Virginia:
Ashburn
- Gary reports at his website: "
The average wind speed was 2.0 mph."
Annandale
- Lowell sends these notes:"
December was a little below average in temperature and was snowy, windy
and again a wet month. The December mean temperature departure was only
-0.7° and the precipitation departure was +2.18" and was the
fourth wettest December in the last 23 years.
The snow total on December 4th of 1.7" set a new 23 year maximum snowfall
record for the date and the first snow to be recorded on this date! The
snow total on December 6th of 2.8" set a new 23 year maximum snowfall
record for the date. One year ago we received 5.0" of snow on December
5th . The total snowfall for this December was 9.9" which was the
second greatest December total in the last 23 years
only surpassed by 1989 with 14.2" the current record. The snowfall total for
2003 was 49.9" inches which is the third greatest snowfall
for a year and the most since 1996.
The lowest temperature recorded for the month was only 22° the highest
monthly minimum recorded since 1997 when we also had 22° but there were
26 days when the minimum temperature was equal to or below 32°
(the average for the month is 19 days).
The December rainfall of 5.36" was the most rain in December
since 1996. Two days had precipitation amounts that were greater
than one inch. The 0.64" of rain that fell in one hour period
on the 11th set a new record for rainfall intensity for December;
the old record was 0.54" in 1993 (precipitation intensity records
since 1990). For the year, we now have a surplus of +22.59" in
precipitation and the total of 66.01" for the year set a new
annual precipitation record here and for most of the local
stations except DCA that had the most precipitation for the year
since 1889.
The maximum gust of 44 mph from the WSW on the 11th at 1529
hours was the highest wind gust recorded this month and
the highest recorded in December since 2000 and the 8th
highest in the last 23 years. The total wind run for
December was 2082 miles; last year it was 1734 miles and was
the windiest December since at least 1995.
(Complete daily maximum wind records since 1995)
The minimum barometer reading of 29.23" on the 11th was the
lowest recorded for December since 1997 when a 29.20" reading
was observed.
December DAILY Records Tied or Broken (23-Years of records):
December had 1 daily LOW maximum: 6;
December had 2 daily HIGH range records: 10, 29
December had 3 daily LOW range records: 5, 6, 18;
December had 1 daily HIGH precipitation record: 14;
December had 3 daily HIGH snowfall records: 4, 6, 14.
" [ - + ]
Arlington
- NWS WBC reports:
"December records: ON THE 14TH...3.6" OF SNOW BROKE THE DAILY SNOWFALL
RECORD OF 3.4" SET IN 1951.
AFTER THE SEVENTH WARMEST NOVEMBER ON RECORD... THE FIRST PART OF
DECEMBER TURNED DECIDEDLY COLD AND SNOWY. DURING THE FIRST THREE
WEEKS OF DECEMBER... MOST DAYS WERE IN THE 30S AND 40S WHILE NIGHTS
WERE IN THE UPPER 20S AND 30S.
ALSO...THERE WERE THREE DAYS WITH MEASURABLE SNOW WHICH PRODUCED
OVER SIX INCHES OF TOTAL ACCUMULATION. THAT IS BOTH A LARGE SNOW
ACCUMULATION AND A LARGE NUMBER OF SNOW DAYS FOR SO EARLY IN THE
SEASON.
INTERESTINGLY...AROUND THE FIRST DAY OF WINTER THINGS WARMED UP. IN
FACT SEVEN OF THE LAST TEN DAYS OF THE MONTH REACHED HIGHS IN THE
50S AND 60S. THE END RESULT WAS A MONTH THAT WAS NEAR NORMAL FOR
TEMPERATURES.
CHRISTMAS WEATHER THIS YEAR WAS RIGHT NEAR THE NORMAL FOR THE DAY
WITH A HIGH IN THE LOW 40S AND BREEZY MOSTLY SUNNY CONDITIONS.
WITH OVER FOUR INCHES OF PRECIPITATION...IT ALSO WAS YET ANOTHER WET
MONTH IN AN EXCEEDINGLY WET YEAR. THE 2003 PRECIPITATION TOTAL FOR
WASHINGTON WAS 60.83". THIS IS JUST ONE HALF INCH BELOW THE
ALL TIME RECORD OF 61.33" SET IN 1889.
THE TOP THREE:
1889 61.33";
2003 60.83";
1878 60.09".
The monthly precipitation was 1.27" above normal while the average temperature was
0.4° below normal.
" [ - + ]
Blacksburg
- NWS Blacksburg reports the monthly mean temp was 1.1° below normal
while rainfall was 0.21" below normal. The average wind speed was 7.0
MPH. [ - - ]
Bridgewater
- "
With the snow at the first part of the month, it appeared that we
were going to have a very active winter. However, towards the end of the
month, the pattern abruptly changed with much milder temperatures and some
rain showers. There was some flooding to the north from rain and melting
snow, but the Bridgewater area wasn't affected too much.
The total precipitation for Bridgewater for the year 2003 was 53.62"
which was around 15.5" above normal. More precipitation fell
in the Harrisonburg area, and places to the north. Some of the nearby
heavy downpours during the summer missed us. This year certainly was a
complete turn-around from the severe drought of last year!
Snowfall for 2003 was 35" which was about 12" above
normal. The average temperature was close to normal. There were 26
thunderstorms. This total was slightly above normal. In my opinion, the
biggest news story was Hurricane Isabel, with the extremely wet weather coming in
second.
" - report from Clayton [ M M ]
Centreville
- "
And now for the return of the continuing saga of The Snowblower from
Centreville. We last left SB, as we have affectionately come to call it,
backed in the corner of my (its) garage as the start of December
temperatures were beginning as the ones of November had ended; warm.
It wasn't long though before a touch of winter-like temperatures began to
invade, and by the fourth we all detected a slight grin among the augers.
The first snowfall of the season was set to arrive that evening as well.
The winter-like high temperature for December was 47.1°; just 1.2° over the
45.9° from the record keeping books. An all time high of 65° for the month
happened during the afternoon of the 23rd.
Curiously enough though, this was just two days after our coldest temperature
of 22° on the 21st. Also on the 21st, we put a bunch of numbers together
and logged a day when the overall daily high temperature was equal to the
monthly average high. Twenty-three days had recordings of 32° or less for
lows, but they weren't enough to drop the average monthly low the
additional 4.2° needed to equal the 25.5° normal average low. Another
scorcher, but since the sun had set by that time, the extra heat was
barely noticeable.
Except for the 500% more snow than usual for December, there were
few other surprises in the precipitation department. With the snow events
of the 4th and 5th, the 5th and 6th, and the 14th giving us 10.3" of total
snow and yielding 1.97" of liquid, it is fairly obvious that the light
fluff went further north, and we wound up with just heavy stuff, not to the
liking of ole SB. Forty-three percent of our monthly precipitation
fell over a 15 hour period on the 10th and 11th with 1.97" added to the
bucket. The remaining rain amounts were fairly well distributed among the
remaining days for a final total of 4.55"; or 149% greater than the
December normal of 3.02".
" - notes from Paul [ + + ]
Charlottesville
- The monthly average temperature was 3.9° below normal while rainfall
was 0.78" below normal. The average wind speed was 5.4 mph. - from NWS WBC
[ - - ]
Danville
- The average station sea-level pressure was 30.11"
Dulles
- The mean temp was normal. The monthly rainfall was 1.50"
above normal. Average wind speed, 8.1 mph. - from NWS WBC [ +/- + ]
Falls Church -
"
December 2003 was normal in terms of temperature but above normal in both
rainfall and snowfall.
The rain storm on the 10th brought nearly 2" of rain and the storm
Christmas Eve nearly an inch.
Both snowstorms this month (5th and 14th) brought about 3" of snowfall
hiking up my total to double what I normally receive for December.
I hope Everyone had a nice Holiday Season !!!!!
Happy New Year to Everyone at ACON!
" - report from Erica [ + M ]
Herndon
- Russ notes:"
December began cold and snowy, but ended mild and dry.
The monthly temperature was 0.1° above average
and precipitation was 2.85" above average. We had fog
on the 10th. Snow fell on the 4th (1.75"), 5th (5.5"),
6th (1.5") and 14th (4.5", daily record). A daily
precipitation record of 1.47" was set on the 5th.
" - [ + + ]
Herndon
- Bob reports: "
My average MAX temp was 2.1 degrees above the Dulles "normal"
and the average MIN was 2.1 degrees above. Winds are tree affected.
Dulles is about 4 miles wsw and its normal is the 1971-2000 average.
" - [ + + ]
Lexington
- "
WREL has a new Virginia temperature map online featuring NWS stations and
several reliable Personal Weather Stations. This map updates every 10 minutes
and gives a great temperature display for Virginia. Place your cursor over any
temperature display and the local conditions "pop-up". I've found this map to
be a great tool for CAD events as well as following FROPA. Here's the address:
http://www.wrel.com/mesomap.htm."
- report from Scott at WREL-AM Radio [ M M ]
Louisa
- Temps averaged 0.6° above normal while rainfall was 2.73" above normal.
2003 was notable in Louisa for the rain. The 71.25" of precip was 28.2"
above average and set a new yearly record. The previous record was 62.5"
set in 1972. The yearly average temperature was down 1.3° - probably
because of all the rain!
- report from Joe [ + + ]
Lynchburg
- Rainfall for the month was 0.12" above normal while the mean temp was
1.9° below normal. The average wind speed was 5.2 MPH.
- from NWS Blacksburg
[ - + ]
New Market
- Joyce sends these year end notes:
"
For the year, the mean temperature was 53.46° while rainfall measured 47.32" and
that was 13.0" above normal. Snowfall for the calendar year totaled 52.25".
"
- [ M M ]
Newport News
- Gary sends these year-end notes:
"
The mean temperature was 59.00° while rainfall measured 67.88". Snowfall for
the calendar year totaled 6.75".
"
Norfolk
- NWS AKQ noted the average temperature in Norfolk was 0.2° above normal.
The month's rainfall was 3.21" above normal. The average wind speed was 8.6 mph.
The average relative humidity 65% and the average sky cover was 40%.
- [ + + ]
Norfolk
- The Fred Heutte Center, in Historic
Ghent reports the average wind speed was 4.5 mph from a dominant NW direction.
Portsmouth
-
December finished with temps some 1.6° below normal and rainfall that totaled 2.76"
above normal (or 191%). The wind speed average was 4.94 mph. The average
sky cover was 39.8% and the average relative
humidity was 70%. The average sea level pressure was 30.107". Station records observed in December included:
6TH - TEMPERATURE - MINIMUM MAXIMUM TIED WITH 40° [PREVIOUS 1997];
14TH - PRECIPITATION - 1.77" [PREVIOUS 1.07" IN 1977];
17TH - PRECIPITATION - 0.46" [PREVIOUS 0.21" IN 2000];
THE WETTEST DECEMBER IN THE DATABASE TO 1976.
For the year-to-date, the temperature average was 0.4° below normal while rainfall
totaled 65.52" (+17.22" or 136% of the norm), the 2nd wettest year in the database.
The year with greatest rainfall occurred in 1999 with 76.28". The 3rd greatest
yearly total was 62.46" in 1979 followed by 59.62" in 1996 (4th) and 59.51" in 1992 (5th).
A trend to colder weather was noted after the first of the month. The trend continued
through the first half of the month but temps warmed in the last half with temps
rising to the 60s on 4 days from the 23rd to the end of the month. Precipitation
was well-above normal and two days noted snowshowers, with the only accumulation
coming from snow grains and ice pellets. Heaviest rains were noted on the 10th
ahead of a cold front that didn't pass until the next day. December produced
a number of days (10) with frost, making up for the frost free months of October
and November. This first frost in December here is perhaps the latest
in any fall for the first frost (database to 1976).
- [ - + ]
Mechanicsville
- Glenn reports: "Periods of sleet, rain, and snow during the month. An earthquake
occurred on the 9th around 1600 hours and shook some of this dishes in my house."
[ - + ]
Richmond
- NWS AKQ reported the mean temp at RIC was 0.8° below normal. Rainfall
was 1.16" above normal. The average wind speed was 8.1 mph.
[ - + ]
Ruther Glen
- Danny reports: "
December brought the first snowfall of the season, with two minor snow and
sleet events bringing no more than a trace of wintry precip on either
occasion. The trend of well above average precipitation continues.
(It's been nice to go an entire season without hearing about an impending
drought!) Below normal temperatures stand in stark contrast to the
warm weather experienced here in November. Happy
holidays to you and your family , and
best wishes to everyone in 2004! - [- +]
Roanoke
- Wendell sends these notes:"
A colder, wetter and snowy December for this station- Temps were 1.2° below normal.
Rainfall was 0.80" above normal. Total snow of 8.4" was 6.4" above normal.
" - [ - + ]
Roanoke
- NWS Blacksburg reports that the Roanoke airport monthly mean temp was 1.7° below normal.
Rainfall was 0.80" above normal."
[ - + ]
Woodstock
- "
A little wetter than the average December (6th 0f 19 years).
Mean temperatures about average, masking an extremely cold early December,
and a quite warm end of month.
2003 was a very wet and cool year. Only 1996 was wetter and cooler.
In 18 years of records this is the first summer that I have not
recorded a single day in the nineties.
" - notes from Lauck [ +/- + ]
North
Carolina:
Asheville
- from NWS GSP: The monthly mean temp was 2.5° below and the
rainfall was 0.62" below normal. The average wind speed was 7.9 mph.
[ - - ]
Charlotte
- NWS GSP reports the mean temp here was 1.7° below normal and precip
was 6.63" above normal. The average wind speed was 3.9 mph.
- [ - + ]
Elizabeth
City - The Elizabeth City Coast Guard Station [ECG] reported an average
wind speed of 9.5 mph. The mean temp was 3.3° below normal while rainfall
was a whopping 5.19" above normal. - from NWS AKQ [ - + ]
Cape Hatteras -
"
The average temperature in December 2003 was 47.9°F. This was -1.2°F cooler
than the 1895-2003 average, the 39th coolest December on record (1895-2003).
5.22" of precipitation fell in December. This was 0.11" more than the
1895-2003 average, the 46th wettest such month on record (1895-2003)."
- from NCDC [ - + ]
Fayetteville
- NWS RDU reports the average wind speed was 7.1 mph.
Greensboro
- NWS RDU notes a mean temp here that was 1.8° below normal. Rainfall was
0.41" below normal.
- [ - - ]
Hickory
- The average wind speed was 5.4 mph. The average monthly temperature was 2.3°
below normal while rainfall was 0.28" below normal - from NWS GSP [ - - ]
Lumberton
- The average wind speed was 6.1 mph. The average monthly temperature was 2.2°
below normal while rainfall was 0.15" below normal - from NWS ILM [ - - ]
Raleigh
-
NWS RDU reports the average daily temperatures were 2° below normal while
precipitation was 0.48" above normal. The average wind speed
was 5.8 mph.
" - [ - + ]
Raleigh
- Bob reports: "
December was a quiet month even though there was a threat of some winter
precipitation a couple times during the month. (Some areas of the NC
Mountains picked up well over a foot of snow during the month). The
average daily temperature was 2.3° below normal while precipitation was
0.92" above normal. For the year, precipitation was 6.36" above normal.
There was no thunder observed during December; in fact, the last
thunderstorm was back in September.
" - [ - + ]
Roxboro
- Merriell sends these notes:"
December averaged near normal and ended on a mild, quiet note. A quarter-inch
coating of ice occurred on the 14th resulting in a few power outages. Otherwise,
no significant events took place.
" - [ +/- +/- ]
Wilmington
- From NWS ILM: The average temp was 4.0° below normal while rainfall
was 1.17" above normal. The average wind speed was 7.0 mph.
A daily maximum rainfall record was set on the 20th. The previous record
was 2.01" in 1981.
- [ - + ]
South
Carolina:
Anderson
- NWS GSP reports the monthly mean temp was 3.4° below normal.
rainfall was 1.32" below normal. The average wind speed was 5.9 mph. -
[ - - ]
Charleston
- NWS CHS reports the monthly mean temp was 3.5° below normal. Rainfall
was 1.38" below normal. The average wind speed was 7.1 mph. - [ - - ]
Columbia
- NWS CAE reports that the mean temp here was 4.5° below normal. Rainfall
was a 1.25" below normal. The average wind speed was 5.7 mph. -
[ - - ]
Florence
- The mean temp here was 4.4° below normal while rainfall totals were
2.55" below normal. The average wind speed was 6.5 mph.
- from NWS ILM
[ - - ]
Greenville-Spartanburg
- The monthly mean temperature was 2.3° below normal while rainfall
was 1.20" below normal. The average wind speed was 6.1 mph. - from NWS
GSP [ - - ]
North
Myrtle Beach - The mean temp was 3.3° below normal while rainfall
was 0.75" below normal. The average wind speed was 5.4 mph.
A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE WAS SET ON 9TH WITH 29°. PREVIOUS RECORD LOW 30° SET IN 1950.
A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE WAS TIED ON 27TH WITH 25°. THE RECORD LOW LAST
SET IN 1953.
" - data from NWS ILM [ - - ]
Orangeburg
- NWS CAE reports the average wind speed here was 4.6 mph.
Nearby
Cities:
Tri-Cities
-
"
Tri-Cities received 3.20" of precipitation during December, which was 0.19"
below normal. Measurable precipitation occurred on eleven days, but none
received more than an inch. The heaviest precipitation fell on the 4th,
when 0.94" were recorded. The driest December at Tri-Cities was back in 1965,
when only 0.21" fell.
The average monthly temperature at Tri-Cities was 36.1°, which was 1.2°
below normal. It ranked as the 19th coldest December on record at
Tri-Cities. No daily records were broken. The coldest December at
Tri-Cities was back in 1963, when the average temperature was only 27.8°.
Tri-Cities received a total of 65.65" of precipitation in 2003, which was
24.32" above normal. It was the wettest year on record
at Tri-Cities. Above normal precipitation was reported in eight months of
the year. The old record was 54.50" set in 1950.
The average annual temperature at Tri-Cities was 55.4°, which was 0.5° above
normal. Three daily record highs and three record lows were either tied or
broken. The warmest year at Tri-Cities was in 1990, when the average
temperature was 58.2°.
- from NWS MRX [ - - ]
