living proof it is feast or famine! July we recorded 8.77" of rainfall. August: 0.23 inches. We were the ACON July rainfall champ; I'm wondering now if we'll be the ACON August drought champ. Our rain total was 3.01 inches below normal. Because July was an excessive rainfall month for us, we are now 2 inches behind normal for the year. If, however, you average out the last 24 months, was are about 14 inches below normal. Mean High temperature was 4° above normal. Monthly low mean was 0.4° above normal. For the month, we were 2.3° above normal. We'd like to let everyone know, WREL publishes tropical computer model maps on our web site. If you'd like to view, here is the address: http://www.wrel.com/modelmap.htm Just remember the vagaries of computer model output and the fact that they are subject to large fluctuations. " [ +/- + ]

Louisa - " What can I say about the weather here? Hot, dry...How dry was it ? It's so dry here, the fish are knocking on the door, askin' for a drink of water. But seriously folks ...Twenty-two days with highs in the 90's and 101° for the monthly high. Not a record but warm enough. Precipitation was right at our thirty year average...not much help when it comes all in one day ! " - report from Joe [ + +/-]

Lynchburg - Rainfall for the month was 1.64" below normal while the mean temp was 2.3° above normal. - from NWS Blacksburg
[ + - ]

Newport News - Gary reports: " Hot, hot, hot. 6 days with record highs tied or exceeded. 3 days with record lows. (11th, 12th, 13th) bottoming out with a reading of 54° on the 12th." [ + M ]

Norfolk - NWS AKQ reported the mean temp at ORF was 2.1° above normal. Rainfall was 0.52" below normal. Rainfall for the year was 3.35" below normal. The average wind speed was 8.2 mph. [ + - ]

Portsmouth - The average temp for August was 2.1° above normal. This was the 3rd warmest August in the database since 1976. Rainfall was 66% of the normal. Station records set in August: 11th - Minimum Temperature TIED 63° [previously in 1993]; 13th - Maximum Temperature 99° [previously 96° in 1988]; 19th - Maximum Temperature 96° [previously 95° in 1988]; 20th - Maximum Minimum Temperature 75° [previously 74° in 1985]; 21st - Maximum Minimum Temperature 75° [previously 74° in 1983]; 23rd - Maximum Temperature 97° [previously 96° in 1998]; 24th - Maximum Temperature 100° [previously 95° in 1998]; 24th - Maximum Minimum Temperature 76° [previously 75° in 1984]; 25th - Maximum Minimum Temperature TIED 74° [previously in 1979]; 27th - Minimum Maximum Temperature 80° [previously 81° in 1995]; 28th - Daily Precipitation 2.00" [previously 1.13" in 1986]. The 100° reading on the 24th was the highest for the year and the only date - so far - of a century mark reading. The average wind speed was 2.81 mph from a dominant easterly direction. Sky cover for the month was 39.03%. For the year, mean temps are running about 2.4° above normal while rainfall was 4.20" below normal (87%). The long-term deficit is 12.55" (since September 2001). [ + - ]

Richmond - NWS AKQ reported the mean temp at RIC was 3.0° above normal. Rainfall was 1.00" below normal. For the year, rainfall was 9.08" below normal. The average wind speed was 7.4 mph. [ + - ]

Mechanicsville - Glenn notes: " Dry up until the 26th when welcomed rain moved into the area. The rain was a blessing indeed! "

New Market = " We are so burned up. I have never seen the yards so brown since we lived in the area. On well, so we can not water anything. Sorry sight to see gardens, flowers and grass just dry up. I don't remember this many 90° days in August before. Tooooo hot for me. " - notes from Joyce [ + - ]

Roanoke - Wendell reports: " Hotter than normal by 2.1° Wetter than normal by 1.26". August for the most part was very dry. One heavy t-storm on the 15th brought 2.62". A fairly wet week was noted the 24th to the 31st with much needed rains. " [ + - ]

Roanoke - NWS Blacksburg reports that the monthly mean temp was 2.1° above normal. Rainfall was 1.53" below normal. [ + - ]

Woodstock - " Hot and dry. Fourth warmest in 17 years and third driest. We don't usually have ten 90 degree days in the whole summer. In this part of the county farmers had excellent corn crops and winter wheat too, but the pastures are burned up and the subsurface soil is powder dry. Elsewhere, especially further south, the drought is worse. " - notes from Lauck [ + + ]

North Carolina:

Asheville - from NWS GSP: The monthly mean temp was 1.5° above normal and the rainfall was 2.21" below normal. The average wind speed was 3.4 mph. Average relative humidity 75% [ + - ]

Charlotte - NWS GSP reports the mean temp here was 0.9° below normal and precip was 0.60" above normal. The average wind speed was 5.5 mph. [ - + ]

Elizabeth City - The Elizabeth City Coast Guard Station [ECG] reported an average wind speed of 7.7 mph. The mean temp was 0.5° above normal while rainfall was 2.04" above normal. - from NWS AKQ [ + + ]

Fayetteville - NWS RDU reports the average wind speed was 6.5 mph and the average relative humidity was 71%.

Cape Hatteras - The average temperature was 80.0°. This was 1.3° warmer than the 1895-2002 average, the 15th warmest August on record. 7.32" of precipitation fell. This was 1.74" more than the 1895-2002 average, the 30th wettest on record (1895-2002). - from NCDC [ + + ]

Greensboro - NWS RDU notes a mean temp here of 0.7° above normal. Rainfall was 0.71" above normal. The average wind speed was 6.7 mph. The average relative humidity was 67%. The average relative humidity was 67%. DAILY RECORD LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES WERE SET ON AUGUST 28,30 AND 31. [ + - ]

Lumberton - The average wind speed was 5.5 mph. The average monthly temperature 1.1° above normal while rainfall 0.16" above normal - from NWS ILM [ + + ]

Raleigh - NWS RAH reported the monthly average temp was 1.1° above normal while rainfall was 0.95" above normal. DAILY RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 103 DEGREES WAS SET ON AUGUST 23. DAILY RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 55 DEGREES WAS SET ON AUGUST 08. DAILY RECORD LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES WERE TIED ON AUGUST 27,29, AND 30. DAILY RECORD LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES WAS SET ON AUGUST 31. Average sky cover was 50% while relative humidity levels averaged 71%. [ + - ]

Raleigh - Bob reports: " Unusual month; first 23 days very warm (hot) and very dry, while the 24th till the 31st temperatures were very cool and rainfall every day. There was no visible sun from the 24th through the 31st. No severe weather during the month, however there were a number of flood watches and warnings issued during the toward the end of the month. "

Roxboro - Merriell notes: " August was very hot and extremely dry until after the third week. Extended period of rain was noted the last six days of the month. Temperatures and rainfall averages and totals respectively were above normal; but the drought remains. " [ + + ]

Wilmington - From NWS ILM: The average temp was 4/10th degree below normal while rainfall was a whopping 4.72" above normal. The average wind speed was 6.8 mph. RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE TIED ON THE 8TH (59). RECORD LOW LAST SET IN 1957. RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE SET ON THE 24TH (98). PREVIOUS RECORD 96 DEGREES SET IN 1968. RECORD 24 HOUR RAINFALL EVENT SET ON THE 30TH. PREVIOUS RECORD 1.82 INCHES SET IN 1948. [ - + ]

South Carolina:

Charleston - NWS CHS reports the monthly mean temp was 0.9° below normal. Rainfall was 4.46" above normal. The average wind speed was 6.8 mph. WHILE THE RAIN ACROSS THE AREA FOR THE MONTH SEEMED LIKE A LOT COMPARED TO MONTHLY TOTALS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, IT WAS NO RECORD FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST. LOOKING BACK IN THE OLD RAINFALL RECORD BOOKS THAT COVER MANY LOCATIONS IN AND AROUND CHARLESTON, AND DATE BACK TO 1738, THERE WAS 19.18 IN 1885, 16.99 IN 1974, 16.90 IN 1841, 15.53 IN 1893, 15.15 IN 1859, A 14 INCH TOTAL, A 13 INCH TOTAL AND AT LEAST 5 12 INCH TOTALS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST. IN DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON, THE RAINFALL TOTAL FOR THIS AUGUST WAS 9.84 INCHES. THIS WAS 3.30 INCHES ABOVE NORMAL FOR THE MONTH. THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE WAS 80.5 DEGREES. THIS WAS 1.1 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. [ + + ]

Columbia - NWS CAE reports that the mean temp here was 0.6° above normal. Rainfall was a 0.32" below normal. The average wind speed was 5.6 mph. Average average relative humidity was 67%. [ + - ]

Florence - The mean temp here was 0.1° below normal while rainfall totals were 1.88" above normal. The average wind speed was 6.3 mph. RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE SET ON 8TH (56). PREVIOUS RECORD LOW 60 DEGREES SET IN 1950. RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE TIED ON 9TH (60). RECORD LOW LAST SET IN 1950. RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE SET ON 24TH (103). PREVIOUS RECORD HIGH 101 DEGREES SET IN 1968. - from NWS ILM [ - + ]

Greenville-Spartanburg - The monthly mean temperature was 1.0° above normal while rainfall was 0.15" above normal. The average wind speed was 5.5 mph. The average relative humidity was 67%. - from NWS GSP [ + + ]

North Myrtle Beach - The mean temp was 0.3° below normal while rainfall was 1.95" above normal. The average wind speed was 7.2 mph. RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE SET ON 23RD (95). PREVIOUS RECORD HIGH 92 DEGREES SET IN 1989. RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE SET ON 24TH (92). PREVIOUS RECORD HIGH 91 DEGREES SET IN 1949. RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE SET ON 25TH (91). PREVIOUS RECORD HIGH 89 DEGREES SET IN 1949. - from NWS ILM [ - + ]

Orangeburg - NWS CAE reports the average wind speed was 5.8 mph. The average sky cover was 30% while the average relative humidity was 70%.

Nearby Cities:

Tri-Cities - The mean temp was 3.1° above normal while the monthly precip was 0.20" below normal. For the year, rainfall was 5.10" below normal. - from NWS MRX [ + - ]

COLUMN DENOTATIONS:

A  maximum mean temperature T total precipitation (inches)
B  minimum mean temperature U maximum calendar day precipitation (inches)
C  monthly mean temperature 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 1 date of maximum calendar day snowfall (inches)
K  days with minimum temperature <= 0 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 2001-2002 season (inches)
O  number of days with thunder  6 maximum barometric pressure (inches)
P  number of days with hail 6A date of maximum barometric pressure 
Q  number of days with glaze 7 minimum barometric pressure (inches)
R  number of days with ice pellets 7A date of minimum barometric pressure
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 NR not recorded


For ACON VA/NC/SC Recent Weather News, Search CNN
http://www.cnn.com/WEATHER
 

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:

AHB    Ashburn, VA  - Gary Oldham  7/01 281' AMSL  n6skk@arrl.net ROK   Roanoke, VA 6SW Wendell Prillaman  4/76 wlprillaman@cox.net
ANN    Annandale, VA 1 3/4 ENE - Lowell Koontz  12/90  wwkoontz@bellatlantic.net AKQ    Wakefield, VA NWS Wakefield Municipal Airport 36-58-53N 077-00-04W 33M
DCA    Arlington, VA Washington, DC, Reagan 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 pbassett@sitestar.net  
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
DAN  Danville, VA, Danville Regional Airport, 36-34-22N 079-20-10W 175M  BRE    Brevard, NC 1SE Bob Keehn 1/1/90 Bob_Keehn@citcom.net
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  
HAM    Hampton, VA 5NE Dave Kessel 1989 davidckessel@cox.net ECG  Elizabeth City, NC,  Coast Guard Air Station 36-15-47N 076-10-58W 11M
HRG    Harrisonburg, VA  Terry Slagle 5/2000 Altitude: 1306'  tslagle@adelphia.net 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 weatherman@cox.rr.com LBT    Lumberton, NC  Lumberton Municipal Airport 34-36-26N 079-03-36W 37M
LXI     Lexington, VA  Scott M. Lancey, WREL Radio -  06/1996 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 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
RMD    Richmond, VA Roy Britt 8/22/83  roybritt@earthlink.net  
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 wvweather@mountain.net