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

http://www.genserva.com/acon

SUMMARY OF CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA 



MAY 2013

...TEMPERATURES AVERAGE BELOW NORMAL...

...RAINFALL TOTALS AVERAGE NEAR TO SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL...
  • EXCELLENT FIRE WEATHER RESOURCES: INFORMATION AND OUTLOOKS       From CoCoRaHS..."Another zero in the rain gauge? Hot, dry weather during the late spring and summer can create ideal conditions for wildfires in many parts of the country. As you read this message several wildfires are burning throughout the western United States: ACTIVE FIRES. http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us. Most NWS Weather Forecast Offices provide fire forecasts twice a day and provide warnings in close partnership with local, state and federal fire control agencies. Learn more about Fire Weather http://www.noaawatch.gov/themes/fire.php and the NOAA Storm Prediction Center's latest Fire Weather Outlooks http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/fire_wx/ for your part of the county by clicking on the underlined text. The Incident Information System Website http://www.inciweb.org/ is another great resource for finding out where wildfires are currently burning. This site gives a vast amount of information that many of you will find very informative. For additional info on wildfire prevention and other wildfire topics, visit the National Interagency Fire Center’s web site by clicking here: NIFC http://www.nifc.gov/ Want to learn more about Fire Weather? View the CoCoRaHS WxTalk Webinar presented by Liz Page of UCAR/COMET last July. You can do so by clicking here: WILDFIRE http://youtu.be/zKrr-Xw8pcg  "


  • NEW MONTHLY NWS WAKEFIELD (KAKQ) PRODUCT       "The CoCoRaHS Team here at NWS Wakefield have created a new feature for our wonderful volunteers. This new feature is a monthly rainfall (sometimes snow!) summary that will show you in text and map form how your daily observations make a difference. The month of April had a very good and complete data set that combined well with other automated observations across the region. Thank you to ALL of YOU that made this possible!!! Here is the April CoCoRaHS climate summary in Adobe .pdf format to view at your leisure. Click here: http://genserva.com/acon/NWSAKQ_April2013_CoCoRaHS_Summary.pdf

    Thanks again for all that you do! Your data and efforts really do matter.

    Sincerely,

    Bridget De Rosa & the CoCoRaHS Team" | bridget.derosa@noaa.gov


  • 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 - MAY 2013
    State
    Maximum Temperature
    Minimum
    Temperature
    Warmest
    Average
    Temperature
    Coldest
    Average
    Temperature
    Maximum
    Precipitation
    Minimum
    Precipitation
    Virginia
    93°
    Chantilly
    31°
    Blacksburg
    68.0°
    Portsmouth
    59.1°
    Blacksburg
    6.27"
    Woodstock
    1.39"
    Wallops Island
    North Carolina
    91°
    Lumberton
    New Bern
    Wilmington
    36°
    Asheville
    Roxboro
    69.9°
    New Bern
    61.8°
    Asheville
    7.78"
    Asheville
    1.19"
    Elizabeth City
    South Carolina
    93°
    Columbia
    41°
    Anderson
    Greenville-Spartanburg
    71.7°
    Charleston
    66.3°
    Greenville-Spartanburg
    5.77"
    Greenville-Spartanburg
    2.38"
    North Myrtle Beach


    ( 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]
      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 70.00 48.30 59.10 -0.20 85.0 15 31.00 14 0 0 1 0 77% 33 320 24 5.5 5 0 0 0 7 LWX 2400
    BRI 74.10 51.70 62.90 0.00 91.0 30 32.00 14 1 0 1 0 63% 0 0 0 0 1 LWX 2400
    CHT 75.80 53.80 64.80 1.60 92.7 30 35.00 14 3 0 3 0 73% 18 158 31 0.5 180 5 0 0 0 0 LWX 2400
    CHO 74.30 52.40 63.30 0.10 89.0 30 33.00 14 0 0 0 0 39 340 24 5.8 2 0 0 0 0 3 LWX 2400
    DAN 75.90 54.00 65.00 -1.40 89.0 15 36.00 14 0 0 0 0 70% 37 310 24 5.5 8 0 0 0 3 RNK 2400
    DCA 75.80 57.50 66.70 0.70 91.0 31 42.00 14 0 0 3 0 63% 38 320 24 8.7 5 0 0 0 0 LWX 2400
    IAD 74.40 52.50 63.50 0.30 90.0 30 32.00 14 1 0 1 0 67% 39 330 24 6.9 6 0 0 0 2 LWX 2400
    GAV 76.61 54.84 65.73 -3.38 89.0 30,31 36.00 14 0 0 0 0 69% 28 180 15 5 1 0 0 2 AKQ 2400
    HAM 74.00 58.00 66.00 -0.20 88.0 31 43.00 14 0 0 0 0 50% 40 315 16 10.0 180 4 0 0 0 1 AKQ 2400
    HDV 74.20 52.40 63.30 -1.00 90.0 30 34.00 14 1 0 3 0 73% 19 270 15 225 6 0 0 0 0 LWX 2400
    LYH 74.50 51.40 63.00 -0.10 89.0 15 34.00 14 0 0 0 0 72% 38 010 6 5.7 7 0 0 0 5 RNK 2400
    NPN 76.20 56.90 65.90 -1.10 90.1 16 39.70 14 2 0 0 0 43 270 16 2.2 225 5 0 0 0 0 AKQ 2400
    FHC 76.03 59.37 67.70 1.10 91.0 16,31 47.50 25 2 0 0 0 69% 31 225 11 2.0 202 3 0 0 0 0 AKQ 2400
    NOR 75.4 57.5 66.6 -1.2 89 16,31 42 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 AKQ 2400
    ORF 75.70 59.50 67.60 1.00 91.0 16 45.00 14 0 0 0 0 66% 35 060,340 3,24 10.1 0 0 0 0 1 AKQ 2400
    POR 78.00 58.00 68.00 0.30 91 16,31 43.00 14 3 0 0 0 69% 30 045,045,203,315 1,5,15,25 4.4 018 3 0 0 0 0 AKQ 2400
    CTR 76.70 53.50 65.00 -0.40 89.0 31 33.00 14 0 0 0 0 77% 19 090 1 0.4 090 3 0 0 0 0 AKQ 2400
    MEC 73.92 54.71 65.67 92 31 37 14 2 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 AKQ 2400
    RIC 77.50 55.90 66.70 0.30 92.0 31 41.00 13,14 4 0 0 0 67% 46 300 16 8.0 4 0 0 0 0 AKQ 2400
    ROA 74.40 54.50 64.40 -0.20 91.0 15 35.00 14 1 0 0 0 64% 55 260 10 6.4 7 0 0 0 1 RNK 2400
    WAL 73.00 57.00 65.00 2.30 89.0 16 41.00 14 0 0 0 0 36 090 3 11.4 0 0 0 0 0 AKQ 2400
    WOO 69.60 51.70 60.70 -1.50 86.0 23 37.00 14 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 LWX 0800
    WSH 72.50 52.10 62.30 -1.36 89.2 31 36.50 14 0 0 0 0 76% 16 045 13 0.5 225 7 0 0 0 0 LWX 2400
    Averages 74.72 54.67 64.73 -0.20 89.74 37.64 0.87 0.00 0.52 0.00 69% 33.7 5.5 3.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.2
    STN 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
    STN 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 71.9 51.7 61.8 -1.30 85.0 15 36.0 14 0 0 0 0 72% 40 330 24 5.2 1 0 0 0 6 GSP 2400
    MRH 75.9 61.9 68.9 0.10 82.0 30,31 50.0 14,25 0 0 0 0 71 150 6 9.3 1 0 0 0 0 MHX 2400
    CLT 77.0 55.9 66.5 -0.90 87.0 15,31 41.0 14,25 0 0 0 0 70% 33 110 5 6.8 4 0 0 0 0 GSP 2400
    ECG 76.9 57.8 67.4 0.60 90.0 16 41.0 14 1 0 0 0 72% 38 320 24 10.3 1 0 0 0 0 AKQ 2400
    FAY 76.1 56.3 66.2 -1.80 87.0 31 44.0 14 0 0 0 0 66% 31 310 24 6.6 8 0 0 0 1 RAH 2400
    GSO 74.9 55.8 65.3 -1.50 87.0 15,21 40.0 14 0 0 0 0   35 270 7 8.0 5 0 0 0 1 RAH 2400
    HSE 75.5 62.2 68.9 1.80 84.0 31 51.0 27 0 0 0 0 73% 38 050 3 8.4 1 0 0 0 2 MHX 2400
    HKY 75.0 54.5 64.8 -1.50 89.0 15 40.0 14 0 0 0 0 38 070,330 6,24 4.9 4 0 0 0 4 GSP 2400
    LBT 81.1 55.6 68.4 -1.40 91.0 30,31 39.0 14 4 0 0 0 71% 31 280 23 5.6 0 0 0 0 10 ILM 2400
    EWN 80.6 59.2 69.9 0.40 91.0 16 45.0 14 1 0 0 0 67% 37 230 11 7.1 4 0 0 0 5 MHX 2400
    RDU 76.1 56.3 66.2 -1.80 87.0 31 39.0 14 0 0 0 0 71% 31 310 24 6.6 7 0 0 0 1 RAH 2400
    RAL 76.6 55.3 64.2 -2.00 88.0 17,31 38.0 14 0 0 0 0 21 24 3 0 0 0 0 RAH 2400
    ROX 74.6 54.8 64.9 -0.6 87 15,30 36 14 0 0 0 0 74% 34 320 24 180 2 0 0 0 1 RAH 2400
    WHI                                               ILM 2400
    ILM 78.9 59.0 68.9 -1.50 91.0 16 46.0 14 2 0 0 0 70% 33 070 3 7.9 1 0 0 0 1 ILM 2400
    Averages 76.5 56.9 66.6 -0.8 87.6 41.9 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 71% 36.5 7.2 3.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.3
    STN 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
    STN 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 77.0 56.5 66.8 -1.8 88 15,21 41 13,14 0 0 0 0   45 310 22 6.0 3 0 0 0 2 GSP 2400
    CAE 81.4 59.2 70.3 -1.4 93 15 44 14 1 0 0 0 65% 33 100 19 6.0 2 0 0 0 3 CAE 2400
    CRE 76.7 60.5 68.6 -1.1 89 16 45 14 0 0 0 0   33 220 15 8.3 2 0 0 0 0 ILM 2400
    CHS 81.5 61.9 71.7 -0.8 88 17,23 49 14 0 0 0 0 38 080 3 8.1 2 0 0 0 1 CHS 2400
    FLO 80.5 58.5 69.5 -1.6 90 17 44 25 1 0 0 0 68% 32 080,350 5,24 6.6 1 0 0 0 4 ILM 2400
    GSP 76.5 56.1 66.3 -2.4 88 15,21 41 14 0 0 0 0 71% 47 210 22 6.1 3 0 0 0 3 GSP 2400
    OGB 80.4 58.5 69.5 -2.1 89 15 46 14 0 0 0 0 29 080,320 5,24 5.3 0 0 0 0 2 CAE 2400
    Averages 79.1 58.7 69.0 -1.6 89.3 44.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 68% 36.7 6.6 1.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.1
    STN 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
    STN 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 74.8 51.5 63.2 -0.3 87 30,31 35 13,14 0 0 0 0 36 210 17 4.6 8 0 0 0 7 MRX 2400
    DAV 62.9 43.8 53.3 79 22 25 14 0 0 5 0 PBX 2400
    STN T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    BCB 5.83 1.50 1.25 6 0.99 1.25 6 0 21.87         0.0 27.4 RNK 2400
    BRI 2.90 -1.05 0.98 7 1.82 6-7 9 0 13.04       0.0 22.0 30.410 2 29.900 12 30.130 LWX 2400
    CHT 3.92 -0.63 1.24 7 1.25 7-8 13 1 15.06         0.0 9.5 30.438 2 29.664 15 30.057 LWX 2400
    CHO 4.35 0.37 1.58 7 1.64 6-7 12 2 16.63 30.410 2 29.710 11 LWX 2400
    DAN 4.81 0.93 1.58 6 1.62 6-7 10 2 20.21         0.0 1.7 30.350 2 29.740 11 RNK 2400
    DCA 2.82 -1.17 1.34 28 1.34 28 11 1 12.58         0.0 2.6 30.460 2 29.680 15 LWX 2400
    IAD 3.20 -1.35 1.02 7 1.02 7 10 1 11.69         0.0 10.5 30.450 2 29.680 15 LWX 2400
    HAM 3.04 -0.59 0.83 18 1.25 18-19 17 0 14.39         0.0 3.0 30.400 1,2 29.750 12 30.090 AKQ 2400
    GAV 4.85 2.39 7 2.43 6-7 12 1 20.91         0.0 14.2 30.400 2 29.740 11 30.070 AKQ 2400
    HDV 3.49 -1.33 1.20 7     14 1 15.34         0.0 12.1 30.420 2 29.650 15 AKQ 2400
    LYH 6.12 2.39 1.82 6 2.35 6-7 11 2 20.44         0.0 13.0 30.380 2 29.750 11 RNK 2400
    NPN 4.07 -0.15 1.07 18 1.07 18 10 1 22.38         0.0 5.9 30.390 2 29.730 12 AKQ 2400
    FHC 4.89 1.48 2.49 18 2.49 18 11 1 17.34         0.0 1.2 30.397 2 29.758 12 30.090 AKQ 2400
    NOR 4.04 -0.03 1.59 18 1.59 18 13 1 18.32 0.0 1.8 AKQ 2400
    ORF 4.15 0.74 1.71 18 1.71 18 12 1 17.42 0.0 1.8 30.380 2 29.740 12 AKQ 2400
    POR 4.12 -0.15 1.43 18 1.44 18-19 12 1 18.47         0.0 2.7 30.380 2 29.750 12 30.076 AKQ 2400
    CTR 3.52 -0.49 1.10 18 1.19 17-18 13 1 19.72         0.0 9.5 30.370 2 29.720 11 30.039 AKQ 2400
    MEC 3.94 1.17 8 1.6 8,9 11 1 19.98 0.0 10.9 AKQ 2400
    RIC 2.50 -1.28 0.76 7 1.00 6-7 10 0 18.88         0.0 8.6 30.430 2 29.760 12 AKQ 2400
    ROA 4.91 0.85 1.41 6 1.69 6-7 14 1 20.54         0.0 18.3 30.380 2 29.770 11 RNK 2400
    WAL 1.39 -1.56 0.73 7 0.73 7 9 0 18.07         0.0 8.4 30.270 27 29.720 24 AKQ 2400
    WOO 6.27 2.08 2.83 7-8 10 2 18.07         0.0 32.2 30.480 2 29.970 11,12 LWX 0800
    WSH 5.56 1.50 4.00 7 4.07 7-8 12 1 17.47         0.0 42.7 30.460 2 29.740 15 LWX 2400
    Averages 4.12 0.10 1.49 1.69 11.4 1.0 17.77 0.0 11.8 30.403 29.746 35.092
    STN T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    STN T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    AVL 7.78 4.12 3.40 5 3.50 4-5 11 2 29.12         0.0 0.5 30.320 25 29.770 6 GSP 2400
    MRH 2.43 -1.50 1.57 6 1.59 5-6 7 1 18.82         0.0 T 30.300 30 29.780 24 MHX 2400
    CLT 3.00 -0.18 1.60 6 2.12 5-6 10 1 18.75         0.0 2.7 30.320 25 29.810 11 GSP 2400
    ECG 1.19 -2.42 0.67 18 0.67 18 7 0 10.67         0.0 T 30.360 2 29.760 12 AKQ 2400
    FAY 4.52 1.25 1.47 20 1.96 19-20 9 2 15.88     0.0   29.770 11 RAH 2400
    GSO 3.08 -0.30 1.58 6 1.58 6 11 1 18.35         0.0 3.6 29.770 11 RAH 2400
    HSE 3.37 -0.20 2.15 23 2.33 22-23 6 1 19.19       0.0 0.0     29.780 12 MHX 2400
    HKY 5.57 1.89 1.72 6 3.18 5-6 12 2 22.77         30.290 2 29.750 11 GSP 2400
    LBT 3.12 0.07 1.04 20 1.47 19-20 11 1 14.48             30.300 25 29.800 12 ILM 2400
    EWN 2.26 -0.91 0.70 19 1.03 19-20 9 0 9.57         0.0 T 30.490 21 29.680 12 MHX 2400
    RDU 4.52 1.25 1.47 20 1.96 19-20 9 2 19.03         0.0 1.7 29.770 11 RAH 2400
    RAL 5.39 2.12 9 3 20.38     0.0 3.2 30.300 2 29.800 23 RAH 2400
    ROX 3.59 -0.22 1.5 6 1.5 6 9 1 17.75         5.6 30.38 1,2 29.80 11 30.11 RAH 2400
    WHI                                         ILM 2400
    ILM 1.30 -3.19 0.41 6 0.42 5-6 9 0 16.72         0.0 T 30.290 25 29.790 24 ILM 2400
    Averages 3.65 0.13 1.48 1.79 9.21 1.21 17.96 0.0 1.6 30.335 29.774
    STN T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    STN T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    AND 4.60 1.43 1.51 22 1.91 4-5 10 2 21.60       30.310 25 29.780 6 GSP 2400
    CAE 3.62 0.65 2.17 5 2.22 4-5 5 1 18.62         0.0 T 30.320 25 29.780 5 CAE 2400
    CRE 2.38 -1.03 1.09 20 1.09 20 10 1 17.44     30.300 25 29.810 24 ILM 2400
    CHS 2.99 -0.03 1.41 21 1.42 20-21 7 2 23.44         0.0 T 30.310 25 29.790 5 CHS 2400
    FLO 4.84 1.58 1.77 20 3.07 19-20 10 2 18.83 30.320 25 29.810 24 ILM 2400
    GSP 5.77 2.01 3.19 5 3.76 4-5 10 1 23.16         0.0 2.0 30.290 25 29.780 6 GSP 2400
    OGB 2.58 -0.64 1.24 5 1.24 5 6 1 17.38 30.340 25 29.790 15 CAE 2400
    Averages 3.83 0.57 1.77 2.10 8.29 1.43 20.07 0.0 0.7 30.313 29.791
    STN T T1 U U1 V V1 W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 6A 7 7A 8 CWA TIME RECORDED
    TRI 4.09 0.29 0.84 23 1.15 22-23 17 0 24.69         0.0 6.7 30.350 25 29.73 6 MRX 2400
    DAV 4.68 1.63 8     16 1 24.11 T 14,25 2 0 T 223.8 PBX 2400
    Averages
    STN 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 - " THE MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE FOR MAY WAS NEAR NORMAL. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2009 THAT THE MAY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE FOR WASHINGTON DC WAS NOT WELL ABOVE NORMAL. THE FIRST 90-DEGREE DAY OF THE MONTH DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL THE 29TH... WHICH IS THE LATEST WITHOUT A 90-DEGREE DAY IN MAY SINCE 2009. THERE WERE NO 90-DEGREE DAYS RECORDED IN MAY 2009. THE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 42F DEGREES ON THE 14TH WAS THE LOWEST TEMPERATURE IN MAY SINCE 3 MAY 2005 WHEN IT WAS 38F DEGREES. NO DAILY TEMPERATURE RECORDS WERE SET THIS MONTH. RAINFALL THIS MONTH WAS BELOW NORMAL. NEARLY HALF OF THE MONTHLY PRECIPITATION FELL ON THE 28TH. THE 1.34 INCHES OF RAIN THAT FELL ON THE 28TH WAS THE HIGHEST DAILY RAINFALL AMOUNT RECORDED IN MAY SINCE 26 MAY 2009 /1.65 INCHES/. " - [ + - ] - from NWS Sterling, VA

    Bridgewater - from Clayton Towers: " The temperature for the month was about normal. The precipitation for the year is 13.04", well-below normal . We need rain! We haven't had a strong thunderstorm so far this year. The month was rather quiet! " - [ -/+ - ]

    Chantilly - from Russ Topping: " This May was warmer and drier than average. The mean monthly temperature was 64.8° (+1.6°). The mean high temperature was 75.8° (+0.7°) and the mean low temperature was 53.8° (+2.6°). A new record high temperature was set on the 22nd (89.2°). A record high minimum temp was set on the 21st (59.4°) and 22nd (68.4°). May brought more rainfall than April with 3.92", but was still below our norm (-0.63"). Thunderstorms were observed on the 7th, 10th, 23rd, 28th, and 30th. *Please note, anemometer is currently partially obstructed from the North and East " - [ + - ]

    Dulles - from NWS Sterling (KLWX): " THE MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE FOR MAY WAS NEAR NORMAL. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2008 THAT THE MAY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE FOR DULLES WAS NOT WELL ABOVE NORMAL. THE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 32F DEGREES ON THE 14TH TIED A DAILY RECORD LOW THAT WAS SET IN 1996. IT WAS ONLY THE 4TH TIME DULLES RECORDED A MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 32F DEGREES OR COLDER THIS LATE IN THE SPRING. THE OTHER OCCURRENCES WERE 17 MAY 1984 (30F)...22 MAY 2002 (31F) AND 14 MAY 1996 (32F). RAINFALL THIS MONTH WAS BELOW NORMAL. " - [ + - ]

    Glen Allen - from Lowell Koontz: " May was the coolest May on record and averaged 4.6 °F cooler than May last year as the monthly mean temperature was 65.7 °F, a negative 3.4 °F departure. May was above average in precipitation when compared to Glen Allen’s 4-year average. The maximum temperature for May was 89 °F on the 30th and 31st and the minimum was 36 °F on the 14th causing a light patchy frost our first May frost. May 2013 had more wind than any other May on record with a wind run of 2,165 miles. The windiest day was May 15th with a wind run of 152.6 miles. However the maximum wind gust for May was only 28 mph. May was just a little cleaner than average. The 4.85 inches of precipitation for May was a +0.87 inch departure when compared to the average. May had 2.39 inches of rain in a local thunderstorm on May 7th which set a new daily record for May. This was the most rain to fall in one hour here since August 24, 2009 when 1.44 inches was recorded. It also set a new May hourly record of 1.37 inches, a new 15-minute record of 0.67 inches and a new 5-minute record of 0.33 inches. May had 12 days with measurable rainfall. The link below is for data during the May 7th thunderstorm. http://www.glenallenweather.com/historylinks/2013/may/Recordrainfallrate.jpg May 7th thunderstorm with hail – A small cell rapidly intensified into a slow moving thunderstorm. Light rain started at 1715 and heavy rain started between 1735 and 1740 and hail occurred around 1740-1745. Hail was small pea size and milky (not clear) with the largest being 3/8 inches in diameter. This left the deck about 50 percent covered by a layer of small hail during a period of heavy rain. The hail then started again about 1758 and was larger marble size (0.5 inches) with a milky center but clear ice on the outside layer. Most were rounded but some had a platelet shape and this second 3-4 minutes of hail damaged garden plants. The Spring Season average was cooler by -4.2 and wetter by +0.95 inches than average. (4-Year Average)

    The Airport had no new records for May but was the coolest May since 2008 and coolest spring since 2005. May was the 41st driest in the past 141 years and the 45th warmest in the past 133 years. " - [ - + ]

    Herndon - from Randy Ashby: " May was below normal for temperature and precipitation. The temperatures ranged between a high of 90 and a low of 34 (note that 34 was the lowest low temperature in May for my site of over 20 years). On the precipitation side, the month was 1.33” below normal with 3.49” measured. We are now about 2.5” below normal for the year. " - [ - - ]

    Portsmouth - from Bill Trotter: " May's average temperature of 68.0° was 0.3° ABOVE NORMAL. Precipitation (4.12") was BELOW NORMAL by 0.15" or 97% of the normal May average during the period from 1977 to 2012. Rainfall for the year-to-date through May 31st was 18.47" (-0.01") and 97% of normal. Cold frontal passages occurred on the 12th, 17th, 24th. STATION RECORDS: 14th - TEMPERATURE Minimum TIED 43° [previously 2008], 16th - TEMPERATURE Maximum TIED 91° [previously 1998], 25th - TEMPERATURE Minimum 48° [previously 51° 1990], 25th - WIND GUST 30mph [previously 29mph 1997], 26th - TEMPERATURE Minimum 48° [previously 51° 1979]. - [ + - ]

    North Carolina:

    Raleigh - from NWS RAH: " A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 39 DEGREES WAS SET AT RALEIGH-DURHAM INTL AIRPORT ON MAY 14. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 43 SET IN 1997. A RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 69 DEGREES WAS SET AT THE RALEIGH-DURHAM INTL AIRPORT ON MAY 22. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD SET IN 1944. A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 41 DEGREES WAS SET AT RALEIGH-DURHAM INTL AIRPORT ON MAY 25. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 43 SET IN 1967. " - [ - + ]

    Raleigh - from Bob Woodson: " MAY WEATHER WAS SIMILAR TO APRIL, WITH WET CONDITIONS AND MILD TEMPERATURES. PRECIPITATION OF 5.39” WAS 2.12” ABOVE NORMAL AND FOR THE YEAR IS NOW 3.16” ABOVE NORMAL. THE AVERAGE DAILY TEMPERATURE 66 DEGREES OR 2.0 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. IT IS UNUSUAL THAT THE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE NEVER REACHED THE 90-DEGREE MARK. ALONG WITH THE LOWER TEMPERATURES, NO SEVERE WEATHER WAS OBSERVED DURING THE MONTH. " - [ - + ]



    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 2012-2013 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
    or conduct a Google.com Search
    http://www.weather.gov
     

    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:

      
    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 davidkessel@cox.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 - 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@yahoo.com