MONTHLY SUMMARY: AUGUST 1996 UPDATED: 9/22/96 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Greetings! -First, we have a few prospective members hoping to join us in the near and not-too-distant future. Benjamin Harper of Hampton, Erica Page of Falls Church, and David Yowell of Washington (VA) have expressed interest in joining ACON VA/NC/SC. -Next, please DO NOT send envelopes in the future; just stamps! In a recent ACON summary, the envelope made the difference between 32 and 52 cents. So, those of you who have sent envelopes to be helpful, well, they're a thing of the past! -Here's a report on the NC flooding of mid-August that I downloaded from the Internet: Hydrologic Information Center 3:30 p.m., EDT, Monday, August 12, 1996 Serious Flash Flooding in Caldwell County, North Carolina Flash flooding was scattered throughout the Nation over the weekend, with a number of locations receiving as much a 5 inches of rain. The most significant flooding occurred in Caldwell County, North Carolina. In some places 7-9 inches of rain fell, pushing rivers and streams out of their banks. In Caldwell County, several bridges along Wilson Creek were washed out, a number of vehicles were stranded by flood waters and some people had to be evacuated. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTES FROM "AROUND THE LEAGUE"- Arlington - NWS WBC reported that August averaged about 2 degrees below normal with constant temperatures for the month. The temperature remained below 90 degrees for an impressive 35 days string during the normal height of summer's heat. From the 18th of July through the 21st of August, the temp failed to reach the magic mark at National Airport. Rainfall varied over the area but overall was a bit below the norm. Bridgewater - From Clayton Towers comes this report: This has been a year of record-breaking thunderstorms. So far, we have had thirty-three. This is by far the most in any year for the last twenty-five years, which is the extent of my record-keeping on thunderstorms. The precipitation so far this year is about thirteen and a half inches above normal. We have already had a normal year's supply of moisture. During dry weather, it seems it is difficult to get showers even when the per cent chance of rain is high. This year, it has been just the opposite. Many of the thunderstorms have occurred when the per cent has been rather low. On Monday night, the 26th, a freak thunderstorm occurred just west of Bridgewater. Four to seven inches of rain fell in this area with much flooding. Quite a few roads were washed out. The storm was a very slow mover. In fact, after forming, it almost came to a standstill. Since July 17, there have been only one day with temperatures of 90 degrees or more. Centreville - Paul Bassett reports that August 1996 was a timid month by comparison with past Augusts. The last half of the month was exceptionally dry. Falls Church - Lowell Koontz reported a drier, cooler than average August. The lowest max temp for August was set here with 89 degrees. Old record was 91 degrees in 1982 and 1994. The 1.88" 24-hour period rainfall of the 12th-13th set a new August record with the fallen record 1.85 inches in 1993. Fredericksburg - Ken McKneely note 14 days with fog, 4 with dense fog. A thunderstorm with hail, an unusual event, on the 16th. Rainfall and temps were slightly below normal. Hampton - August 1996 ended a cool and wet summer (June through August) in Hampton. Temps were 4.6 degrees below the norm. 19 day streak at David Kessel's station without temps reaching the 90 degree mark! Quite different from last year during the same time! Interesting note in that August 1965, 1966, and 1979 were similar to this August and were followed by winters having above normal snows! Herndon - According to R. M. Beall, precip was somewhat above average but concentrated during the first half of the month. Sufficient to sustain vegetation through the dry second half- Still a shortage of bees for pollenation. New Market - Joyce Winfree reported that this was the wettest month since August 1972! This month was as cool as August 1994. Norfolk - ORF noted precip nearly 1/2 inch above normal with temps averaging 2.4 degrees below the norm. Portsmouth - August '96 ended with temperatures 2.99 degrees below normal and with precip some 0.9 inch below the norm or 83% of the norm. A total of 9 thunderstorms occured on 7 days! Mechanicsville - Strong thunderstorms moved through Glenn Martin's area on the 27th with sharp lightning and downpours around 7:15 PM. Richmond - Looking at RIC's report, we see that the station had normal precip with temps averaging 2.6 degrees below normal. Roanoke - Thanks Wendell for the update noting that AVL now maintains ROA's records. Still think Blacksburg might be doing the monthly because I had been receiving them during the 18 months NWS ROA had been closed. Hummm? I still can't get the data. Wonder why Blacksburg would not be handling the report as Wakefield handles ORF's and RIC's? Oh well... At Wendell's station, the rains returned in August. 5.11" was 1.1 inch above average while the temps were 0.8 degrees below the average. Weems - Here's WEATHER VIEW for September 1996 from Francis J. Socey: This has been a grand summer in comparison to that of 1995. September will continue to be a most interesting month with a variety of weather, and yet be mild. The reference to the high/low temperature records of past years indicate this will be a record month. A lunar cyclic change will occur on the 16th to promise us a real change in all phases of weather. We will have a mixture to be sure! At least two tropical disturbances will change to hurricanes as they move west and then northerly. I feel sure that the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico will be visited with good results. Other weaker disturbances will be great precipitation producers with moderate winds. Snow will also make its appearance this month over southern Canada and the northern Rockies. The dryness in the southern plains and the wetness in the Ohio Valley have caused problems in grain production but the above average yield per acre will be a great help. Eastern North America will become drier as the autumn progresses and be a bit above normal as to the temperatures. Weekly Weather Forecast Sept. 1-7: A week of changes in the temperature and general weather is expected. Cooler but misty skies prevail east of the Mississippi River to the Atlantic coast for most of the week. Locally, cloudiness becomes variable from scattered to overcast in quick order with only light showers or a thunderstorm in seasonal, local nature by midweek. After near midweek, showers or rain and a few sharp cool days will follow toward the weekend. Sept. 8-14: Another week of changeable weather over most of North America. The showers and rain again near midweek will promise a better weekend. Again, a short but snappy cool spell follows the rain. Frost appears over the Great Lakes into New England and it will be somewhat cooler south into Virginia and the Ohio Valley. No frost here, however. Showers or storms to the south are slow movers but the fog and cooler nights will slowly move to the east. Watch the developments over Atlantic waters as a period of storminess may cause concern. Indication of a tropical disturbance increase in strength and moving north bears watching. A major cyclic change takes place now to give an idea as to future weather for some 72-days. Sept. 15-21: Indications of a tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico may become dangerous by the 17th. Keep an eye on it! Rather cool and clear high pressure dominates areas east of the Mississippi River . A coastal disturbance should form near or just south of Cape Hatteras to gain strength as it moves north. Also a hurricane in the western Gulf of Mexico may influence an increase in moisture to the southern Rockies and Texas within a few days. Fog in the east is a nuisance. Sept. 22-28: This week will be somewhat cooler with a cold high pressure system bringing frosty air to the Great Lakes into the Ohio Valley and east. Locally it will become quite mild with the lowest temperatures since spring. Generous rain and showers may continue for days now with brief clear but cool spells between shower periods. Autumn is now here with mild daytime temperatures but cool nights. Woodstock - From M. L. Walton comes this report: "Highest precip for August by 2 inches since records started in 1986. About 2 degrees below average, but no records. Precip through August is higher than the 1950-1970 average and about equal to my 1985-1995 average." Asheville - NWS AVL noted a rather rainy month some 2 inches above normal and about average temps. Charlotte - NWS at CLT recorded a slightly cooler than normal August due to two cool spells. August precip was above normal. Greensboro - The NWS here reported the monthly rainfall to be 1.34 inches above normal with temps running 1.5 degrees below normal. Henderson - "A bad storm on the 24th with small hail. Top wind 28 mph with 3.05" for the storm. Waiting for Fran tonight (9-5-96). Hope all is still here in Vance County in the morning." (Well George, it won't be long before we get your Fran report! Hope you survived!) Raleigh - Bob Woodson reports his weather headline was a cooler than normal month. There were only 2 days which reached 90 degrees. In August 1995, there were 20 days with >=90 degree days. Raleigh - NWS RDU recorded record low max temps on the 9th and 12th with a record low max tied on the 1st. Columbia - The average temps here ran almost 1 degree above normal with precip some 2.33 inches below normal. Greenville-Spartanburg - Temps and precip were about normal, +0.3 and -0.20 respectively. Ruby - August seemed cooler than usual this year, according to Franklin Hancock. Rainfall was about average and he noted only 5 days to reach 90 degree temps. That was quite unusual for the Ruby area. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- UPDATED MEMBERS' E-MAIL ADDRESSES: (posted by permission) BRE Bob Keehn Bob_Keehn@juno.com BRI Clayton Towers Ctowers@rica.net POR Bill Trotter wtrotter@pen.k12.va.us 71470.1535@compuserve.com wtrotter@whro.org RAL Bob Woodson woods@usa.pipeline.com CEN Paul Bassett III pbassett@nmaa.org -----------------------------------------------------------------------------