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 
JANUARY 2005



..."BIPOLAR" MONTH...

...TEMPERATURE EXTREMES EACH HALF
BUT WITH ABOVE NORMAL TEMPS OVERALL...
...BELOW NORMAL RAINFALL EXCEPT IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA...

The headlines above cover it all. Indeed, the month of January 2005 seemed "bipolar" (see DCA summary narrative below) with temps well in excess of normal for the first 14 days followed by temps well below normal for the 2nd half of the month. Rather pleasant weather for most early in the month with temps often in the 50s, 60s, and even into the middle 70s and nighttime lows far above the norm. High pressure built southeast from Canada in the last half of the month with a strong upper trough bringing cold air well into the Southeastern US, repeatedly reestablishing itself the latter half of the month. Little snow during the month for most; however, 3" of snow fell in the DC area on the 22nd from a system that generally affected no one else during the time period. Rainfall amounts were above normal in northern and Virginia and well-below normal for most all locations in North and South Carolina.
  • TIMELY REMINDER - Member Paul Bassett brings an email reminder that might be quite helpful. As many of us have endured quite a bit of freezing and thawing this winter (and with more on the way!), might be a good time for those who have antenna/mast connections and guy wires to check their equipment. The large ranges in temperatures (remember first and last of December and again in January?) can greatly impact masts and wiring.

  • THE PASSING OF JOHN BULLOCK - We have received word from his daughter that longtime but inactive member John Bullock of Louisa, Virginia has recently died. In 2001, John informed us that as he was growing older he simply could not make the venture to the backyard to take his readings any longer. He was pleased that Joe Bowers was also an observer in Louisa and would continue providing data from that location.


  •   HPC DAILY FORECAST ARCHIVE [MAPS] - http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/noaa/


  • U.S. DAILY WEATHER MAPS PROJECT   Looking for that NOAA Daily Weather Map for a given date since 1871? Look no further! Visit the NOAA Central Library U.S. Daily Weather Maps Project [1871-2001] at http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/dwm/data_rescue_daily_weather_maps.html. A link to maps for 2002 to the present is found at the top of the page. Great resource! Note: You will need to download and install a small program in order to view the maps.


  • 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 Member Station Extremes - JANUARY 2005
State
Maximum Temperature
Minimum
Temperature
Warmest
Average
Temperature
Coldest
Average
Temperature
Maximum
Precipitation
Minimum
Precipitation
Virginia
76°
Newport News
Richmond (RIC)
Wakefield
0°
New Market
42.7°
Portsmouth
33.7°
Herndon (HRN)
4.01"
Charlottesville
1.37"
Bridgewater
North Carolina
79°
Fayetteville
8°
Asheville
Greensboro
46.3°
Cape Hatteras
Beaufort
40.8°
Asheville
3.67"
Roxboro
1.32"
Wilmington
South Carolina
81°
Charleston
13°
Anderson
50.8°
Charleston
45.4°
Anderson
3.94"
Orangeburg
0.78"
North Myrtle Beach

(Please note the column denotations table below.)
TEMPERATURE / WINDS/ ELEMENTS

VIRGINIA
[Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL]

     STN  A      B    C     C1    D    E  F     G   H  I  J K K1  L  M     N   N1   N2   O P Q R R1 R2  S    CWA
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     ANN 42.16 27.16 34.66 +0.8  68     4  7   24   0  9 19 0 72% 37 W    23             0 0 1 3  3     2400 LWX
     BCB 44.5  26.3  35.4  +4.5  67    12  4   18   0  9 21 0 67% 40 320° 23   5.3       0 0 2 1  2 60% 2400 RNK
     BRI 45.6  28.2  36.9  +4.4  69   3,12 1   24   0  9 19 0                            0 0 0 1  1     2400 LWX
     CEN 42.5  27.7  35.1   0.0  69    13  9   24   0 10 17 0     42 343° 14             1 0 0 2  2     2400 LWX
     CHO 46.5  28.2  37.3  +1.8  74     4 10   28   0  7 19 0     37 320° 23   4.6       0 0 2 0  2     2400 LWX
     DAN 50.5  30.9  40.7  +4.1  74     4  6   24   0  7 18 0 69% 44 330° 23   6.0       0 0 3 1  3 30% 2400 RNK
     DCA 42.9  29.2  36.0  +1.1  71    13 12 24,28  0  9 17 0 67% 46 330° 23   8.8       0 0 2 2  5 70% 2400 LWX
     IAD 42.6  26.9  34.7  +3.0  69  4,13  7   24   0  9 18 0     44 320° 14   7.2       0 0 2 2  5     2400 LWX
                                                                  44 330° 23
     FCH 44.6  27.8  36.2        66    13  8   24   0  9 17 0     40      23             0 0 0 1  0     2400 LWX
     HAM 48.0  32.0  40.0  +1.0  75    13 15   19   0  4 14 0 50% 38 N    18   9.0  NW   1 0 1 1  4 50% 2400 AKQ
     HER 41.8  27.4  34.6  +2.9  68  4,13  7.0 24   0  9 19 0     31      23             0 0 0 1        2400 LWX
     HRN 41.2  27.1  33.7  +2.0  67.8  13 10.1 28   0  9 18 0 68% 39 NW   23   3.4  NNW  1 0 2 1  2     2400 LWX
     LXI 49.7  26.2  36.2  +1.1  68.9  13 13   24   0  5 20 0 65% 44 NNW  23   4.0  NW   0 0 0 2  2     2400 RNK
     LYH 48.1  27.8  38.0  +3.5  71    13  5   24   0  8 21 0 67% 44 310° 23   5.1       0 0 3 1  3 40% 2400 RNK
     NEW 44.16 24.16 34.16  0.0  71    13  0   24   0  9 21 1 77% 35 N    23   6.7  SW   0 0 0 1  3     1800 LWX
     NPN 49.9  31.8  40.8        76    13 13   19   0  4 14 0     31 NW   23             1 0 1 2  0     2400 AKQ
     NOR 49.6  32.9  41.3  +1.8  75    13 16 18,19  0  5 15 0                            1 0 0 1  0     2400 AKQ
     ORF 49.9  33.4  41.7  +1.6  75    13 16   19   0  3 14 0 --% 46 210° 14  10.8       1 0 0 0  1 --% 2400 AKQ
     FHC 50.02 33.58 41.8        74.2  13 17.7 18   0  3 14 0 74% 38 190° 13   5.0  020° 1 0 0 2  0     2400 LWX
     POR 51.1  34.3  42.7  +2.7  75    13 16   19   0  3 14 0 73% 36 315° 23   5.45 162° 1 0 0 2  0 51% 2400 AKQ
     CTR 58.2              -2.2  74.7   4  3.0 24   0  6 19 0 75% 26 WSW   6   1.0  SW   1 0 2 1  2     2400 AKQ
                                                                  26 W    14
     MEC 48.61 30.03 40.45       75     4  7   24   0  5 17 0                            1 0 0 3  3     1700 AKQ
     RIC 49.3  30.8  40.0  +3.6  76     4  8   24   0  5 17 0 --% 39 010° 14   8.3       1 0 1 0  3 --% 2400 AKQ
     RGL 46.7  29.0  37.8  +1.8  75     4  8   24   0  8 18 0 65% 39 S    14   3.0  S    1 0 3 3  0     2400 AKQ
     ROA 49.3  29.6  39.5  +0.4  67     7  8   20   0  3 18 1 63% 53 280°  1   7.1       2 0 0 0  1 50% 2400 RNK
     ROK                                                                                                2300 RNK
     AKQ 51    31    41.0        76    13  6   24   0  5 19 0                                           2400 AKQ
     WAL 45.0  29.6  37.3  +1.3  70     4 11 28,24  0  7 16 0     35 330° 14   9.1       0 0 0 0  5     2400 AKQ
     WOO 43.6  27.1  35.3  +0.2  68    14  7   18   0  7 18 0                            0 0 0 0  3     2400 LWX
     WSH 42.0  26.9  34.5  +0.98 67.3   4  8.3 18   0  9 20 0 69% 23 NE   23   1.2  NE   0 0 1 1  1     2400 LWX
NORTH CAROLINA
[Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL] 

     STN  A      B    C     C1    D    E  F     G   H  I  J K K1  L  M     N   N1   N2   O P Q R R1 R2  S    CWA
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     AVL 51.0  30.6  40.8  +5.0  71     4  8   24   0  3 17 0     51 330° 23   8.1       0 0 2 1  4     2400 GSP
     MRH 54.8  37.8  46.3        73    13 18   19   0  1 13 0     44 290° 22  11.4       0 0 0 0  3     2400 MHX
                                                                  44 340° 23
     CLT 54.2  34.1  44.1  +2.4  74     4 10   24   0  3 15 0     44 260° 14   6.6       0 0 3 1  5     2400 GSP
     ECG 52.1  33.1  42.6  +0.2  75  4,13 14   24   0  3 14 0 --% 46 010° 14  10.6       0 0 0 0  2 --% 2400 AKQ
     FAY 56.1  36.0  46.0        79    13 13 19,24  0  1 14 0 64% 39 200° 14   8.8       0 0 0 0  5 30% 2400 RAH
     GSO 51.5  33.4  42.4  +4.7  74     4  8   24   0  6 16 0 68% 36 210°  6   8.1       0 1 3 1  4 40% 2400 RAH
     HSE 52.5  40.2  46.3  +0.2  69    14 21   18   0  1 12 0     39 360° 14  10.6       0 0 0 0  1     2400 MHX
     HKY 52.7  32.6  42.7  +3.7  74     4 13   24   0  3 19 0     39 330° 22   5.4       0 0 3 1  9     2400 GSP
     LBT 56.7  35.8  46.2  +4.1  77    13 12 19,24  0  1 12 0     43 310° 23   7.5       0 0 1 0  3     2400 ILM
     EWN 55.9  35.1  45.5  +1.3  78    13 14   19   0  1 13 0     40 170° 14   8.4       0 0 0 0  8     2400 MHX
     RAL 53.5  32.6  43.1  +3.4  77     3  9   24   0  3 16 0     33      14   1.8       1 0 1 1  0     2400 RAH
     RDU 55.9  35.1  45.5  +1.3  78    13 14   19   0  1 13 0 67% 40 170° 14   8.4       0 0 0 0  8 60% 2400 RAH
     ROX 51.0  32.2  41.6  +5.3  76     4 11   24   0  6 16 0 74% 39 W    23        N    0 0 3 2  1 52% 2200 RAH
     ILM 58.1  36.5  47.3  +1.2  76    13 14   19   0  1 13 0     45 310° 23   8.9       0 0 0 0  8     2400 ILM
SOUTH CAROLINA
[Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL] 

     STN  A      B    C     C1    D    E  F      G  H  I  J K K1  L  M     N   N1   N2   O P Q R R1 R2  S    CWA
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     AND 55.7  35.1  45.4  +3.7  72     4 13    24  0  1 13 0     38 280° 22   6.6       0 0 1 1  7     2400 GSP
     CAE 59.6  37.1  48.4  +3.8  77    13 14 19,24  0  0 10 0     38 290° 22   6.6       0 0 1 1  4     2400 CAE
     CHS 61.3  40.2  50.8  +2.9  81     8 18    24  0  0  9 0     40 320° 22   8.3       0 0 1 1  9     2400 CHS
     CRE 56.1  36.4  46.3  +1.0  71  3,13 14    19  0  0 13 0     37 320° 14   7.2       0 0 0 0  5     2400 ILM
     FLO 58.4  36.6  47.5  +2.5  78    13 14    19  0  0 13 0     37 310° 23   8.1       0 0 1 0  6     2400 ILM
     GSP 55.3  36.4  45.8  +5.0  73     4 14    24  0  2 12 0     38 300° 23   6.5       1 0 0 0  2     2400 GSP
     OGB 59.6  37.4  48.5        75   6,8 14    24  0  0 10 0     38 190° 13   6.8       0 0 1 0 10     2400 CAE
                                                                  38 310° 23
NEARBY STATIONS
[Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL] 

     STN  A      B    C     C1    D    E  F      G  H  I  J K K1  L  M     N   N1   N2   O P Q R R1 R2  S    CWA
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     TRI 49.0  29.9  39.5  +5.3  71    13   7   24 0  4 17 0     37 300°  22   4.3       0 0 1 1  3     2400 MRX
     DAV 34.8  19.7  27.3        59    14  -6  19, 0 14 23 7                             0 0 2 2  6     0700 PBZ
                                              23,24

(Please note the column denotations table below.)
PRECIPITATION / BAROMETRIC PRESSURE

VIRGINIA
[Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL]
STN  T      T1     U  U1   V    V1   W X   Y     Z   1  2 3   4    5     6    6A   7    7A    8     S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANN  3.76  +0.42 2.08 14 2.37 13-14 12 1  3.76  3.0  22  6 3 8.1   8.1  30.85  28 29.64  22 30.23  2400
BCB  2.71  -0.66 0.36 13 0.65    13 13 0  2.71  1.7  20 11 3 5.3   5.7                             2400
BRI  1.37  -1.23 0.82 14 0.82    14  7 0  1.37  1.5  11  1 1 2.75  2.75 30.75     29.62            0515/1600
CEN  3.18  -0.34 1.65 15 1.84 14-15 12 1  3.18  2.7  22  6 3 7.5   7.5  30.78  28 29.61  22,26     2400
CHO  4.01  +0.30 2.40 14 3.01 13-14 12 1  4.01                                                     2400
DAN  1.54  -2.49 0.46 14 0.73 13-14  9 0  1.54  0.5  20, 6 0 1.3   1.3            29.61  22        2400
                                                     21
DCA  3.31  +0.10 1.82 14 2.06 13-14 11 1  3.31  3.0  22 11 1 6.4   6.4  30.85  28 29.62  22        2400
IAD  3.14  +0.09 1.79 14 2.01 13-14 11 1  3.14  3.3  22 11 1 7.4   7.4                             2400
FCH  2.23        1.36 14 1.57 13-14  7 1  2.23  2.5  22  5 3 6.5   6.8                             2400
HAM  2.72  -0.60 1.63 14 1.63    14  9 1  2.72  1.0  19  6 1 1.0  12.0  30.79  29 29.59  22 30.21  2400
HER  3.44        1.92 14 1.92    14 12 1  3.44  3.2  22  6 3 7.6   7.6                             2400
HRN  3.20  +0.15 1.85 14            14 1  3.20  3.0  22  6 3  3.0  8.0  30.752 28 29.596 22 30.18  2400
LXI  2.21  -0.53 1.34 14 1.46 13-14 13 1  2.21  1.2  26  3 1  1.4  1.4  30.75  28 29.63  22 30.21  2400
LYH  3.73  +0.19 2.03 14 2.52 13-14 12 1  3.73  1.1  20  7 1  2.8  2.8  30.79  28 29.59  22        2400
NEW  1.61        1.19 14             6 1  1.61  1.5  22  2 2  2.5  2.5  30.90  28 29.84  23        1700
NPN  3.72        2.03 14 2.03    14 10 1  3.72  0.8  19, 3 0  1.8 16.0  30.73  28 29.51  22        2400
                                                     21  
NOR  2.88  -1.24 1.61 14             7 1  2.88  0.7  21  5 0  1.3  6.6                             2400
ORF  2.48  -1.45 1.38 14 1.38    14  8 1  2.48  0.7  21  9 0  1.3  6.6  30.78  28 29.56  22        2400
FHC  3.23        1.81 14 1.81    14  7 1  3.23  0.8  21  6 0  1.3  6.8  30.789 28 29.580 22 30.192 2400
POR  2.78  -1.11 1.52 14 1.52    14  8 1  2.78  0.8  21  6 0  1.3  7.1  30.789 28 29.580 22 30.227 2400
CTR  2.43  -1.90 1.59 14 1.69 13-14  5 1  2.43  1.5  19  2 1  2.3  2.3  30.80  28 29.59  22 30.209 2400
MEC  3.74        2.03 14 2.03    14  8 1  3.74  1.5  19  2 0  2.0  2.5  30.56  28 29.50  22,26     1700
RIC  3.42  -0.13 1.89 14 1.89    14 12 1  3.42  1.1  19  1 1  2.1  3.4  30.83  28 29.61  22        2400
RGL  3.06  -0.37 1.65 14 1.92 13-14  7 1  3.06  0.2  22  3 0  0.2  0.3  30.75  28 29.54   7 30.18  2400
ROA  2.15  -1.08 0.66 14 1.06 13-14 10 0  2.15  1.0  22, 7 2  3.0  3.0  30.78  28 30.02  30        2400
                                                     29
ROK                                                                  T                             2400
AKQ  3.05        1.62 14            12 1  3.05  1.2  19  7 1  2.2  5.1                             2400
WAL  3.94  +0.73 1.43 14 1.43    14 10 3  3.94  1.0  19  8 1  1.7  9.8  30.79  28 29.52  22        2400
WOO  1.96  -0.73         0.93 13-14 13 0  1.96  1.6 29-  8 2  3.1  3.1  30.57  28 29.54  11        0800
                                                    30
WSH  2.61  -1.48 1.67 14 1.76 13-14 11 1  2.61  1.9 22  10 2  3.5  4.5  30.74  28 29.57  22        2400
NORTH CAROLINA
[Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL]
STN  T      T1     U  U1   V    V1   W X   Y     Z   1  2 3   4    5     6    6A   7    7A    8     S
---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------
AVL  2.00  -2.06 1.24 13 1.33 13-14  5 1  2.00  1.6  29 5 1  1.6  2.2  30.68  18 29.60  22         2400
MRH  1.87        1.11 14 1.11    14  6 1  1.87          0 0  0.0    T  30.70  18 29.56  22         2400
CLT  1.66  -2.34 1.08 14 1.11 13-14  5 1  1.66  0.0          0.0  0.0  30.75  18 29.66  22         2400
ECG  2.22  -2.36 1.34 14 1.34    14  7 1  2.22  0.3  19 5 0  0.3  3.3  30.75  28 29.57  23         2400
FAY  1.53        1.08 14 1.08    14  4 1  1.53                                                     2400
GSO  1.81  -1.73 0.94 14 0.94    14 10 0  1.81  0.7  29 5 0  0.7  0.7                              2400
HSE  2.58  -3.26 1.52 14 1.53 14-15  6 1  2.58  0.0          0.0  0.0  30.67  28 29.54  22         2400
HKY  2.19  -2.04 1.05 13 1.29 13-14  6 1  2.19  2.0  29 2 1  2.0  2.0  30.70  18 29.60  22         2400
LBT  1.94  -2.35 1.02 14 1.07 13-14  6 1  1.94  0.0          0.0  0.0  30.75  18 29.63  22         2400
EWN  2.40  -2.37 1.37 14 1.37    14  7 1  2.40    T  16 1 0    T  1.5  30.73  28 29.59  22         2400
RAL  2.79  -1.23         1.57 13-14 10 1  2.79  0.5   9 5 0  1.1  1.1  30.78  28 29.65  22         1900
RDU  2.40  -2.37 1.37 14 1.37    14  7 1  2.40    T  16 1 0    T    T  30.73  28 29.59  22         2400
ROX  3.67  +0.03 1.81 14 1.81    14  8 1  3.67  2.0  21 2 1  2.5  2.5  30.75  28 29.59  22  30.17  2100
ILM  1.32  -3.20 0.73 14 0.73    14  6 0  1.32  0.0          0.0    T  30.72  18 29.57  22         2400
SOUTH CAROLINA
[Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL]
STN  T      T1     U  U1   V    V1   W X   Y     Z   1  2 3  4     5     6    6A   7    7A    8    S
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
AND  1.75  -2.83 1.00 13 1.08 13-14  6 1  1.75  1.0  29  1 1 1.0  1.0  30.72  18 29.68  22        2400
CAE  1.94  -2.72 1.22 14 1.22    14  4 1  1.94    T  29  1 0   T    T                             2400
CHS  1.70  -2.38 0.67 13 1.01 13-14  6 0  1.70  0.0          0.0    T                             2400
CRE  0.78  -2.88 0.33 14 0.37 13-14  7 0  0.78  0.0          0.0    T  30.72  18 29.59  22        2400
FLO  1.87  -2.22 0.74 14 0.74    14  5 0  1.87  0.0          0.0  0.0  30.74  18 29.62  22        2400
GSP  1.47  -2.94 0.60 13 0.66 13-14  7 0  1.47  1.1  29  1 1 1.1  1.1  30.71  18 29.65  22        2400
OGB  1.99        1.33 14 1.48 13-14  4 1  1.99  0.00         0.0    T  30.74  18 29.64  22        2400
NEARBY STATIONS
[Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL]
STN  T      T1     U  U1   V      V1   W X   Y     Z   1  2 3  4     5    6   6A   7   7A    8     S
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRI  2.91  -0.61 0.68 11 0.75 13-14 12 0  2.91  0.1 22  8  0  0.1   0.2  30.78  18 29.58  22      2400
DAV  5.69        0.78  5            22 5  5.69  8.9 17 15  5 24.0  53.5                           0700

Virginia:

Annandale - Lowell reports: " January was very warm up to the 14th and even though the second half was cold the average departure for the month was +0.8° F the warmest January since 2002. The precipitation was also above average with a +0.42 inch departure. The lowest temperature was 7° on the 24th and the highest was 68° on the 4th. The daily temperature range of 32°F on the 14th was the highest maximum daily temperature range in January since 2000 when it was also 32° F for the daily temperature range. The January rainfall total was 3.76 inches from 12 days with precipitation also the most since 2000. The 2.08 inches of rain recorded on the 14th was the largest precipitation total in a calendar day for January since January 11, 1991 when 2.25 inches was recorded which is still the record for January. The 2.37 inches in 24 hours on January 13th - 14th though sets a new 25-year twenty-four hour precipitation amount for January. The total snowfall for January was 8.1 inches, which was exactly equal to the 25-year average. There were 9 days with measurable snow or flurries and 6 days with measurable snow but most in one day was 3.0 inches. January 23rd was an unusually cold disagreeable day. The maximum temperature was 21° the second lowest maximum temperature for the date in the last 25-years. It also had a 37 mph wind gust and the lowest wind chill (new Scale) for the winter of -9.7° F at 0701. It is also the lowest wind chill recorded at this station since wind chill records were started in 2001. The wind run was 181.3 miles that was the highest wind run since 4-4-2004. The high wind gust of 37 mph from the WSW on the 23rd at 0245 was the strongest wind gust recorded this month. The maximum barometer reading of 30.85 inches on the 28th was the highest recorded since 3-10-1996 when 30.91 inches was recorded. The lowest barometer reading for the month was only 29.64 on the 26th. This was the highest monthly minimum barometer reading since 1984 when 29.67 inches was recorded. The average barometer pressure for the month was 30.23 inches, which was the highest since 1991. It is also interesting that January was the cloudiest January since 1996 and the second cloudiest January in the last 24 years yet the atmospheric pressure averaged the highest since 1991. Records for January (25-Years of records): 2 daily HIGH maximum temperature records: 1, 13; 1 daily LOW maximum temperature record: 22; 1 daily HIGH minimum temperature record: 12; 1 daily LOW minimum temperature : 24; 1 daily HIGH precipitation record: 14; 1 daily HIGH snowfall record: 30. " [ + + ] 

Arlington - NWS LWX's Strong reports: " RECORDS... A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE WAS SET ON THE 1ST WHEN THE TEMPERATURE REACHED 69 DEGREES BREAKING THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 68 DEGREES IN 1966. A RECORD AMOUNT OF PRECIPITATION FOR THE DAY FELL ON THE 14TH. 1.82 INCHES OF RAIN FELL. THAT BROKE THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 1.28 INCHES SET IN 1928. SUMMARY... JANUARY 2005 AVERAGED OUT TO NEAR NORMAL BOTH IN PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURES...HOWEVER THE MONTH WAS A BIT BIPOLAR. THE FIRST HALF OF THE MONTH WAS VERY WARM WITH FOUR DAYS IN THE SIXTIES AND ONE AFTERNOON THAT EVEN MADE IT INTO THE LOWER 70S. THE SECOND HALF TURNED DECIDEDLY COLD AND FEATURED A FEW MINOR SNOW EVENTS. NEW YEARS DAY STARTED THE YEAR OFF WITH THE WARMEST NEW YEARS DAY EVER...A PARTLY SUNNY DAY WITH A RECORD SETTING DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE JUST SHY OF 70 DEGREES. THRU THE FIRST HALF OF THE MONTH WE WERE AVERAGING MORE THAN TEN DEGREES WARMER THAN THE AVERAGE. ON THE THIRTEENTH THE TEMPERATURE HIT 71 DEGREES...BUT CHANGES WERE ON THE WAY AS COLD CANADIAN AIR WAS ABOUT TO SLAM INTO THE REGION. THE CHANGEOVER DAY WAS THE VERY DAMP 14TH DAY OF THE MONTH. FROM LATE ON THE 13TH THROUGH THE 14TH OVER TWO INCHES OF RAIN FELL ON THE REGION. THAT PRODUCED SOME QUICK STREAM RISES AND SOME AREAS OF FLOODING. AFTER THAT...THE REST OF THE MONTH WAS JUST AS COLD AS THE FIRST HALF WAS WARM. THE SECOND HALF OF THE MONTH AVERAGED MORE THAN TEN DEGREES COLDER THAN AVERAGE. TEN NIGHTS HAD TEMPERATURES IN THE TEENS EVEN IN THE CITY...TWELVE DEGREES BEING THE COLDEST ON BOTH THE 24TH AND 28TH. THERE WERE THREE MAIN SNOW EVENTS DURING JANUARY. THE FIRST WAS A MINOR EVENT WITH LESS THAN AN INCH REPORTED AT THE AIRPORT. THE SECOND WAS THE BIGGEST OF THE SEASON SO FAR WITH THREE INCHES OF SNOW FALLING ON WASHINGTON. THAT STORM RAPIDLY INTENSIFIED AS IT MOVED FURTHER NORTHEAST UP THE COASTLINE AND BROUGHT A MAJOR SNOWSTORM TO THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR FROM PHILADELPHIA ON UP TO MAINE. THE FINAL EVENT OF THE MONTH WAS A MIXED PRECIPITATION EVENT ON THE 29TH AND 30TH THAT BROUGHT ABOUT TWO INCHES OF SNOW AND SLEET TO THE METRO AREA. PRECIPITATION THAT DAY WENT FROM SNOW TO SLEET TO FREEZING RAIN THEN BACK TO SNOW. " - [ +/- -/+ ] "

Bridgewater - " The temperature for the month was 4.4 degrees above normal, and the precipitation was 1.23 inches below normal. The snowfall was much below normal. There were four mini snows during the month . The average for these snows was .7 inches. More snow occurred north and east of Bridgewater. The snowfall so far this winter has amounted to only 2.75 inches. The first snow occurred on January 16. January was rather quiet and boring. This has been rather typical of this winter so far. We almost had a zero reading this month when the thermometer dropped to one degree on the 24th. Some clouds came in a little before sunup, which kept the thermometer from dropping lower. We haven't had a zero reading for quite a few years. " - [ + - ] 

Centreville - " It seems like January started off as the month that winter forgot with the average daily temperature of 47.4° for the first two weeks being almost 16° above the monthly average of 31.5°. Except for the 26th when the temperature rose to 48° and we had to break out the sun block, no other days for the rest of the month made it out of the 30's. We tipped the scales with a high of 69° on January 13th and recorded our lowest temperature of the month on the 24th with 9°. The average for the entire month worked out to be 35.1° which is exactly where we should have been with the first half of the month warmth balancing out the last half cold. As usual, the nightly lows were above the monthly average low, this time by 5.9°. The hottest day on the 13th at 69° was followed by the rainiest on the 14th with 1.65" and 52% of out monthly total falling in nine hours. That, in turn, brought on a blast of winter, and finally some long awaited snow. Although not up to the January standard of 9.1", we squeezed out enough moisture to accumulate a total of 7.5" during the five snow days of the month. The most snow received was on January 22nd with 2.7" of easily manageable fluff on the ground. Naturally, I had to try to put it back from where it came from with the first outing of the snow blower this year. By the end of January we were running about two-thirds of normal snowfall for the year, so next month we have a lot of catching up to do. Total water accumulation from rain, sleet, and melted snow amounted to 3.18", or 90% of the 3.52" average, and a respectable start to the New Year. " - notes from Paul [ -/+ - ] 

Falls Church - " January 2005 started out warmer than average then by mid month got considerably colder. A few arctic clipper systems came through bringing us cold and snow. Snowfall was average for this month. I'd like to wish everyone at ACON a very Happy and Healthy New Year! " - report from Erica   [ M M ]

Hampton - notes from Dave: " A warm and pleasant start to January, then turning more to normal the first week. Cold weather from mid month on produced a 1 inch snowfall on Jan 19 with traffic woes when temps are only in the 20's . We missed most of the action with the northeast blizzard; however a glaze of ice with thunderstorms on Jan 22 and a dusting of snow. Temperatures overall were near normal with precip below normal. " - [ -/+ - ]

Herndon - Russ reports:" January temperatures averaged above normal, as did precipitation. The monthly average temperature was 2 degrees above normal and precipitation was 0.15" above average. Of note in January were the temperature extremes, with the first half much above normal and the latter half much below normal. Snowfall was average, with 8" total falling on the 19th (1.5"), 22nd (3") with thunders now, 29th (0.75"), and 30th (2.75"). Some sleet fell on the 7th and 30th. Freezing rain fell on the 29th and 30th, causing a 1/8" glaze on previous snowfall. " - [ + + ] 

Herndon - Bob adds these notes:" My average MAX temperature was 0.4 degrees above the Dulles "normal" and the average MIN was 5.5 degrees above. " - [ - M ] 

Norfolk - notes from the Fred Heutte Center " A warm month through the 14th with temperature averages nearly 14° above normal at this point. The 2nd half of the month brought extremely cold temperature averages which were well-below normal such that the month ended up above normal by 2½°. "

Norfolk - notes from NWS Wakefield: " ...THIRD GREATEST NUMBER OF DAYS WITH A HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 70 DEGREES OR WARMER ON RECORD AT NORFOLK IN JANUARY... AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE OF 41.7 F WAS ABOUT 1 DEGREE ABOVE NORMAL. LIKE RICHMOND...IT WAS A MONTH OF LARGE SWINGS AND GREATER VARIABILITY THAN NORMAL...6 DAYS WITH HIGHS OF 70 F OR WARMER...AND 2 DAYS WITH HIGHS IN THE 20S OR COLDER (ON AVERAGE ONLY ONE DAY HITS 70 F OR HIGHER AND JUST ONE DAY TOPS OUT IN THE 20S OR COLDER). TOP THREE NUMBER OF DAYS WITH A HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 70 F OR WARMER AT NORFOLK IN JANUARY: 8 DAYS IN 1950, 1937, 1890; 7 DAYS IN 1916, 1907; 6 DAYS IN 2005. MONTHLY SNOWFALL TOTALLED 1.3 INCHES...ABOUT HALF OF THE NORMAL VALUE. SEASONAL SNOWFALL SO FAR STANDS AT 6.8 INCHES. LAST TIME NORFOLK HAD A HIGHER SEASONAL SNOWFALL TOTAL THROUGH THE END OF JANUARY THAN RICHMOND OCCURRED IN THE 1993-94 SEASON (A NOT TOO UNUSUAL EVENT THAT HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 10 OTHER TIMES AS WELL). SINCE SEPTEMBER 2004...ONLY 12.73 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION HAS FALLEN AT NORFOLK...THIS IS 4.74 INCHES BELOW NORMAL. "

Portsmouth - " Strong of NWS Sterling characterized December in DC as bipolar. Couldn't find a better term myself to describe the weather in Southeastern Virginia. The first half of the month was nearly 14° above normal while the second half was almost equally below normal. At month's end, the average temp was 2.7° above normal. With the extremes noted between the halves of the month, January 2005 produced several records: 12TH TEMPERATURE MAXIMUM 71° [PREVIOUSLY 65° 1995]; 13TH TEMPERATURE MAXIMUM 75° [PREVIOUSLY 74° 1995]; 13TH TEMPERATURE MAXIMUM MINIMUM 61° [PREVIOUSLY 50° 1992]; 14TH PRECIPITATION DAILY 1.52" [PREVIOUSLY 0.67" 1980]; 19TH SNOWFALL DAILY 0.5" [PREVIOUSLY TRACE 1994]; 21ST SNOWFALL DAILY TIED 0.8" [PREVIOUSLY IN 1994]; 23RD WIND GUST MAXIMUM 36 MPH [PREVIOUSLY 34 MPH 1992]; 24TH TEMPERATURE MINIMUM MAXIMUM 35° [PREVIOUSLY 36° 2000]. Precipitation was below normal for the entire month (72%) and temps (+2.7°) were above normal. - [ + - ] 

Mechanicsville - notes from Glenn " Thunder sleet occurred on the 22nd with a heavy sleet shower. "

Richmond - notes from NWS Wakefield " ...LARGEST NUMBER OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS ABOVE FREEZING IN JANUARY ON RECORD AT RICHMOND... ...SECOND GREATEST NUMBER OF DAYS WITH A HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 70 DEGREES OR WARMER ON RECORD AT RICHMOND IN JANUARY... AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE OF 40.0 F WAS ABOUT 3 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. ALTHOUGH WARMER THAN AVERAGE...THIS DOES NOT RANK IN THE TOP 20 WARMEST JANUARYS ON RECORD. THE MONTH BEGAN WELL ABOVE NORMAL...7 OF THE 1ST 14 DAYS OF THE MONTH HAD A HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 70 F OR WARMER (THE RECORD FOR NUMBER OF DAYS IN THE 70S OR WARMER AT RICHMOND IS 8 IN 1950). NEW DAILY RECORD HIGHS WERE SET ON THE 4TH...12TH AND 13TH. IN ADDITION...THE MIN TEMPERATURE FOR EACH OF THE 1ST 14 DATES OF THE MONTH STAYED ABOVE FREEZING...A NEW RECORD FOR THE MOST CONSECUTIVE DATES ABOVE FREEZING IN JANUARY (PREVIOUS RECORD HAD BEEN 13 IN A ROW BACK IN 1906). THE WARMTH DID NOT LAST HOWEVER...AS A MUCH COLDER THAN AVERAGE 2ND HALF OF THE MONTH FOLLOWED...5 OF THE LAST 17 DAYS HAD A HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 32 F OR COLDER...AND JUST ONE DAY OF THE LAST 17 HIT 50 F OR HIGHER. NORMALLY JANUARY IN RICHMOND SEES ONLY ONE DAY OF 70 F OR HIGHER...AND 4 DAYS WITH A MAX OF 32 F OR COLDER. SNOWFALL TOTALLED 2.1 INCHES...ABOUT HALF OF THE NORMAL VALUE. SEASONAL SNOWFALL SO FAR STANDS AT 3.4 INCHES. "

Roanoke - Wendell reports:" " - [ M M ]

Ruther Glen - Danny adds these notes: " 2005 gets off to an extremely warm start, with 5 days at 70 degrees or higher! The warm weather came to a screeching halt with thunderstorms and extremely gusty winds on the 14th. Two weekend winter events to end the month bring minor snowfall accumulations, kept down by the precipitation being mixed with sleet and freezing rain on both occasions. " - [ + - ]

North Carolina:

Raleigh - " January was similar to December with extremes in weather. The first 14 days of the month had several days with temps over 20 degrees above normal, then winter returned for the remainder of the month. There were several days of winter precipitation, but the maximum snow depth was only ½. The ½" of snow on the 21st caused traffic gridlock in Raleigh. The road surface was extremely cold, however exhaust from vehicles melted the snow then refroze as ice. Severe weather was observed on the 14th with a confirmed tornado (F0) in Orange County (http://www4.ncsu.edu/~nwsfo/storage/cases/20050114/ " - notes from Bob [ - - ] 

Raleigh - NWS Raleigh (RAH) reports: Here is an overview from the January climate summary from NWS RAH: " January 2005 was a tale of two months, featuring unprecedented warmth through the first half of the month, followed by a turn to unseasonably cold temperatures through much of the second half. Similar to December of 2004, a wide range of weather conditions were experienced during January 2005, ranging from record warmth to strong thunderstorms with isolated tornadoes, to biting cold. By month's end many areas had also experienced a full array of a wintry mix of precipitation. The full January 2005 NC Weather Review is available at: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/rah/climate/data/MonthlySummary.Jan.2005.doc. " -

Wilmington - NWS Wilmington reports: " RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE TIED ON THE 18TH. RECORD OF 17 DEGREES SET IN 1977. RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE TIED ON THE 24TH. RECORD OF 16 DEGREES SET IN 2003. " -

South Carolina:

Florence - NWS ILM reports: " RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE (78°) SET ON THE 13TH. PREVIOUS RECORD 77 IN 1960. " -

Nearby Cities:

Tri-Cities - " Tri-Cities received 2.91 inches of precipitation in January, which was 0.61 inches below normal. It tied with 1943 as the 28th driest January on record for Tri-Cities. Precipitation occurred on only twelve days, and ten of those days had less than one half of an inch of precipitation. The heaviest precipitation fell on the 11th, when 0.68 inches was recorded. The driest January at Tri-Cities was back in 1940, when only 1.06 inches was recorded. The monthly average temperature at Tri-Cities was 39.5 degrees, which was 5.3 degrees above normal. It ranked as the 15th warmest January on record for Tri-Cities. A daily record high temperature was broken on the 12th, when the afternoon temperature rose to 69 degrees breaking the previous record of 64 degrees set in 2000. The warmest January at Tri-Cities was back in 1950, when the average temperature was 50.1 degrees. " - from NWS MRX [ - - ] 

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  
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 2004-2005 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  
R2 sky cover percentage 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


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STATION / LOCATION (MILES & DIRECTION FROM MAIN POST OFFICE)/OBSERVER / YEAR RECORDS BEGAN / EMAIL ADDRESS:

  ROK   Roanoke, VA 6SW Wendell Prillaman  4/76 wlprillaman@cox.net
ANN    Annandale, VA 1 3/4 ENE - Lowell Koontz  8/31/79  wwkoontz@verizon.net 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 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, 38° 50.9788' N LAT. 77° 25.6374' W LON. | Elevation 324' | m.psb@verizon.net RGL Ruther Glen, VA 38°0'45" N 77°32'29" W Danny Jessee 2003 danny@dannyjessee.com
   WAL   Wallops Island, VA 37° 56'26" N 75° 27'47" W Wallops Flight Facility Airport
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
   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  BRE    Brevard, NC 1SE Bob Keehn 1/1/90 rkeehn@brinet.com
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 HKY  Hickory, NC 
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
CTR  Winterpock in Chesterfield County, VA Albert Arnold 06/03 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
   HSE    Cape Hatteras, NC  Mitchell Field 35-13-56N 075-27-21W 3M
HRN   Herndon, VA 4SW Russ Topping -  1985 weatherwatcher@cox.net LBT    Lumberton, NC  Lumberton Municipal Airport 34-36-26N 079-03-36W 37M
   EWN    New Bern, NC  Craven County Regional Airport 36-04-03N 077-02-50W 3M
LXI     Lexington, VA  Scott M. Lancey, WREL Radio -  06/96 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 - MEMBER DECEASED FALL 2004 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
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 wvweather@mountain.net