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

http://www.genserva.com/acon

SUMMARY OF CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA 



DECEMBER 2013

...TEMPERATURE AVERAGES ABOVE NORMAL...
...EXCEPT FOR COASTAL CAROLINAS, RAINFALL AVERAGES ABOVE NORMAL ...


  • ROXBORO, NORTH CAROLINA STATION (ROX)   Merriell A. Jay has been a long time contributor to ACON VA/NC/SC; in fact, he's been here with many of us since 1995 when I began to manage our group's data. We received this note with his December 2013 report: "This will be our last report. It has been a pleasure to share weather information and observatioins with you." On behalf of our group, thank you so much Merriell for your interest, effort and reports which are best remembered for accuracy, clarity, and most important, always on time!! We wish you Godspeed through life.


  • 2014 AMERICAN WEATHER CONFERENCE - from Kevin Shaw, ACON DC/MD/DE   "Read all about 2014's conference at the link below. I have attended these in the past and they are always quite excellent. Hope some of you can make it!" Please visit: http://conference.americanwx.com/


  • RARE "SNONADOES" (Winter Waterspouts) CAPTURED ON LAKE SUPERIOR - from Kevin Shaw, ACON DC/MD/DE   Here's a rare video of "snonadoes" (rare winter waterspouts) captured on Lake Superior. Thanks to my friend Jeff T. for sending this to me so I can share with you all. At first it doesn't look like much, but then the videotaper pans left! View with a click here


  • "TEN-TO-ONE?" THE ODDS ARE "PERHAPS SOMETIMES!" - from CoCoRaHS      Does ten inches of fresh snow melt down to one inch of water content? Usually not, but sometimes. It is remarkable that the 10:1 snow-to-water-content "myth" has survived this long. Cleveland Abby, a renowned 19th Century scientist and meteorological observer wrote in the 1888 Treatise on Meteorological Apparatus and Methods, "The measurement of the height of water by assuming ten inches of snow to one inch of water is subject to a large range of error because of the wide variability of this ratio for different kinds of snow." Almost 125 years later, the topic is still debated. All we need to do is look at the many shapes and sizes of snowflakes to realize that the water content of snow will vary. CoCoRaHS data quickly show the large variations that are possible. Very dry and fluffy snow falling with light winds and cold temperatures may have 0.30" or less water in ten inches of new snow. On the other side, very wet snow may have more water -- two inches of water from ten inches of snow is not that unusual. For sleet (ice pellets) the water content can be even more. That is why it is so important to independently measure both the accumulation of new snow, the water content of that snow, and the total depth of new and old snow on the ground. Furthermore, it doesn't take long to tell when you're out walking, playing or shoveling snow. You can feel the mass and the resistance from a dense, wet snow. Like it or hate it, snow is amazing stuff. For more information about the curious and dynamic properties of snow click here: http://ccc.atmos.colostate.edu/pdfs/snowbook.pdf


  • MEASURING FREEZING RAIN + SNOW TRAINING SHORTS - from CoCoRaHS      Freezing rain will most likely make an appearance in some parts of the country this month. How does one measure it? Good question. For a quick primer please click here: FREEZING RAIN at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLwlaP_CFl8&list=PLS0EU9SKRY0_liw4Z60q_zodgCz-etYB5&index=8    The title of this message mentions snow training shorts. What are those? We're not talking about weather apparel here; these are short animations showing how to measure precipitation in wintry weather. Please take a look: CoCoRaHS SNOW SHORTS at http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS0EU9SKRY0_liw4Z60q_zodgCz-etYB5 Additional training on both subjects can be found on our CoCoRaHS Training Slide Show Page: http://cocorahs.org/Content.aspx?page=training_slideshows


  • NWS AKQ MONTHLY RAINFALL ANALYSIS (Virginia)      Don't forget these new products for Virginia from NWS Wakefield compiled from ASOS...COOP...RAWS REPORTS | Monthly Rainfall Analysis - http://www.weather.gov/akq/MONTHLY_RAINFALL_ANALYSIS -


  • NOHRSC INTERACTIVE SNOW INFORMATION      Here's a fantastic resource for you snowbirds who wish to track and analyze snowfall across the States. Visit http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/interactive/html/map.html


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


  • REMINDER   All National Weather Service station data listed herein is preliminary and may be subject to change.  The data has not been certified and cannot be used in legal actions.  Only reports certified by the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, NC can be used for these purposes.


  • ACON VA/NC/SC Station Extremes - DECEMBER 2013
    State
    Maximum Temperature
    Minimum
    Temperature
    Warmest
    Average
    Temperature
    Coldest
    Average
    Temperature
    Maximum
    Precipitation
    Minimum
    Precipitation
    Virginia
    81°
    Norfolk (ORF)
    10°
    Blacksburg
    47.6°
    Norfolk (FHC)
    37.1°
    Blacksburg
    7.13"
    Chesterfield
    4.03"
    Charlottesville
    North Carolina
    82°
    New Bern
    17°
    Roxboro
    52.6°
    Wilmington
    42.2°
    Asheville
    7.67"
    Asheville
    1.73"
    Wilmington
    South Carolina
    83°
    Florence
    24°
    Anderson
    Florence
    Greenville-Spartanburg
    56.3°
    Charleston
    46.9°
    Greenville-Spartanburg
    7.52"
    Anderson
    1.58"
    North Myrtle Beach


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


    TEMPERATURE / WINDS/ ELEMENTS FOLLOWED BY
    PRECIPITATION / BAROMETRIC PRESSURE

    VIRGINIA | NORTH CAROLINA | SOUTH CAROLINA
    [Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL]
      A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    BCB 47.6 26.5 37.1 3.30 67 6 10 25 0 2 25 0 78% 36 300 31 4.5 1 0 3 2 3 LWX 2400
    CHT 49.4 31.1 40.3 3.70 71 22 17.6 13 0 1 19 0 77% 26 160 22 0.4 180 0 0 2 2 0 LWX 2400
    CHO 50.5 31.4 40.9 3.10 70 21,22 16 25 0 1 21 0 46 190 22 5.7 0 0 2 0 6 LWX 2400
    DAN 55.0 32.9 44.0 3.90 78 6 17 25 0 0 19 0 67% 35 240 6 5.0 2 0 2 0 2 RNK 2400
    DCA 49.8 34.7 42.3 2.60 72 21,22 22 25 0 0 15 0 65% 39 330 24 7.5 0 0 2 2 0 LWX 2400
    IAD 48.0 30.4 39.2 2.60 71 22 17 12,13 0 3 22 0 68% 41 300 24 6.3 0 0 2 2 2 LWX 2400
    GAV 53.29 33.35 43.32 2.20 73 22 18 25 0 0 19 0 71% 30 203 21,22 0 0 2 2 0 AKQ 2400
    HDV 48.0 31.3 39.7 1.40 71 22 18 11 0 2 21 0 76% 23 270 21 270 0 0 2 3 0 LWX 2400
    LYH 51.4 30.8 41.1 3.50 73 6 14 25 0 0 21 0 69% 37 200 6 4.8 2 0 2 1 2 RNK 2400
    NPN 54.7 34.7 44.2 1.10 79.4 22 23 12,26 0 0 15 0 32 160 29 3.1 200 0 0 0 0 1 AKQ 2400
    FHC 55.6 39.5 47.6 3.50 79.2 22 27 25 0 0 7 0 76% 35 200 29 2.2 203 0 0 0 0 0 AKQ 2400
    NOR 54.9 36.0 45.4 1.80 80 22 25 12,13 0 0 11 0 33 200 29 0 0 0 0 0 AKQ 2400
    ORF 56.2 36.9 46.5 2.40 81 22 25 12,13 0 0 10 0 70% 47 250 23 8.2 0 0 0 0 5 AKQ 2400
    POR 55.7 37.5 46.6 2.20 79 22 26 13 0 0 12 0 81% 34 200 29 3.2 270 0 0 1 0 0 AKQ 2400
    CTR 52.9 31.6 42.2 1.80 74.4 6 17.8 26 0 0 21 0 80% 19 230 22 0.7 229 0 0 0 0 0 AKQ 2400
    MEC 52.0 34.4 43.0 74 22 20 26 0 0 15 0 1 0 0 1 0 AKQ 2400
    RIC 53.6 34.1 43.8 2.80 76 22 21 26 0 0 18 0 67% 38 200 22 6.9 0 0 1 1 1 AKQ 2400
    ROA 52.0 32.6 42.3 3.30 71 6 15 25 0 0 17 0 63% 47 310 31 6.1 1 0 2 1 1 RNK 2400
    WAL 53.7 34.5 44.1 3.60 71 22 22 12,13 0 0 15 0 46 210 29 7.5 0 0 0 0 2 AKQ 2400
    WOO 48.0 31.8 39.9 1.90 70 5,6 15 25 0 0 18 0 0 0 1 1 2 LWX 800
    WSH 47.0 31.2 39.1 1.93 67.1 22 17.2 25 0 1 20 0 76% 20 140 22 0.7 360 0 0 2 2 0 LWX 2400
    Averages 51.87 33.20 42.51 2.63 73.72 19.22 0.00 0.48 17.19 0.00 72.2% 34.9 4.55 0.3 0.0 1.2 1.0 1.3
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    AVL 52.4 32.1 42.2 2.8 70 5,6 18 25 0 0 17 0 72% 37 280 17 7.1 0 0 0 0 0 GSP 2400
    MRH 61.0 42.7 51.8 3.4 74 22 28 13 0 0 5 0 43 230 14 8.2 0 0 0 0 5 MHX 2400
    CLT 57.4 35.5 46.4 4.0 77 6 18 13 0 0 17 0 70% 38 290 22 5.5 0 0 0 0 4 GSP 2400
    ECG 56.8 37.7 47.3 2.9 79 6 25 13 0 0 9 0 77% 39 180 29 8.3 0 0 0 0 5 AKQ 2400
    FAY 60.7 37.9 49.3 3.9 81 22 24 13,25 0 0 11 0   37 250 29 5.7 0 0 0 0 5 RAH 2400
    GSO 54.9 34.2 44.5 3.2 76 6 20 25 0 0 18 0 66% 38 230 14 6.6 0 0 1 0 4 RAH 2400
    HSE 60.3 44.8 52.5 3.2 73 23 27 13 0 0 3 0 80% 47 180 14 8.2 0 0 0 0 4 MHX 2400
    HKY 54.6 34.5 44.5 3.4 74 6 20 25 0 0 16 0 41 290 17 3.8 0 0 0 0 4 GSP 2400
    LBT 60.5 38.7 49.6 3.4 81 22 25 13 0 0 9 0 74% 37 280 10 5.1 1 0 0 0 3 ILM 2400
    EWN 63.1 40.4 51.7 4.9 82 6,22 26 13 0 0 8 0 73% 44 300 10 5.5 0 0 0 0 10 MHX 2400
    RDU 57.0 36.0 46.5 3.0 79 6 23 13,25 0 0 14 0 68% 36 230 6 5.1 0 0 1 1 5 RAH 2400
    RAL 57.7 34.3 46.0 3.5 79 6,22 21 11,25,26 0 0 17 0 24 6 0 0 1 0 0 RAH 2400
    ROX 54.4 34.9 44.9 5.0 75 6 17 25 0 0 16 0 73% 38 360 17 180 1 0 2 0 3 RAH 2400
    WHI                                               ILM 2400
    ILM 64.0 41.3 52.6 4.0 80 22 27 13 0 0 7 0 70% 39 200 29 6 0 0 0 0 6 ILM 2400
    Averages 58.20 37.50 47.84 3.6 77.1 22.8 0.0 0.0 11.9 0.0 72% 38.4 6.3 0.1 0.0 0.4 0.1 4.1
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    AND 57.0 36.9 47.0 3.3 78 6 24 13 0 0 14 0 33 230 17 5.0 0 0 0 0 5 GSP 2400
    CAE 62.5 40.6 51.5 4.8 82 6 25 13 0 0 10 0 70% 38 270 10 4.5 0 0 0 0 3 CAE 2400
    CRE 62.2 41.3 51.7 2.9 75 22 26 13 0 0 7 0 75% 47 190 29 5.9 0 0 0 0 9 ILM 2400
    CHS 67.6 45.0 56.3 5.5 82 6,23 30 13 0 0 2 0   41 190 29 7.2 0 0 0 0 3 CHS 2400
    FLO 62.5 39.5 51.0 3.9 83 22 24 13 0 0 9 0 72% 40 170 14 5.3 0 0 0 0 5 ILM 2400
    GSP 56.4 37.5 46.9 2.9 76 6 24 25 0 0 13 0 71% 36 210 6 4.8 0 0 0 0 3 GSP 2400
    OGB 62.9 42.3 52.6 4.7 81 6 28 13 0 0 6 0 41 280 10 5.6 0 0 0 0 5 CAE 2400
    Averages 61.586 40.44 51.0 4.0 79.6 25.9 0.0 0.0 8.7 0.0 72% 39.4 5.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.7
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    TRI 51.3 30.5 40.9 3.1 74 21 16 25 0 0 17 0 40 290 22 3.9 1 0 0 0 5 MRX 2400
    DAV 37.4 23.2 30.3 64 22 3 25 0 0 23 0 PBX 2400
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    BCB 5.26 2.31 1.17 23 1.17 23 12 2 51.60 T 8,10,14,17,24,31 6 0 T 0.1 RNK 2400
    CHT 5.62 2.66 1.32 29 1.33 29-30 12 1 49.56 2.0 10 4 2 3.6 3.6 30.605 8 29.551 29 30.134 LWX 2400
    CHO 4.03 0.88 1.64 29 1.64 29 8 1 44.59     29.540 29 LWX 2400
    DAN 4.23 0.96 1.32 22 1.82 22-23 9 1 50.78     0 0 0 T 30.560 25 29.690 29 RNK 2400
    DCA 5.53 2.48 1.31 28 1.50 8-9 10 1 44.24 T 17,18,24 3 0 T T     29.540 29 LWX 2400
    IAD 5.58 2.62 1.27 29 1.27 29 10 1 43.04 2.1 8,10 7 2 4.7 4.7     29.540 29 LWX 2400
    GAV 5.80 1.22 1.43 29 1.43 29 12 1 54.54 0.1 8 1 0 0.1 0.1 30.570 25 29.590 29 30.140 AKQ 2400
    HDV 5.79 2.38 1.34 29 11 2 49.04 2.0 10 5 2 3.8 3.8 30.590 8 29.520 29 AKQ 2400
    LYH 5.69 2.45 1.08 29 1.27 22-23 12 1 45.58 T 14,31 2 0 T T 30.570 25 29.660 29 RNK 2400
    NPN 6.30 2.60 1.18 23 1.27 23-24 14 1 60.94         0 T 30.560 25 29.540 29 AKQ 2400
    FHC 5.15 1.89 1.04 29 10 1 50.89 T 8 1 0 T T 30.553 25 29.563 29 30.156 AKQ 2400
    NOR 5.33 1.87 1.13 23 1.33 23-24 10 1 48.72 0 0.0 AKQ 2400
    ORF 4.75 1.49 0.93 10 1.09 23-34 11 0 45.65 T 8 1 0 T T 30.550 25 29.550 29 AKQ 2400
    POR 5.22 1.92 1.10 23 1.25 23-24 13 1 50.09         0 T 30.550 25 29.580 29 30.155 AKQ 2400
    CTR 7.13 3.04 1.54 29 1.54 19 14 1 52.21 0 0.0 30.560 25 29.590 29 30.118 AKQ 2400
    MEC 5.91 1.33 29 1.33 29 12 1 54.83       0 T AKQ 2400
    RIC 6.11 2.85 1.35 29 1.35 29 11 1 53.68 T 8,31 2 0 T T 30.600 25 29.610 29 AKQ 2400
    ROA 4.38 1.44 0.97 29 1.07 22-23 12 0 52.80 T 8,14,24 3 0 T T 30.570 25 29.700 29 RNK 2400
    WAL 5.74 2.31 1.25 23 1.32 23-24 14 2 43.08 T 18 1 0 T T 30.550 25 29.530 29 AKQ 2400
    WOO 5.83 3.11 1.34 6-7 13 1 40.92 4.8 9-10 6 4 12.5 14.5 30.490 8 29.760 15 LWX 800
    WSH 4.59 1.10 1.33 29 1.33 29 9 1 42.61 1.9 10 8 3 4.4 4.4 30.630 8 29.610 29 LWX 2400
    Averages 5.43 2.08 1.25 1.35 11.4 1.0 49.02 0.9 3.3 0.9 1.5 1.6 30.567 29.592 30.141
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    AVL 7.67 4.08 2.80 22 2.85 22-23 11 1 75.22         0 T 30.500 25 29.75 15 GSP 2400
    MRH 4.03 0.51 1.56 14 1.66 14-15 13 1 50.63         0 T 30.520 25 29.69 15 MHX 2400
    CLT 7.13 3.88 1.93 23 3.20 22-23 13 3 49.62         0 T 30.560 25 29.75 15 GSP 2400
    ECG 5.15 2.59 1.50 23 1.81 23-24 11 2 44.74         0 T 30.550 25 29.63 29 AKQ 2400
    FAY 4.28 1.63 1.72 29 1.79 29 11 1 45.90     0 0 29.71 15 RAH 2400
    GSO 5.19 2.21 1.10 29 1.68 22-23 12 1 50.43         0 0 29.71 15 RAH 2400
    HSE 3.90 -0.37 1.19 14 1.59 14-15 13 1 53.32 0 0 30.490 25 29.68 15 MHX 2400
    HKY 5.75 2.05 1.77 22 2.56 22-23 12 1 66.87 30.520 25 29.70 15 GSP 2400
    LBT 4.66 1.77 1.34 14,29 1.36 14-15 11 2 44.46 30.540 25 29.71 15 ILM 2400
    EWN 2.39 -1.01 0.52 14 0.65 14-15 12 0 40.89         0 T 30.550 25 29.70 15 MHX 2400
    RDU 5.91 2.84 1.95 23 2.21 22-23 11 2 50.69         0 T 29.71 15 RAH 2400
    RAL 6.11 3.04 1.90 22-23 14 2 52.43   0 0 30.560 25 29.81 14 RAH 2400
    ROX 6.07 2.71 1.82 29 1.82 29 12 2 47.30         0 T 30.570 25 29.71 15 30.18 RAH 2400
    WHI                                   ILM 2400
    ILM 1.73 -1.89 0.52 14 0.58 14-15 11 0 51.15         0 T 30.520 25 29.72 15 ILM 2400
    Averages 5.00 1.72 1.52 1.83 11.9 1.4 51.69 0.0 0.0 0.0 T 30.535 29.713
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    AND 7.52 3.41 1.62 22 2.48 22-23 14 3 69.62     30.540 25 29.77 15 GSP 2400
    CAE 5.88 2.66 1.6 29 1.73 28-29 13 2 55.47         0 T 30.550 25 29.75 15 CAE 2400
    CRE 1.58 -1.88 0.58 29 0.62 28-29 11 0 48.56 30.500 25 29.74 15 ILM 2400
    CHS 2.15 -0.96 0.92 14 0.92 14 10 0 58.11 0 0 30.480 25 29.79 15 CHS 2400
    FLO 4.34 1.33 1.46 14 1.48 14-15 13 2 54.68 30.540 25 29.74 15 ILM 2400
    GSP 6.67 2.56 1.48 22 2.33 22-23 15 3 69.56         0 0.1 30.530 25 29.74 15 GSP 2400
    OGB 3.69 0.37 0.87 29 0.97 28-29 13 0 44.27 30.530 25 29.78 15 CAE 2400
    Averages 4.55 1.07 1.22 1.50 12.7 1.4 57.18 0.00 0.03 30.524 29.759
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    TRI 6.34 2.97 1.56 22 1.89 22-23 13 2 57.68 T 15 1 0 T 1.4 30.48 27 29.73 15 MRX 2400
    DAV 7.10 1.74 7 24 2 58.23 4.7 9 19 7 26.5 34.2 PBX 2400
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED


    Virginia:

    Arlington/Washington, D.C. - " TEMPERATURES THIS DECEMBER WERE ABOVE NORMAL IN WASHINGTON DC. THE MOST NOTABLE WARM STRETCH THIS DECEMBER SPANNED FROM THE 19TH-23RD WHEN THE HIGH TEMPERATURE WAS 60 DEGREES OR ABOVE EACH DAY. IT WAS ONLY THE SIXTH OCCURRENCE IN DECEMBER ON RECORD WHERE THE HIGH TEMPERATURE IN WASHINGTON REACHED AT LEAST 60 DEGREES FOR A SPAN OF AT LEAST FIVE CONSECUTIVE DAYS. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE ON THE 21ST AND 22ND WAS BOTH 72 DEGREES... WHICH BROKE THE DAILY MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE RECORD FOR THE 21ST (PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 68 DEGREES FROM 1923) AND TIED THE DAILY MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE RECORD FOR THE 22ND (ORIGINALLY SET IN 1889). TWO OR MORE CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF 72 DEGREES OR WARMER IN DECEMBER HAS ONLY OCCURRED THREE OTHER TIMES ON RECORD (THE LAST TIME WAS 5-6 DECEMBER 2001). THE LOW TEMPERATURE OF 51 DEGREES ON 21ST TIED THE DAILY HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE RECORD FROM 1895. THE LOW TEMPERATURE OF 57 DEGREES ON 22ND SET A NEW DAILY HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE RECORD (PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 49 DEGREES IN 1923). RAINFALL THIS DECEMBER WAS WELL ABOVE NORMAL. IT WAS THE 9TH WETTEST DECEMBER ON RECORD. THE 1.5 INCHES OF SNOWFALL MEASURED AT REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT THIS MONTH WAS LESS THAN AN INCH BELOW NORMAL...BUT THE MOST IN DECEMBER SINCE THE 2.1 INCHES OF SNOWFALL IN 2010. " - [ + + ] - from NWS Sterling, VA

    Chantilly - from Russ Topping: " December temperatures and precipitation averaged above normal. The mean monthly temperature was 40.3° (+3.7°). The mean high temperature was 49.4° (+3.4°) and the mean low temperature was 31.1° (+4.0°). Record high temperatures were set on the 21st (71°) and the 22nd (71° - All Time Highest December reading). Record high low temperature records were set on the 21st (51°) and shattered on the 22nd (62° - All Time Highest Low Temp). December precipitation was much above average (+2.66"). Daily precipitation records were set on the 6th (0.95") and the 29th (1.32"). Snow was observed on the 8th (1.125"), 10th (2.0"), 14th (trace) and 17th (0.5"). Freezing rain was observed on the 8th (0.25" mixed with sleet) and 9th (trace). Sleet was observed on the 8th (0.25" mixed with freezing rain), and 14th (trace). *Please note, anemometer is currently partially obstructed from the North and East " - [ + + ]

    Dulles - from NWS Sterling (KLWX): " TEMPERATURES THIS DECEMBER WERE ABOVE NORMAL AT DULLES. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 70 DEGREES ON THE 21ST AND 71 DEGREES ON THE 22ND EACH BROKE THEIR RESPECTIVE DAILY MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE RECORDS. TWO OR MORE CONSECUTIVE 70-DEGREE DAYS IN DECEMBER LAST OCCURRED AT DULLES BACK ON 5-6 DECEMBER 2001. THE LOW TEMPERATURE OF 54 DEGREES ON 21ST AND 62 DEGREES ON THE 22ND WERE BOTH NEW DAILY HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE RECORDS. THE LOW TEMPERATURE OF 62 DEGREES ON THE 22ND WAS ALSO THE HIGHEST MINIMUM TEMPERATURE RECORDED IN DECEMBER (THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 61 DEGREES FROM 23 DECEMBER 1990)...AND IT WAS ALSO TIED WITH 8 JANUARY 1998 FOR THE HIGHEST MINIMUM TEMPERATURE RECORDED ON ANY DAY IN METEOROLOGICAL WINTER (DEFINED AS 1 DECEMBER-29 FEBRUARY) AT DULLES. RAINFALL THIS DECEMBER WAS WELL ABOVE NORMAL. IT WAS THE 7TH WETTEST DECEMBER ON RECORD FOR DULLES. TWO DAILY RAINFALL RECORDS WERE SET THIS PAST MONTH. THE 0.97 INCH OF RAINFALL ON THE 6TH BROKE THE PREVIOUS DAILY RAINFALL RECORD OF 0.75 INCH FROM 1983 WHILE THE 1.27 INCHES OF RAINFALL ON THE 29TH BROKE THE PREVIOUS DAILY RAINFALL RECORD OF 0.51 INCH FROM 1991. THE 4.7 INCHES OF SNOWFALL MEASURED THIS MONTH WAS SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL AND THE MOST IN DECEMBER SINCE 21.4 INCHES OF SNOW FELL IN DECEMBER 2009. " - [ + + ]

    Glen Allen - from Lowell Koontz: " December was a wet and warm month as the monthly mean temperature was 43.3 °F, a +2.2 °F departure and the precipitation had a +1.22 inch departure from the five year Glen Allen average. The warmest December day had a 73 °F maximum at Glen Allen on December 22nd. A new record December maximum dew point temperature of 67.0 °F also occurred on the 22nd. The lowest temperature was 18 °F occurring on Christmas Day making it the coldest Christmas Day at Glen Allen on record. December had only 0.1 inches of frozen precipitation as sleet on the 8th. The precipitation total was 5.80 inches making it the second wettest December and the wettest year at Glen Allen with a 54.54 inch total. There were 12 days with measurable precipitation, with 8 consecutive days of measurable precipitation, in the first ten days of the month. Glen Allen also had 8.5 days without any sunshine the first ten days of the month but December was only the 3rd cloudiest on record because of sunny days in the last 2/3 of December. Lowell's extensive Climate Summary for 2013 can be viewed with a click here . " - [ + + ]

    Herndon - from Randy Ashby: " December was above normal for temperature and for precipitation. The temperatures ranged between a high of 71 and a low of 18 and was 1.4 degrees above normal. On the precipitation side, the month was 2.38” above normal. We had precipitation on 11 days during the month, including a very wet period from the 6th through the 10th when we received 2.80”; this period included a period of freezing rain (measured 0.25” ice), sleet, and our first measurable snowfall (3.5”). We had a major limb break off of our Cleveland Pear tree from the weight of the ice. We are ended the year 2.97” above normal with 49.04” measured and 3.8” of snow. " - [ + + ]

    Portsmouth - from Bill Trotter: " December's average temperature of 46.6° was 2.2° ABOVE NORMAL. Precipitation (5.22") was ABOVE NORMAL by 1.92" or 158% of the November average during the period from 1976 to 2012. Rainfall for the year-to-date through December 31st was 50.09" (+0.71") or 101% of normal. To view the station monthly and year-to-date summary for this Portsmouth station, please click here. Frontal passages were observed on the 4TH (WARMFROPA), 6TH, 10TH, 12TH, 15TH, 17TH, 23RD, 29TH, 30TH, and 31ST. STATION RECORDS: 21st - TEMPERATURE Maximum 72° [previous 69° 1988], 22nd - TEMPERATURE Maximum 79° [previous 76° 1990], 22nd - TEMPERATURE Maximum low 64° [previous 58° 2011], 23rd - RAINFALL 1.10" [previous 0.50" 1998]. - [ + + ]

    Woodstock - from Lauck Walton (WOO): In his annual climatological summary for Woodstock, Lauck notes the average high temp 62.3°, the average low temperature 46.0°, and an average annual temperature of 54.2° and that was 1.2° below the normal average annual temp. Rainfall for the year of 40.92" was 2.27" above normal average annual rainfall. Total snowfall at Woodstock, VA for the calendar year 2013 was 38.4 inches.

    Richmond - from contributor Lowell Koontz (GAV): " The mean temperature for the Richmond International Airport was 43.8 °F which made December the 18th warmest in the past 116 years. There were three daily records set this month and two were set on December 22 for both the maximum (76°F) and minimum (62°F) being record highs for the date. Only 1951 had a higher minimum temperature of 63 °F in the past 116 years for any December date. Only nine Decembers in the past 116 years have had a higher monthly maximum temperature. The daily mean for the 22nd was 69°F. Only three years have had a day this warm in December; they were: 1998, 1971, and 1951 in the past 116 years. On December 8th a new record low temperature range was set of only 3 °F; the previous record was 5 °F in 1973, 1969, and 1920. Richmond’s December minimum temperature was 21 °F on the 26th. Only in 9 years of the past 116 years has this been higher. December had only a trace of snow; the 30-year average snowfall for December is 2.1 inches. The 6.11 inches of precipitation for December was +2.85 inch departure for the month and only 5 Decembers of the past 116 years have been wetter. The Richmond International Airport’s total precipitation for the year was 53.68 inches, which makes it the 12th wettest in the past 141 years. This is a 10.08 inch surplus of precipitation for 2013 based on the 30 year average of 43.60 inches." - [ + + ]

    North Carolina:

    Greensboro - from NWS Raleigh (RAH): " CLIMATE RECORDS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2013: DECEMBER 6TH: TIED A RECORD HIGH OF 76 DEGREES THAT PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED IN 1998. ALSO SET A RECORD HIGH MINIMUM OF 65 DEGREES. THE OLD RECORD WAS 60 DEGREES THAT OCCURRED IN 2011. DECEMBER 21ST: SET A RECORD HIGH OF 71 DEGREES. THE OLD RECORD WAS 66 DEGREES THAT OCCURRED IN 1923. DECEMBER 22: SET RECORD HIGH OF 73. BROKE THE OLD RECORD OF 71 THAT OCCURRED IN 1923. ALSO TIED A RECORD HIGH MINIMUM OF 60 DEGREES THAT PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED IN 2011. " - [ + + ]

    Raleigh - from NWS Raleigh RAH: " CLIMATE RECORDS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2013: DECEMBER 6TH: SET A RECORD HIGH MINIMUM OF 65 DEGREES. THE OLD RECORD WAS 64 DEGREES THAT OCCURRED IN 1912. DECEMBER 21ST: SET A RECORD HIGH OF 74 DEGREES. THE OLD RECORD WAS 71 DEGREES THAT OCCURRED IN 1967. DECEMBER 22ND: SET A RECORD HIGH OF 78 DEGREES. THE OLD RECORD WAS 75 DEGREES THAT OCCURRED IN 1967. ALSO SET A RECORD HIGH MINIMUM OF 64 DEGREES. THE OLD RECORD WAS 61 DEGREES THAT OCCURRED IN 2011. DECEMBER 29TH: RECORD PRECIPITATION OF 1.94 INCHES. BROKE OLD RECORD OF 0.98 INCHES SET IN 1942. " - [ + + ]

    Raleigh - from contributor Bob Woodson (RAL): " FOR ONCE THE AVERAGE DAILY TEMPERATURE WAS ABOVE NORMAL (+3.5 DEGREES) LARGELY DUE TO TWO DAYS (DEC 6TH AND 22ND) WHEN THE MAX TEMPERATURE REACHED 79 DEGREES. DECEMBER PRECIPITATION WAS 3.04” ABOVE NORMAL AND 9.37” ABOVE NORMAL FOR THE YEAR. NO WINTRY PRECIPITATION EXCEPT A BRIEF PERIOD OF FREEZING RAIN DURING THE MORNING OF THE 26TH. " - [ + + ]



    COLUMN DENOTATIONS:

    A  maximum mean temperature T total precipitation (inches)
    T1 departure from normal
    B  minimum mean temperature U maximum calendar day precipitation (inches)
    C  monthly mean temperature
    C1 departure from normal
    U1 date of maximum calendar day precipitation
    D  maximum temperature V date(s) of maximum daily precipitation
    E  date(s) of maximum temperature V1 maximum 24-hour precip. & date(s)
    F  minimum temperature W number of days with precip. >= .01"
    G  date(s) of minimum temperature  X number of days with precip. >= 1.0"
    H  days with maximum temperature >=90 Y year-to-date precipitation (inches)
    I  days with maximum temperature <=32 Z maximum calendar day snowfall (inches)
    J  days with minimum temperature <=32 VRB Variable
    K  days with minimum temperature <= 0 1 date of maximum calendar day snowfall (inches)
    K1 average relative humidity 2 number of days with snowfall
    L  peak wind gust (miles per hour)  3 number of days with snowfall >= 1.0"
    M  direction of peak wind gust 4  total snowfall for month (inches)
    N  date(s) of peak wind gust  5 total snowfall for 2013-2014 season (inches)
    N1   average wind speed (miles per hour) 6 maximum barometric pressure (inches)
    N2 dominant wind direction 6A date of maximum barometric pressure
    O  number of days with thunder  7 minimum barometric pressure (inches)
    P  number of days with hail 7A date of minimum barometric pressure
    Q  number of days with glaze 8   average sea-level pressure
    R  number of days with ice pellets STN  Station
      NR not recorded
    R1 number of days with dense fog [1/4 mile and less visibility] (i) incomplete data
    S  local observation time for temps/precipitation (M) missing, if listed in data table
     ~ "about" E estimated
     +  additional indeterminate number of days CWA - NWS Office County Warning Area



    For Weather Headlines visit the National Weather Service Homepage
    or conduct a Google.com Search

    http://www.weather.gov
     

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

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

         National Weather Service Homepages

         National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, NC

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

      
    AKQ    Wakefield, VA NWS Wakefield Municipal Airport 36-58-53N 077-00-04W 33M  
    DCA    Arlington, VA Washington, DC, Reagan Washington National Airport
    38-50-54N 077-02-03W 18M
    WSH   Washington, VA  David Yowell runamok@runamok.com
    BCB    Blacksburg, VA NWS Virginia Tech Airport 37-13N 080-25W   
      WOO  Woodstock, VA 5NW Lauck Walton 12/1/85 jwalton@shentel.net
       LDY Ladysmith, VA Danny Jessee 2003 STATION CLOSED 8/31/2010 danny@dannyjessee.com
    BRI     Bridgewater, VA Clayton Towers Ctowers19@aol.com WAL   Wallops Island, VA 37° 56'26" N 75° 27'47" W Wallops Flight Facility Airport
    CEN  Centreville, VA Paul Bassett 1985,
    38° 50.9788' N LAT. 77° 25.6374' W LON. | Elevation 324' | STATION CLOSED
    AVL    Asheville, NC  Asheville Regional Airport 35-25-55N 082-32-15W 670M
    CHO   Charlottesville, VA  Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport ASOS 
    (Rappahannock County) 38-08-18N 078-27-21W 192M
    MRH    Beaufort, NC  Michael J. Field Airport 34-44-01N 076-39-38W 3M
    DAN  Danville, VA, Danville Regional Airport, 36-34-22N 079-20 10W 175M  CLT    Charlotte, NC NWS Charlotte/Douglas International Airport 35-12-48N 080-56-55W 220M
    IAD   Dulles - Washington-Dulles International Airport  38-56-05N 077-26-51W 93M   
    FCH    Falls Church, VA Erica Page 3/7/94 Windie1970@aol.com HKY  Hickory, NC 
    HAM    Hampton, VA 5NE Dave Kessel 1989 kesseld@verizon.net ECG  Elizabeth City, NC,  Coast Guard Air Station 36-15-47N 076 10-58W 11M
    LYH     Lynchburg, VA NWS Lynchburg Regional Airport 37-19-15N 079-12-24W 295M ILM     Wilmington, NC NWS New Hanover International Airport 34-16-06N 077-54-22W 9M
    CTR  Winterpock in Chesterfield County, VA Albert Arnold 06/03 FAY  Fayetteville, NC Fayetteville Regional Airport, 34-59-22N 078-52-48W 55M
      GSO   Greensboro, NC NWS Piedmont Triad International Airport 36-05-51N 079-56-37W 275M
    CHT   Chantilly, VA Russ Topping -  12/2006  russ.topping@gmail.com HSE    Cape Hatteras, NC  Mitchell Field 35-13-56N 075-27-21W 3M
    HDV    Herndon, VA  Randoplh W. Ashby, 3.3 SM South,
    Lat: 38.922127, Lon: -77.38015, Elev: 390'. 1993 randy_ashby@msn.com
    LBT    Lumberton, NC  Lumberton Municipal Airport 34-36-26N 079-03-36W 37M
    GAV - Glen Allen, Henrico County, VA - Lowell Koontz  8/1/08  wwkoontz@verizon.net EWN    New Bern, NC  Craven County Regional Airport 36-04-03N 077-02-50W 3M
      MON    Moncure, NC  Chatham County - Mac McIlwain mac.mcilwain@embarqmail.com
      RAL    Raleigh, NC 7NNW  Bob Woodson -  6/1/93 kf4mmm@qsl.net
    LKU     Louisa, VA 1N Joseph Bowers 1944 - NWS ID  44-5050-02 STATION CLOSED RDU   Raleigh-Durham, NC Raleigh-Durham International Airport 35-52-14N 078-47-11W 130M
    LOU     Louisa, VA 6S John Bullock (about 1970) STATION CLOSED ROX    Roxboro, NC 2SE Merriell A. Jay 1/93
         WHI   North Whiteville, NC Christopher Crawley 12/10 34.413744N / 078.751908W ccawley.kk4csr@gmail.com
    LYH     Lynchburg, VA NWS Lynchburg Regional Airport 37-19-15N 079-12-24W 295M ILM     Wilmington, NC NWS New Hanover International Airport 34-16-06N 077-54-22W 9M
    NEW    Newmarket, VA 2W Joyce Winfree STATION CLOSED 5/31/10 CHS   Charleston, SC NWS Charleston Air Force Base 32-53-56N 080-02-26W 13M
    NPN     Newport News, VA 7N Gary Leonard -  6/91 mikey0781@cox.net CAE    Columbia, SC NWS Columbia Metropolitan Airport 33-56-31N 081-07-05W 73M 
    NOR     Norfolk, VA 3NE Jim Fentress 6/1/77 FLO    Florence, SC Florence Regional Airport 34-11-16N 079-43-51W 44M
    ORF     Norfolk, VA 5NE 36-54-13N 076-11-31W 14M  1871 GSP   Greenville-Spartanburg, SC NWS Greenville-Spartanburg Airport 34-53-02N 082-13-15W 286M 
    POR     Portsmouth, VA 36.81° North 76.33° West 3S Bill Trotter -  7/1/76 wxr@cox.net CRE    North Myrtle Beach, SC Grand Strand Airport 33-48-42N 078-43-26W 10M
    MEC     Mechanicsville, VA Glen Martin 11/19/91 OGB   Orangeburg, SC  Orangeburg Municipal Airport 33-27-50N 080-51-13W 59M
    FHC    Norfolk, VA  Fred Heutte Center 36° 54'N 76° 16'W 01/01/03 fhcgarden@cox.net AND   Anderson, SC 
    RIC     Richmond, VA Richmond International Airport 37-30-40N 077-19-24W 50M TRI     Tri-cities, TN  (Bristol / Johnson / Kingsport), Tri-City Regional Airport 36-28-47N 082-23-56W 474M 
    ROA    Roanoke, VA Roanoke Regional Airport 37-19-01N 079-58-27W 362M DAV  Davis, WV Dave Lesher canaanwx@yahoo.com