The Atlantic Coast Observer Network - Virginia/North Carolina/South Carolina
http://members.cox.net/wxr/acon.htm

SUMMARY OF CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA 


MARCH 2011


 


  • TOP 10s IN WEATHER    Kevin Shaw sent a recent email depicting the Top 10 Cities/States for a variety of weather related topics. This prompted a search and we found a website that displays the info. Lots of good stuff for the "top-teners" and weather curious. Check it out with a click here: http://web2.airmail.net/danb1/usrecords.htm.


  • AWARE    Here's a link submitted by Kevin Shaw (ACON DC/MD/DE) to the publication AWARE that is published by the National Weather Service to enhance communications between the NWS and the emergency management community. http://www.weather.gov/os/Aware/.

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


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



  • ACON VA/NC/SC Member Station Extremes - MARCH 2011
    State
    Maximum Temperature
    Minimum
    Temperature
    Warmest
    Average
    Temperature
    Coldest
    Average
    Temperature
    Maximum
    Precipitation
    Minimum
    Precipitation
    Virginia
    85°
    Chesterfield
    21°
    Lynchburg
    49.2°
    Norfolk
    42.8°
    Blacksburg
    6.63"
    Washington (WSH)
    2.69"
    Lynchburg
    North Carolina
    87°
    Fayetteville
    New Bern
    22 °
    Roxboro
    54.7°
    Cape Hatteras
    Beaufort
    48.5°
    Asheville
    6.95"
    Asheville
    2.41"
    New Bern
    South Carolina
    88°
    Charleston
    29°
    Florence
    60.0°
    Charleston
    52.9°
    Greenville-Spartanburg
    7.09"
    Greenville-Spartanburg
    2.67"
    Charleston


    ( For an explanation of column headers in the following tables,
    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 S    CWA
         --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         BCB 53.1  32.6  42.8   +1.4  74 18,22 23 8,29   0  0 17 0 74% 32 280°  13   6.1       2 0 3 0  3 2400 AKQ
         BRI 54.77 35.32 45.04  +1.95 78   21  22   29   0  0 14 0 59%                         0 0 0 0  0 0510/1600 LWX
         CEN 54.0  35.4  44.7   +2.6  79   18  24    3   0  0 11 0 61% 41 312°   7   3.8  340° 2 0 0 0  0 2400 LWX
         CHT 55.0  35.5  45.3   +1.1  78.8 18  24.6  3   0  0 12 0 65% 21 180°  12   1.0  360° 2 0 0 1  0 2400 LWX
         CHO 58.3  36.2  47.3         83   21  25   29   0  0 10 0     46 350°  21   4.4       2 0 0 0  3 2400 LWX
         DAN 59.7  37.4  48.6   +0.7  84   18  25  4,8   0  0 10 0 65% 46 290°  23   6.4       2 0 1 0  1 2400 RNK
         DCA 54.0  37.2  45.6   -0.9  80   18  27    3   0  0  7 0 61% 43 320°   7   9.7       2 0 1 0  0 2400 LWX
         IAD 54.0  34.4  44.2   -0.8  79   18  25  3,8   0  0 14 0   % 46 330°   7   8.3       2 0 1 0  0 2400 LWX
         FCH 53.4  37.4  45.4         79   18  29   29   0  0  7 0     32 020°   3        320° 2 0 0 1  3 2400 LWX
                                                                       32 320°   7
         GAV 58.61 27.48 48.05        82   18  28   18   0  0  9 0 65% 37 023°   6             3 1 0 2  0 2400 AKQ
         HDV 54.6  35.4  45.0   -0.4  79   18  25    3   0  0 12 0 68% 20 180°  12        180° 2 0 0 1  0 2400 LWX
         LYH 57.5  35.9  46.7   +0.7  82   18  21    4   0  0 11 0 62% 37 280°  10   5.8       2 0 0 1  0 2400 RNK
         NPN 57.4  38.7  48.0   -1.1  83.3 18  26.1 29   0  0  6 0     38 290°   6   3.8  070° 2 0 0 0  1 2400 AKQ
         NOR 57.0  39.8  48.4   -0.3  82   18  27    2   0  0  6 0                             1 1 0 1  0 2400 AKQ
         ORF 57.2  41.3  49.2   +0.2  83   18  28  2,29  0  0  3 0 68% 37 030°   1   9.6       3 1 0 1  0 2400 AKQ
         POR 57.5  39.7  48.6   -1.5  81.5 18  26.5 29   0  0  7 0 75% 45 250°  10   5.5  038° 1 0 1 0  0 2400 AKQ
         CTR 59.8  36.8  48.5   +0.8  84.5 18  24.4 29   0  0 10 0 65% 20 360°   6   1.1  120° 2 0 0 0  0 2400 AKQ
                                                                       20 270°  10             
         MEC 60.74 38.06 49.71        83   18  25   25   0  0  8 0                             2 0 1 2  0 1700 AKQ
         RIC 58.9  38.4  48.7   +1.0  84   18  28    4   0  0  8 0 61% 61 250°  10   8.4       4 0 1 0  0 2400 AKQ
         ROA 57.0  37.9  47.5   +0.3  79 22,23 26  2,4   0  0  6 0 59% 52 240°  10   7.3       1 0 2 0  0 2400 AKQ
         WAL 54.1  37.8  46.0   +1.4  80   18  28  4,28  0  0 10 0     40 090°  13   9.4       1 0 0 0  1 2400 AKQ
         WOO 53.8  35.0  44.4   +0.4  78   19  23    3   0  0 10 0                             3 1 0 2  3 2400 LWX
         WSH 53.7  34.7  44.2   -0.1  78.0 18  24.0  3   0  0 14 0 64% 23 110°   6   0.9  045° 3 0 0 2  0 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 S    CWA
         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         AVL 58.7  38.3  48.5  +2.2  82    18 27    12  0  0  7 0 68% 38 330°  6    6.7      1 0 0 0  2 2400 GSP
         MRH 63.1  46.3  54.7        83    22 35    29  0  0  0 0     40 020°  1   10.2      0 0 0 0  0 2400 MHX
                                                                      40 290°  6   10.5                      
         CLT 63.3  41.7  52.5  -0.3  85    18 28 12,29  0  0  5 0 61% 40 330°  6    7.5      2 0 0 0  2 2400 GSP
         ECG 59.5  41.3  50.4  -1.4  82    18 26     2  0  0  4 0 70% 40 280°  6   10.2      4 0 0 0  1 2400 AKQ
                                                                      40 230° 21
         FAY 65.1  42.4  53.7        86    22 28     4  0  0  5 0 62% 44 220°  6    8.3      2 0 0 0  1 2400 RAH
         GSO 59.7  39.7  49.7  +0.6  84    18 28     7  0  0  5 0 61% 37 230° 23    8.1      1 0 1 0  1 2400 RAH
         HSE 61.1  48.3  54.7  +2.3  75    22 38    29  0  0  0 0 69% 44 020°  1   10.3      0 0 0 0  0 2400 MHX
         HKY 60.0  40.5  50.3  +0.3  84    18 29     8  0  0  4 0     40 220° 23    5.0      0 0 0 0  3 2400 GSP
         LBT 65.2  42.4  53.8  +1.4  85    22 28     2  0  0  4 0 69% 47 280° 24    7.1      0 0 0 0  1 2400 ILM
         MON                                                                                            2400 RAH
         EWN 64.5  41.8  53.1  -0.1  87    23 30    29  0  0  4 0 69% 45 210°  6    7.8      0 0 0 0  3 2400 MHX
         RDU 62.6  40.1  51.4  +0.7  85 12,18 27     4  0  0  6 0 63% 45 250° 10    6.9      3 0 1 0  1 2400 RAH
         RAL 63.1  39.3  51.2  +0.5  85    22 26   4,8  0  0  7 0     26      21             2 0 0 0  0 2400(T)/1930(P) RAH
         ROX 60.0  38.7  49.6  +1.2  84    18 22     4  0  0  0 0 68% 39 270° 10        090° 2 0 0 0  0 2200 RAH
         WHI 66.2  43.1  54.6  +0.2  84    22 29.7  15  0  0  4 0 71% 33 027° 25    3.4 134° 1 0 0 0  1 2400 ILM
         ILM 65.6  43.4  54.5  -0.5  86 22,23 31  4,29  0  0  3 0 70% 40 190°  6    8.7      0 0 0 0  0 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 S    CWA
         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         AND 64.3  43.4  53.9  +1.0  84 19,22 30     7  0  0  2 0     40 290° 23   7.4       5 0 0 0  1 2400 GSP
         CAE 68.6  45.7  57.1  +1.7  87 18,27 30    12  0  0  2 0 64% 43 140°  9   7.1       5 0 0 0  1 2400 CAE
         CRE 64.9  44.2  54.6  +0.9  85    23 32    12  0  0  1 0 75% 43 040°  1   8.5       0 0 0 0  1 2400 ILM
         CHS 71.6  48.3  60.0  +2.3  88    22 37     2  0  0  0 0     37 230° 23   9.0       3 0 0 0  0 2400 CHS
         FLO 67.4  43.9  55.6  -0.2  86 18,22 29    12  0  0  3 0 67% 43 270°  6   7.9       0 0 0 0  2 2400 ILM
         GSP 63.2  42.5  52.9  +1.3  85    18 30 11,12  0  0  4 0 63% 40 290° 23   6.8       3 1 0 0  1 2400 GSP
         OGB 69.5  45.3  57.4        87    22 30    12  0  0  1 0     48 290° 24   6.5       0 0 0 0  2 2400 CAE
    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   S    CWA
         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         TRI 59.7  38.7  49.2  +2.7   75 21,22 26   12  0  0  9 0     39 300°  23  5.4       2 1 1 0  2   2400 MRX
         DAV             34.0  -2     64    24  8   28  0  5 27 0                                         0700 PBZ

    (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
         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         BCB  4.38  +0.55  1.50  6  1.50     6 15 1  8.18  0.4 28   6 0  0.4  8.2                             2400
         BRI  4.13  +0.91  1.34  6  1.8   9,10 11 2  7.06           2 1  2.0 11.3  30.56  20 29.77  31        0510/1600
         CEN  5.72  +1.93  2.52  6  2.52     6 10 2  9.77  0.4 27   2 0  0.4 13.8  30.64   3 29.46  23 30.05  2400
         CHT  5.70  +2.15  2.67  6  2.67     6 14 2  9.65  0.1 27   2 0  0.1 14.5  30.679  3 29.431 23 30.124 2400
         CHO  6.24         2.74  6  2.74     6 11 2  8.82                                    29.46  23        2400
         DAN  4.22  -0.03  1.08  6  1.08     6 12 1  7.44    T 27   1 0    T 11.0  30.63   4 29.40  23        2400
         DCA  4.40  +0.80  1.41 10  1.41    10 13 2  7.77  0.2 27   3 0  0.2 10.1            29.46  23        2400
         IAD  5.07  +1.52  2.30  6  2.30     6 14 2  9.15  0.1 27   4 0  0.1 12.6  30.68   3 29.44  23        2400
         FCH  5.28         2.58 10  2.58    10 10 2  9.08  0.2 27   2 0  0.2  5.8                             2400
         GAV  4.24         1.40 10  1.50  9-10 12 1  7.99  0.2 27   1 0  0.2  9.4  30.63 3,4 29.37  23 30.09  2400
         HDV  5.36  +1.56  2.51  6             13 2 10.10  0.3 27   2 0  0.3 14.5  30.66   4 29.43  23        2400
         LYH  2.69  -1.14  1.17 16  1.17    16 12 1  6.11  0.2 27   1 0  0.2  8.4            29.42  23        2400
         NPN  3.41  -0.90  0.89 10  0.90 10-11 12 0  8.28    T 27   1 0    T 16.7  30.67   4 29.43  23        2400
         NOR  3.70  -0.43  1.04  6  1.04     6 10 1  9.31    T 28   1 0    T 21.0                             2400
         ORF  2.96  -1.12  0.83  6  0.83     6 10 0  8.84    T 27   1 0    T 21.8  30.66   4 29.43  24        2400
         POR  4.26  +0.23  1.20  6  1.20     6 14 1 10.05    T 27   1 0    T 19.0  30.66   3 29.46  23 30.128 2400
         CTR  4.72  +2.28  1.81 10  1.84  9-10 12 2  8.58                0.0 12.1  30.64   4 29.40  23 30.092 2400
         MEC  4.54         1.32 10  1.63 10-11 12 1  7.81    T 27   1 0    T 10.8  30.39   3 29.35  23 29.88  2400
         RIC  4.28  +0.19  1.63 10  1.63    10 12 1  8.85    T 27   1 0    T 10.8  30.68   4 29.39  23        2400
         ROA  4.23  +0.39  1.83  6  1.83     6 12 1  7.25  0.2 27   3 0  0.2 10.4  30.63   4 29.46  23        2400
         WAL  2.74  -1.24  0.66 10  0.66    10 12 0  7.42  0.6 27   1 0  0.6 17.0  30.69   4 29.38  24        2400
         WOO  4.83  +1.78           0.85  9-10 15 0  7.40  1.2 7,27 3 2      12.7  30.53  20 29.58  24        0800
         WSH  6.63  +2.16  2.20  6  2.20     6 14 2  9.99  1.2  6   2 2  2.2 15.9  30.44  22 29.26   5        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  6.95  +2.36  2.14  6  2.55   5-6 11 2 12.04     T  6, 3  0    T 20.8  30.50   4 29.54  24         2400
                                                                10,11
         MRH  3.52         1.03  6  1.03     6 10 1 11.75                 0.0    T  30.59   3 29.49  24         2400
         CLT  4.51  +0.12  1.05 30  1.05    30 12 2  9.32                 0.0  6.1  30.59   4 29.53  23         2400
         ECG  4.71  +0.04  1.10 16  1.10    16 13 2  9.85                           30.65   3 29.42  24         2400
         FAY  3.34         0.89 30  0.89    30 10 0  7.26                                     29.45  23         2400
         GSO  4.37  +0.52  1.13  6  1.13     6 11 1  7.85     T  28  1 0    T  9.9            29.45  23         2400
         HSE  5.44  +0.49  1.44  6  1.44     6 12 2 14.56                 0.0  6.0  30.60   4 29.46  31         2400
         HKY  5.71  +0.79  2.12  6  2.44   5-6 11 2  9.68                 0.0    T  30.54   4 29.46  23         2400
         LBT  3.87  -0.44  0.93 30  0.93    30 12 0  8.53                           30.57   4 29.51  24         2400
         MON                                                                                                    2400
         EWN  2.41  -2.08  0.58  6  0.58     6 11 0  8.49                 0.0  4.4  30.62   3 29.50  23         2400
         RDU  3.52  -0.51  1.05 30  1.05    30 12 1  7.16     T  28  1 0    T  9.0            29.45  23         2400
         RAL  4.63  +0.60           1.05 29-30 10 1  7.94                 0.0  9.1  30.42   8 29.48  23         0730
         ROX  5.55  +1.72  1.12 30  1.12    30 12 2  8.78     T  28  1 0    T 11.7  30.66   4 29.48  23  30.15  2200
         WHI  3.46  -1.03  0.91 30  0.91    30 10 0 12.42                 0.0  9.2  30.567  3 29.531 3,  30.105 2400
                                                                                                     24           
         ILM  2.89  -1.33  0.91 30  0.91    30 11 0 10.05                 0.0  4.0  30.58   3 29.53  24         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  5.62  +0.65 1.21  6  1.37   5-6 11 2 11.25               0.0    T  30.52   4 29.56  31         2400
         CAE  4.00  -0.59 0.91 30  0.90    30 13 0 10.19               0.0  4.8  30.54   4 29.58  24         2400
         CRE  3.40  -0.39 1.20 30  1.20    30 10 1  9.31                         30.54   3 29.55  24         2400
         CHS  2.67  -1.33 1.02 30  1.02    30  9 1  7.78               0.0  0.2  30.50   4 29.56  31         2400
         FLO  4.16  +0.16 1.00 30  1.00    30 11 1  8.87                         30.56   4 29.54  24         2400
         GSP  7.09  +1.78 1.08  1  2.35 26-27 10 3 13.09               0.0  8.8  30.53   4 29.54  23         2400
         OGB  4.15        1.07 27  1.07    27 10 1 10.19                         30.52   4 29.58  31         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  6.37  +2.46 1.63  6 1.63     6 13 3 12.78   1.3  6  3  1   1.3  15.6  30.38  4 29.52  23        2400
         DAV  7.4   +2.5  1.17 24            18 1 17.04   7.9  7 14  2  17.0 191.4                            0700    

    Virginia:

    Arlington - " ALHOUGH TEMPERATURES AVERAGED NEAR NORMAL...MARCH FEATURED LARGE TEMPERATURE SWINGS FROM WEEK TO WEEK AND DAY TO DAY...SWINGS THAT ARE COMMON DURING THE SPRING. 19 OF THE 31 DAYS AVERAGED BELOW NORMAL. THE SECOND HALF OF THE MONTH FEATURED TYPICAL MARCH WEATHER. A WEEK OF RELATIVE SPRING WARMTH...15TH THROUGH 23RD...WAS FOLLOWED ON THE 24RD THROUGH THE 31ST BY PERSISTENTLY COLD CONDITIONS...MORE TYPICAL OF FEBRUARY. SEVEN DAYS WITHIN THIS EIGHT-DAY STRETCH BETWEEN 24-31 MARCH FAILED TO REACH 50F. ONLY MARCH 1883 HAD THIS FREQUENT NUMBER OF DAYS BELOW 50F DURING THE 24-31 MARCH PERIOD SINCE OFFICIAL RECORDS BEGAN AT WASHINGTON DC. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 80F ON 18 MARCH WAS THE FIRST TIME THE TEMPERATURE REACHED 80F IN MARCH SINCE 27 MARCH 2007. WASHINGTON DC RECEIVED ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION IN MARCH FOR THE FIRST MONTH SINCE OCTOBER 2010. IT WAS THE WETTEST MARCH SINCE 2005. TWO-THIRDS OF THE PRECIPITATION FOR THIS MARCH WAS OBSERVED ON THE 6TH AND 10TH WHEN TWO SEPARATE STORM SYSTEMS EACH PRODUCED ALMOST ONE AND ONE-HALF INCHES OF RAINFALL. MARCH ALMOST FEATURED NO MEASURABLE SNOWFALL FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR. HOWEVER...0.2 INCHES OF SNOW WAS RECORDED ON THE 27TH. " - [ - + ] - Notes from NWS Sterling, VA

    Bridgewater - " The temperature and precipitation were above normal. The snow on the 27th was beautiful . However, it melted quickly on the following day. My cut-off for any measurable snow is April 15. According to my 50 years of keeping records, we have had only 3 snows in April. My latest snow occurred on April 13. We have had flurries after this date, but no measurable snow. There is very little chance of snow this April. " - [ + + ] - additional notes from Clayton

    Chantilly - Russ adds: " March was the usual temperature roller coaster. Temperatures ended up averaging 1.1° above normal. Precipitation was 2.15" above normal, primarily due to the record setting extreme rain event on the 6th (2.67"). Snowfall was 3.3" below normal, with 0.1" on the 27th and a trace on the 6th. Sleet occurred on the 30th. Thunder was observed on the 21st and 23rd. We took to basements on the 10th, with a tornado warning for a confirmed tornado within 5 miles of this station. *Please note, anemometer is currently partially obstructed from the North and East " - [ + + ]

    Dulles - from NWS Sterling (KLWX): " ALTHOUGH TEMPERATURES AVERAGED NEAR NORMAL...MARCH FEATURED LARGE SWINGS IN TEMPERATURES FROM WEEK TO WEEK AND DAY TO DAY...CONDITIONS COMMON DURING THE SPRING. 13 OF THE 31 DAYS AVERAGED BELOW NORMAL. THE SECOND HALF OF THE MONTH IN PARTICULAR FEATURED A WEEK OF LATE SPRING WARMTH FOLLOWED BY COLD CONDITIONS DURING THE LAST EIGHT DAYS OF THE MONTH MORE TYPICAL OF FEBRUARY. SEVEN DAYS WITHIN THE EIGHT-DAY STRETCH BETWEEN 24-31 MARCH FAILED TO REACH 50F...WHICH IS THE MOST NUMBER OF DAYS BELOW 50F DURING THE 24-31 MARCH PERIOD SINCE OFFICIAL RECORDS BEGAN AT DULLES. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 79F ON 18 MARCH WAS THE WARMEST MARCH READING SINCE THE TEMPERATURE REACHED 83F ON 27 MARCH 2007. MARCH WAS WETTER THAN NORMAL AT DULLES FOR THE FIRST MONTH SINCE SEPTEMBER 2010. IT WAS THE 6TH WETTEST MARCH ON RECORD AND THE WETTEST MARCH SINCE 1998 WHEN 5.60 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION FELL. A TOTAL OF 3.81 INCHES OF RAIN FELL DURING THE FIVE-DAY STRETCH FROM 6-10 MARCH 2011...WHICH IS THE MOST PRECIPITATION MEASURED AT DULLES DURING A 5-DAY PERIOD IN ASTRONOMICAL WINTER (21 DECEMBER-20 MARCH). THREE-FOURTHS OF THE PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH WAS OBSERVED ON THE 6TH AND 10TH WHEN TWO STORM SYSTEMS COMBINED FOR OVER THREE AND HALF INCHES OF RAINFALL. BOTH DAYS ALSO SET DAILY RAINFALL RECORDS. THE 2.30 INCHES OF RAINFALL ON THE 6TH BROKE THE OLD DAILY RECORD OF 1.12 INCHES SET IN 1967. THE 1.41 INCHES ON THE 10TH SURPASSED THE OLD DAILY RECORD OF 0.59 INCHES SET IN 1994. DULLES RECORDED MEASURABLE SNOWFALL ONLY ONCE DURING THE MONTH...0.1 INCHES ON 27 MARCH 2011. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME MEASURABLE SNOW FELL ON THAT DATE. SINCE 2000...DULLES HAS TOTALED LESS THAN ONE INCH OF SNOWFALL IN MARCH SEVEN OF THE 12 YEARS. " - [ - + ]

    Glen Allen - Lowell Koontz sends these additional notes: " March was warmer than average as the monthly mean temperature was 48.1°F, a + 1.3°F departure, and was also wetter than average (when compared to Ashland, Virginia records). The 4.24 inches of rain for March was a + 0.49 inch departure when compared to the Ashland, Virginia average. The maximum rainfall recorded in a day was 1.40 inches on the 10th. The total snowfall was only 0.2 inches for the month recorded on the 27th which was a -1.5 inch departure compared to Ashland records. Mid-March this year was warmer than average and the end was much colder giving a near average result and less snowfall than average and also the least in the past 3 years. The most unusual event in March was the hail near sunrise on the 21st. A thunderstorm passed the Glen Allen station around 0710 to 0720 AM giving about two minutes of hail from 0712 to 0714 A.M. (+/- 3 mins.) and gave only 0.04 inches of rain and 0.07 inches with the melted hail. The smallest hail was 0.25 inches and the largest was 0.5 inches but most averaged about 3/8 inch. It was interesting to have hail with almost most no wind or rain and the precipitation starting as hail and rain and also occurring around sunrise. The hailstone consistency was white ice but some hail had a band or layer of clear ice running through it and were irregular shaped and spheres. Richmond International Airport's March mean temperature of 48.7°F was the 50th warmest of the past 115 years and the precipitation of 4.28 inches was the 32nd wettest in the past 115 years. The Airport had two records: 84°F on the 18th ; the old record was 83°F in 1927 and the 5°F low temperature range tied the old record set in 1985 and 1961. There were 9 days the minimum temperature dropped below freezing. The maximum temperature for March was 82°F on the 18th at this station. The lowest minimum was 28°F recorded at this station on the 4th, 8th, 28th, 29th. A very low relative humidity of 14% was recorded here on the 11th. The maximum wind gust of 37 mph from the NNE occurred on the 6th at 1955 hours. March was also the third windiest month at this station with a total wind run of 1825 miles. The highest barometer recorded for the month was 30.63 inches on the 3rd and 4th which was the highest this station has recorded in March and the highest barometric pressure since December 12, 2009 when the pressure was also 30.63 inches of mercury. The lowest barometric pressure was 29.37 inches on the 23rd. " - [ + + ] 

    Herndon - Randy reports: " March was near normal for temperature and above normal for precipitation. The temperatures ranged between a high of 79 and a low of 25. The average highs/lows were 1.6 below and 0.8 degrees above normal, respectively. On the precipitation side, the month was 2.51" above normal with 5.36" measured. Rain fell off and on for most of the month, but the heaviest rains (4.10") came between the 6th and 10th of the month. With colder air moving into the area towards the end of the month, we ended up seeing some light snow and sleet on the 27th and 30th. But this month, the total amount of sleet and snow was only 0.3" and the warm weather, melted it quickly. We have now had 14.5" of snow for the season. " - [ + + ]

    Portsmouth - " March's average temperature (48.6°) was 1.5° BELOW NORMAL. Rainfall was ABOVE NORMAL by 0.23" and was 106% of normal relative to normal Marchs for the period from 1976 to 2010. The seasonal snowfall increased by a trace on the 23rd. Frost occurred on the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 28th, 29th. STATION RECORDS: 10th - WIND GUST 45 mph [previous 39mph 1989]; 18th - TEMPERATURE TIED Maximum 82° [previous 1989]; 21st - TEMPERATURE TIED Maximum 76° [previous 1978]; 26th - TEMPERATURE TIED Minimum Maximum 45° [previous 2001]; 27th - TEMPERATURE Minimum Maximum 40° [previous 1999]; 30th - TEMPERATURE Minimum Maximum 45° [previous 48° in 2008]. " - [ - + ] 

    North Carolina:

    Greensboro - NWS RAH notes: " THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT PIEDMONT TRIAD INTL AIRPORT ON MARCH 18TH WAS 84 DEGREES. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 79 DEGREES SET IN 1963. A TRACE OF SNOW FELL AT PIEDMONT TRIAD INTL AIRPORT NC ON MARCH 28TH. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF TRACE SET IN 1947. " - [ + + ] 

    Moncure - Mac reports: " " - [ - - ]

    Raleigh - NWS RAH notes: " THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT THE RALEIGH-DURHAM INTL AIRPORT ON MARCH 18TH WAS 85 DEGREES. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 80 DEGREES SET IN 1999. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT RALEIGH-DURHAM INTL AIRPORT ON MARCH 23RD WAS 83 DEGREES. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 83 DEGREES SET IN 2007. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE ON MARCH 27TH AT RALEIGH DURHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WAS 40 DEGREES. THIS TIES THE LOWEST MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE PREVIOUSLY SET IN 1947. " - [ + - ]

    Raleigh - Bob sends these notes: " THE AVERAGE DAILY TEMPERATURE WAS 0.5 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL, HOWEVER THERE WERE SOME VERY COOL DAYS. THE HIGH TEMP ON MARCH 27TH WAS ONLY 40 DEGREES! THUNDERSTORMS WERE OBSERVED ON TWO DAYS AND RAINFALL FOR THE MONTH WAS 0.60 ABOVE NORMAL. NO SEVERE WEATHER WAS OBSERVED; HOWEVER THE AREA WAS UNDER A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ON TWO OCCASIONS. " - [ + - ]

    North Whiteville - Christopher sends these additional notes: " The big highlight was the mid-March mini-drought here in southeast NC, with a substantial wildfire near Camp Lejeune, N.C. I recorded 13 consecutive days with no precipitation, from March 11 through March 23. On Monday, March 28, the record was tied for the lowest maximum temperature. Record tied for total heating degree days for the day. Record tied for the lowest overall average temperature for the day. In total, out of 31 days, precipitation was measured on 10 days, or 32.3% of total days. ADVISORIES/WATCHES/WARNINGS: Red Flag Warning posted on Wednesday, March 23. Freeze Warning posted 2 am to 9 am on Tuesday, March 29. " - [ + - ]

    Nearby Cities:

    Davis, WV - from Dave Lesher's website: " March 2011 had a mean temperature of 34° and that was 2° BELOW NORMAL. The month's rainfall total of 7.4 inches was 2.5" ABOVE NORMAL. Rainfall for the year of 17.0" was 4.2" BELOW NORMAL. The 17" of snow was 9" inches BELOW NORMAL snowfall for the month. The season-to-date snowfall of 191" was 57" ABOVE NORMAL." - [ +  + ]



    COLUMN DENOTATIONS:

    A  maximum mean temperature T total precipitation (inches)
    T1 departure from normal
    B  minimum mean temperature U maximum calendar day precipitation (inches)
    C  monthly mean temperature
    C1 departure from normal
    U1 date of maximum calendar day precipitation
    D  maximum temperature V date(s) of maximum daily precipitation
    E  date(s) of maximum temperature V1 maximum 24-hour precip. & date(s)
    F  minimum temperature W number of days with precip. >= .01"
    G  date(s) of minimum temperature  X number of days with precip. >= 1.0"
    H  days with maximum temperature >=90 Y year-to-date precipitation (inches)
    I  days with maximum temperature <=32 Z maximum calendar day snowfall (inches)
    J  days with minimum temperature <=32 VRB Variable
    K  days with minimum temperature <= 0 1 date of maximum calendar day snowfall (inches)
    K1 average relative humidity 2 number of days with snowfall
    L  peak wind gust (miles per hour)  3 number of days with snowfall >= 1.0"
    M  direction of peak wind gust 4  total snowfall for month (inches)
    N  date(s) of peak wind gust  5 total snowfall for 2007-2008 season (inches)
    N1   average wind speed (miles per hour) 6 maximum barometric pressure (inches)
    N2 dominant wind direction 6A date of maximum barometric pressure
    O  number of days with thunder  7 minimum barometric pressure (inches)
    P  number of days with hail 7A date of minimum barometric pressure
    Q  number of days with glaze 8   average sea-level pressure
    R  number of days with ice pellets STN  Station
      NR not recorded
    R1 number of days with dense fog [1/4 mile and less visibility] (i) incomplete data
    S  local observation time for temps/precipitation (M) missing, if listed in data table
     ~ "about" E estimated
     +  additional indeterminate number of days CWA - NWS Office County Warning Area


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

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

         National Weather Service Homepages

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

       Coast Guard Air Station 36-15-47N 076 10-58W 11M
    AKQ    Wakefield, VA NWS Wakefield Municipal Airport 36-58-53N 077-00-04W 33M  
    DCA    Arlington, VA Washington, DC, Reagan Washington National Airport 38-50-54N 077-02-03W 18M WSH   Washington, VA  David Yowell runamok@runamok.com
    BCB    Blacksburg, VA NWS Virginia Tech Airport 37-13N 080-25W   
      WOO  Woodstock, VA 5NW Lauck Walton 12/1/85 jwalton@shentel.net
       LDY Ladysmith, VA Danny Jessee 2003 STATION CLOSED 8/31/2010 danny@dannyjessee.com
    BRI     Bridgewater, VA Clayton Towers Ctowers19@aol.com WAL   Wallops Island, VA 37° 56'26" N 75° 27'47" W Wallops Flight Facility Airport
    CEN  Centreville, VA Paul Bassett 1985, 38° 50.9788' N LAT. 77° 25.6374' W LON. | Elevation 324' | m.psb@verizon.net AVL    Asheville, NC  Asheville Regional Airport 35-25-55N 082-32-15W 670M
    CHO   Charlottesville, VA  Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport ASOS  (Rappahannock County) 38-08-18N 078-27-21W 192M MRH    Beaufort, NC  Michael J. Field Airport 34-44-01N 076-39-38W 3M
    DAN  Danville, VA, Danville Regional Airport, 36-34-22N 079-20 10W 175M  CLT    Charlotte, NC NWS Charlotte/Douglas International Airport 35-12-48N 080-56-55W 220M
    IAD   Dulles - Washington-Dulles International Airport  38-56-05N 077-26-51W 93M   
    FCH    Falls Church, VA Erica Page 3/7/94 Windie1970@aol.com HKY  Hickory, NC 
    HAM    Hampton, VA 5NE Dave Kessel 1989 david82@verizon.net ECG  Elizabeth City, NC, 
    LYH     Lynchburg, VA NWS Lynchburg Regional Airport 37-19-15N 079-12-24W 295M ILM     Wilmington, NC NWS New Hanover International Airport 34-16-06N 077-54-22W 9M
    CTR  Winterpock in Chesterfield County, VA Albert Arnold 06/03 FAY  Fayetteville, NC Fayetteville Regional Airport, 34-59-22N 078-52-48W 55M
      GSO   Greensboro, NC NWS Piedmont Triad International Airport 36-05-51N 079-56-37W 275M
    CHT   Chantilly, VA Russ Topping -  12/2006  russ.topping@gmail.com - new location December 2006 HSE    Cape Hatteras, NC  Mitchell Field 35-13-56N 075-27-21W 3M
    HDV    Herndon, VA  Randoplh W. Ashby, 3.3 SM South, Lat: 38.922127, Lon: -77.38015, Elev: 390'. Randolph_Ashby@Raytheon.com LBT    Lumberton, NC  Lumberton Municipal Airport 34-36-26N 079-03-36W 37M
    GAV - Glen Allen, Henrico County, VA - Lowell Koontz  8/1/08  wwkoontz@verizon.net EWN    New Bern, NC  Craven County Regional Airport 36-04-03N 077-02-50W 3M
      MON    Moncure, NC  Chatham County - Mac McIlwain mac.mcilwain@embarqmail.com
      RAL    Raleigh, NC 7NNW  Bob Woodson -  6/1/93 kf4mmm@qsl.net
    LKU     Louisa, VA 1N Joseph Bowers 1944 - NWS ID  44-5050-02 STATION CLOSED RDU   Raleigh-Durham, NC Raleigh-Durham International Airport 35-52-14N 078-47-11W 130M
    LOU     Louisa, VA 6S John Bullock (about 1970) STATION CLOSED ROX    Roxboro, NC 2SE Merriell A. Jay 1/93
         WHI   North Whiteville, NC Christopher Crawley 12/10 34.413744N / 078.751908W
    LYH     Lynchburg, VA NWS Lynchburg Regional Airport 37-19-15N 079-12-24W 295M ILM     Wilmington, NC NWS New Hanover International Airport 34-16-06N 077-54-22W 9M
    NEW    Newmarket, VA 2W Joyce Winfree STATION CLOSED 5/31/10 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 canaanwx@canaantv.tv