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

SUMMARY OF CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA 


OCTOBER 2009


...FOR 2nd CONSECUTIVE MONTH, AVERAGE TEMPERATURE DEPARTURES VARY CONSIDERABLY...
...EXCEPT FOR THE NORTHERN AREAS, MUCH OF VIRGINIA EXPERIENCES BELOW NORMAL RAINFALL...
...WETTER THAN NORMAL FOR WESTERN PORTIONS OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND NORTH CAROLINA
WHILE THE MUCH OF THE REMAINING AREAS IS DRIER THAN NORMAL...


  • NOAA's NATIONAL OPERATIONAL HYDROLOGIC REMOTE SENSING CENTER (NOHRSC) (from the CoCoRaHS website)   NOHRSC provides comprehensive snow observations, analyses, data sets and map products for the nation with info including National Snow Observation Database, Airborne Snow Surveys, Satellite Snow Cover Mapping, Snow Modeling and Data Assimilation, Analyses, Maps, and Interactive Visualization Tools, Integrated Snow Datasets for Geospatial Applications and Applied Snow Research, among others. Its products and services support a wide variety of government and private-sector applications in water resource management, disaster emergency preparedness, weather and flood forecasting, agriculture, transportation and commerce. For more information visit NOHRSC's web site at: http://www.nohrsc.nws.gov/.

  • EL NIñO TO PLAY A ROLE IN THIS UPCOMING WINTER'S WEATHER (from the CoCoRaHS website)   El Niño in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean is expected to be a dominant climate factor that will influence the December through February winter weather in the United States, according to the 2009 Winter Outlook released by NOAAs Climate Prediction Center: "2009 Winter Outlook". Such seasonal outlooks are part of NOAAs suite of climate services.

    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 Niño (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 Niño 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 a influence from El Niño. During La Niña, when there is apersistent cooling of east Pacific sea surface temperatures, the Pacific northwest tends to be cool and moist while the southern states are warm and dry.

    To learn more about El Niño, visit: El Niño

  • AUTUMN LEAVES (from the CoCoRaHS website)   Autumn Leaves "The falling leaves drift by the window. The autumn leaves of red and gold..." Some of you will remember the old classic song by Johnny Mercer "Autumn Leaves". It's that time of year again when the leaves in many parts of the country begin to take on color, the nights are cooler and the pumpkins adorn the porches of many homes. Have you ever thought to yourself "Why do the leaves change color?" The US Forest Service has put together a nice web site explaining just that at: "Forest Service Leaves". ( http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/misc/autumn/autumn_colors.htm ) Or ever wondered "Does precipitation play a role in leaf color?" "The amount and brilliance of the colors that develop in any particular autumn season are related to weather conditions that occur before and during the time the chlorophyll in the leaves is dwindling," says University of Kentucky agricultural meteorologist Tom Priddy. "Temperature and moisture are the main influences. The countless combinations of these two highly variable factors assure that no two autumns can be exactly alike." And if you are just trying to find out where the leaves are turning during a certain week or in a certain place in the country, the Foliage Report Network: "Foliage Network" keeps track of leaf colors in the eastern half of the country and the US Forest Service keeps you advised on fall colors throughout the US at: "Fall Colors". ( http://www.fs.fed.us/news/fallcolors/ )


  • 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 2009
    State
    Maximum Temperature
    Minimum
    Temperature
    Warmest
    Average
    Temperature
    Coldest
    Average
    Temperature
    Maximum
    Precipitation
    Minimum
    Precipitation
    Virginia
    87°
    Dulles
    24°
    New Market
    63.1°
    Norfolk (FHC)
    52.2°
    Blacksburg (BCB)
    7.36"
    Wallops Island
    2.17"
    New Market
    North Carolina
    90°
    Lumberton
    29°
    Asheville
    66.5°
    Cape Hatteras
    55.0°
    Asheville
    6.31"
    Cape Hatteras
    0.32"
    Elizabeth City
    South Carolina
    93°
    North Myrtle Beach
    Orangeburg
    32°
    Greenville-Spartanburg
    67.5°
    Charleston
    60.4°
    Anderson
    6.79"
    Columbia
    2.71"
    Charleston


    ( 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 63.3  41.2  52.2   +0.5  82    9  26   19   0  0  0 0 82% 32 310°   7   4.0       0 0 0 0  3 2400 AKQ
     BLK 61.2  42.8  52.0   +0.5  81    9  28   19   0  0  3 0                                        2400 RNK
     BRI 63.74 44.42 54.08  -0.4  81    9  26   19   0  0  2 0 65%                         0 0 0 0  0 0510/1600 LWX
     CEN 63.5  46.5  55.0   +0.5  84    9  35   19   0  0  0 0 68% 43 314°   7   1.9  315° 1 0 0 0  1 2400 LWX
     CHT 65.3  47.1  56.2   +0.6  85.9  9  35.6 20   0  0  0 0 78% 23 180°  31   0.5  360° 0 0 0 0  1 2400 LWX
     CHO 65.9  44.8  55.3         83    9  33 19,20  0  0  0 0     35 280°   7   3.9       0 0 0 0  2 2400 LWX
     DAN 69.5  47.5  58.5   +0.3  83  7,9  32   20   0  0  1 0 72% 40 100°   7   4.7       0 0 0 0  5 2400 RNK
     DCA 66.1  50.8  58.5   -0.3  85    9  39   18   0  0  0 0 67% 45 270°   7   8.4       0 0 0 0  0 2400 LWX
     IAD 66.1  46.6  56.4   +1.4  87    9  33   19   0  0  0 0 68% 45 280°   7   6.8       1 0 0 0  1 2400 LWX
     FCH 66.8  48.4  57.6         84    9  38 19,26  0  0  0 0     38        7             0 0   1  2 2400 LWX
     GAV 68.19 49.10 58.65        84    9  35   19   0  0  0 0 77% 33 203°   9             0 0 0 0  0 2400 AKQ
     HDV 64.7  46.4  55.6   -2.1  85    9  33   19   0  0  0 0 75%                         2 0 0 0  0 2400 LWX
     LDY 65.4  49.3  57.4   -1.6  82    9  36   20   0  0  0 0 65%                         0 0 0 0  0 2400 AKQ
     LYH 66.4  44.5  55.5   -0.6  83    9  30   19   0  0  2 0 73% 32 250°   7   4.6       0 0 0 0  3 2400 RNK
     NEW 65.32 42.67 53.99  -2    86    9  24   19   0  0  3 0 68% 37 270°   7  16.16 225° 0        1 1700 LWX
     NPN 70.4  51.4  60.5   -0.5  85.9  9  36.1 20   0  0  0 0     32 315°   7   3.2  315° 0 0 0 0  0 2400 AKQ
     NOR 70.7  54.0  62.4   +1.5  83   24  38   20   0  0  0 0                             0 0 0 0  0 2400 AKQ
     ORF 70.5  54.5  62.5   +1.4  85    9  38   20   0  0  0 0 74% 41 210°  24   8.8       0 0 0 0  0 2400 AKQ
     FHC 70.48 55.7  63.10  +2.0  84.7  9  42.9 20   0  0  0 0 80% 34       24   2.0  203°            2400 AKQ
     POR 69.5  54.0  61.8   +0.1  83    8  38   20   0  0  0 0 84% 30 248°   7   4.2  351° 0 0 0 0  0 2400 AKQ
     CTR 67.2  47.5  56.9   -1.4  82.0  9  33.7 20   0  0  0 0 84% 16 225°  24   0.1  202° 0 0 0 0  0 2400 AKQ
     MEC 67.48 49.90 58.94        83  9,10 37   19   0  0  0 0                             0 0 0 0  0 1700 AKQ
     RIC 68.8  49.1  59.0   +0.7  86    9  35   20   0  0  0 0 70% 39 280°   7   7.2       0 0 0 0  0 2400 AKQ
     ROA 67.0  47.5  57.3   +0.7  85    9  32   19   0  0  1 0 66% 37 320°   7   5.1       0 0 0 0  2 2400 AKQ
     WAL 67.7  51.7  59.7   +1.7  78  9,10 37 19,20  0  0  0 0     40 310°   7   8.8       0 0 0 0  0 2400 AKQ
     WOO 61.5  47.0  54.2   -2.1  80   10  34   19   0  0  0 0                             0 0 0 0  3 2400 LWX
     WSH 64.1  46.7  55.4   -0.63 85.6  9  34.3 19   0  0  0 0 79% 15 068° 7,25  0.9  225° 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 S    CWA
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     AVL 64.5  45.4  55.0  -0.2  80     9 29    19  0  0  0 0 77% 39 340° 24    6.4      1 0 0 0  5 2400 GSP
     MRH 71.9  57.3  64.6        83    10 38    20  0  0  0 0     32 360° 18    8.4      1 0 0 0  0 2400 MHX
     CLT 69.4  49.0  59.2  -2.5  85     7 30    19  0  0  1 0 74% 31 180° 24    5.4      0 0 0 0  3 2400 GSP
     ECG 73.31 54.9  64.1  +1.5  88    10 36    20  0  0  0 0 69% 62 190° 21    8.7      1 0 0 0  3 2400 AKQ
     FAY 73.1  53.0  63.0        89   7,9 37    20  0  0  0 0 71% 35 170° 24    6.7      0 0 0 0  2 2400 RAH
     GSO 67.4  49.9  58.6  +0.1  80   7,9 35    19  0  0  0 0 71% 35 220°  9    6.3      1 0 0 0  2 2400 RAH
                                                                  35 200° 24
     HSE 71.9  59.1  65.5  -0.2  83    10 43 20,21  0  0  0 0 79% 44 160° 27    8.2      0 0 0 0  0 2400 MHX
     HKY 67.0  48.2  57.6  -1.6  81     9 32    19  0  0  1 0     37 220° 24    3.4      2 0 0 0  6 2400 GSP
     LBT 73.5  52.3  62.9  +1.9  90     9 35    20  1  0  0 0 77% 37 030° 27    5.2      0 0 0 0  2 2400 ILM
     EWN 71.7  53.8  62.8  -1.3  89    10 35    30  0  0  0 0 80% 35 200° 24    6.0      0 0 0 0  5 2400 MHX
     RDU 70.1  50.5  60.3  +0.3  83   7,9 34    19  0  0  0 0 73% 35 230° 24    5.3      0 0 0 0  2 2400 RAH
     RAL 70.1  50.0  60.1  +0.1  81  3,9, 33    26  0  0  0 0     25      24             0 0 0 0  1 2400 RAH
                                    21,23
     ROX 67.7  49.5  58.7  +0.6  80  3,9, 35.0  19  0  0  0 0 77% 27 270°  7        270° 0 0 0 0  3 0400 RAH
                                       21
     ILM 73.2  55.8  64.5  -0.3  89    10 38    20  0  0  0 0 76% 30 240°  7    6.6      1 0 0 0  0 2400 ILM
                                                                  30 220° 28
    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 69.6  51.1  60.4  -0.8  82     7 33    19  0  0  0 0     31 180° 24   4.9       1 0 0 0  5 2400 GSP
     CAE 73.4  53.3  63.3  -0.4  89     9 35    19  0  0  0 0 75% 28 280° 24   4.8       1 0 0 0  4 2400 CAE
     CRE 75.1  58.3  66.7  +1.9  91    10 39    20  1  0  0 0 72% 39 210° 28   6.4       1 0 0 0  0 2400 ILM
     CHS 77.0  57.9  67.5  +1.3  90  9,10 41    20  2  0  0 0     68 210° 15   6.6       1 0 0 0  5 2400 CHS
     FLO 73.8  53.5  63.6  -0.5  89   7,9 37    20  0  0  0 0 76% 32 200° 24   6.1       0 0 0 0  3 2400 ILM
     GSP 68.1  50.1  59.1  -1.4  84     7 32    19  1  0  0 0 77% 30 250°  3   5.1       0 0 0 0  5 2400 GSP
     OGB 74.2  54.0  64.1        91     9 37    19  1  0  0 0     28 260°  7   4.5       1 0 0 0  5 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 67.0  44.2  55.6  +0.6   84     9 29   19  0  0  3 0     33 170° 23   3.4       0 0 0 0  4   2400 MRX
     DAV              46   -2.0   71    10 25   29  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  2.33  -1.06 1.74 26 1.74    26  9 1 38.74  0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0                             2400
     BLK  2.76  -0.43 1.04 27             8 1        0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0                            2400
     BRI  2.61  -0.57 1.00 27 1.40 27-28  9 1 28.98  0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0  30.30  12 29.73  24        0510/1600
     CEN  6.14  +2.52 1.84 24 1.84    24 12 3 38.30  0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0  30.36  12 29.58   7 29.97  2400
     CHT  5.47  +2.10 1.55 24 1.60 23-24 14 1 40.13  0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0  30.390 12 29.565  7 30.037 2400
     CHO  2.34        1.15 27 1.24 27-28 10 1 31.10                                    29.58   7        2400
     DAN  3.23  -0.48 1.58 27 1.73 27-28 11 1 34.72  0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0  30.32  19 29.65  24        2400
     DCA  5.71  +2.49 1.20 17 1.73 27-28 13 2 35.68  0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0            29.58   7        2400
     IAD  5.70  +2.33 1.69 24 1.73 23-24 12 2 38.70  0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0            29.58   7        2400
     FCH  4.67        1.75 16 2.17 16-17 10 1 34.92  0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0                             2400
     GAV  3.96        0.93 27 1.35 27-28 14 0 34.58  0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0  30.35  12 29.63  7, 30.03  2400
     HDV  5.81  +2.21 1.61 24            14 2 40.31  0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0  30.35  12 29.52   7        2400
     LDY  3.75  +0.78 1.26 27 1.85 27-28 10 1 27.39  0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0  30.38  12 29.62  24 30.05  2400
     LYH  3.17  -0.22 1.48 27 1.62 27-28  8 1 32.02  0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0  30.36  12 29.63  24        2400
     NEW  2.17  -0.40 1.06 28                        0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0  30.60  26 29.96 24,25      1700 
     NPN  2.83  -0.62 1.69 15 1.75 15-16  9 1 46.42  0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0  30.32  12 29.65  15        2400
     NOR  2.94  -0.66 1.38 15            10 1 54.84  0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0                             2400
     ORF  3.21  -0.26 1.62 15 1.63 15-16 10 1 47.48  0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0  30.31  12 29.63  15        2400
     FHC  2.37  -1.10 1.26 15 1.37 15-16 10 1 47.27  0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0                      30.002 2400
     POR  2.18  -1.45 1.30 15 1.31 15-16 10 1 51.01  0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0  30.29  12 29.64  15 30.009 2400
     CTR  3.51  -0.28 0.90 27 1.38 27-28 14 0 26.71  0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0  30.33  12 29.62  28 30.020 2400
     MEC  3.67        1.39 28 1.99 27-28  9 1 32.53  0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0  30.06  29 29.44  24 29.82  0700
     RIC  3.59  -0.01 0.83 28 1.25 27-28 13 0 29.07  0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0  30.37  12 29.64  24        2400
     ROA  2.69  -0.71 1.25 27 1.31 27-28  9 1 38.12  0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0  30.35  19 29.60  24        2400
     WAL  7.36  +4.49 4.50 17 4.65 17-18  9 1 42.22  0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0  30.34  12 29.63   7        2400
     WOO  3.94  +1.59         1.06   8-9 13 1 35.03  0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0  30.54  19 29.92  24        0800
     WSH  3.38  +0.21 0.82 27 1.43 27-28 15 0 36.40  0.0  0   0 0  0.0  0.0  30.40  12 29.60  28        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  5.50  +2.32 1.50 27 1.51 27-28 16 1 47.71   0.0   0 0 0  0.0  0.0  30.35  20 29.67  15         2400
     MRH  2.58        0.72 14 0.93 14-15 12 0 44.33   0.0   0 0 0  0.0  0.0  30.32  20 29.67  16         2400
     CLT  3.58  -0.08 1.32 27 1.35 27-28 15 1 36.05   0.0   0 0 0  0.0  0.0  30.35  19 29.69  24         2400
     ECG  0.32  -2.54 0.13 10 0.13  9-10  8 0 37.97   0.0   0 0 0  0.0  0.0  30.30  20 29.63  15         2400
     FAY  1.82        0.48  5 0.51 14-15 12 0 24.79                0.0                 29.81  23         2400
     GSO  3.82  -0.55 1.46 27 1.46    27 11 1 33.15   0.0   0 0 0  0.0  0.0            29.81  23         2400
     HSE  6.31  +1.00 1.37 27 2.49 26-27 16 3 45.75   0.0   0 0 0  0.0  0.0  30.30  20 29.60  15         2400
     HKY  5.15  +0.91 1.56 25 1.83 25-26 12 2 37.54   0.0   0 0 0  0.0  0.0  30.22  20 29.62  28         2400
     LBT  0.70  -2.66 0.50  5 0.50     5  7 0 23.45                          30.33  20 29.69  15         2400
     EWN  1.86  -1.53 0.54 14 0.63 14-15 13 0 38.52   0.0   0 0 0  0.0  0.0  30.33  20 29.67  15         2400
     RDU  1.10  -2.08 0.27 24 0.27    24 13 0 27.43   0.0   0 0 0  0.0  0.0            29.81  23         1900
     RAL  1.08  -2.10         0.23 11-12 13+2 36.20   0.0   0 0 0  0.0  0.0  30.30  19 29.73  29         2400
     ROX  3.00  -0.66 0.86 28 0.86    28 12 0 38.99   0.0   0 0 0  0.0  0.0  30.35  12 29.71  24   30.07 2200
     ILM  2.09  -1.12 0.70  5 0.72   4-5  9 0 45.47   0.0   0 0 0  0.0  0.0  30.33  20 29.68  16         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  6.37  +3.14 1.64 12  1.64    12 13 2 41.46  0.0  0 0 0   0.0  0.0  30.36  19 29.69  16         2400
     CAE  6.79  +3.90 2.58 12  2.58    12 10 3 41.03  0.0  0 0 0   0.0  0.0  30.35  19 29.69  16         2400
     CRE  2.93  -0.30 0.62  5  0.67 27-28 10 0 31.28                         30.33  20 29.68  16         2400
     CHS  2.71  -0.38 0.97  5  0.97     5  7 0 48.30  0.0  0 0 0   0.0  0.0            29.67  16         2400
     FLO  3.14  +0.20 1.37 12  1.37    12 10 2 29.20                         30.33  20 29.70  16         2400
     GSP  5.17  +1.29 1.58 27  1.65 27-28 12 1 39.38  0.0  0 0 0   0.0  0.0  30.34  19 29.68  15         2400
     OGB  3.43        1.57 12  1.57    12 10 1 35.16                         30.34  20 29.68  16         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  4.02  +1.72 0.88 27 0.89 26-27 18 0 38.75  0.0   0  0  0   0.0   0.0 30.39 19 29.64  24        2400
     DAV  6.6   +2.8  1.51 24            16 1 53.2   3.1  18  2  4   4.3   4.0                           0700

    Virginia:

    Arlington - From NWS WBC come these notes: " THE AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE THIS OCTOBER WAS NEAR NORMAL AT REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT (DCA). A SLOW MOVING STORM SYSTEM BROUGHT CLOUDY...WET AND VERY COOL CONDITIONS DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE FAILED TO REACH 50F ON THE 16TH AND 17TH...BREAKING THE LOW MAX TEMPERATURE RECORD FOR EACH DATE. DCA EXPERIENCED WETTER THAN NORMAL CONDITIONS THIS OCTOBER...THE FIRST MONTH WITH ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION SINCE JUNE. THIS MONTH WAS TIED FOR THE 15TH WETTEST OCTOBER ON RECORD IN WASHINGTON. ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL HAS BEEN RECORDED SIX OUT OF THE LAST EIGHT OCTOBERS. MEASURABLE RAINFALL WAS OBSERVED ON 13 DAYS THIS MONTH...TIED FOR THE MOST OFTEN DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER SINCE 1925. " [ - + ] 

    Blacksburg - " Fairly average October, average temperatures only 0.5 degrees above normal, and a precipitation departure of -0.43 inches. One interesting thing to note, however, was how small the average daily temperature swings were compared to the average. Average highs were four degrees below normal, but average lows were nearly five degrees above normal, giving an average daily temperature swing of only 18 degrees, compared to the 27 degrees we normally experience! - [ + - ] - notes from Andrew in Blacksburg

    Bridgewater - " The precipitation for the year is now 3.23 inches below normal. On October 10, 1979, several inches of snow fell in Bridgewater. There was a chance of little snow one night this October, but nothing happened. - [ - - ] - Clayton sent these additional notes

    Centreville - " A wetter month by most accounts with 2.52 inches more than the 3.62" normal added to the October water bucket this time around. Having been away for most of the month, we'll just have to rely on the numbers to tell the story. Temperatures were just slightly warmer than usual beating the monthly average by only 0.5° for an even 55.0°. The warmest it got was 84° on October 9th still a ways away from the 90° set in 1986. The coldest we managed to record for the month was 35° on the 19th; that being 20° off the record low of 15° back in 1969. The average high worked out to be 63.5°; 4.2° below our 67.7° from the handy climate book. The average low performed as usual coming in 5.2° above the 41.3° normal average monthly low. The annual average low happens to be working out to be 5.2° warmer than the established figures. Rain wise, we managed to accumulate 170% over the usual 3.62" with 6.14" being our final tally. The greatest amount to fall in a 24-hour period was 1.84" and that accounted for 30% of our monthly total. Currently we are showing an excess of 2.48" in the annual tipping bucket department. Happy punkin' chunkin'. " - [ + + ] - additional notes from Paul

    Chantilly - Russ sends these notes: October began mild and dry, then turned cold and rainy mid-month, ending mild and wetter than average. Temperatures averaged 0.6° above average. The total precipitation for the month was 5.47", which was 2.10" above average. Record daily precipitation of 1.55" occurred on the 24th. *Please note, anemometer is currently partially obstructed from the Southeast " - [ + + ]

    Dulles - from NWS Sterling (KLWX) come these notes: " THE AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE WAS SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL...MAINLY DUE TO THE LOW TEMPERATURE BEING WELL ABOVE NORMAL. A READING OF 87F ON THE 9TH TIED FOR THE SECOND WARMEST HIGH TEMPERATURE FOR THAT DAY. A SLOW MOVING STORM SYSTEM BROUGHT CLOUDY...WET AND VERY COOL CONDITIONS DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE FAILED TO REACH 50F DURING A THREE DAY-PERIOD BETWEEN OCTOBER 15-17...WHICH TIED FOR THE LONGEST STRETCH OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS NOT REACHING 50F DURING ANY OCTOBER AT DULLES SINCE 1962. DULLES HAD ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION THIS MONTH FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE JUNE 2009. IT WAS THE 8TH WETTEST OCTOBER ON RECORD. WETTER THAN NORMAL CONDITIONS HAVE OCCURRED SIX OUT OF THE LAST EIGHT OCTOBERS. AT LEAST 0.50 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION FELL ON SIX DAYS THIS MONTH...WHICH TIED FOR THE MOST OCCURRENCES OF HALF INCH OR HIGHER RAINFALL EVENTS FOR ANY OCTOBER SINCE 1976. RAINFALL OF 1.69 INCHES ON THE 24TH SET A DAILY RECORD FOR THE DATE AT DULLES. " - [ + + ]

    Falls Church - Erica sends these notes: " A cooler than average month with near normal rainfall. A storm system on the 26th brought over an inch of rain. " - [ - +/- ]

    Glen Allen - Lowell Koontz sends these additional notes: " October was warmer and wetter than average as the monthly mean temperature was 58.7°F, a +1.4° F departure, and was also above average in precipitation (when compared to Ashland, Virginia records). The 3.96 inches of precipitation for October was a + 0.53 inch departure when compared to the Ashland, VA average. The maximum precipitation recorded in a day was 0.93 inches on the 27th. No thunder was heard during October and measurable precipitation occurred on fourteen days. The Glen Allen - Springfield Park mean temperature was + 0.9°F higher than October of 2008. The maximum temperature for October was 84°F on the 9th and the lowest minimum was 35°F recorded on the 19th. There was a very light frost but it did not kill sensitive plants. October had some very low maximum temperature readings during the month. The 15th Glen Allen - Springfield Park's maximum temperature was 52°F the coolest day since April 15, 2009 when it was 50°F. The Richmond International Airport maximum was 54 øF which is the new 112 year record low maximum temperature for October 15th. The old record was 56°F set in 1939 and 1937. The 16th Glen Allen's maximum temperature was 47 øF. It was the coolest day here since March 15, 2009 when it was 46°F. The Richmond International Airport maximum was 49°F which is the new 112 year record low maximum temperature for October 16th The old record low maximum for the 16th was 54°F set in 1940. The 17th Glen Allen's maximum temperature was 48°F. The Richmond International Airport maximum was 48°F which is the new 112 year record low maximum temperature for October 17th. The old record low maximum for the 17th was 51°F set in 1976. I can't recall a period where three 112 year record low maximum records were broken consecutively. This was the result of five consecutive days of rain and a cool NE flow around a high pressure to the north. October was also cloudier than average but the cool days were countered by cloudy and warmer nights. The highest barometer recorded for the month was only 30.35 inches on the 12th and the lowest reading for October was 29.63 inches on the 7th & 24th. The highest wind was 33 mph from the SW on the 9th ahead of a cold front. " - [ + + ] 

    Herndon - Randy sends these notes: " October was below normal for temperature and above normal for precipitation. The temperatures ranged between a high of 85 and a low of 33. The average high and low were both about 3 and 1 degree below normal, respectively. On the precipitation side, the month was relatively dry for the first half of the month, then the patterns changed and we got very wet. There were three storm periods during the second half of the month. The first was over the area from the 14th through 18th and brought 2.52" of rain, the second occurred on the 23rd/24th and produced 1.64" with scattered thunderstorms, the third occurred on the 27th/28th and added another 1.49" of rain. Another storm system started on the 31st, but most of the rain fell on Nov 1. We ended up with 5.81" for the month which was 2.21" above normal. The rainfall for the year is now about 1.0" above normal. We have still not received our first frost and snowflakes; although they have been nearby. " - [ - + ]

    Ladysmith - Danny adds: " October brought below normal temperatures for the 8th month this year and the 6th month in a row. 3 of the last 5 months have now featured above normal precipitation. Year-to-date precipitation is still 7.15" below normal. " - [ - + ]

    Portsmouth - " October was a slightly milder and drier month relative to normal Octobers for the period from 1976 to 2008. The 2.18" of rain was 1.45" BELOW normal rainfall (60% of normal). The month's average temp was 0.1° ABOVE normal. STATION RECORDS: 15th - RAINFALL 1.30" [previous 0.73" in 1995]; 15th - TEMPERATURE TIED Minimum Maximum 62° [previous 1978]; 16th - TEMPERATURE Minimum Maximum 58° [previous 60° 1997]; 17th - TEMPERATURE Minimum Maximum 50° [previous 54° 1991]; 18th - TEMPERATURE Minimum Maximum 50° [previous 57° 1976]; 19TH - TEMPERATURE Minimum Maximum 56° [previous 57° 1992]. At month's end, rainfall for the year totaled 51.01", which was 122% of normal through the end of October, or 9.32" ABOVE normal. " - [ + - ] 

    North Carolina:

    Greensboro - A RECORD LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 53 WAS TIED ON OCTOBER 15TH. THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS SET IN 2002. - A RECORD RAINFALL OF 1.46 INCHES WAS TIED ON OCTOBER 28TH. THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS SET IN 1995 " - [ + - ]

    Raleigh - Bob reports: " October was a gloomy period with seven days of overcast skies (cold air damming); however rainfall was below normal with only 1.08" was measured ( 2.10" below normal). The average daily temperature was slightly above normal (+0.1 degrees). No severe weather was observed during October. " - [ + - ]

    Raleigh - NWS Raleigh (RAH) reports: " Word from NWS RAH... the North Carolina Weather Reviews have been discontinued. " - [ + - ]

    Nearby Cities:

    Davis, WV - from Dave Lesher's website: " October ended with a mean temperature that was 2° BELOW NORMAL and with ABOVE NORMAL rainfall (+2.8") Swowfall forthe month was 4.0" which was 2" above normal. Year-to-date rainfall of 53.2" was 5.8" ABOVE normal. " - [ - + ]



    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


    For ACON VA/NC/SC Recent Weather News, Search GOOGLE at 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
      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
    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