Virginia:
Annandale
- Lowell sends these notes:"
March was VERY dry and above average in temperature.
March's mean monthly
temperature was + 2.4°F warmer than the average and the warmest since
March 2000. The March rainfall 2.25"was a -2.17"departure and the driest
March since 1987 when the total was only 1.98". We are now -4.07" below
average in precipitation for 2004. March was a little cloudier than
average and had 13 days with some measurable precipitation which is above
the average of 11.6 days. March had 13 days with the temperature at or
below freezing which was average. The lowest temperature was 23°F on the
23rd which was 4° above the average low minimum temperature. The 23°F
minimum the (lowest of the month) rose to the maximum of 78°F the
(highest of the month) on the 26th which was perceived by most as the end of
winter but March ended with cold, cloudy and damp weather. The 0.98"
of rain on the 6th was the lowest maximum monthly for March since 1987 and
the fourth least calendar day rainfall amount for any March in the last
24-years. The record is 0.42" that occurred on March 31, 1987. No thunder
heard yet in 2004 and is only the second year without thunder by the end
of March since this observation was started in 1995. The total snowfall
for March was only a trace and was -3.0" less than the 24-year average.
The lowest wind chill (new Scale) for the month was +13.3°F on the
22nd which also had the lowest dew point for the month of +5.4°F.
The maximum gust of 38 mph from the WNW on the 7th at 1918 was the strongest
wind gust recorded for March. There were 14 daily records set!
March DAILY Records Tied or Broken- (24-Years of records):
HIGH maximum: 1, 2, 5, 6, 26;
LOW maximum: 17;
HIGH minimum: 4, 5, 6, 26;
LOW minimum: 23;
HIGH temp range: 24;
LOW temp range: 17;
HIGH precipitation: 16.
" [ + - ]
Arlington
- NWS WBC reports:
"
The monthly precipitation was 1.51" BELOW normal while the average temperature was
2.3° ABOVE normal.
" [ + - ]
Blacksburg
- NWS Blacksburg reports the monthly mean temp was 3.4° ABOVE normal
while rainfall was 1.20" BELOW normal. The average wind speed was 6.7
MPH. [ + - ]
Bridgewater
- "
The precipitation for the month was 1.13" below normal. The temperature
was 5.2° above normal. Precipitation for the year so far is 2.5"
below normal.
Snowfall for the winter season was slightly above normal. We usually
get a measurable snow in March, but it didn't happen this year. My cutoff
day for any measurable snow is April 15. The chances of snow in April is
very slim. It has happened only a couple of times in the last 40 years here
in our part of the Shenandoah Valley.
" - report from Clayton [ + - ]
Centreville
- "
Well, March had a hot day, but it wasn't that hot. There were a few chilly
mornings throughout the month, but not really that cold. Even the average
for March ran an average amount above average. Many think of lions and
lambs when we bring up the subject of March, but I think this year the
month was, for the most part, like a turtle; just not doing a whole lot at
any time too soon. The only excitement we were able to pull off happened on
March 6th when we had the rainiest day of March when 0.79" fell. The 6th
was also the windiest day of the month with a gust of 44 mph out of the
northwest. All this activity was coupled with a brief period when the
barometer dipped to the monthly low reading of 29.61".
After of all of this happening on Saturday, I sure needed the next day to
rest up. A high of 81° on the 26th brought pleasant thoughts that winter
was finally coming to a close, only to be shocked back to early spring
four days later when temperatures returned to the mid to low 50s. The
coldest we were able to record was a 22° reading on the 23rd; just three
days before the monthly high. Overall, the monthly average low of 38.2°
was 7.3° warmer than the suggested 30.9° while the average of averages was
6.8° over the 42.1° value; a mere half of a degree difference.
In the precipitation department, we didn't have a lot to brag about with
only 1.75" in the shot glass (yes, I finally found it), and just a trace of
snow to cap it off. We should have received 3.79" of rain for March,
so we only managed to accumulate just 46% of our normal amount.
With only a trace of snow for February and March, the snow machine
basically dried-up in January when a seasonal total of 16.9" was in the
books. As snow days have now become a thing of the past, we are
seven inches short of our 24.1" goal for the season. For the year, our
rain deficit is shy of the 10.24" average by 4.48", or 53% of normal.
Sounds to me like a good time to dust off the old headdress, and have
ourselves a dance.
" - notes from Paul [ + - ]
Charlottesville
- The monthly average temperature was 1.3° ABOVE normal while rainfall
was 2.50" BELOW normal. The average wind speed was 6.9 mph. - from NWS WBC
[ + - ]
Danville
- The monthly average temperature
was 2.6° ABOVE normal while rainfall was 2.95" BELOW normal. The average wind
speed was 7.4 mph. [ + - ]
Dulles
- The mean temp was 2.9° ABOVE normal. The monthly rainfall was
1.50" BELOW normal. Average wind speed, 7.9 mph. - from NWS WBC [ + - ]
Falls Church -
"
March 2004 still came out a bit above average despite the cold snaps
throughout the month. It was also drier than average.
The 8th gave me a mixed bag of rain, sleet and even some hail in the very
early afternoon hours..the sleet and hail were for a very brief time. The
day was also quite windy.
" - report from Erica [ + - ]
Herndon
- Bob sends these notes:"
My average MAX temp was 2.2° ABOVE the Dulles "normal"
and the average MIN was 4.5° ABOVE.
Dulles is about 4 miles WSW and its normal is the 1971-2000 average.
" - [ + - ]
Herndon
- Notes from Russ:"
A mild March with no measurable snowfall. The monthly
average temperature was 2.9° above normal and precipitation
was 1.31" below average. We only received a trace of snow,
which occurred on the 10th during snow showers. March came
in like a lamb and went out like a lamb, this year.
" - [ + - ]
Lexington
-
"WREL has added numerous weather stations to our Mid-Atlantic Mesomap. The map
now covers from Bluefield, WV to Ocean City, MD. Place your cursor over any
temperature for current conditions. URL address is: http://www.wrel.com/mesomap.htm.
" - report from Scott at WREL-AM Radio [ ]
Lynchburg
- Rainfall for the month was 2.00" BELOW normal while the mean temp was
2.0° ABOVE normal. The average wind speed was 6.4 MPH.
[ + - ] -from NWS Blacksburg
Norfolk
- NWS AKQ noted the average temperature in Norfolk was 3.3° ABOVE normal.
The month's rainfall was 1.99" BELOW normal. The average wind speed was 11.1 mph.
- [ + - ]
Norfolk
- The Fred Heutte Center, in Historic
Ghent reports the average wind speed was 6.0 mph from a dominant SSW direction.
Portsmouth
- "
As noted elsewhere, the month was a drier and wetter than normal one. Rainfall
measured only 51% of the usual for March. 12 days with some type of fog. Sky cover
was calculated at 45%. The average relative humidity was 57%. Winds blew from
a dominant S direction and averaged a tad over 6 mph. Some wet snow mixed in
with the rain on the 10th but not significant enough to rule as a trace. Records
broken or tied included: 6TH - TEMPERATURE - MAXIMUM 72° [PREVIOUSLY 69° 1983];
6TH - TEMPERATURE - MAXIMUM MINIMUM TIED 58° [PREVIOUSLY 1996]; and
17TH - TEMPERATURE - MINIMUM MAXIMUM 45° [PREVIOUSLY 46°ø 1988]. The database goes
back to 1976. The average sea level pressure was 30.159"
"
- [ + - ]
Mechanicsville
- Glenn notes: "Strong t-storm on the 7th produced sharp lightning, some wind damage,
and downpours."
[ M M ]
Richmond
- NWS AKQ reported the mean temp at RIC was 2.3° ABOVE normal. Rainfall
was 2.01" BELOW normal. The average wind speed was 9.3 mph.
- [ + - ]
Ruther Glen
- Danny sends these notes: "
Temperatures were above average for the first time in 2004, but the
trend of below average precipitation continues for the third straight month.
Another month comes and goes without any accumulating snowfall.
Springlike thunderstorms on the 7th brought our highest wind gust since
Hurricane Isabel last September.
" - [ + - ]
Roanoke
- Wendell send these notes:"
Warmer than normal (2.8°) and drier than normal (-1.63")- Snowfall of only 0.8"
was 1.8"below normal.
" - [ + - ]
Roanoke
- NWS Blacksburg reports that the Roanoke airport monthly mean temp was 2.9° ABOVE normal.
Rainfall was 1.75" BELOW normal. [ + - ]
North
Carolina:
Asheville
- from NWS GSP. The monthly mean temp was 3.2° ABOVE and the
rainfall was 2.57" BELOW normal. The average wind speed was 7.8 mph.
[ + - ]
Charlotte
- NWS GSP reports the mean temp here was 1.0° ABOVE normal and precip
2.78" BELOW normal. The average wind speed was 6.7 mph.
- [ + - ]
Elizabeth
City - The Elizabeth City Coast Guard Station [ECG] reported an average
wind speed of 11.3 mph. The mean temp was 0.2° ABOVE normal while rainfall
was 1.55" BELOW normal. - from NWS AKQ [ + - ]
Fayetteville
- NWS RDU reports the average wind speed was 8.3 mph.
Greensboro
- NWS RDU notes a mean temp here that was 2.1° ABOVE normal. Rainfall was
2.24" BELOW normal.
- [ + - ]
Hickory
- The average wind speed was 6.2 mph. The average monthly temperature was 2.2°
ABOVE normal while rainfall was 2.52" BELOW normal. - from NWS GSP [ + - ]
Lumberton
- The average wind speed was 7.2 mph. The average monthly temperature was 2.5°
ABOVE normal while rainfall was 3.89" BELOW normal - from NWS ILM [ + - ]
Raleigh
-
Bob reports the following: "
"Only significant weather event was widespread hail in Wake Co on the 31st.
The ground was almost completed covered with pea size hail.
Precipitation for March was below normal (-1.9") while the average daily
temperature was also above normal (+1.5°).
" - [ - + ]
Raleigh
-
NWS RDU reports the average daily temperatures were 1.9° ABOVE normal while
precipitation was 0.72" BELOW normal. The average wind speed
was 7.3 mph.
" - [ + - ]
Roxboro
- Merriell reports:"
March was both warmer and drier than normal; and no frozen precipitation
including snow. Much of the month was windy.
" - [ + - ]
Wilmington
- From NWS ILM: The average temp was 0.6° ABOVE normal while rainfall
was 2.37" BELOW normal. The average wind speed was 8.8 mph.
- [ + - ]
South
Carolina:
Anderson
- NWS GSP reports the monthly mean temp was 2.9° ABOVE normal.
rainfall was 3.69" BELOW normal. The average wind speed was 6.6 mph. -
[ + - ]
Charleston
- NWS CHS reports the monthly mean temp was 2.0° ABOVE normal. Rainfall
was 3.64" BELOW normal. The average wind speed was 9.3 mph. - [ + - ]
Columbia
- NWS CAE reports that the mean temp here was 32.5deg; ABOVE normal. Rainfall
was a 3.72" BELOW normal. The average wind speed was 7.2 mph. -
[ + - ]
Florence
- The mean temp here was 1.2° ABOVE normal while rainfall totals were
3.65" BELOW normal. The average wind speed was 8.2 mph.
- from NWS ILM
[ + - ]
Greenville-Spartanburg
- The monthly mean temperature was 3.7° ABOVE normal while rainfall
was a whopping 4.05" BELOW normal. The average wind speed was 7.1 mph. - from NWS
GSP [ + - ]
North
Myrtle Beach - The mean temp was 1.3° ABOVE normal while rainfall
was 2.81" BELOW normal. The average wind speed was 8.2 mph.
" - data from NWS ILM [ + - ]
Orangeburg
- NWS CAE reports the average wind speed here was 6.3 mph.
Nearby
Cities: