|
...UNUSUALLY
COOL JULY WITH MOST STATIONS NOTING LESS THAN NORMAL PRECIP...
According to
your reports, July was very cool with most stations having near normal
to below normal - in some cases well below - rainfall. Not a typical
July by any means, but one free of any prolonged periods of heat.
Indeed, the month saw unusually low minimum temperatures ranging from the
upper 40s to upper 50s in the eastern reaches of Virginia and North Carolina
to the lower 60s from Wilimington southwest along the South Carolina coast.
In fact, Dave Lesher reported a low temperature of 40.6° in Canaan
Heights, WV! The only other spots with lows in the 40s included Blacksburg,
Louisa, New Market and Wakefield, all in Virginia and with most occurring
in the first few days of the month. In a month when 100° readings
are common across our region, the highest temperature found in your reports
was 97° at Charleston. Most of the warmest max temps occurred
along the coastal plain of Southeast Virginia south to Wilmington and on
southwest to Charleston. A tornadic outbreak was recorded on the
6th of July at Myrtle Beach. A review from NWS ILM is found below.
Myrtle Beach Tornadoes
- July 6
[from the NWS ILM Homepage]
"During the late
afternoon of July 6, 2001, evidence for up to five tornado and near-shore
waterspout touchdowns was found across portions of North Myrtle Beach and
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. A Special Marine Warning was issued for the
coastal waters adjacent to Horry County at 3:38 pm. This warning was in
effect due to large thunderstorms drifting south along the coastline. The
potential for waterspouts was mentioned in the warning.
The first reports
were actually of flooding rains and came in around 4:00 pm. At 4:20 pm,
the Myrtle Beach police department informed us they were checking on reports
of damage, however at this time it was believed the damage was caused by
lightning rather than wind.
Between 4:25
and 4:30 pm, several reports of tornadoes in Myrtle Beach were received
at the National Weather Service. A Tornado Warning was issued for Horry
County at 4:33 pm. At 4:34 pm, weather observations from the Myrtle Beach
airport included mention of a tornado moving southwest near the end of
the runway. Tower personnel reported seeing the funnel surrounded by a
debris cloud.
Many people
saw this tornado, and excellent video was obtained by several TV stations
and by dozens of vacationers. Their videos show the funnel moving slowly
across the beachfront surrounded by a varying cloud of debris and dust.
Flashes of light were visible as power lines arced in the winds. Damage
was widespread across portions of Myrtle Beach and a small portion of North
Myrtle Beach. Luckily, there were NO serious injuries and no deaths directly
attributable to the storm.
A preliminary
damage assessment was performed during the evening of July 6th and revealed
damage to many buildings, signs, utility poles, and vehicles. The
magnitude of the damage suggests F2 strength for the tornado, which corresponds
to peak wind speeds of 113 to 157 mph. Many automobiles and multi-story
motels had their windows blown out. Several structures had damage to their
roofs and stucco walls, and one wooden structure had its roof completely
removed. Power lines were down and some large billboards were damaged.
The power of the wind was very evident when several vehicles were actually
flipped over by the tornadoes, including two tourist trolleys. The most
concentrated damage occurred in the vicinity of the Myrtle Beach pavilion,
although more
spotty damage occurred for miles north along the coastline.
This storm occurred
during the busy Fourth of July week when nearly 400,000 vacationers are
at Myrtle Beach. Reports indicated up to thirty-six people were
taken by ambulance
to area hospitals for only minor injuries. Damage from this tornado is
preliminarily estimated at $8,000,000. Damage to automobiles accounts for
over $1,000,000 of that total. At the height of the storm, 4,000 Myrtle
Beach residents were without power. See pics here: http://nwsilm.wilmington.net/archive/07-06-01/
Flash flooding does $12
million in damage: Scott, Wise counties take brunt of storm that leaves
one dead and many homeless - July 8
A weekend of
flash floods in southwest Virginia caused costly damage to road and bridges
in 10 counties on the 8th. Scott and Wise counties received the brunt
of the damage after torrential rains triggered isolated flooding that resulted
in one death and left dozens of families temporarily homeless. The
Governor of Virginia requested federal disaster assistance for the stricken
areas. Estimates did not include damage to local crops. At
the peak of the storm, 100 roads were blocked at one time. A low
pressure system moving across the Mid-Atlantic region, powered by winds
off the ocean produced significant rainfall across much of Virginia.
The storm was the latest blow to a soggy, mountainous region, which was
still grappling with flash floods from earlier in the month. Tazewell
County reported over 8 inches in about four hours.
Patrick Maloit's...
July
2001 PRECIPITATION DATA FOR JULY 2001
ACROSS
THE WAKEFIELD HYDROLOGIC SERVICE AREA
http://tgsv5.nws.noaa.gov/er/akq/HYM/JulPre2001.htm
July was drier
than normal across most of central...south central and southeastern Virginia...and
northeast North Carolina...while there was near normal precipitation across
most of the Northern Neck and the lower Maryland and Virginia Eastern Shore.
The month started out cool...as high pressure repeatedly moved in from
Canada...but by the last third of the month...the Bermuda high was back
in control of the region's weather...spelling the return of hot and humid
weather typical of mid-summer across eastern Virginia...Maryland and North
Carolina. July 2001 precipitation totals ranged from 2.33 inches at Emporia...to
9.29 inches at Painter in Accomack County. A cold front pushed across the
region from the midwest on the 1st to the 2nd...spreading scattered showers
and thunderstorms with it. High pressure then moved from Michigan on the
2nd to off the Mid-Atlantic coast on the 3rd...where it continued to control
the region's weather through the 5th. A cold front moved through the Mid-Atlantic
states from late on the 5th to the morning of the 6th...bringing generally
light precipitation with its passage. High pressure built slowly southeast
from the Great Lakes on the 6th to central Georgia on the morning of the
8th. A cold front entered the Mid-Atlantic states late on the 8th...moving
offshore the afternoon of the 9th. Once again only scattered showers and
thunderstorms accompanied yet another front. Weak high pressure built in
to the area on the 10th. Another relatively dry cold front crossed the
region late on the 11th. Once again...high pressure from Canada built into
the Mid-Atlantic states behind the front. The high slowly moved southeast
from Iowa on the 12th...to south central Georgia on the 18th. A cold front
moved across the region on the 18th. Numerous showers and thunderstorms
occurred with the passage of the front. Some rainfall amounts were locally
heavy...including a 24 hour maxima for the month at Ashland...where 1.10
inches fell. The front moved back north on the 19th as a wave of low pressure
moved across it spreading scattered showers and storms with it. As the
front moved offshore on the 19th...high pressure built in from new england.
The high slowly moved south...moving into central Virginia by the 21st.
The high then moved east...moving to the Maryland coast by the 23rd. As
the high moved offshore...a coastal trough set up off the Carolina cost
from the 22nd to the 23rd...spreading scattered showers into southeast
Virginia and northeast North Carolina on both days. By the 24th...the Bermuda
high had established itself as the dominate weather player for the Mid-Atlantic
states...pumping warm and humid air into the region. The combination of
this moisture supply...and a frontal system located over the northeast
and midwest on the 25th...produced copious amounts of rain across the region
from the 25th to the 30th. The front slowly moved south as a cold front
from the 25th to the 26th...stalling out across northern north carolina
by the morning of the 27th. High pressure building into upstate New York...moved
the front into the southeastern states by the morning of the 28th...but
it was back across the region as moving north as a warm front by the morning
of the 29th...as the Bermuda High temporarily won out in the battle between
the two highs. The front finally moved offshore by the morning of the 30th...as
the northern high built across eastern Canada...and down into the Mid-Atlantic
region...from the 30th to the 31st. The rainfall produced from the 25th
to the 30th by the multiple passes of the front across the Mid-Atlantic
region...all but one of the 24 hour precipitation maxima for July reported
here. Some of these included: 2.30 inches from the 25th to the 26th at
Jackson (Northampton County...North Carolina)...2.5 inches at Clarksville
(Mecklenburg County) on the 26th...3.40 inches from from the 26th to the
27th at Edenton (Chowan County)...2.55 inches at Lewiston (Bertie County)
on the 27th...2.05 inches at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Virginia
Beach) from the 27th to the 28th...2.84 inches from the 28th to the 29th
at Painter...4.94 inches at Hampton on the 29th...3.29 inches from the
29th to the 30th at Eastville (Northampton County...Virginia)...and 1.71
inches at Princess Anne (Somerset County) on the 30th. |
ACON
- VA/NC/SC
The Atlantic
Coast Observer Network:
Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina
http://www.pilot.infi.net/~bsmoot/acon.htm
SUMMARY OF
CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA
JULY
2001
Socey sends along another
Weather
View for August
Francis Socey
of Weems, VA sends another monthly outlook (August 2001) with a glimpse
at the hurricane season and the coming winter. Check his prognostications
in the Weems section below. Anyone care to critique the success of
his efforts? Is that "southern Gulf of Mexico disturbance" August
19th-25th Chantal?
UPDATED!!! Experimental
Graphical Digital Forecasts
Washington,
DC http://205.156.54.206/er/lwx/digital.htm
Blacksburg
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/er/rnk
Wakefield
http://tgsv5.nws.noaa.gov/er/akq/digital.htm
Charleston,
SC http://wchs.csc.noaa.gov/rdfgraphic.htm
New Member:
Gary
Oldham of Ashburn, Virginia (AHB)
I'm 44 and married
with one daughter, living in Ashburn, VA, close to Dulles airport and the
NWS WFO. I've been interested in weather since childhood (I grew
up and lived in Southern California, moving to Virginia in 1997), but really
focused on it when I was a wildland firefighter and manager with the Orange
County Fire Department. For several years I ran the Emergency Command
Center, and fire weather was a big part of our strategic, tactical, and
response planning. I became the de facto in-house meteorologist for
the department, and those Santa Ana foehn winds are named after a canyon
in Orange County. Plenty of activity in the reportedly placid Southern
California weather. And, yes, I'm itching to go to Washington or
Oregon right now, even though they have those tree things instead of the
brush I'm used to. I'm currently working for a systems integrator
supporting public safety agencies nationwide.
I'm monitoring
weather nowadays with a new wireless Davis Vantage Pro. Living in
a town home really limits my instrument placement; I've got the temperature,
humidity, rainfall, and anemometer mounted on a 10' mast on my deck, about
20' away from the house and 28' AGL. Rainfall, temp, and humidity
readings are fine, but my windspeed (at least from the north) is modulated
somewhat. I use Davis' data logger and Weather Link software to log
data every 5 minutes. I've also been testing Weather Display.
I have a weather and climatology web page at
http://www.geocities.com/n6skk/WX.html,
which has lots of current and forecast weather data along with historical
data from 1 July 2001 along with lots of good links to weather, severe
weather, fire weather, and forecast modeling sites. I am active in
the Skywarn program with the NWS Baltimore/Washington office in Sterling,
VA. I host the Weather & Climate and Davis Vantage Pro Web Rings.
[Ashburn is
about 4 miles NW of the NWS Sterling, VA office and about halfway between
Leesburg and Herndon in Northern Virginia.]
Eleanor
sends her final report and heads north
"It has been
a pleasure to provide you, the ACON membership, with these reports during
my nearly 3 year tenure as Lead Forecaster in Charleston. I'm returning
home to Massachusetts in mid August, to work at the WFO Taunton once again.
Keep in touch!" - Eleanor Vallier-Talbot
Lightning Detection Map
from the Eastern Shore (VA) Weather Service http://weather3.intercom.net/lightning.htm
AGAIN!! New
Denotation in Notes Section
Please note
that a denotation similar to [ + + ] has been added at the end of
the entries for the notes section for each state/station. The first
sign in the braces depicts whether or not the average temp was above or
below. The second sign represents the above or below normal departure
for precipitation. This should give a quick look at monthly departures.
Online US Drought Monitor:
http://enso.unl.edu/monitor/monitor.html
Online Seasonal US Drought
Outlook:
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/
seasonal_drought.html
|
For ACON
VA/NC/SC Recent Weather News, Search CNN
http://www.cnn.com/WEATHER
ACON
VA/NC/SC Member Station Extremes - July 2001
|
State
|
Maximum Temperature
|
Minimum
Temperature
|
Warmest
Average
Temperature
|
Coldest
Average
Temperature
|
Maximum
Precipitation
|
Minimum
Precipitation
|
|
Virginia
|
96°
Bridgewater, Newport News, Norfolk
(NOR)
|
47°
Louisa
|
76.9°
Hampton
|
69.0°
Blacksburg
|
6.71"
Mechanicsville
|
2.72"
Richmond (RMD)
|
|
North Carolina
|
96°
Wilmington
|
52°
Asheville
|
78.3°
Wilmington
|
71.6°
Brevard
|
7.30"
Roxboro
|
2.24"
Charlotte
|
|
South Carolina
|
97°
Charleston
|
60°
Florence
|
80.4°
Charleston
|
76.7°
Greenville-Spartanburg
|
9.74"
Charleston
|
3.09"
Orangeburg
|
Virginia:
Ashburn - New member Gary Oldham
sends these notes: "A very mild July overall. Only five days above
90º F. Very wet fourth of July, with 1.84” of rain falling,
at times at an extremely high rate, but not as fast as on July 1st, when
I recorded a rainfall rate of 10.29” per hour! This was recorded
by my Davis Vantage Pro tipping bucket; tipping buckets are reportedly
not the best for recording rainfall rate during intense rain, so I question
this a bit, but it was raining extremely hard that day. Wind was
light, with average windspeed for the month of only 1.2 MPH; dominant direction
was from the NW. Interestingly for July, 27.4 heating degree days
were recorded (as opposed to the more typical 266.4 cooling degree days).
Cirrocumulus clouds made appearances on several days, somewhat unusual
for this area."
Annandale - Lowell notes:
"July was very cool & a little on the dry side -- only 0.09 inches
of rain in the 15 day period from the 11th to the 26th . The mean
temp was 74.5°F, a departure of -3.3°F and the lowest mean
for July in the last 21 years except for last year. The 67°F
maximum temp on the 28th was the lowest max on record for the date in the
last 21 years. The 67°F maximum temp on the 28th was also
the lowest maximum temp in July since 1997. The 56°F minimum
temp on the 2nd & 3rd was the lowest temperature recorded in
July since 1996. Cool nights--the min. temp. Was <=70°F on
28 days of the month which was the most on record for July. (old record
was 26 days). Even though last year was cooler it was different as
it had much more rain and cloudiness than this year. July had 3.87
inches of precip a departure of -0.36 inches but the totals
varied over the area due to thunderstorms. July had only 5
days with a max temp of 90° or more, that is the least in the last
21 years except for last year. " [ - - ]
Arlington - From NWS WBC: "
No new records were set in Washington this month. July was cool and
wet once again this year...as it was last year. Although not
quite as gloomy as July 2000...it was in the top 15 coolest Julys on record
and nearly an inch above normal in rainfall. There were however
plenty of spectacular summer days mixed in for all Washingtonians to enjoy.
Another peculiarity of July this year was its remarkable similarity to
June. With the exception of departures...every statistic in the listed
data was nearly the same as it was the month before. In terms of
temperature...July 2001 typically featured days with highs in the 80s and
lows in the mid 60s to low 70s. There were some
cool days however...most notably
on Sunday the 29th when northeast winds from a developing coastal low kept
daytime temperatures in the 60s while nearly an inch of rain fell.
Another day with heavy rain this month was the fourth of July.
Thunderstorms moved over the city during the late afternoon and evening
producing nearly an inch of rain. A brief reprieve between 9 and 10 pm
allowed the fireworks display on the mall to go off as planned. The
past two months have produced nearly ten inches of rain over Washington
/9.48"/. Also...there have only been ten days 90 degrees or
warmer this year. This is less than half of the average 24 days expected
by the end of July. This is a continuation from last year which also
kept away the heat with only twelve 90 degree days all year." The
average wind speed was 8.7 mph. [- +]
Blacksburg - Temps were 2.1°
below normal while precip was 0.99" above normal. - NWS Blacksburg [-
+]
Bridgewater - Clayton sends
these note via email: "The average temperature for the month was
3.77 degrees below normal. Although heavy rain occurred during the
last part of the month, the precipitation was .58 inches below normal.
It was quite dry most of the month. The heavy rains on
the 28th and 29th was the biggest rainfall since the first week of September,
1999, when Hurricane Dennis dumped a little over 4 inches on us.
The rains came just in time. The grass was turning brown, and the corn
was starting to wilt. With the ground soaked now, the crops should
mature without too much trouble. I have never seen a summer
in which we have had so many forecasts with the chance of showers and thunder
storms, and nothing much happening. They seemed to go every place but Bridgewater."
[
- -]
Centreville - Paul notes: "With
July typically being our warmest month, the averages didn’t stand up too
well with the average daily high some six degrees below the 88° normally
expected. Nightly lows were about 10° below the 72° average.
Seems like this is the second time this year when lows were reported as
being below average. Don’t suppose we’re in for a mini ice age do
you? Well over one third of our monthly precipitation occurred with
a gully washer on the eighth with 1.32”; most of which fell in two hours.
The following 17 days yielded 0.21” of rain. This is a period of
over two weeks when our maximum temperature of 92°; our low of 52°
, and days when our monthly average highs and lows occurred. Not
a period totally lacking in excitement. We picked up nearly another
third of our rain on the 29th with 1.20” soaking in over eight hours.
The remaining one third, or so, of our rain also fell. [- M]
Charlottesville - Rainfall
for the month was 1.33" below normal. The average wind speed
was 4.2 mph. - NWS WBC [M -]
Dulles - NWS WBC reports
the mean temp was 3.6° below normal. Rainfall was in excess of
the normal by 0.71". The average wind speed was 5.8 mph. [
- +]
Falls Church - "July 2001 was
a cool, wet month...also this July was 0.7 degrees cooler than June. This
same cool, wet pattern with June being a bit warmer than July was also
the case last year. I only recorded 5 days where the maximum temperature
reached 90 degrees or higher...this is only about half the average number
of 90 degree days expected in July. July 4 was a washout for Falls
Church....our local fireworks display ended up being postponed until the
5th. This is the first time I can recall this ever happening. " -
notes from Erica [ - + ]
Hampton - "Temperatures remained
cool compared to climate norms. The warm and humid periods have been
tempered by several fronts and troughs along the East Coast. Temperatures
averaged 2° below normal for the month with a record low of 58°
on the 3rd. Precipitation would have been sharply below normal if
not for a daily record of 4.94" which fell on the 29th. The monthly
total was 0.45" above normal." - notes from Dave [
- +]
Harrisonburg - "Rainfall for
the month was 0.23" above normal. Year-to-date rain was 3.72" below
normal. The most rainfall in one day for the year is only 1.63" and
fell on July 29th." - notes via email from Terry [M
+]
Herndon - "July rainfall was
.89 inches above normal. We had thunderstorms on the 1st, 4th, 5th, 8th,
10th and 26th. Temperatures averaged 3.9 degrees below normal. Of
note was the high temp of just 64 degrees on the 29th. The
peak wind gust of 32 mph was registered
in a thunderstorm on the 8th." - from Russ
[- +]
Louisa - Joe sends this update
on his experiences with his new Davis Vantage PRO weather station: "About
my new Davis Vantage PRO. As I said last month it works very
good, all but the wireless part. I only had about a 40 foot range
through three interior walls. I couldn't
live with that, as I wanted to mount it out at the same location of my
NWS sensors. Roughly 100 feet from the house. After trying all that Davis
suggested . . . as a last resort I finally went to their last suggestion.
I bought one of their repeaters and mounted it on the mast for my radio
antennas. Now the signal only has to go from the repeater through my roof
and ceiling. I experimented with the line of sight range before I
permanently mounted it . . . I was still receiving a good signal at the
edge of my property over 500 feet away! Any way it cost me a little
bit more but it works. After a month of comparing readings between my three
systems they all more or less agree to within 2.3 degrees and .03
in of precip. You know the old Chinese proverb - "Man who have one
weather station always know correct temperature. Man with three weather
stations never know."
Lynchburg - The mean temp was
4.6° below normal while precip was 0.68" above the norm. - NWS Blacksburg
[-
+]
New Market - Joyce reports:
"We were so dry until the 29th when we finally got a good rain of 2.47".
The ground is still dry a couple of inches down. I believe the rainfall
on the 29th saved the yards."
Norfolk - From NWS AKQ:
The monthly precip was 0.66" below normal while the monthly mean temp was
1.9° below normal. The average wind speed was 10.0 mph. [
- - ]
Newport News - If it wasn't
July, I would say it was a cold month. But since it is, I'll just
say cool. 7 new record lows and 3 ties. Dry up until the 29th
with a two-day rain total of 3.89". Only two thunderstorm days, also
a July record. [ - M ]
Portsmouth - The mean temperature
here was 3.8° below normal while precip was only 75% of the norm (or
-1.30"). The average wind speed was 3.5 mph from a dominant southerly
direction. 8 cool temperature station records set here with: 3rd
- Minimum daily temperature 56°(previously
63° in 1979); 14th - Minimum daily temperature 63°(previously 64°
in 1998); 15th - Minimum daily temperature 65°(previously 68° in
1998); 16th - Tied Minimum daily temperature 66° (previously in 1981);
19th - Minimum maximum daily temperature 77°(previously 78° in
1984); 20th - Minimum maximum daily temperature 76° (previously 79°
in 2000); 21st - Minimum maximum daily temperature 78° (previously
79° in 1984); 27th - Minimum maximum daily temperature 77° (previously
79° in 1977) Rainfall for the year-to-date
is running 5.47" below normal (80%). [ - - ]
Richmond - Roy reports a very
dry month with only 0.53" before the heavy rain on 07/29.
Richmond - From NWS AKQ:
Richmond's rainfall was 2.30" below normal. Temps averaged 3.1°
below the norm. The average wind speed was 7.5 MPH. [
- - ]
Mechanicsville - Glen
reports: "The monthly precipitation averaged more than the previous month.
The 29th of the month brought downpours for the 24-hour period." [ M
+]
Roanoke - "Temperature
averages were 1.6° below normal. Rainfall was below normal (-0.31")
- notes NWS Blacksburg [- -]
Roanoke - "A very dry month
until the 26th. Then for the next 6 days, very good rains.
July was 2.2° below normal (coolest since 1984) and the coolest on
record. Rainfall was 1.01" above normal." - notes from Wendell,
who sends us his new email address: wandlprillaman@home.com.
[
- + ]
Weems - Francis has sent along
another Weather View for August 2001. Let's see what he predicted
and how it's transpiring: "During August, real summer weather is
at maximum strength. In virginia and other Atlantic Coast states,
some record temperatures are to be expected. Thunderstorms and heavier
showers will be quite common, and the Bermuda high pressure cell will be
a factor in precipitation and temperature behavior. Hurricanes will
become more frequent, but where they may move is most difficult to predict.
The Atlantic coast will have a serious threat near September 10-15.
Coastal cities from Jacksonville north to the southern New England coast
are at greatest risk of a hit. The Gulf of Mexico, the islands and
Central America are also in danger of a hit this year. In all respects
the weather for Virginia will be much warmer, with a few days of steamy
humidity. Mars has been stationed over the western states for several
months now, and the heat has been very much pronounced. During the
next three months it will be warmer than normal east of the Mississippi
River to the Atlantic Coast. This winter will be quite different
from last year, as severe times of misery will be most frequent from Montana
south through Colorado and east over the Great Plains to the Great Lakes,
with the center of activity just west of the Mississippi River; the east
will be a bit milder but wet with maximum periods of moisture next spring.
August
5-11: Expect daily changes in the weather from partly cloudy
to clear skies and then a return to cloudiness with showers or thunderstorms,
and rapidly rising temperatures from northwest counties to the south and
east. In essence, the week will be an unsettled period of mystifying
changes. August 12-18: A rather settled week with warm,
humid temperatures is expected. Showers and thunderstorms will be
frequent with humidity becoming oppressive, but some local relief will
come with thunderstorms. The storms, while active, will be hit-and-miss,
with little general relief. August 19-25: A major lunar cyclic
change occurs this week when all pressure centers makes changes i movements.
A tropical depression becomes active in tropical waters, moving west to
northwest toward the Windward Islands. Perhaps another active center
will be in the southern Gulf of Mexico. Still more troubled waters
west of northern Mexico. We are expected to experience a start of
the hurricane and typhoon seasons, so keep an eye on the developments.
This week has promise to be milder than some of the days in the recent
past.
August 26-September 1: By midweek, it will become warmer,
with above normal readings. Cloudiness will increase and over the
weekend and into the holidays expect generous showers and thunderstorms
and cooler temperatures. Showers and moments of some clearing by
late weekend will become widespread over the east. The southern waters
become unsettled and a very story time in early September is expected."
Anyone care to analyze Francis' predictions and give a rating?
Woodstock - "Mighty cool
for July. The second coolest in 16 years. Only 2000 was lower.
Positively chilly on July 30th with a high temp of only 63°.
Rather dry until we had 2.3" of rain in 24 hours ending on the 29th.
That brought was slightly above average rainfall to the sixth wettest in
16 years." - notes from Lauck
[ - +]
North Carolina:
Asheville - From NWS GSP: The
monthly mean temp was 0.1° above normal while rainfall was 0.98"
above normal. The average wind speed was 4.3 mph. [+ + ]
Brevard - Bob notes:
"July was a moderate month temperature wise, with a mean high, 80.8, 1.2
degrees F below the ten year average high for July. and an average low,
62.4, 2.8 degrees warmer than the
ten year low for July. The dry trend
that we have been experiencing broke, at least for July. I recorded 7.25"
compared with a ten year average July rainfall of 6.55". The year to the
end of July cumulative total is 29.15", 6.75" below the ten year average
accumulation. With all that rain, sky cover averaged 82% for the month.
" [ - + ]
Charlotte - NWS GSP reports
the mean temp here was 2.9° below normal while precip was 1.68" below
normal. The average wind speed was 5.7 mph. [ - - ]
Greensboro - Temperatures at
the Piedmont Triad International Airport averaged 2.3° below normal
while precip was 0.45" below the norm. - From NWS RDU [ - - ]
Lumberton - The average wind
speed was 4.7 MPH. - from NWS ILM
Raleigh (RAL) - Bob writes:
"July wx was cooler than normal and much wetter than normal. Hard to believe,
but the max temperature for summer has only been 93 degrees. No severe
weather was observed, however 3.19" of rainfall was measured during the
early morning of July 27th. Several thunderstorms passed through
the area during this period with thunder been noted for approximately 6
hours. No significant flooding was reported in the Raleigh area. " [-
+]
Raleigh (RDU) - The monthly
mean temperature was 1.9° below normal and the total precip was 0.12"
above normal. This was the coolest July since 1984 when the average
temperature was 74.9°. Daily minimum temperature records were
set on the 14th, 15th, and 21st. A daily low max temp record was
set on the 27th and tied on the 28th. A daily precip record was set
on the 27th when 2.45" of rain fell. - from NWS RDU [ - + ]
Roxboro - Merriell writes:
"July began as usual with warm humid days with scattered showers and thunderstorms.
With abundant rainfall beginning on the 23rd, the month ended much wetter
and 2° cooler than normal." [- +]
Wilmington - ...A cooler and
slightly drier than normal July for the Port City... The average temperature
for the month was 1.8 degrees below normal for the month. No temperature
records were broken or tied for the month. Total rainfall for the
month 0.87 inches below normal. July was sunnier than normal.
74 percent of possible sunshine was received (normal is 64 percent).
The average wind speed was 6.9 mph. [- - ]
South Carolina:
Columbia
- NWS CAE reports the average relative humidity was 77% while the average
temperature was 0.4° below normal. Rainfall was 2.23" below normal.
For the year rainfall is running 9.36" below the normal. - NWS CAE
[ -
- ]
Charleston
- In her final report from the Lowcountry, Eleanor writes: "New records:
Charleston International Airport: July 27th Record 24 hour rainfall
3.85" previous 2.17" in 1964; July 28th Record low maximum
76 previous 78
set in 1935;
Customs House Downtown Charleston: July 11th Record high 100
previous 98 set in 1985; July 14th Record low 69
previous 70 set in 1964; July 28th Record low maximum
77 previous 78 set in 1957
A cool, wet
month overall for the Lowcountry in July 2001. This was thanks to
several fronts that penetrated through the region, which is highly unusual
for mid summer. There were "only" 10 days with high temperatures of 90
degrees or
better. In
a typical July, there should be 31, as the normal high for July is 90.2
degrees. One thing that has returned to normal is the precipitation.
There were a total of 17 days with measurable precipitation, and two with
totals of 2" or greater. On the 27th, a record 24 hour rainfall was
set at the Charleston Airport. The 28th was reminiscent of my days
back in New England...with a lot of cloudiness, off and on rainfall, and
relatively cool temperatures as a front stalled across the area.
Record low maximum temperatures were set at both Charleston Airport and
the Customs House that day. There were several dry days, including
a stretch from the 13th to 19th, which were pleasant for vacationers."
From NWS CHS: The monthly mean temp was 1.7° below normal while precip
was 2.9" above the norm. The average wind speed was 7 mph. [ -
+ ]
Florence
- NWS ILM reports the mean temp here was 2.8° below normal while
rainfall was 1.80" above normal. The average wind speed was 6.2 mph.
Record low temps: 60° on the 14th (old record 65° in 1998), 62°
on the 15th (old record 66° in 1967), and 64° on the 22nd (old
record 65° in 1965). [- +]
Greenville-Spartanburg-
The monthly temps averaged 1.5° below normal while total rainfall was
1.38" above normal. The average wind speed was 5.8 mph. - NWS
GSP [ - + ]
North Myrtle
Beach - From NWS ILM: Rainfall was 0.69" above normal.
Temps averaged 1.6° below normal. The average wind speed was
7.5 MPH. Record low temps: 62° on the 14th (old record
67° in 1952), 63° on the 15th (old record 68° in 1953), 63°
on the 16th (old record 65° in 1953), 66° on the 21st (old record
67° in 1951), and 67° on the 22nd (old record 68° in 1954).
[+
-]
Orangeburg
- The average relative humidity was 75%. (from NWS CAE)
Nearby Cities:
Tri-cities/Bristol area noted
temps averaging 1.2° below normal with total rainfall far above normal
(4.41"). For the year, rainfall is 4.47" above normal - from
NWS Morristown, TN [- +]
(Please
note the column denotations table below.)
TEMPERATURES / WIND / ELEMENTS
VIRGINIA
STN A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R R1 S
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AHB 83.8 61.9 73.2 93.2 24 51.3 3 5 0 0 0 21 NW 10 3 0 0 0 0 2400
ANN 84.26 64.18 74.53 95 24 56 2,3 5 0 0 0 27 WSW 11 5 0 0 0 1 2400
BCB 69.0 87 23,24 49 14,15 23 11 2400
BRI 84.0 61.2 72.6 96 24 51 7 8 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0515/1600
CEN 82.9 62.2 72.6 92 17,24 52 3,14 4 0 0 0 20 038° 2 6 0 0 0 0 1200/2400
CHO 82.8 60.3 71.5 92 24 50 3,7 5 0 0 0 26 200° 26 9 0 0 0 2 2400
33 180° 22
DCA 83.7 66.8 75.2 93 24,25 58 2,3 5 0 0 0 32 240° 1 7 0 0 0 0 2400
IAD 83.1 61.3 72.2 93 24,25 51 3 5 0 0 0 36 020° 1 2400
FCH 83.0 65.2 74.1 93 24,25 58 2,3,6 5 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 2400
HAM 84.5 69.2 76.9 95 13 58 3 9 0 0 0 39 S 26 1 0 0 0 0 2400
HRG 81.2 59.6 70.3 91.1 24 50.0 7 1 0 0 0 27 SE 21 2 0 0 0 1 2400
HER 81.7 62.6 72.2 92.1 25 53.2 2 2 0 0 0 20 1 4 0 0 0 NR 2400
30
HRN 80.8 61.7 71.7 90.5 24 52.0 22 1 0 0 0 32 NNE 8 6 0 0 0 0 2400
LKU 82.1 58.4 70.2 90 14 47 3 0 0 0 0 19 W 26 0 0 0 0 0 2400
LYH 71.0 90 10,24 52 7,12 26 25 2400
NEW 83.84 58.71 74.28 95 24 48 7,8,14 4 0 0 0 26 NW 14 2 0 0 0 6 1700
NPN 84.6 65.6 75.1 96 11 53 3 8 0 0 0 30 SW 25 2 0 0 0 1 2300
NOR 84.0 67.2 75.6 96 11 55 3 7 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2400
ORF 83.6 69.1 76.3 95 11 57 3 7 0 0 0 39 240° 25 1 0 0 0 0 2400
POR 83.7 68.5 76.1 95 11 56 3 6 0 0 0 26 SSW 1 1 0 0 0 0 2400
26 N 2
MEC 86 64 75 95 10 53 3 8 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 1800
RIC 85.8 64.0 74.9 95 11 53 3 11 0 0 0 39 010° 2 1 0 0 0 0 2400
RMD 86.0 67.2 76.6 94 10,11 56 3 10 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2300
17
ROA 74.3 93 10 55 14,22 39 4 2400
ROK 84.6 62.9 73.8 92 10,17 54 14,22 6 0 0 0 26 NW 4 2 0 0 0 0 2200
AKQ 85.03 62.35 73.69 95 11 49 3 7 0 0 0 2400
WEE 84.3 66.3 75.6 95 16 54 7 9 0 0 0 30+SW 28 1 0 0 0 0 1600
WOO 80.3 62.2 71.3 92 25,26 54 2,3 2 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0800
WSH 83.4 60.9 72.2 95.4 24 51.6 3 7 0 0 0 14 S 2 4 0 0 0 0 2400
NORTH
CAROLINA
STN A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R R1 S
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AVL 81.9 63.8 72.9 88 10,11 52 14 0 0 0 0 49 310° 2400
BRE 80.8 62.4 71.6 86 10,11 53 14 0 0 0 0 28 9 5 0 0 0 14 1600
24,30
CLT 85.9 66.8 76.4 95 11 58 15,16, 3 0 0 0 40 300° 2400
22
GSO 83.4 65.7 74.6 91 10,11 58 22 2400
LBT 86.4 68.3 77.4 95 11 59 14 7 0 0 0 29 130° 11 10 0 0 0 1 2400
RAL 86.1 64.8 75.5 93 11 56 15,21, 8 0 0 0 24 24,26 10 0 0 0 1 1900
22
RDU 86.1 66.3 76.2 94 11 58 15
ROX 83.8 64.8 74.3 91 10,11 56 15 4 0 0 0 25 SW 26 5 0 0 0 0 2100
ILM 86.5 70.0 78.3 96 11 63 14 6 0 0 0 41 330° 7 13 0 0 0 1 2400
SOUTH
CAROLINA
STN A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R R1 S
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAE 89.8 71.0 80.4 96 2,10 62 14 2400
CHS 88.1 69.8 79.8 97 9 64 14,16 10 0 0 0 36 190° 24 13 0 0 0 1 2400
CRE 85.2 70.1 77.6 91 9 62 14 3 0 0 0 32 340° 6 3 0 0 0 1 2400
32 190° 24
FLO 87.0 68.6 77.8 95 11 60 14 8 0 0 0 44 250° 24 6 0 0 0 3 2400
GSP 85.4 67.9 76.7 94 11 62 14 5 0 0 0 40 030° 2400
OGB 88.5 70.1 79.3 95 11 63 14 2400
NEARBY
LOCATIONS
STN A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R R1 S
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRI 83.0 63.4 73.2 89 23,24 51 14,15 0 0 0 0 2400
31
CHW 69.1 55.6 62.4 78.8 24 40.6 2 0 0 0 0 2400
(Please
note the column denotations table below.)
PRECIPITATION
/ BAROMETRIC PRESSURE
VIRGINIA
STN T U V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 S
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AHB 4.53 1.87 4 1.84 4 9 1 27.62 0.0 0.0 30.289 28 29.662 11 2400
ANN 3.87 1.28 29 1.28 29 10 1 25.11 0.0 0.0 12.8 30.35 28 29.72 11 2400
BCB 4.87 2400
BRI 3.54 1.69 29 1.89 28-29 7 1 18.60 0.0 0.0 8.6 30.28 29.81 0515/1600
CEN 3.64 1.32 8 1.32 8 7 2 25.44 0.0 0.0 14.2 30.33 31 29.70 11 2400
CHO 3.42 1.98 29 2.11 28-29 13 1 0.0 0.0 30.39 28 29.68 11 2400
DCA 4.79 1.33 26 1.33 25-26 11 1 23.83 0.0 0.0 7.4 30.31 31 29.67 11 2400
IAD 4.20 1.87 4 1.90 4-5 10 1 24.96 0.0 0.0 9.8 30.30 31 29.65 11 2400
FCH 4.09 0.86 4 0.90 4-5 8 0 23.89 0.0 0.0 10.0 2400
HAM 5.45 4.94 29 4.94 29 3 1 23.59 0.0 0.0 1.5 2400
HRG 3.68 1.63 29 1.94 28-29 6 1 16.40 0.0 0.0 10.4 30.34 31 29.78 11 2400
HER 5.31 1.68 8 1.68 8 11 2 27.47 0.0 0.0 15.4 30.30 28 29.60 11 2400
HRN 4.38 2.10 4 2.10 4 11 1 26.59 0.0 0.0 13.0 30.302 31 29.707 11 2400
LKU 4.06 1.96 29 1.96 29 9 1 22.91 0.0 0.0 3.0 30.30 29.69 2400
LYH 4.84 2400
NEW 3.88 2.40 29 8 0 22.00 0.0 0.0 12.3 1700
NPN 4.80 3.71 29 3.86 29-30 9 1 24.86 0.0 0.0 2.6 30.30 3 29.63 11 2300
NOR 4.87 2.55 29 2.55 29 10 2 26.19 0.0 0.0 1.3 2400
ORF 4.40 2.62 29 2.63 29-30 11 1 24.02 0.0 0.0 1.6 30.29 31 29.66 11 2400
POR 3.96 2.02 29 2.08 29-30 11 1 22.43 0.0 0.0 1.6 30.317 31 29.682 11 2400
MEC 6.71 2.68 29 2.80 29-30 9 1 29.61 0.0 0.0 5.4 29.73 28 29.20 11 1800
RIC 2.73 1.94 29 1.96 28-29 8 1 21.81 0.0 0.0 3.3 30.32 31 29.69 11 2400
RMD 2.72 2.19 7 5 1 23.86 0.0 0.0 3.0 2300
ROA 3.60 2400
ROK 4.57 1.08 29 1.41 29-30 11 1 24.03 0.0 0.0 7.4 30.28 28 29.80 10 2400
AKQ 5.25 2.57 29 8 1 22.54 0.0 0.0 8.0 13 2400
WEE 5.38 2.38 29 2.38 29 10 2 0.0 0.0 30.29 28 29.70 10 1600
11
WOO 4.58 2.30 28-29 14 1 21.95 0.0 0.0 17.8 30.60 27 30.15 11 0800
WSH 5.51 2.56 29 2.74 28-29 10 2 24.28 0.0 0.0 9.5 30.38 28 29.78 11 2400
NORTH
CAROLINA
STN T U V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 S
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AVL 5.50 1.33 2-3 14 3 22.56 0.0 0.0 15.5 30.27 31 29.77 10 2400
BRE 7.25 1.85 27 16 3 29.15 0.0 0.0 8.5 30.40 30 29.94 10 1600
11
CLT 2.24 0.81 4 13 0 17.71 0.0 0.0 2.7 30.27 28 29.72 11 2400
GSO 4.06 0.96 26,27 2400
LBT 3.84 1.24 11 1.24 11-12 11 1 23.56 0.0 0.0 0.0 30.27 31 29.72 11 2400
RAL 5.94 3.19 26-27 13 1 25.78 0.0 0.0 3.0 30.28 3 29.72 11 1900
RDU 4.13 2.55 26-27
ROX 7.30 2.04 26 2.04 26 11 3 28.68 0.0 0.0 0.5 30.34 3, 29.74 2100
28,31
ILM 7.26 1.49 29 1.53 2-3 14 3 26.61 0.0 0.0 0.2 30.37 27 29.73 2 2400
SOUTH
CAROLINA
STN T U V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 S
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAE 3.27 21.26 0.0 0.0 T 2400
CHS 9.74 3.85 27 4.66 27-28 17 2 30.55 0.0 0.0 T 30.24 28 29.73 11 2400
CRE 7.39 1.94 6 2.11 12-13 18 3 25.06 0.0 0.0 0.0 30.25 31 29.73 11 2400
FLO 7.32 2.04 13 2.04 13 13 3 22.97 0.0 0.0 0.0 30.25 31 29.71 11 2400
GSP 6.01 2.22 24-25 13 2 25.03 0.0 0.0 6.3 30.25 28 29.73 11 2400
OGB 3.09 22.55 0.0 0.0 2400
NEARBY
LOCATIONS
STN T U V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 S
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRI 8.73 2.24 28 4.01 28-29 13 4 59.84 2400
COLUMN
DENOTATIONS:
| A maximum mean temperature |
T total precipitation (inches) |
| B minimum mean temperature |
U maximum calendar day precipitation
(inches) |
| C monthly mean temperature |
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 |
1 date of maximum calendar
day snowfall (inches) |
| K days with minimum
temperature <= 0 |
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 2000-2001
season (inches) |
| O number of days with
thunder |
6 maximum barometric pressure
(inches) |
| P number of days with
hail |
6A date of maximum barometric pressure |
| Q number of days with
glaze |
7 minimum barometric pressure
(inches) |
| R number of days with
ice pellets |
7A date of minimum barometric pressure |
| R1 number of days with dense
fog |
(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 |
NR not recorded |
STATION
/ LOCATION (MILES & DIRECTION FROM MAIN POST OFFICE) /OBSERVER / YEAR
RECORDS BEGAN / EMAIL ADDRESS:
| AHB Ashburn,
VA - Gary Oldhaam 7/31 Gary.Oldham@DynCorp.com |
ROK Roanoke,
VA 6SW Wendell Prillaman 4/76 wandlprillaman@home.com |
| ANN Annandale,
VA 1 3/4 ENE - Lowell Koontz 12/90 wwkoontz@bellatlantic.net |
|
| DCA Arlington,
VA NWS Webmaster (Sterling): james.decarufel@noaa.gov |
|
| BCB Blacksburg,
VA NWS Webmaster: William.Perry@noaa.gov |
AKQ Wakefield,
VA NWS Webmaster: Neil.Stuart@noaa.gov |
| BRI
Bridgewater, VA Clayton Towers Ctowers@rica.net |
WSH Washington,
VA David Yowell runamok@runamok.com |
| CEN Centreville,
VA Paul Bassett 1985 pbassett@sitestar.net |
WEE Weems, VA
3WNW Francis J. Socey |
| CHO Charlottesville,
VA Airport ASOS (Rappahannock County) |
WOO Woodstock, VA
5NW Lauck Walton - 12/1/85 jwalton@shentel.net |
| IAD
Dulles International Airport Webmaster (Sterling): james.decarufel@noaa.gov |
AVL Asheville,
NC NWS NWS GSP: bryan.mcavoy@noaa.gov |
| FCH Falls
Church, VA Erica Page - 3/7/94 Windie1970@aol.com |
BRE Brevard,
NC 1SE Bob Keehn 1/1/90 Bob_Keehn@citcom.net |
| FRB Fredericksburg,
VA 7SW Ken McKneely mckneelys@email.msn.com |
CLT Charlotte,
NC NWS NWS GSP: bryan.mcavoy@noaa.gov |
| HAM Hampton,
VA 5NE Dave Kessel 1989 dckessel@home.com |
CND Concord, NC 3
W, Highway 73, 2 miles E of I85. stormwatch@vnet.net |
| HRG Harrisonburg,
VA Terry Slagle 5/2000 Altitude: 1306' tslagle@adelphia.net |
GSO Greensboro,
NC NWS Webmaster (Raleigh/RAH): Richard.Jones@noaa.gov |
| HER Herndon,
VA R.M. Beall P- 10/76 T- 1/91 beall47@earthlink.net |
RAL Raleigh,
NC 7NNW Bob Woodson - 6/1/93
kf4mmm@qsl.net |
| HRN Herndon,
VA 4SW Russ Topping - 1985 weatherman@cox.rr.com |
RDU Raleigh-Durham,
NC NWS Webmaster: Richard.Jones@noaa.gov |
| LKU
Louisa, VA 1N Joseph Bowers 1944 - NWS
ID 44-5050-02 jmbiii@earthlink.net |
LBT Lumberton, NC FAA Lumberton 34o
37'N 79o 04'W |
| LOU
Louisa, VA 6S John Bullock (about 1970) |
ROX Roxboro,
NC 2SE Merriell A. Jay 1/93 |
| LYH
Lynchburg, VA NWS Webmaster (Blacksburg): William.Perry@noaa.gov |
ILM
Wilmington, NC NWS nwsilm@wilmington.net |
| NEW Newmarket,
VA 2W Joyce Winfree joywood@shentel.net |
CHS Charleston,
SC NWS, Webmaster: Theodore.Rodgers@noaa.gov |
| NPN
Newport News, VA 7N Gary Leonard - 6/91 GaryMLeonard@aol.com |
CAE Columbia,
SC NWS caewx@noaa.gov |
| NOR
Norfolk, VA 3NE Jim Fentress 6/1/77 |
OGB Orangeburg, SC NWS
caewx@noaa.gov |
| ORF
Norfolk, VA 5NE NWS 1871 Webmaster (Wakefield): Hugh.Cobb@noaa.gov |
GSP Greenville-Spartanburg,
SC NWS bryan.mcavoy@noaa.gov |
| POR
Portsmouth, VA 3S Bill Trotter - 7/1/76 pwrs@pilot.infi.net |
RUB Ruby,
SC 3 NW Franklin Hancock |
| MEC
Mechanicsville, VA Glen Martin 11/19/91 |
FLO Florence,
SC nwsilm@wilmington.net |
| RMD Richmond,
VA Roy Britt 8/22/83 roybritt@earthlink.net |
CRE North
Myrtle Beach, SC nwsilm@wilmington.net |
| RIC
Richmond, VA NWS |
TRI
Tri-cities/Bristol, TN NWS Webmaster (Morristown):W-Mrx.Webmaster@noaa.gov |
| ROA Roanoke,
VA Webmaster (Blacksburg): William.Perry@noaa.gov |
CHW Canaan Heights,
WV Dave Lesher wxdave@boo.net |
