Friday, November 24, 1995: MONTHLY SUMMARY FOR OCTOBER, 1995: Greetings from Southeastern Virginia! I hope each of you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday. Shocker, eh? Yes, the format of the ACON-VA/NC/SC regional report has changed considerably. Quite honestly, I think it's easier to read!! It is definitely easier to prepare!!! It's all due to placement of your data on the Internet, and I'm hoping other ACON coordinators- from Maine to DC- will be doing so in the future. Truly, everyone worldwide will be able to access our data. In the past only selected recipients- each of us and the NWS- would receive our report. Now, with the suite of World Wide Web services, anyone with a computer can view, download, print the data. In addition, I'll be able to post the data as I receive it from you. That is, virtually everyday for the first two weeks of the month I can easily update the previous monthly report on a daily basis or as the reports come filtering in. So, if you have- and several of you do- a computer and know how to access the information superhighway, then you can review the data as often as you wish! Here's how to view the ACON-VA/NC/SC Monthly Report: 1) using Netscape (or similar browser) open this URL location: http://www.infi.net/~bsmoot (And don't forget the tilde!) Locate the ACON section, click on "look at the monthly report." 2) using a text browser (such as Lynx) "go to" the same address above. Then, tab to the ACON section of the opening page and press "enter." Either method will allow you to view, download, and print our monthly report!!! Too, using either method will allow you to view, download, save, and print the pictures and articles often included in our monthly report. Regardless of the computer abilities, you'll still receive your usual monthly mailing!! However, to avoid future postage, some of you might just wish to get your monthly report online and tell me to discontinue your mailing!! No problem with that! As a matter-of-fact, I think I'll send the monthly report later today via e-mail to those addresses I have for some of you!! The Internet address above (PWRS) is already linked to many other weather servers worldwide- including the IWW (International Weather Watchers) and Weather Net- and is also cross-referenced in search "engines" such as Yahoo and Lycos. The number of people- including the NWS as they're online- who will be viewing your monthly data knows no bounds!!! In time, many or all of us may want to list our address- regular mail or e-mail- for correspondence from people worldwide who want to know more about your station and data. Geez, since I established the PWRS home page, I've received mail from people all over the United States inquiring about my weather station, services, data and just saying hello since some are former Virginians! One writer used the opportunity to reminisce when he found I was from Portsmouth, his home. You can see the possibilities!! So, those of you who have e-mail addresses, send me a note granting me permission to post your e-mail address with the monthly reports. You just might unexpectedly hear from someone you've missed for years! Furthermore, Matt Michaelson and Robert Keehn... you've been sending me your monthly reports via e-mail. I'll post those directly to the ACON online directory as soon as possible!! So, keep sending them just as you have been. Hope you all like this!! By-the-way, we missed you at the computer workshop! Bill --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTES FROM "AROUND THE LEAGUE": Arlington - After setting the longest dry weather streak in DCA history just last month, a daily rainfall record was set October 14th with 3.36" Bridgewater - The first frost occurred, according to Clayton Towers, on the morning of the 17th. Nearly 4" of rain occurred on the 20th and 21st with most of the rain falling in a 2-3 hour period resulting in some flooding of basements. The storm was the biggest single rain producer in this area for the past 5-10 years and was associated with a passing cold front, rather unusual for this time of year. Centreville - Over twice our normal monthly average of precip reports Paul Bassett. Charlottesville- The John Stewarts are back at home from Randolph, NH! Here in CHO, 2.23" of rain fell on the 20th and 21st. The Stewarts won't be leaving again (for long periods) until May 21st and John will be fine-tuning his record keeping skills! (although I believe he keeps in tune with the Maine ACON group!) Falls Church - Lowell Koontz informs us that October '95 was the wettest on record at his station (since 1979) and 3rd wettest at DCA! Fredericksburg - According to Matt Michaelson, a severe thunderstorm on the 27th produced a confirmed tornado- with winds of 100-115 mph- near the town of Partlow, approximately 17 miles SSW of his station. Severe thunderstorms also occurred at Matt's station on the 14th and 21st. On the 14th, Matt noted, "This observer cannot recall ever witnessing such tremendously heavy rain." He refers to the 3-5 feet visibility at the time! Fredericksburg - Ken McKneely writes: "Very active month as system after system moved across the country. Following the dry summer, I had one of my rainiest months ever- over 2 1/2 times the October average. There were 5 different days on which more than 1 inch of rain fell. Temperatures averaged about 3 degrees above normal." Hampton - Dave Kessel- who attended the computer workshop- reported above normal temps and much needed rainfall. Two weekends of severe weather watches were noteworthy, as well as 2.83" of rainfall on the 21st. Herndon - Robert Beall noted 4 significant precip events nearly wiped-out the accumulated July through September deficiency. Newport News - On October 21st, an intense early morning rain and windstorm was recorded with 3.5" of rain from 4:15 until 5:40 AM. The peak wind gust was 47 MPH at 5:14 AM and 10 or 12 lightning flashes were observed, but oddly thunder was only heard twice. (report from Gary Leonard) Portsmouth- Two new precip records here: the first was a new daily rainfall record on the 21st with 3.50" ; the second was a new station monthly rainfall record for October of 8.08" (since 1976). Mechanicsville - Moisture from Opal's remnants streamed north on the 4th and on the 5th downpours were noted as it moved west of here up the Appalachian Mountains. On the 14th, t-storms around 8:30 PM with downpors, repeated on the 21st and 27th. Thanks Glen Martin for the reports! Richmond - Here's an excerpt (for our Internet post) from a NWS Sterling local storm report sent in by Roy Britt. [I'll photocopy (sorry for poor quality) entire report for mailings.] ...TORNADO DAMAGE SURVERY CONDUCTED IN SPOTTSYLVANIA COUNTY... A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTRY FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 27 JUST NORTH OF THE NORTH ANNA RIVER NEAR THE CAROLINE COUNTY LINE. THE TORNADO CROSSED LOG CABIN ROAD (ROUTE 662) CAUSING SOME TREE DAMAGE. IT MOVED NORTH-NORTHEAST (PARALLE TO THE COUNTY LINE) AND STRUCK THE WILDLIFE RUN SUBDIVISION. HERE ONE HOUSE WAS MOVED OFF ITS FOUNDATION AND FOUR OTHERS RECEIVED SOME DAMAGE. A CAR WAS MOVED 30 FEET...A CAMPER TRAILER WAS FLIPPED...AND ABOUT FIVE SHEDS WERE DESTROYED. A LARGE TRAILER (OR UNOCCUPIED MOBILE HOME) WAS PUSHED 50 FEET TO THE LEFT WHERE THE TRAILER DISINTEGRATED AND THE AXLE WAS BENT AROUND THE BASE OF A TREE. SEVERAL PROJECTILES WERE GENERATED FROM THE DESTROYED SHEDS. ONE 2X6 BLEW THROUGH THE BACK WINDOW OF A MINIVAN. ANOTHER WENT THROUGH A HOUSE SHUTTER...FRAMING AND WALLBOARD INTO THE INSIDE LOWER LEVEL OF THE HOUSE. TOTAL PATH LENGTH WAS ABOUT 3 MILES WITH VERY STRONG EVIDENCE OF CONVERGENCE AND A CIRCULAR MOTION IN THE PATTERN OF THE DEBRIS. BASED ON THE DAMAGE ASSESSED... PEAK WINDS ARE ESTIMATED BETWEEN 100 AND 115 MPH GIVING IT A HIGH F1 RATING ON THE FUJITA TORNADO DAMAGE SCALE. Roanoke - Wendell Prillaman noted above average rainfall and temps for October 1995. Wakefield -I spoke with Fay Crossley, manager of data acquisition for NWS AKQ, and he's informed me that Wakefield will be sending us monthly data beginning January 1996! Welcome AKQ!! Weems - Note Francis Socey's November "WEATHER VIEW" (Mr. Socey!! Let those newspaper people know the correct spelling of meteorologist [see banner]!!!) Brevard - Opal left 7.84" of rain on the 4th and 5th, 73% of the month's total. (from Bob Keehn) Henderson - According to G. Stevenson, Jr., a F1 tornado hit the west section of Henderson on the 27th. Worst we've ever seen here doing some 2 million dollars damage with downed trees and damaged buildings and houses. Raleigh - Bob Woodson reports 9.38" fell in October raising the yearly total to 9.73" above normal. Thanks for the Hatteras Island article Bob. Will try to send it to all. Raleigh - NWS RDU established a new October monthly record rainfall with 9.10" However, they report it was the 3rd wettest October based on records which predate RDU. Roxboro - (Drove by here Merriell on my way FSU/UNC game 11/18 in Chapel Hill!) Merriell A. Jay noted excess rain, almost 3 times the normal with temps averaging above normal. Except for 4 frosty days, October seemed a little like spring. On the 20th, a front passed producing heavy rains and windy conditions with minor flooding in the area causing some road closings and minor property damage. On the 28th, a strong cold front passed with two tornado sightings. One tornado (5 miles north of this station) caused extensive damage in the Bowmantown area. Wilmington - The NWS reported the 3rd wettest October on record. Ruby - Franklin Hancock reported, "We had much rain on the 4th. Over 6 inches fell in less than 3 hours causing some flooding."