MONTHLY SUMMARY: FEBRUARY 1999 UPDATED: 4/2/99 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- IN MEMORIAM GEORGE STEVENSON, JR. During the first week of March, I truly experienced an uneasy feeling resulting from the tardiness of George Stevenson's monthly summary which always was one of the first mailed reports to arrive each month. I can hear myself thinking, "Gee, I sure hope nothing's wrong with him." Sadly and with great shock, the next week I received this note from George's wife: George Stevenson, Junior died on February 22nd, 1999 of a massive heart attack in our backyard. He had done the weather report that morning at 6:30 AM. He really loved doing the weather and had kept records for about forty years. He was reporting to the National Weather Service computer in Charleston, West Virginia. My son John and I are going to try and keep this going. I know that George belonged to several weather clubs around the country which in which we won't be able to continue. I'm enclosing the last report he did for the ACON weather group. His last comment on the form was done one day before he died. His family and friends here miss him very much. Sincerely, Joyce S. Stevenson On that form, George wrote to me: "I'm figuring you're getting some snow up there tonight, February 21st, 9:45 PM. As I close this report-up, we didn't get "none!" George always attached a personal note but this last one seemed so close to me, now knowing the next morning he would no longer be with us. I always noted a warmth associated with George's weather work of 40 years and envied him in that he operated an official NWS site. He made significant contributions to his fellow man, ones we hope his family members will be able to continue for the National Weather Service. On March 18th, the service presented his widow with a Special Service Award in honor of his work, something she thought nice and will cherish. At that time, she agreed to keep his weather reports going as best she can. We certainly extend our sincere sympathy to Mrs. Stevenson and her family. If you wish, you may send your thoughts to: Joyce S. Stevenson, 476 Spring Valley Lake Road, Henderson, NC 27536 In October of 1998, The Virginian-Pilot: North Carolina Section, published an article on George's weather watching work from which excerpts are presented below: OBSERVER MONITORS HIGH-TECH TOOLS Henderson resident is paid to relay readings from his gauges to NOAA BY NANCY SIMPSON HOKE, THE DAILY DISPATCH OF HENDERSON HENDERSON - Everybody talks about the weather, but, unlike most, George Stevenson knows what he's talking about. And he doesn't have to rely on bunions or an arthritic knee. As a paid observer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Stevenson is custodian of a number of top-notch weather instruments. NOAA has also provided him with a computerized telephone with which he reports his observations twice daily. He has an F420C anemometer atop his house to measure wind speed. He has a barometer in his bedroom to measure air pressure. "It never fell," he said, referring to Hurricane Bonnie's passing. "That means a hurricane ain't coming." He has a high-tech system to measure the day's high and low temperature, but prefers the two beehive-like structures sheltering thermometers in his back yard. "They've been using these for a hundred years," he said. "And they don't need electricity. Those have been with me through thick and thin." He has a rain gauge, which looks like the third stage of a rocket, into which he inserts a specially calibrated dipstick. And he has a set of thermometers encased in a cylinder at the end of a short chain that he whirls in circles "in the shade, facing the wind" to measure the humidity. And he has a rarely used board to measure snow. Stevenson was born in Henderson. In the early '50s, his family bought a house near the Carolina Power & Light weather station. Stevenson found the sub-station irresistible. He became friendly with the CP&L personnel and was determined to build an instrument shelter of his own. "I thought it was wonderful," he said. "It was like a romance." He bought a rain gauge and a "sling" psychrometer (to measure humidity) from Science Associates in Philadelphia. He bought the louvered shutters for his hive-like thermometer shelters from Sears. Eventually, CP&L got out of the weather-observer business, but, for Stevenson, the romance wasn't over. In 1955, he became an official observer although there was already a rain-and-temperature- only observation post at the Nutbush Wastewater Treatment plant. Their job was to keep an eye on the Roanoke River watershed, Stevenson said. His location allowed him to keep tabs on the Tar River watershed and keep more detailed records. "They wanted to know how much water was coming into the rivers," he explained. Although the two sites were only a couple of miles apart, "there's great diversity in rainfall." In 1962 Stevenson sold his weather instruments to a local radio station that made little use of it. "But I missed it. It's like a disease," he said, laughing. He bought back his equipment, rebuilt his weather station, and continued observing as a hobby. During the '70s, the Henderson waterworks had a complete meteorological observatory and reported to Raleigh every three hours. Stevenson, a frequent visitor, said he was often allowed to do the reporting for them. But he acquired another mission as a SkyWarn observer, responsible for reporting severe storms. This past February, Stevenson again became an official NOAA observer and was equipped with the latest in instruments. Most counties in North Carolina have an observer. "Everybody put up automatic stuff so the government wouldn't have to pay observers. Half the time it ain't working. They've realized that they need observers with two eyes." Observing weather is one thing. Predicting it is another. "A 90-day forecast is no good. But they did good on El Nino, because it turned out like they said." Asked if the creation of artificial lakes had affected weather in the area, Stevenson said that, meteorologically speaking, the lakes were "just puddles. To affect weather, they must be something like the Sounds or the Great Lakes." CUSTODIAN -As a paid observer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, George Stevenson is custodian of a number of top-notch weather instruments. -NOAA has also provided him with a computerized telephone with which he reports his observations twice daily. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ...ANOTHER CONSISTENTLY WARMER THAN AVERAGE MONTH THROUGHOUT THE REGION... ...RAINFALL CONSISTENTLY BELOW NORMAL... HALLELUJAH!!! NWS Wakefield (AKQ) is now the official forecast office for Southeast Virginia! We say this with excitement because, for most all of my weather days (some 36 years!) our forecast has originated in Washington, DC. And while the guys and gals there did a good job, they just never could appreciate/get a handle our localized weather from an office so far away. NWS ORF and RIC of course did have authority to update forecasts 6 hours out, but the remainder of the short-term forecasts originated at WBC. At last, as of late March, AKQ now writes the forecast for the Richmond and Norfolk areas, among others. For the specifics, visit the official home page of NWS Wakefield at http://tgsv5.nws.noaa.gov/er/akq/ NOTES FROM "AROUND THE LEAGUE"- Annandale - According to Lowell, February here was near average in precip and above average in temperature. Temps were some 5 degrees above normal. The barometric pressure high reading of 30.73" on the 1st was the highest recorded since February of 1990. A 29.41" reading was recorded on the last day of the month. Arlington - The average monthly temp, so saith WBC, was 3.4 degrees above normal. The total rainfall for the month was only slightly below normal or -0.17" Snowfall was 6.1" below normal with only 2/10ths inch. A high temp was broken on the 12th when a 74 degree reading exceeded the previous record of 67 set in 1898. All 3 winter months were above normal this season. For the 3rd winter season in a row, snowfall was scarce and temps were mild. Although a warm month, a great variety of weather was noted with one day in the lower 70s and one day that failed to make it to 32 degrees. Despite an excess in temperature, February was only the 6th warmest of the decade, an indication of just how warm the winters of the 1990s have been. Oddly, the 2/10ths inch of snow that fell on the 23rd caused significant travel problems to a city that hasn't seen much since the whiteout winter of '95-'96. Bridgewater - Clayton sends these notes: The average temperature for the month was nearly 7 degrees above normal. We have now had 14 consecutive months with temperatures above normal. There was no measurable snowfall during the month. February is supposed to be a snowy month, but that certainly didn't hold true this year.. There were several forecasts indicating measurable snow, but nothing happened. The total snowfall for this winter season so far is 7 inches. This winter is similar to last winter's weather, with very little wintry activity past mid-January. It's been very boring. I enjoy the active winter weather! (next month, Clayton describes a surprise snowfall in mid March!!) Centreville - For those of you who like great accuracy in snowfall measurement, Paul has located a ruler graduated in eighths, sixteenths, and even tenths. It's (Wescott Word Processing Scale Model #R4077-15) sold at Office Depot and is made of china, so one has to look for something rather funny in appearance. Paul noted about 26% more precip than normal while temps were warmer by 15% but (yawn, he exclaims!) nothing to become excited about. The barometer got a good workout, but it took four weeks to establish the broad range. Paul looks forward to the t-storm season as he's set-up a Boltec lightning detection system (computerized)! (I'd love one of those, but it's a bit pricey! - editor's note) Falls Church - February 1999 saw only «" of snow. The month established the 5th least snowy February. The average temp was 4 degrees above normal. (notes from Erica) Fredericksburg - Ken notes a strong cold front passed on the afternoon of the 12th, ending several days of above normal temps. A thunderstorm accompanied the front which dropped temps about 30 degrees in 1 hour and left about 25,000 people without power for a few hours. The high temp on the 12th was 74; one day later the high temperature was only 38! Hampton - Dave sends these notes: "Thanks to all ACON members for their prayers and concerns during my mom's illness. She is doing quite well and will make a full recovery. So this is winter!? Another mild month with only a trace of snow. Some moderately cold weather near the month's end, but well-advertised snowstorms did not deliver. Development occurred well offshore and to the northeast. A strong t-storm passed 5 miles SSE of my station on Sunday the 28th. Strong winds gusting to 45 mph with heavy rain and considerable lightning occurred. Some stronger winds were noted at the southern tip of Hampton near Fort Monroe." Herndon - We broke a record high on the 11th and 12th with 66 and 74 degrees, respectively. On the 13th, the temperature plummeted and the high only made it to 35! We were in shock. High winds also did some minor damage around the area on the 12th as a very strong cold front moved through. It was a relatively mild February, 4 degrees above average, with no snow to speak of. Louisa - Joe Bowers reports that the 8 or so inches of rain since the end of November '98 have raised the local lake level considerably! Norfolk - NWS AKQ (Wakefield) reported Norfolk Airport's average monthly temperature was 3.5 degrees above normal. Precip was 1.14" below normal. The year-to-date rainfall is 1.41" below the norm. Portsmouth - New station records here on the 12th when the high temp reached 72 degrees. On the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, a cold spell established new station records when the high temps reached only 39, 34, and 36 degrees, respectively. Again, a month when all mean temperatures were in excess of the norm, some 2.9 degrees. Precipitation was 61% of the norm and the year-to-date totals for rainfall were running at 68% of the norm. An unusually high number of winter days with thunderstorms during the month with a total of 3. A trace of snow on the ground was noted on the 9th and 10th. A thunderstorm with a wind gust to 36 mph on the 28th also produced pea-sized hail. Richmond - Roy reports a thunderstorm on th 12th dropped the temperature 20 degrees in less than 1 hour! Richmond - The mean temp was 3.5 degrees above normal while precip was 1.69" below normal. - from NWS Wakefield (AKQ) Mechanicsville - Strong thunderstorms moved through the area on the 12th at about 1800 hours producing downpour and strong winds. - notes from Glenn Roanoke - Wendell report a warm, almost snowless, and fairly dry month. Rainfall totals were 0.65" below normal while average temps were 4 degrees above normal. With only 1", the monthly snowfall totals ended some 5.4" below normal. Stafford - Danny notes: February finishes 4.5 °F above normal, continuing the "un-Winter" of 1999; Only a meager trace of snowfall; Precipitation slightly above normal, year-to-date precip well above normal; Some sort of precipitation 12 of 28 days this month Vienna - Robert writes: Overall, February averaged warm, some 4.2 degrees in excess of the norm with near-normal precipitation (+0.09"). However, as with January, snowfall was far below normal (-6.3") or only 11.27% of the norm. Greatest 24-hour snowfall was 0.4" on two occasions. No temp extremes were set but at high of 74 on the 12 tied the record for the date and the February monthly all-time record high temp established previously on the 27th in 1997. Thunderstorms occurred twice on the 2th and 12th. The evening t-storm on the 4th produced brief heavy rain and some lightning. Dime-sized hail was observed briefly with a storm « mile east of his location. February produced 8 days with max temps >= 56 degrees and only 5 days with minimum temps in the teens or colder. Woodstock - From Lauck comes these notes: "Temps were a little above average and the month overall was pretty dry. All-in-all, a pretty average February." Asheville - The average monthly temperature was 3.7 degrees above normal and the precip total was 0.62" below normal. Monthly average wind speed, according to NWS GSP, was 6.4 mph. Brevard - Bob writes: "The Keehns were away from home and station from the 7th through the 19th while we cruised through the Panama Canal. What a way to take a break from winter! We went through the canal on th 14th, a nice way to spend Valentine's Day. Weatherwise, February, 1999 was not remarkable. The heating deg. days (65 deg. base and adjusted to a 30 day month) were 738 compared with 622 for the five year period 1900 - 1994 and 741 for 1995 - 1999. Precipitation, 5.36" for the month, compares with 5.59", 1990 - 1994, and 7.15", 1995 - 1999, low but not unusual variation for the area." Charlotte - NWS GSP reported the monthly average temp was 3.7 degrees above normal while total precip was 1.52" below normal. Greensboro - The average temp for the month was 3.3 degrees above normal while precip was 1.82" below normal. Daily record highs were et on the 7th and the 12th. A daily record low max was set on the 23rd. - from NWS RDU Raleigh - The average temp for the month was 3.7 degrees above normal while rainfall was 1.73" below normal. Daily record high temps were set on the 6th, 7th, and 12th. -source: NWS RDU Raleigh - Bob Woodson noted the meteorological winter (December-February) produced an average temperature some 4.3 degrees above normal. The average temperatures for the month was actually cooler than January's. The snow drought continues with only a trace for the entire winter. What a disappointment! Bob notes a URL address of http://www.qsl.net/kfymmm Haven't checked it out yet! Let's see what's there!! Roxboro - February, reports Merriell, was a month of a variety in weather- from mild, springlike temps to subfreezing wintry temps and weather. Temps averaged well-above normal while precip was well below the norm. Wilmington - NWS ILM notes "the warm streak continues in the Port City." For the 14th month in a row, ILM had above normal temps! The first two weeks of the month set the tone as temps were 10-15 degrees above normal. For the last two weeks, temps were about normal. No temperature records were tied or broken. The city received 70% of possible sunshine and only on the 10th was dense fog noted. Rainfall fell back below normal in February (-1.7") Trace amounts of frozen precip were noted on 4 days (on the 28th, hail) but no precip records were tied or established. Average wind speed was 8.3 mph. A strong t-storm brought a 53 mph gust from the SW on the 28th. Columbia - The average temperature for the month was 3.1 degrees in excess of the norm while rainfall was 1.79" below normal. - from NWS CAE Charleston - Ms. Eleanor has a new e-mail address: evaltal@wpmedia.com At the CHS NWS office where she works, the monthly average temp was 3.1 degrees above normal and was oddly identical to the average for January '99. The average wind speed was 11.4 mph. A rare trace of snow was noted on both the 23rd and 24th and snow was seen here for the 1st time since 1998. Monthly precip was 1.29" below normal and the yearly total through February was some 0.22" above normal. Several new records during the month here: on the 7th and 8th, new record maxs were set at 79, 2 degrees above the previous record on each day; on the 9th, the high temp reached 79 degrees, also 2 degrees in excess of the previous record... on this same day, a new record high minimum was established at 60 degrees and a new record high average for the date was set at 70 degrees, 3 degrees above the previous record high set in 1965; on the 12th, the station set a new maximum record at 79 degrees, 1 degree in excess of the previous record high set in 1965. Greenville-Spartanburg - NWS GSP noted the average monthly temp was 4 degrees above normal while rainfall was 1.57" below normal. Ruby - February, saith Franklin, was a cool and relatively dry month. Tri-cities - NWS Knoxville/Tri-cities recorded monthly average temps 2.9 degrees above normal with precipitation some 0.53" below normal. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- UPDATED MEMBERS' E-MAIL ADDRESSES: BRE Bob Keehn Bob_Keehn@citcom.net BRI Clayton Towers Ctowers@rica.net POR Bill Trotter wtrotter@whro.org RAL Bob Woodson woods@pipeline.com CEN Paul Bassett III pbassett@digizen.net WSH David Yowell runamok@runamok.com FCH Erica Page ERICA96661@aol.com RMD Roy Britt rbritt@erols.com NEW Joyce Winfree joywood@shentel.net FRB Ken McKneely mckneelys@email.msn.com STF Danny Jessee cumulus@erols.com WOO Lauck Walton jwalton@shentel.net NPN Gary Leonard garleonard@aol.com LKU Joe Bowers jmbiii@mnsinc.com CHS Eleanor Vallier-Talbot Eleanor.Vallier-Talbot@noaa.gov evaltal@wpmedia.com HAM Dave Kessell tccdkessel@yahoo.com VNA Robert Boott boottr@vrinet.com Dave Lesher wxdave@boo.net -----------------------------------------------------------------------------