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. |
|
|
Temperature |
Average Temperature |
Average Temperature |
Precipitation |
Precipitation |
|
Mechanicsville |
Louisa, Blacksburg |
Arlington |
Blacksburg |
Wakefield |
Lexington |
|
Raleigh (RAL,RDU) |
Asheville |
Cape Hatteras |
Asheville |
Wilmington |
Asheville |
|
Columbia |
Florence |
Columbia |
Greenville-Spartanburg |
Charleston |
Greenville-Spartanburg |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |