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

SUMMARY OF CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA 


MAY 2010

... AN EXCEPTIONALLY WARM MAY AT ALL STATIONS
RAINS FROM THUNDERSTORMS PROVIDE SOME STATIONS WITH EXCESS RAINFALL...
 



  • STATION CLOSURE: JOYCE WINFREE | NEW MARKET, VIRGINIA (NEW) Joyce and her family are leaving New Market for a move to Bluefield, West Virginia. Many thanks to her over the 15 years she's been here with this local ACON. We send best wishes for peace and happy trails!





  • THE EASTERN US WEATHER CONFERENCE The 6th annual Eastern US Weather conference is rapidly approaching! You don't have to be a member to attend the conference. BWI Airport Marriott is the location & June 11-12 are the dates. Check out the agenda, the conference speakers, online registration, hotel accomodations if you want to stay overnight, and much more at the conference website: http://conference.easternuswx.com/


  • 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 - MAY 2010
    State
    Maximum Temperature
    Minimum
    Temperature
    Warmest
    Average
    Temperature
    Coldest
    Average
    Temperature
    Maximum
    Precipitation
    Minimum
    Precipitation
    Virginia
    95°
    Newport News
    31°
    Blacksburg
    Bridgewater
    71.6°
    Norfolk (FHC)
    62.6°
    Blacksburg
    6.55"
    Chantilly
    2.00"
    Wallops Island
    North Carolina
    95°
    Raleigh (RDU)
    36°
    Roxboro
    74.1°
    Lumberton
    66.0°
    Asheville
    6.72"
    Fayetteville
    1.44"
    New Bern
    South Carolina
    94°
    Columbia
    Florence
    47°
    Greenville-Spartanburg
    76.0°
    Columbia
    71.6°
    Greenville-Spartanburg
    6.04"
    Greenville-Spartanburg
    2.10"
    Columbia


    ( 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 74.0  51.3  62.6   +3.7  85   27  31   10   0  0  1 0 80% 35 310°   8   4.5       7 0 1 0  7 2400 AKQ
         BRI 75.7  56.0  65.9   +3.85 89   31  31   10   0  0  1 0 64%                         0 0 0 0  0 0510/1600 LWX
         CEN 75.8  56.8  66.3   +4.3  90   27  37   10   1  0  0 0 67% 32 330°   8   1.8  320° 5 1 0 0  1 2400 LWX
         CHT 76.0  57.0  66.5   +3.5  90   31  38.8 11   1  0  0 0 74% 15 160°   1   0.6       3 2 0 0  0 2400 LWX
         CHO 78.4  56.6  67.5         93   27  35   10   2  0  0 0     35 290°   8   4.2       1 0 0 0  3 2400 LWX
         DAN 80.8  59.1  70.3   +3.9  92 2,14  35   10   5  0  0 0 70% 36 260°   8   5.4       6 0 0 0  3 2400 RNK
         DCA 78.4  60.3  69.3   +3.7  93   27  43   10   3  0  0 0 61% 47 300°   8   8.4       4 1 0 0  0 2400 LWX
         IAD 77.7  56.3  67.0   +4.7  92   27  34   10   3  0  0 0 67% 45 240°  14   6.9       5 0 0 0  1 2400 LWX
         GAV 79.68 59.52 69.60        91   27  39   10   2  0  0 0 69% 28 160°   8             5 0 0 0  0 2400 AKQ
         HDV 76.5  56.2  66.3   +2.3  92   27  34   10   2  0  0 0 69%                         6 1 0 0  1 2400 LWX
         LDY 78.2  59.5  68.7   +2.7  89   31  40   11   0  0  0 0 58%                         4 0 0 0  0 2400 AKQ
         LYH 77.2  56.3  66.7   +3.3  91   27  35   10   1  0  0 0 73% 35 240°   8   5.1       4 0 0 0  5 2400 RNK
         NEW 74.80 53.87 64.34  +2    92 1,31  29   10   3  0  1 0 64% 37 230°   8 16.74  180° 3 0 0 0  5 2400 LWX
         HAM 77    61    70           90    6  45   11                 53       12             5 0 0 0  2 2400
         NPN 81.2  60.9  70.1   +3.5  94.6  6  42.6 11   8  0  0 0     41 270°  12   4.2  230° 6 0 0 0  0 2400 AKQ
         NOR 79.3  61.1  70.2   +2.5  92    6  44   11   4  0  0 0                             1 0 0 0  0 2400 AKQ
         ORF 78.9  61.5  70.2   +3.9  93    6  47   11   6  0  0 0 62% 36 220°   3   9.2       7 0 0 0  1 2400 AKQ
                                                                       36 240°   8
                                                                       36 310°  12
         FHC 79.84 63.36 71.60  +5.3  92.3  6  50.7 10   6  0  0 0 75% 32 350°   3   2.4  200°          1 2400 AKQ
         POR 80.7  61.4  71.0   +3.5  92 2,6,  46   11   8  0  0 0 78% 37 248°   8   4.4  090° 6 0 0 0  0 2400 AKQ
                                           31
         CTR 80.4  59.3  70.5   +5.1  92.5 27  36.9 10   3  0  0 0 72% 19 290°  12   0.2  180° 4 0 0 0  0 2400 AKQ
         MEC             70.48        91   27  41   10   1  0  0 0                             4 2 0 0  0 1700 AKQ
         RIC 80.8  59.7  70.2   +4.8  92    6  41   10   5  0  0 0 65% 43 290°   8   7.7       5 0 0 0  0 2400 AKQ
         ROA 77.9  57.7  67.8   +3.7  90   27  37   10   1  0  0 0 68% 49 320°  30   5.8       6 0 0 0  2 2400 AKQ
         WAL 76.1  57.5  66.8   +4.5  90   31  40   10   1  0  0 0     46 330°  23   9.0       0 0 0 0  2 2400 AKQ
         WOO 72.4  55.8  64.1   +2.0  86    2  35   10   0  0  0 0                             3 0 0 0  2 2400 LWX
         WSH 74.8  56.3  65.5   +2.24 87.1 31  35.7 10   0  0  0 0 77% 19 023°  14   0.5  250° 5 0 0 0  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 76.0  56.0  66.0  +4.0  84    14 38    10  0  0  0 0 74% 38 340°  9    5.5      4 0 0 0  7 2400 GSP
         MRH 77.5  65.1  71.3        86    27 51    10  0  0  0 0     40 230°  8    9.3      0 0 0 0  2 2400 MHX
         CLT 81.5  61.4  71.5  +2.5  90    27 49     9  1  0  0 0 70% 30 280°  8    6.2      4 0 0 0  1 2400 GSP
         ECG 80.1  61.3  70.7  +2.8  93    27 44    11  3  0  0 0 63% 39 310° 23    9.4      5 0 0 0  4 2400 AKQ
         FAY 84.4  63.1  73.8        94   2,8 49    10  9  0  0 0 68% 35 260°  8    7.3      7 0 0 0  0 2400 RAH
         GSO 80.2  61.0  70.6  +4.8  90 14,15 40    10  3  0  0 0 67% 45 230° 31    7.3      6 0 0 0  3 2400 RAH
         HSE 74.8  62.7  68.8  +1.2  81    28 47    11  0  0  0 0   % 36 210°  3    8.7      0 0 0 0  2 2400 MHX
         HKY 79.3  59.3  69.3  +3.0  89    27 41    10  0  0  0 0     36 200° 28    4.4      5 0 0 0  5 2400 GSP
         LBT 84.6  63.5  74.1  +5.7  94     8 47    10  8  0  0 0 70% 64 130° 22    6.0      5 0 0 0  5 2400 ILM
         MON 82.2  59.9  71.1  +3.1  93.6  15 43.1  10  6  0  0 0 78% 24 290° 28    1.3 023° 8 0 0 0  0 2400 RAH
         EWN 82.7  62.1  72.4  +2.7  93     8 43    10  7  0  0 0   % 31 210°  8    6.7      2 0 0 0  6 2400 MHX
         RDU 82.1  61.7  71.9  +4.9  95    15 42    10  7  0  0 0 67% 37 300°  8    6.7      9 0 0 0  9 2400 RAH
         RAL 81.0  60.0  70.5  +3.5  91 14,27 38    10  2  0  0 0     28       8             5 1 0 0  0 2400 RAH
         ROX 80.1  59.5  69.8  +4.5  91  2,14 36    10  3  0  0 0 73% 36 320°  8        180° 7 0 0 0  2 2200 RAH
         ILM 81.8  63.8  72.8  +2.6  90     8 46    10  1  0  0 0 73% 38 030° 25    7.5      1 0 0 0  3 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 82.4  62.5  72.5  +3.7  92    27 50    10  3  0  0 0     35 080° 24   4.9       6 0 0 0  1 2400 GSP
         CAE 86.6  65.3  76.0  +4.4  94 27,28 51    10 11  0  0 0 67% 43 190° 28   5.5       6 0 0 0  6 2400 CAE
         CRE 80.4  66.2  73.3  +3.3  92     8 50    10  1  0  0 0 76% 37 090° 19   8.4       3 0 0 0  3 2400 ILM
         CHS 84.7  66.3  75.5  +3.4  92     8 54    10  3  0  0 0     29 210°  2   7.9       4 0 0 0  2 2400 CHS
                                                                      29 270°  8
         FLO 85.6  63.7  74.7  +3.7  94     8 50    10  9  0  0 0 71% 32 250°  8   6.6       6 0 0 0  6 2400 ILM
         GSP 81.3  61.9  71.6  +4.4  91    27 47    10  2  0  0 0 71% 30 190°  2   5.5       7 0 0 0  3 2400 GSP
                                                                      30 210°  3
                                                                      30 360°  9
         OGB 86.5  64.3  75.4        93 27,28 50    10  8  0  0 0     33 140° 29   5.1       6 0 0 0  7 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 80.1  55.2  67.6  +4.6   89     2 35   10  0  0  0 0     47 310° 14   3.7       5 0 0 0  0   2400 MRX
         DAV              58   +3     81     2 46   10  0  0  0 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  4.89  +0.50 1.41 28 1.41    28 16 1 16.89                0.0 53.6                             2400
         BRI  2.53  -1.55 0.43 12 0.79 11-12 10 0 12.69                0.0 48.0  30.20  13 29.80   6        0510/1600
         CEN  4.18  -0.30 1.43 23 1.73 23-24 12 1 15.83                0.0 70.1  30.43  11 29.57   8 30.000 2400
         CHT  6.55  +2.33 3.04 23 3.50 22-23 13 2 16.75                0.0 61.7  30.429 11 29.522  8 30.008 2400
         CHO  3.57        1.50 28 1.50    28 11 2 16.37                                    29.53   8        2400
         DAN  4.02  +0.06 1.73 17 2.71 16-17 12 2 18.05                0.0 15.6  30.40  10 29.66   8        2400
         DCA  2.40  -1.42 0.64 23 0.69 22-23  9 0 11.73                0.0 56.1            29.53   8        2400
         IAD  5.42  +1.20 2.40 23 2.90 22-23 11 2 16.74                0.0 77.0            29.53   8        2400
         GAV  2.56        0.72 17 0.77 17-18 10 0 18.30                0.0 42.0  30.38  11 29.63   8 30.01  2400
         HDV  4.54  -0.41 2.11 23            11 1 15.92                0.0 80.4  30.40  11 29.47   8        2400
         LDY  2.06  -1.92 0.76 17 0.84 17-18  8 0 13.62                0.0 44.3  30.38  10 29.62   8 30.02  2400
         LYH  4.56  +0.45 1.43 22 1.43    22 13 1 22.58                0.0 34.8  30.41  11 29.64   8        2400
         NEW  2.65  -1.50 0.63 17            13 0 15.35                0.0 51.5  30.60  14 30.02   8        2400
         HAM  4.48        1.11 17            15                        0.0       30.43     29.62            2400
         NPN  4.53  +0.56 1.52 17 2.58 17-18  7 2 21.57                0.0 14.6  30.18  16 29.61   8        2400
         NOR  4.29  +0.30 1.43 17 2.58 17-18 10 2 19.90                0.0  9.2                             2400
         ORF  4.60  +0.86 1.54 17 1.54    17  9 2 19.63                0.0  9.3  30.42  11 29.59   8        2400
         FHC  5.30  +1.50 1.53 17 2.78 17-18 11 2 19.19                0.0  9.0  30.410 11 29.609  8 30.017 2400
         POR  5.38  +1.24 1.52 17 2.54 17-18 11 2 22.03                0.0  9.5  30.41  11 29.60   8 30.004 2400
         CTR  3.86  -1.15 1.00 16 1.02 16-17 12 1 17.60                0.0 29.2  30.39  11 29.63   8 29.995 2400
         MEC  3.82        1.12 23 1.12    23  9 1 18.84                0.0 35.2  30.15  11 29.50   8 29.80  2400
         RIC  2.62  -1.34 0.75 17 0.80 17-18 11 0 16.80                0.0 28.0  30.42  11 29.64   8        2400
         ROA  5.35  +1.11 1.55 30 1.58 30-31 15 1 17.34                0.0 43.1  30.40  10 29.66   8        2400
         WAL  2.00  -1.20 1.04 18 1.79 17-18  7 1 16.26                0.0 27.9  30.46  11 29.55   8        2400
         WOO  3.18  -0.93         0.79 17-18 15 0 14.54                0.0 58.6  30.59  11 29.92   8        0800
         WSH  2.99  -1.05 0.64 17 0.72 22-23 13 0 18.51                0.0 63.3  30.55  11 29.57   8        2400
                               22
    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  4.89  +0.47 1.24 31 1.24    31 15 2 21.66                 0.0 39.2  30.37  11 29.75  27         2400
         MRH  1.81        0.63 26 0.75 25-26  7 0 18.28                 0.0  0.0  30.40  11 29.72   8         2400
         CLT  3.37  -0.29 0.84 28 0.92 16-17 10 0 17.78                 0.0  5.9  30.37  11 29.75  27         2400
         ECG  3.51  -0.92 1.18 17 1.18    17 12 1 13.64                 0.0    T  30.43  11 29.62   8         2400
         FAY  6.72        1.96 23 2.21 23-24 12 2 18.58                                     29.72   8         2400
         GSO  3.98  +0.03 1.43 17 1.43    17 14 1 18.12                 0.0 16.6            29.72   8         2400
         HSE  3.10  -0.82 1.07 13 1.07    13  7 1 24.00                 0.0  0.7  30.42  11 29.69   8         2400
         HKY  3.41  -1.05 0.68 31 0.69 16-17 11 0 20.29                 0.0  0.0  30.37  11 29.75  27         2400
         LBT  5.11  +1.14 2.28 23 2.45 23-24 11 2 12.54                           30.37  11 29.72  27         2400
         MON  5.41  +1.33 2.12 17 2.36 16-17 11 1 17.86                 0.0 10.5  30.394 11 29.728 27  30.021 2400
         EWN  1.44  -2.75 0.32 16 0.56 17-18  9 0 13.26                 0.0  6.4  30.52  14 29.24  26         2400
                               23
         RDU  5.00  +1.21 2.30 17 2.30    17  9 2 16.09                      8.7            29.72   8         1900
         RAL  5.75  +1.96         0.89   8-9 11 2 18.80                 0.0  7.9  30.37  10 29.73  27         0730
         ROX  4.86  +1.05 2.06 17 2.16    17  2 0 18.03                 0.0 16.2  30.41 10, 29.75   8  30.07  2200
                                                                                         11
         ILM  4.02  -0.38 1.27 19 1.27    19 10 2 16.15                 0.0  3.8  30.39  11 29.73  27         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  5.46  +1.56 1.71  3  1.71     3 10 1 18.92               0.0    T  30.34  11 29.74  27         2400
         CAE  2.10  -1.07 0.93 17  0.93    17  7 0 11.41               0.0  8.9  30.33  10 29.73  27         2400
         CRE  2.56  -0.43 0.93 18  1.25 17-18  7 0 13.01                         30.37  11 29.74  27         2400
         CHS  3.67  -0.00 1.19 24  2.19 23-24  8 2 17.97               0.0  3.4            29.74  27         2400
         FLO  3.83  +0.52 1.51 31  1.51 30-31 12 1 12.98                         30.35  11 29.72  27         2400
         GSP  6.04  +1.45 1.82 31  3.45 30-31 14 2 20.05                    5.5  30.33  11 29.74  27         2400
         OGB  2.23        1.20 31  1.20    31  7 1 13.80                         30.33  11 29.74  27         2400
    NEARBY STATIONS
    [Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL]
       
         STN  T      T1     U  U1   V      V1  W X   Y      Z  1  2  3   4     5     6   6A   7    7A 8      S
         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         TRI  2.58  -1.74 1.08  3 1.15   2-3 13 1 12.82                  0.0  26.7 30.33 10 29.73   8        2400
         DAV  4.9   -0.9  0.85  3 0.85     3  9 0 19.1      T  9  1  0     T 251.2                           0700    

    Virginia:

    Arlington - " MAY IN WASHINGTON DC WAS BOTH WARMER AND DRIER THAN NORMAL. IT WAS THE THIRD MONTH IN A ROW WHERE THE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE HAS AVERAGED ABOVE NORMAL. IN EACH OF THE LAST THREE MONTHS THE MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE WAS AT LEAST 3.5 DEG F ABOVE NORMAL. METEOROLOGICAL SPRING...DEFINED AS THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD FROM MARCH 1ST TO MAY 31ST...FOR 2010 WAS THE SECOND WARMEST ALL-TIME IN WASHINGTON WITH AN AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 60.5F DEG F. THIS PAST METEOROLOGICAL SPRING RANKS JUST BELOW THE ALL-TIME WARMEST SPRING ON RECORD OF 60.7 DEG F SET IN MARCH-MAY 1977. RAINFALL FOR THE MONTH WAS BELOW NORMAL FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE MONTH. THE MEASURED LATEST TWO-MONTH APRIL-MAY RAIN TOTAL OF 3.90 INCHES IS THE DRIEST SINCE APRIL-MAY 1999 AND IS MUCH LESS COMPARED TO THE RAINFALL TOTALS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS...APRIL-MAY 2008 (15.58 INCHES) AND 2009 (12.27 INCHES). " - [ + - ] - Notes from NWS Sterling, VA

    Bridgewater - " The average temperature for the month was 3.85 degrees above normal. The precipitation was 1.55 inches below normal. Precipitation for the year is now 12.59 inches below normal which is 1.59 inches below normal. The first thunderstorm of the year occurred on the 12th. " - [ + - ] - Comments from Clayton

    Centreville - Paul adds: " 93% of average rainfall for May puts the annual deficit at -2.33"; about the same as last year (-2.14"). - [ + - ]

    Chantilly - Russ send these additional notes: " May temperatures averaged 3.5° above normal and precipitation was 2.33" above normal. It was a month of many broken records. Most notable was the 3.5" of rain which fell within a 24-hour period on the 22nd and 23rd, while I was camping (just my luck). A record high maximum temperature occurred on the 1st (89.4°). A record low maximum temperature occurred on the 11th (54.5°). A record high minimum temperature occurred on the 2nd (68.5°), 3rd (66.7°), 4th (61.9°), 6th (61.9°), and 29th (67° tie). Record maximum precipitation fell on the 23rd (3.04") and 27th (1.53"). A thunderstorm occurred on the 14th (hail to 1.25"), 23rd (flash flooding) and 27th (pea size hail). *Please note, anemometer is currently partially obstructed from the Southeast " - [ + + ]

    Dulles - from NWS Sterling (KLWX) come these notes: " CONDITIONS IN MAY AT DULLES WERE BOTH WARM AND WET. IT WAS THE THIRD WARMEST AND THE TENTH WETTEST ON RECORD THE WARMEST MAY ON RECORD IS MAY 2004 WHEN THE MONTHLY TEMPERATURES AVERAGED 70.3 DEG F. THIS MAY WAS THE THIRD MONTH IN A ROW WITH WELL ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES...WITH MARCH 2010 BEING THE WARMEST MARCH ON RECORD... AND APRIL 2010 RANKED AS THE SECOND WARMEST APRIL ON RECORD. METEOROLOGICAL SPRING...DEFINED AS THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD FROM MARCH 1ST TO MAY 31ST...FOR 2010 WAS THE WARMEST SPRING ALL-TIME AT DULLES WITH AN AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 58.6 DEG F. THIS BROKE THE PREVIOUS WARMEST SPRING RECORD OF 57.1 DEG F IN MARCH-MAY 1991. PRECIPITATION AT DULLES IN MAY AVERAGED MUCH ABOVE NORMAL AND RANKS AS THE TENTH WETTEST SINCE RECORDS BEGAN IN 1962. ALSO...FIVE OUT OF THE LAST TEN YEARS HAVE MADE ITS WAY IN THE TOP 10 WETTEST MAY MONTHS ON RECORD. OVER HALF OF THE MAY 2010 MONTHLY PRECIPITATION FELL DURING THE WEEKEND OF MAY 22-23...WITH 3.01 INCHES OF RAINFALL FROM SEVERAL SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS. " - [ + + ]

    Glen Allen - Lowell Koontz notes: " May was warmer than average and 1.6°F warmer than May last year as the monthly mean temperature was 69.6°F, a +5.0°F departure, and was below average in precipitation (when compared to Ashland, Virginia records). The 2.56 inches of precipitation for May was a -1.29 inch departure when compared to the Ashland, VA average. The last four days of April and the first ten days of May made 14 days with no measurable rainfall. The maximum precipitation recorded in a day was only 0.72 inches on the 17th and thunder was heard on five days during May. The maximum temperature for May was 91°F on the 27th and there were 11 days that the maximum temperature was 85°F or above. The highest minimum temperature recorded here for the month was 74°F on May 2nd. The Richmond International Airport had a minimum of 72°F which was a new all-time record for earliest occurrence of a minimum temperature of 70 degrees or higher and establishes a new record for the earliest in season occurrence of a minimum temperature of 70 degrees or higher breaking the old record of 70 degrees set on May 11, 1916. This breaks the old record of 66 set in 2004. It was also interesting that six of the minimum temperatures for the month occurred at midnight. The lowest minimum was 39°F recorded on the 10th. The lowest dew point temperature for May was 27°F on the 9th at 1824 and the highest dew point was 74.8°F on the 30th at 1631. The lowest relative humidity for the month was 18 % on the 8th giving a large daily temperature range of 31°F on the 21st. The average temperature range was 20.2°F and was about 0.5°F more than last year. The maximum wind gust was only 28 mph from the SSE that occurred on the 8th at 1347. May was less windy and was sunnier that May last year. The Spring Season was much warmer than average and a little drier than average when compared to Ashland, VA records. " - [ + - ] 

    Herndon - Randy send these additional comments: " May was above normal for temperature and slightly below normal for precipitation. The temperatures ranged between a high of 92 and a low of 34. The average high and low were about 2 and 3 degrees above normal, respectively. On the precipitation side, the month was only 0.41" below normal with 4.54" measured. We had multiple light rain events occurring off and on during the month. The one very heavy rain event occurred from May 22-24 where we received 2.47", with 2.11" falling on the 23rd. We did have severe thunderstorms in the area on the 14th: we received only 0.19" rain from them but we also received some large hailstones. The hail was varied with some ¼ - ½" round stones and some large, irregular stones which measure over 1.5" in length. A photo is posted below of some of the hail that we received. It was spectacular, and fortunately we had no damage. We have now had 15.92" precipitation for the year, which is still about 2" below normal. " - [ + - ]

    Ladysmith - Danny notes: " Like April, May brought temperatures that were well above normal, while precipitation was very much below normal. " - [ + - ]

    Portsmouth - " May was much warmer and wetter relative to normal Mays for the period from 1977 to 2009. The 5.38" of rain was 1.24" ABOVE normal rainfall (130% of normal) and ranks as the 8th wettest May in the database to 1977. The month's average temp was 3.5° ABOVE normal. Station records included: 1st - TEMPERATURE Maximum 91° [previous 90° 1986]; 2nd - TEMPERATURE Maximum 92° [previous 87° 1987]; 2nd - TEMPERATURE Maximum Minimum 70° [previous 67° 2004]; 3rd - TEMPERATURE Maximum Minimum 71° [previous 1966, 2009]; 5th - TEMPERATURE Maximum 90° [previous 88° 2001]; 6th - TEMPERATURE Maximum 92° [previous 89° 1986]; 8th - TEMPERATURE TIED Maximum 91° [previous 2000]; 17th - RAINFALL 1.52" [previous 0.91" 2009]. Frontal passages were noted on these dates: 6th, 13th, 14th. " - [ + + ] 

    North Carolina:

    Greensboro - NWS RAH notes: " THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT THE PIEDMONT TRIAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WAS 90 DEGREES ON MAY 8TH. THIS TIES THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 90 SET IN 1962 AND 1955. THE LOW TEMPERATURE AT THE PIEDMONT TRIAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WAS 72 DEGREES ON MAY 2ND. THIS TIES THE ALL-TIME RECORD HIGH MIN FOR THE MONTH OF MAY. THE RECORD WAS ORIGINALLY SET ON MAY 27TH 1991. THE LOW OF 72 DEGREES ALSO BREAKS THE DAILY RECORD HIGH MIN FOR THE 2ND WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY 66 DEGREES SET IN 2002. THE LOW TEMPERATURE AT THE PIEDMONT TRIAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WAS 71 DEGREES ON MAY 3RD. THIS BREAKS THE RECORD HIGH MIN OF 65 DEGREES PREVIOUSLY SET IN 1935 AND 1951. THE LOW TEMPERATURE AT THE PIEDMONT TRIAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WAS 65 DEGREES ON MAY 4TH. THIS TIES THE RECORD HIGH MIN FOR MAY 4TH SET IN 1942. THE LOW TEMPERATURE AT THE PIEDMONT TRIAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WAS 68 DEGREES ON MAY 30TH. THIS TIES THE RECORD HIGH MIN FOR MAY 30TH SET IN 1975 AND 1991. " - [ + + ]

    Moncure - Mac sends these notes: " Basis for 30yr Temperature/Rainfall NWS Climatological Data SANFORD (NC) 8 NE 1970-2000. May turned out to be warmer but completely due to Low Temperatures being well above normal, while the High Temperatures were near normal. However, we have caught up on monthly rainfall, which came just at the right time. Thunderstorms were frequent, but not severe. Pretty much a nice month. Lawns look better than they have in 5 yrs for this time of the year. " - [ + + ]

    Raleigh - Bob reports: " May was mild with the average daily high of 70.5 degrees which is 3.5 degrees above normal. The month was rather wet with 5.75" of precipitation, which was 1.96" above normal. As been the case most of this spring, not much in severe weather; however this location observed at least five (5) thunderstorms. " - [ + + ]

    Raleigh - NWS Raleigh (RAH) reports: THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 71.9 FOR MAY 2010 TIED WITH MAY 1965 FOR THE FIFTH WARMEST MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE. THE DAILY RAINFALL AT THE RALEIGH-DURHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON MAY 17TH WAS 2.30 INCHES. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 0.81 SET IN 1988. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT THE RALEIGH-DURHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON MAY 2ND WAS 92 DEGREES. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 90 SET IN 1951 AND 2007. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT THE RALEIGH-DURHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON MAY 8TH WAS 90 DEGREES. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 90 SET IN 1955 AND 1962. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT THE RALEIGH-DURHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON MAY 14TH WAS 94 DEGREES. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 93 SET IN 1956. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT THE RALEIGH-DURHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON MAY 15TH WAS 95 DEGREES. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 94 SET IN 1962. THE LOW TEMPERATURE AT THE RALEIGH-DURHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON MAY 2ND WAS 72 DEGREES. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD HIGH MIN OF 67 SET IN 2002. THE LOW TEMPERATURE AT THE RALEIGH-DURHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON MAY 3RD WAS 72 DEGREES. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD HIGH MIN OF 64 SET IN 1954 AND 1959. " - [ + + ]

    Nearby Cities:

    Davis, WV - from Dave Lesher's website: " May 2010 had a mean temperature that was 3° ABOVE NORMAL and rainfall (liquid) BELOW NORMAL (-0.9") Snowfall for the month was a TRACE which compares with a normal 0" for the month. Rainfall for the year was 24.0", or 2.0" ABOVE normal. The season-to-date snow total was 251.2" and that was 108" ABOVE normal. " - [ + - ]

    Tri-cities, TN - from NWS MRX in Morristown, TN: " The monthly-averaged temperature at Tri-Cities in May was 67.6 degrees, which was 4.6 degrees above normal. It tied with 1955 as the 11th warmest May on record. A record high temperature was broken on the 2nd when the high temperature reached 89 degrees, breaking the previous record of 87 degrees set in 1942. The warmest May at Tri-Cities was back in 1962, when the average temperature was 71.2 degrees. Tri-Cities received 2.58 inches of rain in May, which was 1.74 inches below normal. It ranked as the 30th driest May on record. Measurable precipitation occurred on 13 days, but only three of those days had more than one-quarter of an inch of precipitation. The heaviest precipitation fell on the 3rd, when 1.08 inches of precipitation was reported, which broke the old daily rainfall of 1.04 inches set in 1974. The driest May of the 73 years of observations was back in 2007, when only 0.76 inches of precipitation was recorded. The seasonal-averaged temperature at Tri-Cities this spring was 57.0 degrees, which was 2.3 degrees above normal. It tied with 2003 and 1982 as the 17th warmest spring on record. The warmest spring at Tri-Cities was back in 1991, when the seasonal-averaged temperature was 59.5 degrees. Tri-Cities received a seasonal total of 6.88 inches of rain in spring, which was 4.58 inches below normal. It ranked as the 9th driest spring on record. The driest spring season was back in 2007, when only 5.67 inches of precipitation was recorded. " - [ + - ]



    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

         $$$ National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, NC $$$

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

      
       ROK   Roanoke, VA 6SW Wendell Prillaman  4/76 wlprillaman@cox.net
      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   
    BLK  Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA Andrew Earehart September 2009, | aeare07@vt.edu WOO  Woodstock, VA 5NW Lauck Walton - 12/1/85 jwalton@shentel.net
       LDY Ladysmith, VA Danny Jessee 2003 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 Airpot 35-12-48N 080-56-55W 220M
    IAD   Dulles - Washington-Dulles International Airport  38-56-05N 077-26-51W 93M  SSB    Sunset Beach, NC   33.9° N 78.5° W  Tom Myers
    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,  Coast Guard Air Station 36-15-47N 076-10-58W 11M
    CTR  Winterpock in Chesterfield County, VA Albert Arnold 06/03 FAY  Fayetteville, NC Fayetteville Regional Airport, 34-59-22N 078-52-48W 55M
      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
    FRV     Front Royal, VA  Michael Perritt -  04/08 mjperritt@gmail.com RAL    Raleigh, NC 7NNW  Bob Woodson -  6/1/93 kf4mmm@qsl.net
    LKU     Louisa, VA 1N Joseph Bowers 1944 - NWS ID  44-5050-02jmbiii@earthlink.net RDU   Raleigh-Durham, NC Raleigh-Durham International Airport 35-52-14N 078-47-11W 130M
    LOU     Louisa, VA 6S John Bullock (about 1970) INACTIVE 1/1/02 - MEMBER DECEASED FALL 2004 ROX    Roxboro, NC 2SE Merriell A. Jay 1/93
    LYH     Lynchburg, VA NWS Lynchburg Regional Airport 37-19-15N 079-12-24W 295M ILM     Wilmington, NC NWS New Hanover International Airport 34-16-06N 077-54-22W 9M
    NEW    Newmarket, VA 2W Joyce Winfree joywood@shentel.net CHS   Charleston, SC NWS Charleston Air Force Base 32-53-56N 080-02-26W 13M
    NPN     Newport News, VA 7N Gary Leonard -  6/91 GaryMLeonard@aol.com CAE    Columbia, SC NWS Columbia Metropolitan Airport 33-56-31N 081-07-05W 73M 
    NOR     Norfolk, VA 3NE Jim Fentress 6/1/77 FLO    Florence, SC Florence Regional Airport 34-11-16N 079-43-51W 44M
    ORF     Norfolk, VA 5NE 36-54-13N 076-11-31W 14M  1871 GSP   Greenville-Spartanburg, SC NWS Greenville-Spartanburg Airport 34-53-02N 082-13-15W 286M 
    POR     Portsmouth, VA 36.81° North 76.33° West 3S Bill Trotter -  7/1/76 wxr@cox.net CRE    North Myrtle Beach, SC Grand Strand Airport 33-48-42N 078-43-26W 10M
    MEC     Mechanicsville, VA Glen Martin 11/19/91 OGB   Orangeburg, SC  Orangeburg Municipal Airport 33-27-50N 080-51-13W 59M
    FHC    Norfolk, VA  Fred Heutte Center 36° 54'N 76° 16'W 01/01/03 fhcgarden@cox.net AND   Anderson, SC 
    RIC     Richmond, VA Richmond International Airport 37-30-40N 077-19-24W 50M TRI     Tri-cities, TN  (Bristol / Johnson / Kingsport), Tri-City Regional Airport 36-28-47N 082-23-56W 474M 
    ROA    Roanoke, VA Roanoke Regional Airport 37-19-01N 079-58-27W 362M DAV  Davis, WV Dave Lesher canaanwx@canaantv.tv