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

SUMMARY OF CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA 


OCTOBER 2008


... TEMPERATURES & RAINFALL BELOW NORMAL FOR MOST ALL THIS OCTOBER...

Except for a areas near Anderson & Columbia and from North Myrtle Beach down to Charleston in South Carolina, the three-state region saw below normal rainfall. Another impressive monthly rainfall total for Charleston with 11.10" with 6.57" occuring on one day (24th)!

For the most part, temperatures were cooler- some considerably colder - with the warmest spots relative to the normal monthly average being Wilmington in southeastern North Carolina and Roanoke in western Virginia.

  • GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN (NC) NEWSLETTER    From weather coordinator Kevin Shaw come this tip about Granfather Mountain's newsletter. He adds they are having a forecasting contest for the winter for Grandfather Mountain involving about a dozen questions. Lots of fun and costs nothing! Grandfather Mountain Newsletter or http://www.grandfather.com/newsletter/nov08/nov_newsletter.html.

  • CARING FOR THE WINTER RAIN GAUGE    Here are some tips from the CoCoRaHS website about caring for your 4" cylinder NWS plastic rain guage in the winter. Winter can be hard on us and our rain gauges. Avoid letting water freeze in the inside measurement tube of your gauge. Remove the funnel and inner cylinder if subfreezing temperatures are expected. Your outer cylinder may freeze and stick in the mounting bracket. Apply a lubricant to reduce friction and avoid freeze-up. Consider an alternative mount for your gauge when snow and ice are present. Try a small platform on or just above the ground that holds the gauge straight and keep it from blowing over in strong winds. Remember, gauges do not readily catch wind-blown snow. Protected locations nearer the ground are better for winter measurement than open-windswept elevated locations.


  • EL NINO ALERT SYSTEM FROM NOAA    [ from the Message of the Day archives at CoCoRaHS] Most years around Christmas, a warm current of tropical water temporarily replaces the cold water that normally exists off the west coast of Peru. Local residents refer to this warming as El Nino (Spanish for boy child), referring to the Christ child. Usually, the warming lasts approximately a month or two. However, every few years, the ocean warming can last many months and is linked to a warming of sea surface temperatures across a large part of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Because changes in sea surface temperatures over such a large region can affect the overlying atmosphere and the position of the jet stream, the weather is affected by El Nino in regions around the world. In the US, the greatest impacts occur in the winter time: the Pacific northwest is often warm and dry while the southern tier of states are cool and moist. The in-between states often do not see much of an influence from El Nino. During La Nina, when there is a persistent cooling of east Pacific sea surface temperatures, the Pacific northwest tends to be cool and moist while the southern states are warm and dry. Starting in mid-December, NOAA will begin issuing an alert system to highlight when an El Nino or La Nina event is expected to develop, continue, or end. These advisories will be posted at: http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/    To learn more about El Nino, visit: El Nino.


  • 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 - OCTOBER 2008
    State
    Maximum Temperature
    Minimum
    Temperature
    Warmest
    Average
    Temperature
    Coldest
    Average
    Temperature
    Maximum
    Precipitation
    Minimum
    Precipitation
    Virginia
    88°
    Glen Allen, Richmond
    Newport News
    22°
    New Market
    61.3°
    Norfolk (FHC)
    51.8°
    Blacksburg
    2.42"
    Washington
    0.63"
    Ladysmith
    North Carolina
    88°
    Fayetteville
    Lumberton
    27°
    Asheville, Charlotte
    Raleigh (RAL)
    62.4°
    Beaufort
    Wilmington
    54.1°
    Asheville
    4.11"
    Cape Hatteras
    0.44"
    Lumberton
    South Carolina
    87 °
    Orangeburg
    29°
    Greenville-Spartanburg
    64.5°
    Charleston
    59.8°
    Greenville-Spartanburg
    11.10"
    Chraleston
    2.14"
    Florence


    ( 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 R2   S   CWA
     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     BCB 64.4  39.2  51.8   +0.1  81   14  24   31   0  0  7 0 68% 37 310°  28   4.5       0 0 0 1  6     2400 AKQ
     BRI 64.8  42.8  53.8   -0.66 81   14  26   23   0  0  5 0 52%                         0 0 0 0  0     0510/1600 LWX
     CEN 64.0  44.7  54.8   +0.3  80 14,15 31   31   0  0  1 0 65% 39 323°  28   2.0  338° 0 0 0 0  1     2400 LWX
     CHT 65.8  44.3  55.0    0.0  83.0 14  29.3 31   0  0  3 0 68% 18 360°  25   0.7  360° 0 0 0 0  2     2400 LWX
     CHO 66.5  41.8  54.1         85   14  28 23,31  0  0  5 0     35 360°  28   3.1       0 0 0 0  1     2400 LWX
     DAN 69.0  43.2  56.1   -2.1  86   15  27   30   0  0  4 0 70% 35 300°  28   4.9       0 0 0 1  3     2400 RNK
     DCA 67.7  50.0  58.9   +0.1  82 15,16 36   31   0  0  0 0 61% 45 300°  28   7.8       0 0 0 0  0     2400 LWX
     IAD 66.5  43.8  55.2   +0.2  84   14  28   30   4  0  0 0 65% 44 290°  28   6.0       1 0 0 0  1     2400 LWX
     FRV 65.5  43.6  54.8         83   14  29   23   0  0  3 0     42 315°  28             1 0 0 0  0     2400 LWX
     GAV 69.39 46.03 57.71        88   16  29   30   0  0  3 0 72% 29 203°  25             1 0 0 0  0     2400 AKQ
     HDV 65.8  44.1  55.0   -3.0  82 14,15 30   20   0  0  5 0 69%                         0 0 0 0  0     2400 LWX
     LDY 65.7  46.4  56.1   -2.9  80   16  33   31   0  0  0 0 61%                         0 0 0 0  1     2400 AKQ
     LYH 67.3  42.9  55.1   -1.0  84 14,15 28 30,31  0  0  3 0 67% 32 290°  28   5.0       0 1 0 2  2     2400 RNK
     NEW 65.09 39.22 52.15  -3    84   14  22   23   0  0  7 0 59% 33 315°  29  14.93 180° 0        4     1700 LWX
     NPN 71.2  47.9  59.5         88   16  33 30,31  0  0  0 0     31 270°  28             1 0 0 0  0     2400 AKQ
     NOR 69.4  50.6  60.0   -0.8  87   16  33   31   0  0  0 0                             0 0 0 0  0     2400 AKQ
     ORF 69.0  51.5  60.2   -0.9  87   16  34   31   0  0  0 0 74% 41 040°  18   8.4       1 0 0 0  0     2400 AKQ
     FHC 69.48 53.12 61.30  +0.2  87.2 16  37.9 31   0  0  0 0 72% 33 135°  25   2.46 023° 0 0 0 0  0     2400 AKQ
     POR 68.5  50.7  59.6   -2.0  84 3,16  33   31   0  0  0 0 76% 33 248°  28   4.3  018° 0 0 0 0  0     2400 AKQ
     CTR 68.0  44.1  54.7   -3.6  83.2 16  27.5 30   0  0  0 0 82% 14 293°  28   0.1  113  0 0 0 0  0     2400 AKQ
     MEC 68.19 46.32 57.42        83   16  32 30,31  0  0  0 0                             1 0 0 0  1     1700 AKQ
     RIC 70.3  47.3  58.8   +0.5  88   16  32   31   0  0  4 0 66% 43 300°  28   5.8       0 0 0 0  1     2400 AKQ
     ROA 69.2  47.1  58.2   +1.6  84 14,15 32   31   0  0  1 0 58% 46 310°  29   5.6       0 0 0 0  0     2400 AKQ
     AKQ 70.9  44.2  57.6         87   16  28 30,31  0  0  4 0                                            2400 AKQ
     WAL 67.0  48.0  57.5   -0.5  85   16  32   31   1  0  0 0     43 310°  28   7.8       0 0 0 0  2     2400 AKQ
     WOO 63.8  45.9  54.8   -1.7  82   15  33   30   0  0  0 0                             0 0 0 0  0     2400 LWX
     WSH 63.7  44.7  54.2   -1.91 80   14  31   23   0  0  1 0 71% 26 090°  28   1.4  023° 0 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 R2  S    CWA
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     AVL 65.6  42.6  54.1  -1.1  81    15 27    31  0  0  3 0 69% 43 330° 28    5.2      0 0 0 0  4     2400 GSP
     MRH 71.5  53.2  62.4        81  6,14 34    31  0  0  0 0     48 340° 27    7.9      2 0 0 0  3     2400 MHX
     CLT 70.5  46.0  58.3  -3.4  82 15,16 27    30  0  0  4 0 67% 28 050° 11    6.0      0 0 0 0  1     2400 GSP
     ECG 71.0  48.7  59.9  -2.7  86    16 28    31  2  0  0 0 75% 37 220°  1    8.3      1 0 0 0  5     2400 AKQ
     FAY 73.5  49.8  61.6        88    15 31    31  0  0  1 0 65% 33 300° 28    6.9      1 0 0 0  1     2400 RAH
     GSO 68.8  46.8  57.8  -0.7  85    15 29    30  0  0  1 0 63% 33 290° 28    6.3      1 0 0 0  1     2400 RAH
     HSE 70.6  57.3  64.0  -1.7  81     9 41    31  0  0  0 0 68% 41 040° 18    8.2      0 0 0 0  0     2400 MHX
                                                                  41 350° 27
     HKY 68.5  46.5  57.5  -1.7  83    15 31    30  0  0  1 0     33 320° 28    4.7      0 0 0 0  1     2400 GSP
     LBT 73.7  48.9  61.3  +0.3  88    15 30 30,31  0  0  3 0     83 210° 25    5.6      1 0 0 0  2     2400 ILM
     EWN 71.4  49.6  60.5  -3.6  85 15,16 29    31  0  0  2 0 73% 37 310° 27    5.5      1 0 0 0  7     2400 MHX
     RDU 71.1  47.5  59.3  -0.7  87    15 28    30  7  0  0 0 68% 30 310° 28    5.0      1 0 0 0  2     2400 RAH
     RAL 71.3  45.5  58.4  -1.6  86 15,16 27    29  0  0  5 0     21      28             1 0 0 0  2     2400 RAH
     ROX 69.2  45.9  57.8  -0.3  85 14,15 31    30  0  0  1 0 70% 36 315° 28        315° 0 0 0 1  0     2400 RAH
     ILM 73.4  51.4  62.4  +2.4  86 15,16 32    31  0  0  1 0 70% 54 120° 25    6.7      0 0 0 0  0     2400 ILM
    SOUTH CAROLINA
    [Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL]     
       
     STN  A      B    C     C1    D    E  F      G  H  I  J K K1  L  M     N   N1   N2   O P Q R R1 R2  S    CWA
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     AND 71.2  48.9  60.1  -1.1  83    16 32    30  0  0  1 0     36 060° 11   6.4       1 0 0 0  1     2400 GSP
     CAE 73.1  49.6  61.4  -2.3  85 15,16 31    31  0  0  3 0 66% 31 030° 11   5.8       0 0 0 0  0     2400 CAE
     CRE 74.5  52.6  63.5  -1.2  86    16 32    31  0  0  1 0     39 090° 24   6.4       0 0 0 0  2     2400 ILM
     CHS 74.9  54.1  64.5  -1.7  86     1 35    29  0  0  0 0     31 250°  9   7.6       3 0 0 0  5     2400 CHS
                                                                  31 150° 24
     FLO 73.0  50.2  61.6  -2.5  85 15,16 32 29,30  0  0  2 0     38 110° 24   6.1       0 0 0 0  0     2400 ILM
     GSP 71.0  48.6  59.8  -0.7  83 15,16 29    29  0  0  2 0 64% 31 350° 28   6.1       0 0 0 0  0     2400 GSP
     OGB 74.6  50.6  62.6        87    16 31    29  0  0  1 0     26 080° 24   5.5       1 0 0 0  0     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 R2  S    CWA
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     TRI 67.8  40.7  54.3  -0.7  82    15  24   30  0  0  7 0     30 310° 27   3.2       0 0 0 0  5     2400 MRX
     DAV             46    -2    77    14  20   31 18                                                   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  1.04  -2.15 0.47 17 0.47    17  5 0 27.15   T 27,28 2 0    T    T                             2400
     BRI  1.11  -2.07 0.88 25 0.92 24-25  3 0 28.10  0.0           0.0  0.0  30.50  31 29.80   1        0510/1600 
     CEN  1.03  -2.59 0.81 25 0.81    25  4 0 43.24  0.0           0.0  0.0  30.62  23 29.69   1 30.16  2400
     CHT  1.34  -2.03 1.09 25 1.09    25  5 1 38.59  0.0           0.0  0.0  30.635 23 29.695  1 30.190 2400
     CHO  1.86        1.53 25 1.60 24-25  3 1 28.95  0.0           0.0                 29.66   1        2400
     DAN  0.94  -2.77 0.50 25 0.50    25  6 0 34.78   T  28   1 0    T    T  30.61  23 29.67   1        2400
     DCA  1.13  -2.09 0.84 25 0.84    25  4 0 41.12  0.0           0.0  0.0            29.66   1        2400
     IAD  1.31  -2.06 1.10 25 1.10    25  3 1 39.37  0.0           0.0  0.0            29.66   1        2400
     FRV  1.38        1.31 25 1.33 24-25  4 1 36.89  0.0           0.0  0.0  30.65  23 29.73   1        2400
     GAV  1.13        0.56 17 0.57 17-18  6 0        0.0           0.0  0.0  30.60  23 29.64   1 30.15  2400
     HDV  1.52  -1.93 0.99 25             5 0 42.78  0.0           0.0  0.0  30.61  23 29.63   1        2400
     LDY  0.63  -2.34 0.21 17 0.25 27-28  4 0 30.03  0.0           0.0  0.0  30.62  23 29.65   1 30.16  2400
     LYH  2.09  -1.30 1.10 25 1.10    25  4 1 26.47   T 27,28 2 0    T    T  30.63  23 29.70   1        2400
     NEW  0.87  -1.30 0.79 25               0 31.54  0.0           0.0  0.0  30.84  23 30.08 1,2        1700
     NPN  1.93        0.65  1 0.65     1  6 0 39.89  0.0           0.0  0.0  30.59  31 29.62   1        2400
     NOR  1.79  -1.83 0.64 27 0.84 17-18  6 0 37.14  0.0           0.0  0.0                             2400
     ORF  1.47  -2.00 0.14  1 2.31  30-1  5 0 35.65  0.0           0.0  0.0  30.59  31 29.62   1        2400
     FHC  1.45  -2.17 0.47 18 0.63 17-08  6 0 33.02  0.0           0.0  0.0  30.565 31 29.604  1 30.132 2400
     POR  1.16  -2.51 0.37 18 0.55 17-18  5 0 34.73  0.0           0.0  0.0  30.59  31 29.60   1 30.137 2400
     CTR  1.23  -2.56 0.81 17 0.82 17-18  6 0 41.76  0.0           0.0  0.0  30.61  23 29.63   1 30.158 0400
     MEC  1.48        0.67 17 0.72 17-18  6 0 37.45  0.0           0.0  0.0  30.39  23 29.47   1        1700
     RIC  1.32  -2.28 0.66 17 0.66    17  5 0 41.97  0.0           0.0  0.0  30.59  31 29.62   1        2400
     ROA  1.87  -1.28 0.87 17 0.87    17  5 0 29.14  0.0           0.0  0.0  30.63  23 29.73   1        2400
     AKQ  0.80        0.38 27             5 0 29.10  0.0           0.0  0.0                             2400
     WAL  0.91  -1.96 0.40 27 0.41 17-18  6 0 32.60  0.0           0.0  0.0  30.59  23 29.61   1        2400
     WOO  1.18  -1.10         0.77 25-26  6 0 33.13  0.0           0.0  0.0  30.72  23 29.96   1        0800
     WSH  2.42  -0.79 2.02 25 2.20 24-25  8 1 40.14  0.0           0.0  0.0  30.66  23 29.75   1        2400
    NORTH CAROLINA
    [Reminder: All NWS DATA HEREIN IS NOT OFFICIAL]
       
     STN  T      T1     U  U1   V    V1   W X   Y      Z    1 2 3   4    5     6    6A   7    7A    8     S
     -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     AVL  1.84  -1.34 0.94 24 1.06 24-25  4 0 29.28   T 27,28 2 0    T    T  30.63  31 29.75   1         2400
     MRH  3.54        1.49 11 2.36 10-11 12 1 38.67   0.0          0.0  0.0            29.60   1         2400
     CLT  1.49  -2.17 0.99  8 1.00   8-9  6 0 36.24   0.0          0.0  0.0  30.61  31 29.70   1         2400
     ECG  1.45  -1.41 0.45 18 0.68 17-18  7 0 23.34   0.0          0.0    T  30.61  31 29.60   1         2400
     FAY  1.27        0.44 17 0.80 17-18  6 0 56.73                                    29.82  25         2400
     GSO  1.33  -1.94 0.74 25 0.74    25  5 0 32.69   0.0          0.0  0.0            29.82  25         2400
     HSE  4.11  -1.20 0.92 25 0.94 24-25  9 0 44.62   0.0          0.0  0.0            29.60   1         2400
     HKY  1.68  -1.89 0.61  8 0.67   8-9  7 0 26.88   0.0          0.0  0.0  30.63  31 29.75   1         2400
     LBT  0.44  -2.92 0.13 11 0.14 10-11  8 0 30.52                          30.60  31 29.60   1         2400
     EWN  1.42  -1.97 0.66 18 0.99  30-1  8 0 34.00   0.0          0.0  0.0            29.60   1         2400
     RDU  1.17  -2.01 0.30 18 0.56 17-18  7 0 43.36   0.0          0.0  0.0            29.82  25         1900
     RAL  1.04  -2.14                     6 0 41.96   0.0          0.0  0.0  30.64  31 29.65   1         2400
     ROX  0.94  -2.72 0.38 17 0.38    17  6 0 37.10   0.0          0.0  0.0  30.60  23 29.68   1  30.18  2200
     ILM  3.04  -0.17 1.55 11 1.59 10-11  7 1 49.08   0.0          0.0  0.00 30.61  31 29.61   1         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  3.44  +0.21 3.00  8  3.00     8  6 1 28.59  0.0          0.0  0.0  30.61  31 29.71   1         2400
     CAE  3.21  +0.32 1.49 25  1.51 24-25  7 2 35.87  0.0          0.0  0.0  30.62  31 29.68   1         2400
     CRE  3.33  +0.10 2.37 24  2.46 24-25  6 1 43.96                         30.61  31 29.63   1         2400
     CHS 11.10  +8.01 6.57 24  6.57    24  7 3 44.70  0.0          0.0  0.0  30.59  31 29.67   1         2400
     FLO  2.14  -0.80 1.02 24  1.03 24-25  8 1 44.80                         30.61  31 29.63   1         2400
     GSP  2.42  -1.46 1.97  8  1.97     8  5 1 31.46  0.0          0.0  0.0  30.59  31 29.70   1         2400
     OGB  6.86        2.91 24  2.93   8-9  9 2 37.38                         30.62  31 29.69   1         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  1.01  -1.29 0.42 24 0.46 24-25  6 0 28.74    T  28  1  0     T     T 30.65 31 29.79   1        2400
     DAV  2.70  -1.1  0.81 29             9 0 58.95   6.2 29  4  3  12.0  12.0                           0700

    Virginia:

    Arlington - From NWS WBC come these notes: " AT WASHINGTON REAGAN NATIONAL...OCTOBER 2008 WAS A DRY MONTH WITH LESS THAN HALF THE NORMAL PRECIPITATION. THE 23 DAY PERIOD...2ND THROUGH THE 24TH...WITH NO MEASURABLE RAINFALL MARKED THE THIRD LONGEST DRY STRETCH FOR ANY OCTOBER IN WASHINGTON DATING BACK TO 1872. THE 2008 OCTOBER AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE OF 58.9F WAS CLOSE TO THE NORMAL OF 58.8F DEGREES. COMPARE THIS TO LAST YEAR...2007...WHEN REAGAN NATIONAL HAD ITS WARMEST OCTOBER ON RECORD WITH AN AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPERATURES OF 67.0F. OTHER NOTABLE WEATHER...A STRONG COASTAL STORM PRODUCED A PEAK WIND GUST OF 45 MPH DURING THE DAY OF OCTOBER 28TH. " [ + - ] 

    Bridgewater - " The precipitation for the year is now 4.16 inches below normal. There were no thunderstorms during the month. There were a number of mornings with frost. It was a dry month. October was rather boring with not much going on. " - [ - - ] - notes from Clayton

    Chantilly - Russ Topping reports: " October was dry with average monthly temperatures. In fact, the monthly average was an unusual 0.0ø departure from normal. A record high minimum temperature of 60.9ø was set on the 16th. Total precipitation for the month was 2.03" below normal, with only 5 days of rain. Most of the monthly rain fell on the 25th, with 1.09". No thunderstorms or snowflakes were observed. Dense fog was observed on the 1st and 10th. *Please note, anemometer is currently partially obstructed from the Southeast " - [ -/+ - ]

    Dulles - from NWS Sterling (KLWX) come these notes: " AT DULLES...OCTOBER 2008 WAS THE 9TH DRIEST OCTOBER DATING BACK TO 1962. MOST OF THE MONTHLY RAINFALL FELL ON A SINGLE DAY...THE 25TH WITH 1.10 INCHES. THE 23 DAY STRETCH FROM THE 2ND THROUGH THE 24TH WITH NO MEASURABLE RAINFALL MADE THAT PERIOD THE SECOND LONGEST DRY STRETCH FOR ANY OCTOBER AT DULLES DATING BACK TO 1963. THE 2008 OCTOBER AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE OF 55.2F WAS CLOSE TO THE NORMAL OF 55.0F DEGREES. COMPARE THIS TO LAST YEAR...2007...WHEN DULLES HAD ITS WARMEST OCTOBER ON RECORD WITH AN AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPERATURES OF 63.6F. OTHER NOTABLE WEATHER...A STRONG COASTAL STORM PRODUCED A PEAK WIND GUST OF 44 MPH DURING THE DAY OF OCTOBER 28TH. THE FIRST FREEZE OF THE SEASON AT DULLES OCCURRED ON THE MORNING OF THE 20TH...WITH A LOW OF 29F RECORDED. " - [ + - ]

    Front Royal - Mike reports: " Dry, best explains how the weather of October 2008 will be remembered. The .03" of rainfall from a weak cold front on the 1st would not be matched again until the 25th. The 22 day period from the 2nd to the 23rd was void of any measurable rainfall with only trace amounts falling on the 9th and 16th. Indian Summer paid us a visit from the 9th to the 16th as the mean high temp through the period was 77.3, with the monthly high of 83 being recorded on the 14th. The latter half of the month saw slightly more exciting weather as a strong cold front moved through on the 17th. Temperatures fell to normal levels for the time of year (low to mid 60s) and the first frost occurred on the morning of the 20th. The highlight of the month was weather of the 25th. A strong storm system that moved through the Great Lakes region pushed a strong cold front through the area. Moderate to occasionally heavy rain with breezy conditions on the 25th dropped 1.31" in the gauge on the 25th. Developing low pressure that moved into Canada and brought snow to parts of the Northeastern U.S on the 28th provided windy conditions here. A wind gust to 42mph was recorded in Front Royal. " - [ M - ]

    Glen Allen - Lowell Koontz reports: " October was a little warmer than average (when compared to Ashland, VA records) as the monthly mean temperature was 57.7°F, a + 0.4°F departure, and much drier than average rainfall for the month. The 1.13 inches of rain for October was a -2.30 inch departure when compared to the Ashland, VA average. The maximum rainfall recorded in a day was only 0.56 inches and measurable rainfall occurred only six days. The only rainy day was the 17th with rainfall from 0600 to 2100 hours. The maximum temperature for October was 88°F on October 16th which was the same temperature reported at the Richmond International airport and only 2°F from their record for the date. It was also noted that Richmond has never had a higher temperature than 89°F after the 16th of October. The 29°F recorded here on the 30th was also very cold for the date. The maximum wind gust of 29 mph occurred on the 26th at 1031 from a cold frontal passage associated with a low pressure passing to our north. The lowest barometer was 29.64 inches on the 1st which was the lowest barometer recorded in October. The highest barometer was 30.60 inches on the 23rd which was the highest barometer recorded for the month. The average barometric pressure for the month was 30.15 inches which is high for October. This corresponds well with the many clear days and nights and the high temperature ranges recorded. On October 31st the low temperature was 32° and the high was 68°F a 36°F daily temperature range and a 35°F daily temperature range occurred on the 14th. - [ + - ] 

    Herndon - Randy sends these additional notes: " October was below normal for temperature, and well below normal for precipitation. Except for the heavy rains last month, October continued the trend over the last five months of below normal rainfall. October was almost 2 inches below normal and it was only due to almost an inch of rain on the 25th that we received that much. Other than some rain on the 1st and some more late in the month, it was a very dry month. For the year, we have now had 42.78 inches which is still about 2.5 inches above normal. As for the temperatures, we had a relatively cold early fall month, with a few very warm days in the middle of the month, then turning very cold with our first frost occurring on the 20th. The high and low temps each ended up at just about 3 degrees below normal. " - [ - - ]

    Ladysmith - Danny sends these notes: " October brought well below normal temperatures (though overall temperatures never exceeded 80 degrees and never dropped to at or below freezing) and a return to well below normal precipitation. Year-to-date precipitation is now -4.62". " - [ - - ]

    Portsmouth - " The 1.16" of much needed rain produced an October 2008 that was 2.51" BELOW normal rainfall or 32% of the norm. September was colder than normal. The month's average temp was 2.0° BELOW normal. FROPA: 1st, 6th, 11th, 17th, 25th, 27th STATION RECORDS: 29th - TEMPERATURE Minimum Maximum 52° [previous 54° 2005] 31st - TEMPERATURE Minimum 33° [previous 34° 1980] For the year-to-date at month's end, temperatures were averaging above normal (63.8° or +1°) and rainfall was below normal, -6.71" or 84% of the norm. " - [ - - ] 

    North Carolina:

    Greensboro - NWS Raleigh (RAH) reports: " OCTOBER 2008 WAS THE FIRST MONTH SINCE JULY 2007 THAT THE GREENSBORO MONTHLY TEMPERATURE AVERAGE WAS BELOW NORMAL. The October 2008 North Carolina Weather Review is located here: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/rah/ncsummaries/MonthlySummary.Oct.2008.doc [when available]. " - [ - - ]

    Raleigh - Bob notes: " October was slightly cooler than normal with the average daily temperature 1.6 degrees below normal. The first 32 degree reading of the season was recorded on October 22nd. Rainfall for October was only 1.04" which is 2.14" below normal, however precipitation for the year is still above normal. No severe weather was observed during the month. " - [ - - ]

    Raleigh - NWS Raleigh (RAH) reports: " OCTOBER 16TH- TIED RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 85 DEGREES ESTABLISHED IN 1989. The October 2008 North Carolina Weather Review is located here: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/rah/ncsummaries/MonthlySummary.Oct.2008.doc [when available]. " - [ - - ]

    Sorth Carolina:

    Columbia - NWS Columbia (CAE) reports: " THE LOW TEMPERATURE ON THE 31ST WAS 31 DEGREES THIS TIES THE RECORD SET IN 1952. THE COOLEST HIGH TEMPERATURE ON THE 28TH WAS 54. THIS TIES THE RECORD SET IN 1976. " - [ - + ]

    Nearby Cities:

    Tri-Cities - NWS Morristown, TN (MRX) reports: " The monthly-averaged temperature at Tri-Cities was 54.3 degrees, which was 0.7 degrees below normal. It ranked as the 14th coolest October on record at Tri-Cities. The warmest October at Tri-Cities was back in 1984, when the average temperature was 63.6 degrees. Tri-Cities received 1.01 inches of rain in October, which was 1.29 inches below normal. It ranked as the 13th driest October on record at Tri-Cities. Measurable precipitation occurred only six days, and only two of those days had more than one-quarter of an inch. The heaviest rain fell on the 24th, when 0.42 inches of rain was reported. The driest October of the 71 years of observations taken at Tri-Cities was back in 2000, when only 0.02 inches 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
    R2 sky cover percentage 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 ACON VA/NC/SC Recent Weather News, Search CNN
    http://www.cnn.com/WEATHER
     

    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
    GAV - Glen Allen, Henrico County, VA - Lowell Koontz  8/1/08  wwkoontz@verizon.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   
    BRI     Bridgewater, VA Clayton Towers Ctowers@rica.net WOO  Woodstock, VA 5NW Lauck Walton - 12/1/85 jwalton@shentel.net
    CEN  Centreville, VA Paul Bassett 1985, 38° 50.9788' N LAT. 77° 25.6374' W LON. | Elevation 324' | m.psb@verizon.net LDY Ladysmith, VA Danny Jessee 2003 danny@dannyjessee.com
       WAL   Wallops Island, VA 37° 56'26" N 75° 27'47" W Wallops Flight Facility Airport
    CHO   Charlottesville, VA  Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport ASOS  (Rappahannock County) 38-08-18N 078-27-21W 192M AVL    Asheville, NC  Asheville Regional Airport 35-25-55N 082-32-15W 670M
      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
       EWN    New Bern, NC  Craven County Regional Airport 36-04-03N 077-02-50W 3M
    FRV     Front Royal, VA  Michael Perritt -  04/08 snowyat9@yahoo.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