Annandale - Lowell sends these quite detailed notes for November.
While I know - and Lowell agrees - that we can't publish these complete notes
every month, they do make for interesting reading because there are interesting
tidbits throughout that the reader gleens. Temperature Records
The highest average maximum temperature ever recorded for this November
was 62.3; the old record was 61.5 in 1985. The highest temperature for
this November was 76°F. In the last 21 yrs. only two years have been higher
1984 and 1998. The lowest maximum temperature for November was 49°, which
is 3° above the old record of 46° in 1983 and 1998. The highest minimum
temperature for month was 62°, which tied the old record, set on November
21, 1991 but this year it was the last day of the month. November had an
average daily temperature range of 20° which was the third highest in the
last 21 years. The average mean temperature for November was 52.6° and
was the highest since 1985. Sky conditions This was the clearest
November on record in the last 21 years. Precipitation Only one
year 1981 was drier than this November in the last 21 years. This November
had 4 days of measurable precipitation, which is the least since 1981,
which had only 3 days and holds the record for November. The 34-day period
from Oct. 16th to November 20th without measurable precipitation surpassed
the old 21-year record of 22 days set just last fall. Barometer
November had a high minimum barometric reading of 29.80" the highest
minimum barometer for November since 1978 when the minimum barometric
reading was 29.85". Records for the Date November 6, 2001 Very Dry
Weather Today is the 21st day without measurable precipitation at this
station. Only three times in the last 21-years have we had a period as
long or longer. The last measurable precipitation was 0.24" on October 16th.
November 8, 2001 Record Dry Weather Today is the 23rd day without
measurable precipitation at this station. This is the longest period of
time we have ever gone without measurable precipitation in the last
21-years of records. Reagan National Airport and Dulles had 0.01" on
November 3, 2001. Therefore Reagan National Airport and Dulles have no
precipitation record at this time. November 9, 2001 Record Dry & Windy
Weather Wind gust to 31 mph at 0305 and low relative humidity and high
fire danger. The 24-day record period without measurable rain continues.
The previous 21-year record was 22 days before this period of drought.
November 10, 2001 Record Temperature Range The temperature range today was
29°F, a new 21-year maximum temperature range record for the date; the old
record was 28°F in 1987. November 13, 2001 Cold and Record Dry Weather
The 28-day record period without measurable rain continues. The minimum of
30°F last night was the coldest night since 3-28-2001. The temperature range
today was 29F, and equaled the 21-year maximum temperature range record
for the date; the old record was set in 1994. November 16, 2001 Warm and
Record Dry Weather The maximum temperature today was 73°F, a new 21-year
high maximum temperature record for the date; the old record was 68°F in
1991. November 20, 2001 Record Temperature Range The temperature range
today was 26°F, a new 21-year maximum temperature range record for the
date; the old record was 25°F in 1989. November 25, 2001 Record Warm Nov.
Night The minimum temperature today was 59°F, a new 21-year high minimum
temperature record for the date; the old record was 53°F in 1999.
November 28, 2001 Warm Foggy Nov. Night The minimum temperature today
was 54°F, and equaled the 21-year high minimum temperature record for
the date; the old record was set in 1990. November 29, 2001 Warm Foggy
Damp November Night The minimum temperature today was 58°F, a new 21-year
high minimum temperature record for the date; the old record was 49°F
in 1997. The 21 year high minimum temperature record was broken by + 9°F.
November 30, 2001 Record Warm November Night The minimum temperature today
was 62°F, a new 21-year high minimum temperature record for the date; the
old record was 53°F in 1991. The 21 year high minimum temperature record
was broken by + 9°F again. [ + - ]
Arlington - NWS WBC's Dewey Walston reported the mean temp here was 5° above normal.
Rainfall was 2.57" below normal. ...Records...Monthly average temperature
record broken. It was the warmest November
on record in Washington DC since temperature records began in
1872. The average temperature for the month was 54.8 which broke the old
record of 54.4° set in 1975 and 1979. Daily high temperature record tied
for the 16th. The high temperature reached 76°. The record was 76° set
in 1928. ...Summary...November 2001 was an extremely warm and dry month.
It was the warmest November on record in Washington since records began
in 1872. The temperature has not yet reached freezing at Washington
Reagan National Airport this season. The total precipitation of 0.55"
tied for the 4th driest November on record.
Warmest Novembers on record Driest Novembers on record
54.8 degrees in 2001 0.29 inches in 1981
54.4 degrees in 1979 0.37 inches in 1965
54.4 degrees in 1975 0.53 inches in 1917
54.3 degrees in 1985 0.55 inches in 2001
54.0 degrees in 1931 0.55 inches in 1922
The average wind speed was 8 mph. The total precipitation for the autumn (September, October, and November)
totalled only 2.65". This makes autumn 2001 the third driest autumn
on record. [ + - ]
Ashburn - These notes from Gary: While we had eleven days
below freezing, overall temperatures for the month were 5.5ø above normal.
While we saw cold weather, it was an extremely mild month overall. There
was a 55.3ø differential between the high and low temperatures for the month.
November was, of course, a very dry month, with only 0.84" of rain, or -2.46",
or 25% of normal. 90% of the monthly rainfall, or a paltry .76", fell during
the "storm" occurring on the 24th and 25th. Wind was very inconsistent, with
my station recording its highest average daily wind speed and lowest daily
average wind speed since records began 7/1/2001. While we saw cold weather,
it was an extremely mild month overall. At this rate, Christmas is going
to feel like I'm back home in Southern California. Interestingly, as I
write this on 3 December, the first two days of December are running 17.7°
above normal. I realize that will change, but it is pretty dramatic nonetheless.
[Editor's note: As you can see, Gary's Christmas was not Southern
California-like!] [ + - ]
Blacksburg - NWS Blacksburg reports a tie of a record high on the
27th and a new record high on the 28th. The mean temp was 5.2° in excess of
the norm while rainfall was 2.42" below normal. The month was the
driest November on record. The old record was 0.49" in 1982. [ + - ]
Bridgewater - The precipitation for the month was 2.48" below normal.
Moisture for the year is now around 9.7" below normal. The North River that
flows by Bridgewater is about as low as I have ever seen it. The ponds around
here are very low. There were only 2 days during the month when the barometer
dipped below 30". Certainly the lack of rain was caused by the lack of well-developed
low pressure systems. The temperature was 5.6° above normal. - notes from
Clayton [ + - ]
Centreville - Another month older and deeper in debt seems to
be the refrain from people who have been counting raindrops lately.
November yielded only 28% of the 2.99" normal precipitation with 0.83"
bringing us down to just 3/4" to the good for the year. Six ice cubes of
rain isn't much to begin with but when you look back just 90 days, we came
in to this period at 5.51" to the plus side. For the quarter ending
November 30th only 51% of the 9.26" expected rain fell adding only 4.72"
to the total. For Centreville, this represents a deficit of 4.54", and
we are the lucky ones, being short by about half of that of our neighbors.
We shouldn't put our temperature information on the back burner quite yet
because there is a lot of interest in that department too. We had some
real close competition for breaking high temperature records twice this
month, once on the 7th with 78ø and again on the 19th with 71ø, both
happened to be shy of the mark by only one degree. Our average daily
temperature for November came in at 6.3ø, or 13% above the 45.5ø normal.
The average daily high was 6.3ø above normal as well, while the average
daily low in typical fashion pushed readings a whole 6.4ø above the
expected 34.2ø and helped cause our heating degree days to be just
two-thirds of normal. I'll be happy to see that bill. [ + - ]
On a lighter note, Paul shares his frustration - as this editor has recently -
with keeping those sensors working properly: "An interesting tid-bit about
the absence of rain causing me a bunch of grief. Except for having to shimmy back up the pole with a level between
my teeth and check on the proper alignment of the rain gauge, all seems
to be going well with the Texas Weather Instruments equipment. That
wasn't entirely so earlier last month though. While fiddling with
redressing the new wires and playing with the new software, I noticed
that the lightning detector was offering quite a few strikes with no
apparent reason. TWI and I were both fit to be tied because a week
earlier they sent a new chip for me to replace in lightning circuit
which, at least temporarily, fixed the exact same problem. The only
thing left was the other end of the circuit which happens to be ground.
Yup, after several gallons of water from the hose around the copper
ground rod, the damn thing is working fine which means it really isn't
working which is good. So like plants, happy ground rods (among others)
like a good drink now and then too."
Charlottesville - The monthly rainfall total was 2.87" below
normal. Average wind speed was 4.3 mph. [ + - ]
Dulles - The mean temp was 5.3° above normal. The monthly
rainfall was 2.48" below normal. Average wind speed = 6.0 mph. - from NWS WBC
[ + - ]
Falls Church - November 2001 was a very warm and dry month...
more like spring than late fall. I had no days with -.5" or more of rain.
- report from Erica [ + - ]
Hampton - Dave reports: "A warm and dry November with this
month averaging 6° above normal and precipatation 2.73" below mormal.
It was the driest November since records began at my station in Hampton (1977)
and the driest at Langley Field (AFB) LFI since 1936. The month was the
fifth warmest of any month and the second warmest November since 1985.
Records were broken on the 29th and 30th with highs of 74 and 76. Fyi-
winter season around here typically runs from early Jan - late Feb - so
plenty of time for stormy and wintry precip to occur." [ + - ]
Harrisonburg - Terry reports: The average temperature for the month averaged
6° above normal. The 0.45" of rain for the month was 2.53" below normal and
the lowest monthly total so far this year. Year to date we are 10.93" below
normal on rain. The rain on 11/24 broke a 40 day run of days with no signifcant
rain. [ + - ]
Herndon Bob writes: "Another dry month - If the 6 tenths on the
25th had missed the station, the record 0.27" of Nov. 1981 would have been
equalled. The substantial rains of May-Aug have tided us over - so far." [ + - ]
Herndon - November rainfall was 2.27 inches below normal.
Temperatures averaged 6.4ø above normal. No daily records were recorded,
but this November was one of our driest and warmest on record. After
endless sunny, cloudless days we got socked in by dense fog and clouds
for the last week with some mild thunderstorms rumbling across the area on the 30th.
- report from Russ [ + - ]
Lexington - Yet another bone dry month. Measurable precipitation
was recorded on only two days for the entire month. This is approximately
3.5" below monthly normal. November's mean temperature was 3.4° above average.
- notes from Scott [ + - ]
Louisa - Not much to say reports Joe. Dry. The little bit of
rain we got sure didn't put a dent in the deficit. [ + - ]
Lynchburg - Rainfall for the month was 2.84" below normal while
the mean temp was 2.0° above normal. - from NWS Blacksburg [ + - ]
New Market - We broke 4 records during the month, 2 high and
2 lows. This has been the warmest November since 1961, when my records started.
All we could do is sit and watch the rain go around us, either to the west
or to the east. We are 2.50" below normal for month in rain." - notes from Joyce
[ + - ]
Newport News - Gary noted a mild and very dry month. [ + - ]
Norfolk - NWS AKQ reported the mean temp at ORF was 3.5° above normal.
Rainfall was 2.77" below normal. Rainfall for the year was 9.88" below normal.
The average wind speed was 8.0 mph. [ + - ]
Portsmouth - The monthly mean temp here was 3.5° above normal and
rainfall was 2.84" below normal (10% of normal) Rainfall for the year was
a whopping 14.44" below normal (68%). A rather high number of days with dense fog
noted: 5. The average wind speed was 2.5 mph from a dominant northerly diretion.
November 2001 was the driest November on record
[database to 1976] . The month was the 3rd warmest November on
record. On the 24th, the daily max min temp record was set with
58° (previously 57° in 1979). On the 25th, the daily max min temp record was
tied with 59° (previously set in 1999). On the 30th, a daily max min temp was set
with 62° (previously 54° set in 1997). On the same day (30th), a daily
max temperature record was tied with 77° (previously set in 1991). [ + - ]
Richmond - NWS AKQ reported the mean temp at RIC was 5° above normal.
Rainfall was 3.00" below normal. Rainfall for the year was 10.04" below normal.
The average wind speed was 6.3 mph. [ + - ]
Mechanicsville - Periods of dense fog on the 1st, 26th, and 27th. Very
little rain for the month. - from Glenn
Roanoke - Wendell notes: Warm and dry... 4.1° above normal temps
while rainfall was 3.07" below normal. [ + - ]
Roanoke - NWS Blacksburg reports that the monthly mean temp was
5.8° above normal. Rainfall was 2.58" below normal. [ + - ]
Weems - Francis, back after a short sebatical, reports that
November was a weird month and quite warm. [ + - ]
Woodstock - "Lauck reports the warmest November in 16 years of records, and
the second driest. October-November was also the driest two calendar
month period in 16 years. Between October 17 and November 25 we had
only .01", on October 28. Even so, my two creeks were still
running a little, unlike during some high temperature summer droughts."
North Carolina:
Asheville -from NWS GSP: The monthly mean temp was 4.2° above
normal and the rainfall was 2.17" below normal. The average wind speed was
5.8 mph and the average relative humidity was 66%. [ + - ]
Brevard - "This report is based upon 15 days of observation,
except for rainfall for which observations are complete. Therefore, I am
limiting my comments to precipitation, 2.1" compared with a ten year
average of 4.80". Cumulative rainfall through November 2001 is 42.28" inches,
only 67% of the ten year average of 62.68". At least what rain we received
helped put out the several fires in the National Forests in North Carolina."
- from Bob
Elizabeth City - The Elizabeth City Coast Guard Station [ECG]
reported an average wind speed of 7.6 mph.
Greensboro - NWS RAH notes a mean temp some 5.3° above normal.
Rainfall was a whopping 2.63" below normal. The average wind speed was 5.8 mph.
The mean relative humidity was 66%. A record high of 74° was tied on the 27th (1990, 1985).
New record highs of 77° and 75° were set on the 28th and 29th. The low temp of
63° on the 25th tied the daily reocrd for highest minimum temp (2001). The
monthly precip total of 0.34" set a record for the driest
November ever. The previous record was 0.35" set in 1981. This also marked
the 8th driest month ever on record. Records here
date to 1928. [ + - ]
Lumberton - The average wind speed was 4.9 mph. - from NWS ILM
Raleigh - NWS RDU reported the following records: a record
high of 76° was tied on the 7th and 26th. New record highs of 81° and 77°
were set on the 28th and 29th. Low temps of 61° on the 25th and 30th tied the
daily record for highest minimum temperatue. The mean temp of 55.8° marked the
5th warmest November since records began in 1887.
The monthly precip total of 0.50" tied for the 4th driest
November since records began in 1887. The mean temp was 4.6° above
normal and the rainfall total was 2.48" below normal. The mean wind speed
was 3.5 mph and the relative humidity averaged 68%. [ + - ]
Raleigh - Bob asks, "What happened to fall? November was the
warmest on record (since 1993) and the dryest. The average daily temperature
was 4.0° above normal while precipitation was 2.37" below normal. Since
September, precipitation has been 4.79" below normal. Looking foward when
we have some dynamic weather." [ + - ]
Roxboro - Merriell writes: November was much warmer than normal.
At times it seemed more like spring than mid-autumn. The month was also much
drier than normal. This and many areas are in a mild drought. [ + - ]
Wilmington - From NWS ILM: Above normal temperatures and
below normal precipitation in the Port City...The average temperature for
the month 3.5° above normal for the month. Wilmington tied a record high
temperature on the 26th. Total rainfall 2.16" below normal.
This has brought the yearly rainfall deficit to 13.96". The last month
Wilmington recieved above normal amounts of rainfall for a monthly period
was March 2001. A normal amount of sunshine was received with 63% of
possible sunshine. The average wind speed for november was 6.7 mph. [ + - ]
South Carolina:
Columbia - NWS CAE reports that the mean temp here was 4.3° above
normal. Rainfall was 2.21" below normal, producing the 10th driest November
since records begain in 1915. Yearly rainfall was a huge 19.52" below normal.
The average relative humidity was 64%. [ + - ]
Florence - The mean temp here for November was 4.6° above normal
while rainfall totals were 2.12" below normal. A record high temp was set
on the 29th with 80°, surpassing the previous record of 79° set in 1998.
The average wind speed ws 6.2 mph. - from NWS ILM [ + - ]
Greenville-Spartanburg - The monthly mean temperature was 5.1°
above normal while rainfall was 1.67" below normal. The average wind speed
was 4.6 mph and the average relative humidity was 65%. - from NWS GSP [ + - ]
Charleston - NWS CHS reports the monthly mean temp was 5.1° above
normal. Rainfall was 1.96" below normal. The average wind speed was 7.2 mph.
[ + - ]
North Myrtle Beach - The mean temp was 6.4° above normal while
rainfall was 1.29" below normal. The average wind speed was 6.3 mph. A record
high temp was set on the 27th with 79°, beating the pld record of 73° set in 1998.
On the 30th, the old record of 73° set in 1998 was surpassed when the temp rose
to 76°. - from NWS ILM
Orangeburg - NWS CAE reports the average relative humidity here
was 65%.
Nearby Cities:
Tri-cities - The mean temp was 3.2° above normal while the
monthly precip was 2.44" below normal. The yearly rainfall-to-date is 1.01"
in excess of the norm. - from NWS MRX [ + - ]
