The Atlantic Coast Observer Network - Virginia/North Carolina/South Carolina

http://www.genserva.com/acon

SUMMARY OF CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA 



MARCH 2014

...MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURES THAN NORMAL ...
...NEAR NORMAL RAINFALL ...


  • Some Weather and Climate News - from member Lowell Koontz (GAV)   Lowell Koontz sent along a few links for you to check-out: House passes “Weather Forecasting Improvement Act of 2014? http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2014/04/02/house-passes-weather-forecasting-improvement-act-of-2014/ ; 4 consecutive total lunar eclipses starting April 15, 2014: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2014/27mar_tetrad/


  • March 25th, 2014 Snowfall Totals - from NWS Wakefield (AKQ)   National Weather Service Office Wakefield has prepared a public information statement listing spotter reports for snowfall for the late March storm in Virginia and Maryland (within their CWA): http://www.weather.gov/media/akq/stormSUM/Snow_Event_Mar25_2014.pdf


  • Historical Database of Tornadoes - 1980-2012 - from Kevin Shaw of ACON DC/MD/DE   "I got this email from my friend Henry S down in TN (Retired NWS forecaster) ...pretty neat historical database of tornadoes! Check it out!" It includes a link to an interactive map showing all tornadoes which occurred across the U.S. from 1980 through 2012. http://storymaps.esri.com/stories/2014/tornadoes/#


  • 2014 AMERICAN WEATHER CONFERENCE - from Kevin Shaw, ACON DC/MD/DE   "Read all about 2014's conference at the link below. I have attended these in the past and they are always quite excellent. Hope some of you can make it!" Please visit: http://conference.americanwx.com/


  • "TEN-TO-ONE?" THE ODDS ARE "PERHAPS SOMETIMES!" - from CoCoRaHS      Does ten inches of fresh snow melt down to one inch of water content? Usually not, but sometimes. It is remarkable that the 10:1 snow-to-water-content "myth" has survived this long. Cleveland Abby, a renowned 19th Century scientist and meteorological observer wrote in the 1888 Treatise on Meteorological Apparatus and Methods, "The measurement of the height of water by assuming ten inches of snow to one inch of water is subject to a large range of error because of the wide variability of this ratio for different kinds of snow." Almost 125 years later, the topic is still debated. All we need to do is look at the many shapes and sizes of snowflakes to realize that the water content of snow will vary. CoCoRaHS data quickly show the large variations that are possible. Very dry and fluffy snow falling with light winds and cold temperatures may have 0.30" or less water in ten inches of new snow. On the other side, very wet snow may have more water -- two inches of water from ten inches of snow is not that unusual. For sleet (ice pellets) the water content can be even more. That is why it is so important to independently measure both the accumulation of new snow, the water content of that snow, and the total depth of new and old snow on the ground. Furthermore, it doesn't take long to tell when you're out walking, playing or shoveling snow. You can feel the mass and the resistance from a dense, wet snow. Like it or hate it, snow is amazing stuff. For more information about the curious and dynamic properties of snow click here: http://ccc.atmos.colostate.edu/pdfs/snowbook.pdf


  • MEASURING FREEZING RAIN + SNOW TRAINING SHORTS - from CoCoRaHS      Freezing rain will most likely make an appearance in some parts of the country this month. How does one measure it? Good question. For a quick primer please click here: FREEZING RAIN at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLwlaP_CFl8&list=PLS0EU9SKRY0_liw4Z60q_zodgCz-etYB5&index=8    The title of this message mentions snow training shorts. What are those? We're not talking about weather apparel here; these are short animations showing how to measure precipitation in wintry weather. Please take a look: CoCoRaHS SNOW SHORTS at http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS0EU9SKRY0_liw4Z60q_zodgCz-etYB5 Additional training on both subjects can be found on our CoCoRaHS Training Slide Show Page: http://cocorahs.org/Content.aspx?page=training_slideshows


  • NWS AKQ MONTHLY RAINFALL ANALYSIS (Virginia)      Don't forget these new products for Virginia from NWS Wakefield compiled from ASOS...COOP...RAWS REPORTS | Monthly Rainfall Analysis - http://www.weather.gov/akq/MONTHLY_RAINFALL_ANALYSIS -


  • NOHRSC INTERACTIVE SNOW INFORMATION      Here's a fantastic resource for you snowbirds who wish to track and analyze snowfall across the States. Visit http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/interactive/html/map.html


  • DROUGHT MONITOR    http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/    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 Station Extremes - MARCH 2014
    State
    Maximum Temperature
    Minimum
    Temperature
    Warmest
    Average
    Temperature
    Coldest
    Average
    Temperature
    Maximum
    Precipitation
    Minimum
    Precipitation
    Virginia
    80°
    Chesterfield
    Richmond
    -1°
    Dulles
    47.2°
    Norfolk (FHC)
    37.4°
    Woodstock
    Dulles
    4.81"
    Newport News
    2.25"
    Woodstock
    North Carolina
    81°
    New Bern
    North Whiteville
    13°
    Greensboro
    51.5°
    Wilmington
    44.5°
    Asheville
    Greensboro
    6.39"
    Wilmington
    2.30"
    Asheville
    South Carolina
    84°
    Columbia
    Charleston
    24°
    Anderson
    Florence
    55.0°
    Charleston
    49.4°
    Greenville-Spartanburg
    4.93"
    Charleston
    2.87"
    Orangeburg


    ( For an explanation of column headers in the following tables,
    please note the column denotations table below. )


    TEMPERATURE / WINDS/ ELEMENTS FOLLOWED BY
    PRECIPITATION / BAROMETRIC PRESSURE

    VIRGINIA | NORTH CAROLINA | SOUTH CAROLINA
    [Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL]
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    BCB 51.7 27.1 39.4 -2.2 72 11 12 4 0 1 23 0 69% 44 280 12 7.3 0 0 2 3 1 LWX 2400
    CHT 51.2 29.2 40.2 -4.0 72.8 22 2.7 4 0 1 16 0 65% 29 200 12 1 360 0 0 0 2 1 LWX 2400
    CHO 52.5 30.0 41.3 -4.6 75 11 1 4 0 2 17 0 48 320 12 7.3 0 0 2 0 1 LWX 2400
    DAN 56.2 31.7 44.0 -4.7 78 11 9 4 0 0 18 0   42 310 12 7.8 1 0 5 3 2 RNK 2400
    DCA 52.2 33.5 42.9 -3.9 73 22 14 4 0 1 16 0 53% 52 320 12 10.0 0 0 0 1 4 LWX 2400
    IAD 48.3 26.5 37.4 -6.8 69 22 -1 4 0 2 21 1 61% 61 320 12 9 0 0 1 1 4 LWX 2400
    GAV 55.03 32.03 43.53 -5.7 78 11 7 4 0 1 17 0 63% 36 200 12 0 0 4 4 0 AKQ 2400
    HAM                                             AKQ 2400
    HDV 49.8 28.6 39.2 -6.1 71 22 1 3,4 0 2 18 0 65% 26 230 12 230 0 0 0 2 1 LWX 2400
    LYH 56.2 31.4 43.8 -2.1 79 11 9 4 0 0 18 0 55% 41 310 12 6.8 0 0 5 3 2 RNK 2400
    NPN 55.8 34.1 44.3 -4.8 78.2 11 19.0 4 0 0 15 0 37 270 13 4.8 50 0 0 3 2 0 AKQ 2400
    FHC 56.87 37.53 47.2 -2.2 78.3 11 22.9 4 0 1 7 0 67% 37 20 7 5.0 360 0 0 2 2 0 AKQ 2400
    NOR                                   AKQ 2400
    ORF 55.5 36.9 46.2 -3.2 78 11 24 3,4 0 1 9 0 64% 43 360 7 12.0 0 0 1 1 1 AKQ 2400
    POR 56.6 37.0 46.8 -3.3 78 11 23 4 0 0 10 0 70% 40 360 3 7.4 340 0 0 2 2 0 AKQ 2400
    CTR 56.3 31.8 43.4 -4.3 79.9 11 10 4 0 0 19 0 64% 27 290 12 0.9 285 0 0 0 2 0 AKQ 2400
    MEC 55.9 33.22 44.83 74 2 7 4 0 0 17 0 55% 0 0 0 3 0 AKQ 2400
    RIC 56.3 33.6 45.0 -3.6 80 11 11 4 0 0 16 0 56% 46 290 12 9.8 0 0 2 3 2 AKQ 2400
    ROA 54.9 32.5 43.7 -3.6 77 11 13 4 0 1 16 0 54% 53 280 12 8 0 0 4 2 2 RNK 2400
    WAL 52.6 33.6 43.1 -1.9 75 11 14 4 0 0 13 0 48 350,290 12,13 11.8 0 0 4 1 3 AKQ 2400
    WOO 47.2 27.5 37.4 -7.2 68 12,23 10 4 0 5 19 0 0 0 0 0 1 LWX 800
    WSH 49.4 28.6 39.0 -5.60 70.3 22 9.9 4 0 1 20 0 64% 28 50 13 1.1 70 0 0 0 1 0 LWX 2400
    Averages 53.53 31.82 42.63 -4.2 75.2 10.9 0.0 1.0 16.3 0.1 61.6% 41.0 6.9 0.1 0.0 1.9 1.9 1.3
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    AVL 56.8 32.1 44.5 -2.6 75 11 22 14 0 0 18 0 62% 62 330 30 8 0 0 0 2 0 GSP 2400
    MRH 59.1 40.7 49.9 -3.2 71 10 26 14 0 0 6 0 43 20,320 7,13 11.6 0 0 1 0 2 MHX 2400
    CLT 60.4 34.2 47.3 -3.9 78 11 20 4 0 0 16 0 61% 43 310 12 7.4 0 0 2 0 0 GSP 2400
    ECG 57.5 36.5 47.0 -3.1 76 11,22 23 4,14 0 0 10 0 69% 48 30 27 12.8 0 0 0 3 2 AKQ 2400
    FAY 60.8 36.7 48.8 -5.5 79 11,22 20 4 0 0 10 0 63% 44 220 12 9.6 2 0 2 0 1 RAH 2400
    GSO 56.4 32.6 44.5 -5.5 76 11 13 4 0 0 18 0 59% 61 290 12 4.7 2 0 5 5 4 RAH 2400
    HSE 56.1 40.9 48.5 -3.1 67 15 27 14 0 0 1 0 79% 46 250 12 10.2 0 0 0 0 1 MHX 2400
    HKY 58.5 35.0 46.7 -3.2 77 11 19 4 0 0 15 0 47 320 12 6 0 0 2 2 1 GSP 2400
    LBT 60.2 36.3 48.3 -5.8 77 22 21 4 0 0 10 0 69% 49 30 6 8.1 0 0 1 0 1 ILM 2400
    EWN 61.8 38.2 50.0 -3.5 81 11 23 14 0 0 6 0 65% 41 230 12 8.5 1 0 3 1 2 MHX 2400
    RDU 57.9 34.0 46.0 -5.6 79 11 16 4 0 0 14 0 61% 37 30,270,270 3,29,30 7.1 1 0 3 5 3 RAH 2400
    RAL 58.2 33.7 46.0 -5.6 80 11 15 4 0 0 18 0 24   12 0 0 1 0 0 RAH 2400
    WHI 61.6 37.8 49.7 -3.4 81.4 9 21.6 4 0 0 9 0 70% 34 53 7 4.4   3 0 0 0 2 ILM 2400
    ILM 62.6 40.3 51.5 -3.6 79 11,22 25 4 0 0 6 0 66% 47 40 7 9.7 1 0 0 0 1 ILM 2400
    Averages 59.14 36.36 47.76 -4.1 76.9 20.8 0.0 0.0 11.2 0.0 65.8% 44.7 8.3 0.7 0.0 1.4 1.3 1.4
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    AND 62.7 37.2 50.0 -2.6 80 11 24 26 0 0 7 0 47 270 12 8.1 0 0 0 0 1 GSP 2400
    CAE 65.2 39.1 52.2 -3.4 84 11 28 14,27 0 0 6 0 61% 55 270 12 6.9 0 0 0 0 0 CAE 2400
    CRE 60.6 40.0 50.3 -3.9 73 15,31 25 4 0 0 5 0 72% 50 40 6 8.5 1 0 0 0 2 ILM 2400
    CHS 66.3 43.6 55.0 -3.1 84 11 33 14,26 0 0 0 0 48 300 12 8.6 1 0 0 0 1 CHS 2400
    FLO 62.9 38.2 50.6 -5.0 82 11 24 4 0 0 8 0 66% 45 340 30 8.3 0 0 0 0 3 ILM 2400
    GSP 61.4 37.5 49.4 -3.5 78 11 25 4 0 0 7 0 57% 50 260 12 7.8 0 0 0 1 2 GSP 2400
    OGB 64.6 40.1 52.3 -4.3 82 11 28 4 0 0 5 0 43 310 12 7.6 0 0 0 0 2 CAE 2400
    Averages 63.39 39.39 51.40 -3.7 80.4 26.7 0.0 0.0 5.4 0.0 64.0% 48.3 8.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.1 1.6
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    STATION A B C C1 D E F G H I J K K1 L M N N1 N2 O P Q R R1 CWA TIME RECORDED
    TRI 58.6 31.3 44.9 -1.8 71 11 20 4 0 0 17 0 51 260 12 6 0 0 0 1 1 MRX 2400
    DAV 39.7 17.5 25.8 60 12 -8 1,4 0 10 29 2 PBX 2400
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    BCB 2.42 -1.22 0.71 3 0.71 3 13 0 8.05 3.7 25 13 2 7.3 34.4 RNK 2400
    CHT 3.77 0.39 0.90 29 1.39 29-30 9 0 9.29 6.8 16 5 4 20.1 46.3 30.581 6 29.045 12 30.034 LWX 2400
    CHO 2.49 -1.17 0.78 29 0.78 29 10 0 7.58 29.060 12 LWX 2400
    DAN 3.20 -0.91 1.28 7 1.28 7 13 1 8.32 2.7 7 5 2 5.5 13.4 30.450 27 29.170 12 RNK 2400
    DCA 4.26 0.78 1.05 30 1.05 30 10 2 10.86 3.9 17 6 4 12.7 30.5 30.590 6 29.060 12 LWX 2400
    IAD 4.10 0.72 0.97 30 0.97 30 10 0 10.60 6.6 16 10 0 19.8 52.8 30.450 27 29.060 12 LWX 2400
    GAV 3.61   0.71 3,29 0.81 2-3 12 0 10.38 2.4 3 5 2 4.2 17.2 30.500 6 29.130 12 30.020 AKQ 2400
    HAM                                         AKQ 2400
    HDV 4.79 1.05 1.51 30 10 1 11.75 6.4 3 6 4 18.9 48.6 30.570 6 29.030 12 AKQ 2400
    LYH 2.93 -0.65 0.72 3 0.72 3 12 0 10.01 6.0 25 7 2 9.4 21.4 30.480 6 29.140 12 RNK 2400
    NPN 4.81 0.64 1.51 29 1.51 29 11 1 11.67 2.0 3 5 1 2.5 14.8 30.510 27 29.160 12 AKQ 2400
    FHC 3.44 -0.24 0.71 29 0.71 29 8 0 10.48 2.5 3 5 1 2.5 15.5 30.514 27 29.186 12 30.019 AKQ 2400
    NOR                                 AKQ 2400
    ORF 3.82 0.14 0.80 7 0.80 7 12 0 10.11 2.3 3 7 1 2.3 15.8 30.510 27 29.440 30 AKQ 2400
    POR 4.22 0.20 0.85 7 0.85 7 11 1 11.38 3.0 3 5 1 3.0 18.0 30.510 27 29.190 12 30.019 AKQ 2400
    CTR 2.87 -0.43 0.68 29 0.71 29-30 12 0 9.98 0.2 17 3 0 0.3 12.3 30.460 27 29.110 12 29.993 AKQ 2400
    MEC 3.64 0.91 30 1.72 29-30 12 0 10.12 3.0 3 2 2 4.5 13.5 AKQ 2400
    RIC 3.24 -0.8 0.98 29 0.98 29 13 0 9.55 3.0 3 5 1 3.6 14.5 30.520 6 29.150 12 AKQ 2400
    ROA 2.76 -0.7 0.89 3 0.89 3 13 0 9.04 2.8 25 9 2 5.6 16.3 30.470 6 29.150 12 RNK 2400
    WAL 3.15 -0.85 0.97 29 0.97 29 14 0 8.72 3.0 25 6 3 6.2 13.1 30.500 6 29.120 12 AKQ 2400
    WOO 2.25 -0.82 0.63 2-3 12 0 7.33 8.8 18 7 5 15.6 46.2 30.470 6 29.500 12 LWX 800
    WSH 3.64 -1.01 0.95 29 0.95 29 11 0 9.00 6.0 17 6 4 19.5 50.8 30.590 6 29.100 12 LWX 2400
    Averages 3.47 -0.27 0.94 0.97 11.4 0.3 9.71 4.0 6.2 2.2 8.6 26.1 30.510 29.156 30.017
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    AVL 2.30 -1.53 0.5 16 0.5 16 9 0 7.65 0.4 25 7 0 0.4 9.6 30.390 27 29.610 29 GSP 2400
    MRH 3.18 -1.02 1.06 7 1.06 7 10 1 9.47     0 0 0 T 30.510 27 29.350 12 MHX 2400
    CLT 4.48 0.47 1.38 7 1.38 7 11 2 11.40 T 3 1 0 T 9.3 30.440 27 29.280 12 GSP 2400
    ECG 2.41 -1.57 0.99 7 0.99 7 12 0 6.55 0.5 3 3 0 0.5 10.2 30.540 27 29.480 30 AKQ 2400
    FAY 3.64 0.09 0.82 29 0.82 29 14 0 10.36     29.190 12 RAH 2400
    GSO 4.36 0.63 1.79 7 1.79 7 13 1 10.58 3.0 7 6 2 4.7 15.3 29.190 12 RAH 2400
    HSE 5.48 0.71 2.10 7 2.10 7 12 1 15.57     0 0 0 5.7 30.530 27 29.320 12 MHX 2400
    HKY 4.39 0.15 1.43 7 1.43 7 11 1 9.44 30.390 27 29.210 12 GSP 2400
    LBT 3.42 0.09 0.78 29 0.78 29 12 0 9.49 30.480 27 29.320 12 ILM 2400
    EWN 4.60 0.21 1.43 7 1.43 7 14 1 11.13 T 3 1 0 T 14.0 30.520 27 29.310 12 MHX 2400
    RDU 5.06 0.95 1.72 7 1.72 7 13 1 10.02 0.2 3 4 0 0.2 5.8 29.190 12 RAH 2400
    RAL 5.79 1.68 1.80 6-7 11 1 11.62 0.2 3 2 0 0.2 5.8 29.480 12 RAH 2400
    WHI 4.80 0.93 1.43 29 1.43 29 12 2 10.57         0.0 2.1 30.494 27 29.343 12   ILM 2400
    ILM 6.39 2.18 1.73 29 1.73 29 11 4 11.85     0 0 0.0 1.0 30.500 27 29.370 12 ILM 2400
    Averages 4.31 0.28 1.32 1.35 11.8 1.1 10.41 0.6 2.4 0.2 0.5 7.2 30.479 29.332
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    AND 3.73 -0.62 1.13 16 1.13 16 9 1 9.85 30.410 27 29.390 12 GSP 2400
    CAE 3.93 0.2 1.29 6 1.29 6 10 2 10.25     0 0 0 4.2 30.440 27 29.380 12 CAE 2400
    CRE 4.74 0.82 1.77 29 1.77 29 11 2 9.47 30.500 27 29.410 12 ILM 2400
    CHS 4.93 1.22 1.03 29 1.03 29 10 1 7.57     0 0 0 T 30.460 27 29.490 12 CHS 2400
    FLO 4.55 1.22 1.14 29 1.14 29 11 2 10.27 30.460 27 29.360 12 ILM 2400
    GSP 4.09 -0.43 1.41 7 1.41 7 10 2 10.33 T 1,4,25 3 0 T 7.2 30.410 27 29.310 12 GSP 2400
    OGB 2.87 -1.11 1.27 6 1.27 6 10 1 8.79 30.450 27 29.430 12 CAE 2400
    Averages 4.12 0.19 1.29 1.29 10.1 1.6 9.50 0.00 1.0 0.0 0.0 3.8 30.447 29.396
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    TRI 2.27 -1.17 0.93 3 0.93 3 11 0 7.33 0.5 25 7 0 0.7 13.0 30.310 26 29.270 12 MRX 2400
    DAV 4.53 0.83 30 22 0 13.63 11.8 17 19 9 36.8 163.5 PBX 2400
    STATION T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED


    Virginia:

    Arlington/Washington, D.C. - " TEMPERATURES IN WASHINGTON DC THIS MARCH 2014 AVERAGED BELOW NORMAL. IT WAS THE COLDEST MARCH IN DC SINCE MARCH 1996...WHICH ALSO AVERAGED 42.9 DEGF. NO DAILY OR MONTHLY TEMPERATURE RECORDS WERE SET IN MARCH 2014. WHILE OVERALL PRECIPITATION TOTALED SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL IN DC... MONTHLY SNOWFALL AVERAGED MUCH ABOVE NORMAL. THE MARCH MONTHLY SNOWFALL OF 12.7 INCHES IN DC WAS 11.4 INCHES ABOVE THE NORMAL VALUE OF 1.3 INCHES. THIS IS THE MOST SNOWFALL OBSERVED IN MARCH SINCE 1960. TWO DAILY MAXIMUM SNOWFALL RECORDS WERE SET AT REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT IN MARCH. A NEW DAILY MAXIMUM SNOWFALL RECORD OF 3.9 INCHES WAS SET ON THE 17TH...BREAKING THE OLD RECORD OF 1.9 INCHES SET IN 1965. THE SECOND DAILY MAXIMUM SNOWFALL RECORD OF 1.7 INCHES WAS SET ON THE 25TH...BREAKING THE OLD RECORD OF 1.5 INCHES SET IN 1906. " - [ - + ] - from NWS Sterling, VA

    Chantilly - from Russ Topping: " March begins and almost ends cold, snowy, and windy. The mean monthly temperature was 40.2° (-4.0°). The mean high temperature was 51.2° (-4.3°) and the mean low temperature was 29.2° (—3.7°). A record low maximum temperature was set on the 17th (31.6°) and 25th (35.6°). A record low minimum temperature was set on the 3rd (4.7°) and 4th (2.7°). March precipitation of 3.77” was above average (+0.39”). Snow was observed on the 3rd (5.5”), 16th (6.75”), 17th (4.0”), 25th (3.8”), and 30th (T). We set a new record for monthly snow! Sleet was observed on the 3rd (0.1”) mixed with snow and 30th (T). Dense fog was observed on the 20th. *Please note, anemometer is currently partially obstructed from the North and East " - [ - + ]

    Dulles - from NWS Sterling (KLWX): " TEMPERATURES IN MARCH 2014 AVERAGED MUCH BELOW NORMAL. IT WAS THE COLDEST MARCH ON RECORD AT DULLES. THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE WAS 37.4 DEGF....BREAKING THE PREVIOUS RECORD COLDEST AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 37.5 DEGF SET IN 1984. RECORDS FOR MARCH AT DULLES GO BACK 52 YEARS TO 1963. FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF DAILY MINIMUM TEMPERATURE RECORDS THAT WERE SET IN MARCH AT DULLES: 03/03....1 DEGF PREVIOUSLY 12 DEGF (1980), 03/04...-1* DEGF. PREVIOUSLY 6 DEGF (1980), 03/24...19 DEGF PREVIOUSLY 21 DEGF (1984), 03/27...15 DEGF PREVIOUSLY 17 DEGF (2001). *THE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE ON THE 4TH OF -1 DEGF TIED THE MARCH ALL-TIME MINIMUM TEMPERATURE RECORD SET ON 15 MARCH 1993. FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF DAILY LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES THAT WERE SET IN MARCH AT DULLES: 03/04...29 DEGF PREVIOUSLY 32 DEGF (2002), 03/17...30 DEGF PREVIOUSLY 34 DEGF (1976), 03/24...39 DEGF PREVIOUSLY 40 DEGF (1983/1972), 03/25...33 DEGF PREVIOUSLY 38 DEGF (1974), 03/26...33 DEGF PREVIOUSLY 35 DEGF (1971). THERE WERE TWO DAYS IN MARCH WHERE THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE WAS ONLY IN THE TEENS...18 DEG F ON THE 3RD AND 14 DEGF ON THE 4TH. THERE HAVE BEEN ONLY THREE OTHER INSTANCES IN MARCH WHERE THE DAILY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 20 DEGF...ONCE IN 1993 ON THE 15TH AND TWICE IN 1980 ON THE 1ST AND 2ND. WHILE OVERALL PRECIPITATION IN MARCH TOTALED ONLY SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL...MARCH ESTABLISHED A NEW ALL TIME MONTHLY RECORD SNOWFALL OF 19.8 INCHES...BREAKING THE OLD RECORD OF 15.5 INCHES SET IN 1993. NORMAL MARCH MONTHLY SNOWFALL AT DULLES IS 2.8 INCHES. THE 19.8 INCHES OF SNOW THAT FELL AT DULLES AIRPORT THIS MONTH BRINGS THE 2013-2014 ANNUAL SNOWFALL TO 52.8 INCHES...THE MOST SINCE 2009-2010 AND THE THIRD SNOWIEST ON RECORD. FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF DAILY MAXIMUM SNOWFALL RECORDS THAT WERE SET THIS MARCH AT DULLES: 03/03...4.9 INCHES TIED 4.9 INCHES (1978), 03/16...6.6 INCHES PREVIOUSLY 1.6 INCHES (1978), 03/17...4.5 INCHES PREVIOUSLY 1.9 INCHES (1965). " - [ - + ]

    Glen Allen - from Lowell Koontz: " March was the second coolest and second driest on record at Glen Allen as the monthly mean temperature was 43.5 °F, a -5.7 °F departure based on a 5-year average. Glen Allen had 17 days the minimum temperature was <=32 °F. The maximum temperature for March was 78 degrees F on the 11th and in 2012 Glen Allen had 6 days that the maximum temperature was 80 °F or more. The minimum temperature for March 2014 was 7°F on the 4th which tied the record minimum temperature for March set in 2009. The temperature range for March on the 8th was 41°F and new record high for March at this station. The average temperature range for March was 23°F and tied the previous record set in 2010. The average ground temperature at one foot was 44°F a -4.7°F departure and a new record for March; the previous record was 44.4°F in 2013. The 3.61 inches of precipitation for March was a -0.81 inch departure on the 5 year average. The maximum rainfall recorded in a day was only 0.71 inches on the 2nd and 29th the second lowest amount on record at this station. The most precipitation in a 24-hour period was only 0.81 inch that was also the second lowest amount for March. The total snowfall was 4.2 inches for the month a departure of -0.1 inches for March. The maximum wind gust during March was 36 mph, which occurred on the 12th at 1618 hours from the SSW. The wind run for March was 2878.3 miles a new record for March and for all months. The average relative humidity for March was 62.6 percent and was the lowest for the month since 2010 when it was 62.2 percent. The lowest barometer was 29.13 inches on the 12th the lowest on record for March. " - [ - - ]

    Herndon - from member Randy Ashby: " March was well below normal for temperature and above normal for precipitation. The temperatures ranged between a high of 71 and a low of 1 and was 6.1 degrees below normal. The low of 1 degree was the lowest I have recorded in over 20 years and the lowest ever in March and the average low of 28.6 was lowest ever recorded in March. On the precipitation side, the month was 1.05” above normal. We had precipitation on 13 days during the month, including periods of rain, snow, and sleet. We had 18.9” of snow for the month and have now had 48.6” of snow for the season, the 4th most for this site. We are now over 2” above normal for precipitation for the year. " - [ - + ]

    Portsmouth - from Bill Trotter: " MARCH 2014 WAS THE 8TH COLDEST MARCH MONTH IN THE DATABASE TO 1977: The top 10 coldest Marches include: 1) 44.6° 2013 2) 44.9° 1981 3) 45.8° 1996 4) 45.9° TIED 1980,1984 6) 46.3° 2005 7) 46.5° 1978 8) 46.8° 2014 9) 47.2° 1993 10) 47.4° 1987 March's average temperature of 46.8° was 3.3° BELOW NORMAL. Precipitation (4.22") was ABOVE NORMAL by 0.20" or 105% of the March average during the period from 1976 to 2013. Rainfall for the year through March 31st was 11.38" (+0.59" or 105% of normal). To view the station monthly and year-to-date climatological summary (LCD) for this Portsmouth station, please click here. Frontal passages were observed on these dates: 2nd, 9th, 12th, 16th, 23rd, 25th, 30th. FROST occurred on the 2nd, 10th, 21st (car tops only), 27th. STATION RECORDS: 4th - SNOW 3.0" [previous 1.0" 1978], 4th - TEMPERATURE Minimum High 33° [prev 38° 1978], 5th - TEMP Min High 40° [prev 42° 1978], 6th - TEMP TIED Min High 39° [prev 2001], 7th - RAIN 0.85" [previous 0.80" 1977], 14th - TEMP TIED Min 25° [prev 1993], 24th - TEMP Min High 41° [44° 1983], 25th - SNOW TRACE [not prev recorded], 26th - TEMP Min High 42° [prev 45° 2001], 27th - TEMP 29° [prev 30° 1982]. - [ - + ]

    Richmond - from contributor Lowell Koontz (GAV): " The mean temperature for March was 45.0°F and in 28 years March was colder since 1897. The mean temperature for March was -3.6 °F below the thirty-year mean temperature for March. This March had 7 days that the high temperature was greater than or equal to 70 °F but 2012 had 19 days. This March had 16 days that the temperature was 32°F or less and 2012 had only 3 days. The lowest overnight minimum for this month was 11°F on the 4th; only one March day has had a lower temperature since 1897. The record minimum was also March 4th 2009 when 10°F was recorded. The average daily mean for March 3rd was 22.5°F; only three years (1960, 1980, and 2009) have had a colder March day. The high temperature for March 17th was 33 °F; only 12 years of the past 117 years have had a lower March maximum temperature. The 17th also had a low temperature range of only 3 °F, that was a new record for the date and only five March days have had a lower temperature range. March was drier than average with 3.24 inches of precipitation, which was a deficit of 0.77 inch. This made March the 35th driest March since 1887. The total snow for March was 3.6 inches with 27 years having more snow in March 2014 since 1898. Richmond International Airport set 6 records for March: March 3, 2014 22.5°F new record low daily mean the old record was 23.0 °F in 1943, March 11, 2014 66.5 °F new record high daily mean the old record was 66.0 °F in 1990, March 17, 2014 31.5°F new record low daily mean the old record was 32.0 °F in 1900, March 17, 2014 33°F new record low maximum the old record was 40 °F in 1900, March 17, 2014 3°F new record minimum temperature range the old record was 7 °F in 2003 & 1946, March 27, 2014 21°F tied the old record low minimum set in 1955.
    - [ - + ]

    Woodstock - from contributor Lauck Walton (WOO): " This was the coldest March in my 29 years of records. - [ - - ]

    North Carolina:

    Greensboro - from NWS Raleigh (RAH): " MARCH 7TH: RECORD RAINFALL AMOUNT OF 1.79 INCHES WAS SET AT THE PIEDMONT TRIAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT BREAKING THE OLD RECORD OF 1.20 INCHES SET IN 1930. MARCH 7TH: RECORD SNOWFALL AMOUNT OF 3.0 INCHES WAS SET AT THE PIEDMONT TRIAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT BREAKING THE OLD RECORD OF 0.4 INCHES SET IN 1947. MARCH 17TH: RECORD LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERTURE OF 35 WAS SET AT THE PIEDMONT TRIAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT BREAKING THE OLD RECORD OF 38 SET IN 2005. " - [ - + ]

    Raleigh - from contributor Bob Woodson (RAL): " ANOTHER MONTH OF BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES! THE AVERAGE DAILY TEMPERATURE WAS 5.6 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. PRECIPITATION WAS 1.68” ABOVE NORMAL WITH 5.79”. WINTER WEATHER WAS OBSERVED ON THE 3RD (ICE PELLETS) AND THE 17TH (FREEZING RAIN). THERE WERE SEVERE WEATHER THREATS ON THE 12TH (SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH) AND 29TH (TORNADO WATCH). THERE WAS A CONFIRMED TORNADO (EF-0) ON THE 29TH IN WAKE COUNTY. " - [ - + ]

    Raleigh - from NWS Raleigh (RAH): " MARCH 7TH: RECORD RAINFALL OF 1.72 INCHES WAS SET AT THE RALEIGH DURHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT BREAKING THE OLD RECORD OF 1.63 INCHES SET IN 1941. " - [ - + ]



    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 2013-2014 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



    For Weather Headlines visit the National Weather Service Homepage
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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

         National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, NC

    STATION / LOCATION (MILES & DIRECTION FROM MAIN POST OFFICE)/OBSERVER / YEAR RECORDS BEGAN / EMAIL ADDRESS:
    [ includes current stations, inactive stations, and closed stations since database inception ]

      
    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' | STATION CLOSED
    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 kesseld@verizon.net ECG  Elizabeth City, NC,  Coast Guard Air Station 36-15-47N 076 10-58W 11M
    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 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'. 1993 randy_ashby@msn.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 ending 12/13
         WHI   North Whiteville, NC Christopher Crawley 12/10 34.413744N / 078.751908W ccawley.kk4csr@gmail.com
    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 CHS   Charleston, SC NWS Charleston Air Force Base 32-53-56N 080-02-26W 13M
    NPN     Newport News, VA 7N Gary Leonard -  6/91 mikey0781@cox.net 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@yahoo.com