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

SUMMARY OF CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA 


SEPTEMBER 2010


...A WARM DRY MONTH EARLY IS TEMPERED BY
RECORD RAINS AND COOLER TEMPS DURING THE FINAL WEEK...

My goodness! Through three weeks of continuing very warm temps and dry weather, September 2010 looked like one for the record books and heat at month's end. Indeed, many stations reported many new daily temperature records. And many areas of our region, particularly in the central portions of the three states, continued to endure the summer's lack of rainfall.

In the final week of the month, a series of tropical events occurred resulting in torrential rains along the coastal plains from Wilmington, North Carolina northward to coastal Virginia. The much needed rainfall fell throughout much of North Carolina and Virginia, with South Carolina failing to benefit from the abundant tropical moisture which covered the region. In retrospect, the remnants of a tropical storm moved into the Gulf States, then across the lower Southeast, bringing abundant moisture to the region. This was followed by series of surface lows which provided significant energy that triggered thunderstorms across the same area. Finally, and most significantly, the remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole were advected on upper winds northward along the coastal plains from southeastern North Carolina to portions of New England and ahead of a slow-moving cold front. Moisture was so abundant that most of the region enjoyed benefits. Tragically, 5 people in North Carolina died as their auto hydroplaned while travelling home from Atlanta. Flooding was common throughout much of the coastal plain with prolonged, heavy rainfall resulting from the combination of weather events during the last week of the month. New daily and all-time rainfall records were established throughout the area during the final week of the month, many noted in your station comments below.

  • AERIAL PHOTOS OF LAKE CHESDIN    Member Albert Arnold (Chesterfield) forwards these photos of the Lake Chesdin, Virginia area near Richmond. Photos give clear evidence of the many areas of Virginia fell into deep rainfall deficiencies in September prompting local officials to issue mandatory restrictions. View the photos from WTVY in Richmond with a click here.


  • 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 - SEPTEMBER 2010
    State
    Maximum Temperature
    Minimum
    Temperature
    Warmest
    Average
    Temperature
    Coldest
    Average
    Temperature
    Maximum
    Precipitation
    Minimum
    Precipitation
    Virginia
    99°
    Arlington
    44°
    Blacksburg
    75.9°
    Norfolk (FHC)
    65.6°
    Blacksburg
    15.28"
    Portsmouth
    3.27"
    Woodstock
    North Carolina
    101°
    Fayetteville
    56.9°
    Asheville
    77.4°
    Fayetteville
    68.5°
    Asheville
    22.72"
    Wilmington
    2.72"
    Hickory
    South Carolina
    98°
    Columbia
    Florence
    54°
    Anderson
    78.9°
    Columbia
    75.1°
    Greenville-Spartanburg
    8.97"
    North Myrtle Beach
    1.94"
    Columbia


    ( 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 78.8  52.4  65.6   +2.6  89 1,23  44    5   0  0  0 0 75% 28 330°  30             1 0 0 0  1 2400 AKQ
         BRI 81.0  55.98 68.45  +2.33 92    2  45   11   6  0  0 0 55%                         0 0 0 0  0 0510/1600 LWX
         CEN 81.2  60.2  70.7   +4.2  94   24  49   21   6  0  0 0 62% 25 311°   9   1.7  320° 3 0 0 0  1 2400 LWX
         CHT 82.8  60.1  71.5   +3.7  96.8 24  48.8 21   8  0  0 0 69% 22 200°  30   0.4  360° 1 0 0 0  1 2400 LWX
         CHO 86.1  58.1  72.1         98    1  48   11  12  0  0 0     31 130°  30   3.8       1 0 0 0  0 2400 LWX
         DAN 86.4  60.0  73.2   +2.8  96   23  50 5,10  14  0  0 0 66% 36 330°  22   4.3       1 0 0 0  1 2400 RNK
         DCA 85.4  65.6  75.5   +5.0  99   24  56   21  10  0  0 0 57% 40 170°  30   8.4       0 0 0 0  0 2400 LWX
         IAD 83.8  58.8  71.3   +4.0  97   24  46   21   9  0  0 0   % 35 280°   8   6.6       3 0 0 0  1 2400 LWX
                                                                       35 150°  30
         GAV 86.00 62.67 74.33        97   23  52   11  10  0  0 0 64% 28 230°  16             0 0 0 0  1 2400 AKQ
         HDV 83.0  58.7  70.9   +1.7  96   24  47   21   8  0  0 0 66%                         2 0 0 0  1 2400 LWX
         LYH 83.0  56.3  69.7   +2.6  92 3,22  47    5   7  0  0 0 68% 39 200°  16   3.9       1 0 0 0  2 2400 RNK
         NPN 84.2  63.4  73.4   +1.6  96.6  1  51.9 21   8  0  0 0     31 290°  17   3.2  230° 0 0 0 0  0 2400 AKQ
         NOR 82.5  65.0  73.7   +1.9  93  1,24 55   21   8  0  0 0                             1 0 0 0  0 2400 AKQ
         ORF 83.2  67.1  75.1   +3.0  96   24  60 19,21  6  0  0 0 69% 54 210°  30   8.7       3 0 0 0  1 2400 AKQ
         FHC 83.89 67.91 75.90  +3.8  94.9  1  60.1 21   9  0  0 0 76% 31    °  30   2.0  200° 4 0 0 0  0 2400 AKQ
         POR 82.8  64.1  73.5   +1.0  93 1,24  54.9 21   6  0  0 0 76% 34 360°  30   3.5  080° 3 0 0 0  0 2400 AKQ
         CTR 85.2  59.9  72.6   +1.8  96.6 23  48.5 11  10  0  0 0 73% 19 140°  30   0.1  143° 0 0 0 0  0 2400 AKQ
         MEC 87.0  62.0  74.5         90 23,24 51   11   9  0  0 0                             0 0 0 0  0 1700 AKQ
         RIC 86.6  62.5  74.6   +4.8  97  1,23 53    5  11  0  0 0 61% 38 180°  30   7.4       0 0 0 0  0 2400 AKQ
         ROA 83.3  59.1  71.2   +3.5  94   22  51 5,29  10  0  0 0 62% 58 290°  22   5.4       1 0 0 0  1 2400 AKQ
         WAL 80.0  63.9  72.0   +3.5  92    1  54 10,21  2  0  0 0     39 150°  30   8.7       0 0 0 0  0 2400 AKQ
         WOO 81.2  60.3  70.8   +2.8  94  2,3  52 18,29  8  0  0 0                             0 0 0 0  2 2400 LWX
         WSH 81.4  58.9  70.1   +3.55 94.7 24  50.8 21   7  0  0 0 72% 22 250°  30   0.4  230° 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 80.1  56.9  68.5  +2.8  88     3 49   5,6  0  0  0 0 71% 32 330°  4    4.2      5 0 0 0  3 2400 GSP
         MRH 83.6  68.8  76.2        90     3 62 14,19  1  0  0 0     56 140° 30    8.5      5 0 0 0  0 2400 MHX
         CLT 87.8  63.0  75.4  +2.7  97     3 55  5,14 18  0  0 0 61% 31 010° 30    5.4      2 0 0 0  1 2400 GSP
         ECG 83.2  64.0  73.6  +0.3  91    23 52    21  4  0  0 0 75% 44 180° 30    8.2      3 0 0 0  2 2400 AKQ
         FAY 89.4  65.5  77.4       101     3 57     5 18  0  0 0 64% 41 240° 26    6.4      2 0 0 0  2 2400 RAH
         GSO 85.7  63.4  74.5  +4.7  95  3,23 56     5 12  0  0 0 60% 33 220° 16    6.2      2 0 0 0  1 2400 RAH
         HSE 82.4  69.3  75.9  +1.1  89     1 61 11,13  0  0  0 0 78% 66 330°  3    9.6      0 0 0 0  1 2400 MHX
         HKY 84.5  61.6  73.1  +3.2  93     3 52     5 10  0  0 0     30 190° 16    3.7      2 0 0 0  2 2400 GSP
         LBT 89.8  64.7  77.2  +5.1  99     3 55     5 21  0  0 0 67% 37 150° 30    4.8      3 0 0 0  4 2400 ILM
         MON 88.0  61.2  74.6  +3.1  96.4   3 50.7   5 14  0  0 0 73% 19 230° 16    1.0 250° 0 0 0 0  0 2400 RAH
         EWN 85.2  64.7  75.0  +0.6  92   3,8 58     5  5  0  0 0 72% 38 200° 30    5.2      1 0 0 0  7 2400 MHX
         RDU 89.4  65.1  77.3  +6.1  99  2,23 54     5 16  0  0 0 60% 33 250° 16    5.8      0 0 0 0  1 2400 RAH
         RAL 87.2  61.3  74.3  +2.8  98    23 52     5 14  0  0 0     21      16             0 0 0 0  0 2400 RAH
         ROX 86.3  62.3  74.6  +6.0  97    23 51  5,10 13  0  0 0 64% 28 180° 16        180° 1 0 0 0  0 2200 RAH
         ILM 87.4  66.8  77.1  +2.0  97     3 61 14,20 10  0  0 0 68% 46 160° 30    6.3      3 0 0 0  2 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 S    CWA
         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         AND 88.4  63.5  75.9  +3.7  95    20 54 14,28 18  0  0 0     38 220° 27   4.0       3 0 0 0  1 2400 GSP
         CAE 91.3  66.6  78.9  +4.2  98 20,21 57    14 24  0  0 0 63% 26 040° 12   4.1       0 0 0 0  1 2400 CAE
         CRE 86.5  69.6  78.0  +3.8  95     3 64 14,20  7  0  0 0 74% 41 160° 30   6.6       6 0 0 0  1 2400 ILM
         CHS 88.2  69.3  78.8  +2.7  94  3,20 63  4,15 14  0  0 0     36 200° 26   5.4       5 0 0 0  1 2400 CHS
         FLO 89.8  65.8  77.8  +3.1  98     3 57    14 22  0  0 0 67% 31 010° 30   5.4       1 0 0 0  1 2400 ILM
         GSP 86.5  63.7  75.1  +3.7  91 20,25 57 27,28 14  0  0 0 71% 35 260° 27   4.6       3 0 0 0  1 2400 GSP
         OGB 88.9  65.7  77.3        97    20 58    28 21  0  0 0     32 130° 21   3.3       5 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 91.6  56.8  69.2  +2.6   92     2 47    5  3  0  0 0     32 310°  3   2.4       4 0 0 0  4   2400 MRX
         DAV              60   +2     84     3 40  5,6, 0  0  0 0                                         0700 PBZ
                                                 10,29

    (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  3.59  +0.20  1.20 26  1.20    26  8 1 30.88                0.0                                  2400
         BRI  4.93  +1.12  3.23 30  3.25 29-30  6 1 25.90                0.0       30.21  21 29.61  28        0510/1600
         CEN  6.56  +3.09  5.20 30  5.38 29-30  7 1 34.54                0.0       30.29  18 29.55  30 29.92  2400
         CHT  6.12  +2.30  4.48 30  4.48    30  9 1 35.89                0.0       30.258 18 29.467 30 29.965 2400
         CHO  5.49         2.88 30  2.94 29-30  7 1 27.94                0.0       30.25  18 29.44  30        2400
         DAN  6.44  +2.36  2.22 30  3.41 29-30  8 4 34.30                0.0       30.23   7 29.44  30        2400
         DCA  6.02  +2.23  4.66 30  4.70 29-30  7 1 33.40                0.0                 29.51  30        2400
         IAD  6.16  +2.34  4.74 30  4.90 29-30  8 1 32.78                0.0                 29.51  30        2400
         GAV  5.11         3.39 30  3.39    30  6 2 32.86                0.0       30.23  18 29.50  30 29.97  2400
         HDV  6.45  +1.56  4.76 30              8 1 36.96                0.0       30.22  18 29.43  30        2400
         LYH  6.83  +2.95  2.89 30  3.90 29-30  8 3 41.96                0.0       30.25  21 29.48  30        2400
         NPN 14.07  +8.66  8.55 30  8.55    30  8 3 42.42                0.0       30.25   7 29.48  30        2400
         NOR 14.58  +9.46 10.28 30              7 2 48.87                0.0                                  2400
         ORF 12.16  +8.10  7.85 30  7.85    30  7 2 44.98                0.0       30.27   7 29.46  30        2400
         FHC 14.83  +9.71 10.25 30 10.25    30  7 3 47.83                0.0       30.248  7 29.489 30 29.973 2400
         POR 15.28 +10.09  9.10 30  9.10    30  7 3 49.09                0.0       30.26   7 29.50  30 29.980 2400
         CTR  4.88  +1.46  2.10 30  2.36 29-30  6 2 35.58                0.0       30.22  21 29.47  30 29.952 2400
         MEC  5.37         4.07 30  4.07    30  6 1 32.48                0.0       29.94  6, 29.38  30 29.75  2400
                                                                                       18,21
         RIC  6.49  +2.51  3.69 30  4.69 29-30  8 2 29.22                0.0       30.26  21 29.49  30        2400
         ROA  6.92  +3.07  2.44 30  2.70 29-30  9 3 36.27                0.0       30.26  18 29.53  30        2400
         WAL  3.66  +0.16  2.23 27  2.50 26-27  7 1 31.23                0.0       30.24  21 29.46  30        2400
         WOO  3.27  -0.48           1.53 29-30  5 1 24.36                0.0       30.52  18 29.95  28        0800
         WSH  6.45  +0.59  3.54 30  3.54    30  8 2 33.57                0.0       30.28  18 29.50  30        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  4.15  -0.43  1.11 26  1.65 26-26  8 1 34.57                 0.0       30.29  23 29.58  30         2400
         MRH 17.57         4.79 30  5.63 29-30  9 4 49.86                 0.0       30.25  23 29.45  30         2400
         CLT  4.18  +0.35  1.86 26  2.27 26-27  6 2 32.08                 0.0       30.24  23 29.49  30         2400
         ECG 11.89  +6.82  5.86 30  6.08 29-30  8 4 37.44                 0.0       30.26   7 29.46  30         2400
         FAY  8.72         3.35 26  5.12 26-27  6 3 34.67                 0.0                 29.46  30         2400
         GSO  6.74  +2.44  3.32 30  4.77 29-30  8 3 37.08                 0.0                 29.46  30         2400
         HSE 11.83  +6.15  2.36 28  4.52   2-3  8 5 50.01                 0.0       30.26   7 29.26   3         2400
         HKY  2.72  -1.52  1.20 26  1.55 26-27  8 1 33.30                 0.0       30.22  23 29.50  30         2400
         LBT  8.83  +4.22  2.53 27  4.45 26-27  8 3 32.67                 0.0       30.24  23 29.37  30         2400
         MON  6.05  +1.58  1.47 29  2.89 29-30  4 4 37.80                 0.0       30.251  4 29.418 30  29.835 2400
         EWN 16.81 +11.36  8.93 30  9.72 29-30 10 3 48.18                 0.0       30.27   7 29.47  30         2400
         RDU  6.66  +2.40  2.25 26  3.20 29-30  7 3 30.81                 0.0                 29.46  30         2400
         RAL  7.13  +3.42           2.20 26-27  7 3 37.86                 0.0       30.32  12 29.44  30         0730
         ROX  6.00  +2.51  2.66 30  2.66    30 18 2 33.44                 0.0       30.31   7 29.48  30  30.05  2200
         ILM 22.72 +15.93 10.33 27 11.63 27-28  9 4 53.04                 0.0       30.25  23 29.44  30         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  2.87  -1.32 1.66 26  1.78 26-27  5 1 32.43               0.0       30.24  23 29.55  30         2400
         CAE  1.94  -2.00 0.94 26  1.55 26-27  3 0 30.84               0.0       30.25  23 29.50  30         2400
         CRE  8.97  +3.39 2.72 27  3.86 29-30  7 3 36.66               0.0       30.25  23 29.43  30         2400
         CHS  8.12  +2.14 2.95 27  4.57 26-27  9 3 55.81               0.0       30.25  23 29.45  30         2400
         FLO  8.18  +4.51 3.07 29  4.60 29-30  6 4 33.63               0.0       30.24  23 29.37  30         2400
         GSP  2.27  -1.70 1.34 26  1.39 26-27  6 1 33.88               0.0       30.23  23 29.53  30         2400
         OGB  2.80        0.98 27  1.80 26-27  5 0 29.52               0.0       30.25  23 29.50  30         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  4.04  +0.96 1.00 26 1.00    26 12 1 27.66                  0.0       30.27 23 29.62  30        2400
         DAV  3.6   -0.8  1.35 17            10 1 39.4                   0.0                                 0700    

    Virginia:

    Arlington - " TEMPERATURES THIS SEPTEMBER WERE ABOVE NORMAL...MAKING IT THE SEVENTH STRAIGHT MONTH OF ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES. THE MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 75.5F WAS THE FOURTH WARMEST SEPTEMBER ON RECORD. THE TEMPERATURE REACHED OR EXCEEDED 90F TEN DAYS THIS MONTH...THE MOST DURING SEPTEMBER SINCE 1998. WASHINGTON DC HAS RECORDED 67 90F OR HIGHER DAYS SO FAR THIS YEAR...TYING THE RECORD SET BACK IN 1980 FOR THE MOST NUMBER OF 90 DEGREE OR WARMER DAYS IN A CALENDER YEAR. A HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 99F ON SEPTEMBER 24 2010 BROKE THE OLD DAILY HIGH TEMPERATURE RECORD OF 94F SET IN 1970. THE 99F HIGH TEMPERATURE MARKS THE LATEST TIME IN A CALENDAR YEAR THAT WASHINGTON DC HAS REACHED 99F OR HIGHER. THE PREVIOUS LATEST OCCURRENCE OF 99F OR HIGHER WAS SEPTEMBER 8TH IN 1939...WHEN IT REACHED 100F. IT WAS ALSO THE WARMEST TEMPERATURE ON RECORD FOR WASHINGTON DC DURING ASTRONOMICAL FALL. THE PREVIOUS WARMEST TEMPERATURE DURING ASTRONOMICAL FALL WAS 98F ON SEPTEMBER 23 1895. A DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 74F WAS SET ON SEPTEMBER 25TH...BREAKING THE OLD RECORD OF 73F IN 1930 AND 1970. DESPITE MOST OF SEPTEMBER BEING A DRY MONTH WITH MEASURABLE RAINFALL ONLY OCCURRING ON THREE OF THE FIRST 25 DAYS OF THE MONTH...A WET END OF THE MONTH YIELDED PRECIPITATION TOTALS WELL ABOVE NORMAL FOR THE MONTH. SEPTEMBER 2010 WAS ONLY THE SECOND MONTH SINCE MARCH WITH ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION...AND THE WETTEST MONTH SINCE DECEMBER 2009 WHEN 6.79 INCHES WAS RECORDED. MOST OF THE PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH FELL ON THE LAST DAY...WHEN A DAILY RECORD RAINFALL OF 4.66 INCHES WAS SET. THE SEPTEMBER 30 2010 RAINFALL WAS THE THIRD HIGHEST DAILY RAINFALL EVER RECORDED AT WASHINGTON DC IN SEPTEMBER...BEHIND THE 4.76 INCHES ON SEPTEMBER 16 1976 AND 5.16 INCHES ON SEPTEMBER 2 1922. " - [ + + ] - Notes from NWS Sterling, VA

    Bridgewater - " The temperature for the month was 2.33 degrees above normal, while the precipitation was 1.12 inches above normal. Precipitation for the year is now 25.90 inches, which is 3.13 inches below normal. The first 24 days of the month produced only .25 inches of rainfall while the last 6 days Measured 4.68 inches. I was ready to search my records for an extremely dry September when the big rains came. It was unusual for two big rain- storms to occur in a span of six days. " - [ + + ] - additional notes from Clayton

    Chantilly - Russ reports: " Our record setting spring and summer heat continued into September. September temperatures averaged 3.7° above normal and precipitation was 2.30" above normal. After enduring drought conditions for weeks, rainfall of 4.48" on the 30th was the 2nd highest daily rainfall total ever recorded at this station. A record high temperature occurred on the 24th (96.8°) and was tied on the 22nd (93.9°), 23rd (92.8°) and 25th (91.8°). Record daily rainfall occurred on the 30th (4.48"). Thunderstorms occurred on the 12th. Dense fog occurred on the 13th. " - [ + + ]

    Dulles - from NWS Sterling (KLWX): " TEMPERATURES THIS SEPTEMBER WERE ABOVE NORMAL...MAKING IT THE SEVENTH STRAIGHT MONTH OF ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES. THE MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 71.3F WAS THE THIRD WARMEST SEPTEMBER ON RECORD. EVERY MONTH SINCE MARCH 2010...WITH THE EXCEPTION OF AUGUST 2010...HAS RANKED IN THE TOP-THREE WARMEST OF ALL-TIME AT DULLES. THE TEMPERATURE REACHED OR EXCEEDED 90F NINE DAYS THIS MONTH. WITH THOSE NINE DAYS...A NEW RECORD HAS BEEN SET AT DULLES FOR THE MOST NUMBER OF 90F OR HIGHER DAYS IN A CALENDAR YEAR WITH 58 DAYS SO FAR THIS YEAR. THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 55 DAYS SET BACK IN 1980. A TOTAL OF FIVE DAILY RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES WERE EITHER BROKEN OR TIED. TWO NEW RECORDS WERE SET ON THE 24TH AND 25TH WHILE THREE WERE TIED ON THE 8TH...22ND AND 23RD. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 97F ON SEPTEMBER 24TH MARKS THE LATEST TIME IN A CALENDAR YEAR THAT DULLES HAS REACHED OR EXCEEDED 97F. THE PREVIOUS LATEST OCCURRENCE OF 97F OR HIGHER WAS SEPTEMBER 17TH IN 1991...WHEN IT ALSO REACHED 97F. IT WAS ALSO THE WARMEST TEMPERATURE ON RECORD FOR DULLES DURING ASTRONOMICAL FALL. THE PREVIOUS WARMEST TEMPERATURE DURING ASTRONOMICAL FALL WAS 96F ON SEPTEMBER 27 1998. A RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 68F WAS SET ON SEPTEMBER 25TH...BREAKING THE OLD RECORD OF 66F IN 1984 AND 2005. DESPITE MOST OF SEPTEMBER BEING A DRY MONTH WITH MEASURABLE RAINFALL ONLY OCCURRING ON THREE OF THE FIRST 25 DAYS OF THE MONTH...A WET END OF THE MONTH YIELDED PRECIPITATION TOTALS WELL ABOVE NORMAL FOR THE MONTH. SEPTEMBER 2010 WAS THE WETTEST MONTH SINCE JUNE 2009 WHEN 6.69 INCHES WAS RECORDED. MOST OF THE PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH WAS RECORDED ON THE LAST DAY...WHEN A DAILY RECORD RAINFALL OF 4.74 INCHES WAS SET. THE SEPTEMBER 30 2010 RAINFALL WAS THE THIRD HIGHEST DAILY RAINFALL TOTAL EVER RECORDED AT WASHINGTON DULLES IN SEPTEMBER...BEHIND THE 5.11 INCHES ON SEPTEMBER 6 2008 AND 5.52 INCHES ON SEPTEMBER 14 1966. " - [ + + ]

    Glen Allen - Lowell Koontz adds: " September was hotter than average and 5.1°F warmer than September last year as the monthly mean temperature was 74.3°F, a + 5.7°F departure. It was much below average in precipitation until the last few days (when compared to Ashland, Virginia records). The average maximum temperature for the month was 86.0°F, which is high for September. The 5.11 inches of precipitation for September was a plus 1.24 inch departure when compared to the Ashland, VA average. The first 25 days of September were very dry with only 0.13 inches rain. What made the drought worse was it started back in August. From August 23 to Sep. 26, 2010 a period of 34 days only 0.14 inches of rainfall was recorded. The maximum precipitation recorded in a day was a new record for this station with 3.39 inches on the 30th and no thunder was heard during September. This station had new rainfall records for the 29th and 30th giving a total of 4.63 inches. The airport (RIC) being farther east had 2.25 inches on the 29th and 3.69 inches on the 30th for a total of 5.94 inches. The previous records for September 29th - 30th both occurred in 1924. Norfolk saw winds that reached 76 mph sustained from a cyclone that became non-tropical over the Southeast U.S. on these same dates. Similarly Nicole was a tropical storm with less wind but provided more rain than the 1924 storm1. Surprising as it may seem the airport (RIC), with a September total of 6.49 inches, made it the 13th wettest September in the past 113 years. The maximum temperature for September was 97°F on the 23rd and there were 10 days that the maximum temperature was 90°F or above. The highest minimum temperature recorded here for the month was 72°F on September 24th. The Richmond International Airport reported the mean temperature for September was 74.7°F, which was the 7th warmest September of the past 113 Septembers on record. Most of September was dry with clear conditions and was the clearest month recorded at this station since records were started in August of 2008. This also was a factor in making this September highest daily temperature range average of 23.3°F the highest of the past three Septembers and the relative humidity was the lowest in the past three Septembers. | 1 Virginia Hurricane History http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/research/roth/vahur.htm " - [ + + ] 

    Herndon - Randy adds: " September was above normal for temperature and well above normal for precipitation. The temperatures ranged between a high of 96 and a low of 47. The average highs were about 4 degrees above normal and lows were about 0.5 degrees below normal, respectively. We recorded 8 days where the max temp was 90 or higher; this makes 57 days at 90 or above for the year. After a cold Jan/Feb, we have now had seven consecutive months with above normal temps. On the precipitation side, the month was 1.56" above normal with 6.45" measured. However, until the remnants of TS Nicole came through on the last couple days of the month, we were having a very dry month with drought conditions being reported through much of the area. The rains for this storm exceeded 5-6 inches through much of the area and I measured 4.76" on the 30th. We have now had 36.96" precipitation for the year, which is now about 1.12" above normal. " - [ + + ]

    Portsmouth - " September was warmer and much wetter relative to normal Septembers for the period from 1976 to 2009. The 15.28" of rain was 10.09" ABOVE normal rainfall (294% of normal). September 2010 was the 2nd wettest September on record. September 30th was the ALL-TIME WETTEST DAY IN THE STATION DATABASE TO 1976. The 5 wettest Septembers here since 1976 include: 1) 21.91" 1999 2) 15.28" 2010 3) 10.29" 1979 4) 9.72" 2006 5) 9.71" 2003. The month's average temp was 1.0° ABOVE normal. Daily Station Records: 12th - TEMP Min Max 69° [previous 73° 1992]; 23rd - TEMP Max 92° [prev 88° 1988]; 24th - TEMP Max 93° [prev 88° 1976]; 27th - RAIN 3.24" [prev 2.62" 1985]; 29th - RAIN 1.48" [prev 0.68" 1996]; 30th - RAIN 9.10" [prev 1.4" 1980]. " - [ + + ] 

    North Carolina:

    Greensboro - NWS RAH notes: " THE LOW TEMPERATURE AT THE PIEDMONT TRIAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON SEPTEMBER 23RD WAS 71 DEGREES. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD HIGH MIN SET IN 1989. THE LOW TEMPERATURE AT THE PIEDMONT TRIAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON SEPTEMBER 24TH WAS 70 DEGREES. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD HIGH MIN SET IN 1955. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT THE PIEDMONT TRIAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON SEPTEMBER 24TH WAS 93 DEGREES. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD MAX SET OF 92 SET IN 1941. " - [ + + ]

    Moncure - Mac adds: " 30YR Data based on NWS Site at Sanford 8 NE (1970-2000). September turned out much like August. Hot and dry except for the last 5 days of the month when we received 6.01 inches of much needed rain. Looking forward to some cooler weather. " - [ + ]

    Raleigh - Bob sends these notes: " Interesting weather! Most of September was hot and very dry. From September 26th till the end of the month, temperatures generally below normal and precipitation was much above normal. For this period, 6.97" of rain was measured. Precipitation for year is 2.32" above normal. Rainfall totals were much higher toward the coast. No severe was observed. However a tornado watch was issued for this region on the 30th. Numerous flash flood warnings were also issued. " - [ + + ]

    Raleigh - NWS Raleigh (RAH) reports: THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT THE RALEIGH-DURHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON SEPTEMBER 3RD WAS 99 DEGREES. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD MAX SET IN 1950. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT THE RALEIGH-DURHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON SEPTEMBER 14TH WAS 96 DEGREES. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD MAX SET IN 1956 AND 1991. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT THE RALEIGH-DURHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON SEPTEMBER 15TH WAS 94 DEGREES. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD MAX SET IN 1956. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT THE RALEIGH-DURHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON SEPTEMBER 17TH WAS 95 DEGREES. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD MAX SET IN 1954 AND 2005. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT THE RALEIGH-DURHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON SEPTEMBER 22ND WAS 96 DEGREES. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD MAX SET IN 1980. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT THE RALEIGH-DURHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON SEPTEMBER 23RD WAS 99 DEGREES. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD MAX SET IN 1980. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT THE RALEIGH-DURHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON SEPTEMBER 24TH WAS 96 DEGREES. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD MAX SET IN 1945. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT THE RALEIGH-DURHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON SEPTEMBER 25TH WAS 98 DEGREES. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD MAX SET IN 1986. " - [ + + ]

    Nearby Cities:

    Tri-Cities, TN - from NWS MRX: " Tri-Cities received 4.04 inches of rain in September, which was 0.96 inches above normal. It ranked as the 18th wettest September on record. Measurable rain occurred on 12 days, and five of those days had more than one-quarter of an inch of rain. The heaviest rain fell on the 26th when 1 inch of rain was reported. The wettest September of the 72 years of observations was back in 1972, when 7.09 inches of rain was recorded. The average monthly temperature at Tri-Cities was 69.2 degrees, which was 2.6 degrees above normal. It ranked as the 23rd warmest September on record. The warmest September at Tri-Cities was back in 1970, when the average temperature was 72.9 degrees. " - [ + + ]

    Davis, WV - from Dave Lesher's website: " September 2010 had a mean temperature (60°) that was 2° ABOVE NORMAL. The month's rainfall total of 3.6 inches was 0.8 inches ABOVE the normal September rainfall. Rainfall for the year (39.4") was 4.2" BELOW NORMAL. No snowfall 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
      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


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    National Weather Service Web Sites & Current Email Addresses
    Within or Nearby the ACON VA/NC/SC Area Can Be Found At:

         NWS Washington/Baltimore, VA/MD
         NWS Wakefield, VA
         NWS Blacksburg, VA
         NWS Raleigh, NC
         NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC
         NWS Wilmington, NC
         NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
         NWS Columbia, SC
         NWS Charleston, SC
         NWS Morristown, TN

         National Weather Service Homepages

         $$$ National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, NC $$$

    STATION / LOCATION (MILES & DIRECTION FROM MAIN POST OFFICE)/OBSERVER / YEAR RECORDS BEGAN / EMAIL ADDRESS:

      
    AKQ    Wakefield, VA NWS Wakefield Municipal Airport 36-58-53N 077-00-04W 33M  
    DCA    Arlington, VA Washington, DC, Reagan Washington National Airport 38-50-54N 077-02-03W 18M WSH   Washington, VA  David Yowell runamok@runamok.com
    BCB    Blacksburg, VA NWS Virginia Tech Airport 37-13N 080-25W   
      WOO  Woodstock, VA 5NW Lauck Walton 12/1/85 jwalton@shentel.net
       LDY Ladysmith, VA Danny Jessee 2003 STATION CLOSED 8/31/2010 danny@dannyjessee.com
    BRI     Bridgewater, VA Clayton Towers Ctowers19@aol.com WAL   Wallops Island, VA 37° 56'26" N 75° 27'47" W Wallops Flight Facility Airport
    CEN  Centreville, VA Paul Bassett 1985, 38° 50.9788' N LAT. 77° 25.6374' W LON. | Elevation 324' | m.psb@verizon.net AVL    Asheville, NC  Asheville Regional Airport 35-25-55N 082-32-15W 670M
    CHO   Charlottesville, VA  Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport ASOS  (Rappahannock County) 38-08-18N 078-27-21W 192M MRH    Beaufort, NC  Michael J. Field Airport 34-44-01N 076-39-38W 3M
    DAN  Danville, VA, Danville Regional Airport, 36-34-22N 079-20 10W 175M  CLT    Charlotte, NC NWS Charlotte/Douglas International Airport 35-12-48N 080-56-55W 220M
    IAD   Dulles - Washington-Dulles International Airport  38-56-05N 077-26-51W 93M   
    FCH    Falls Church, VA Erica Page 3/7/94 Windie1970@aol.com HKY  Hickory, NC 
    HAM    Hampton, VA 5NE Dave Kessel 1989 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
      MON    Moncure, NC  Chatham County - Mac McIlwain mac.mcilwain@embarqmail.com
      RAL    Raleigh, NC 7NNW  Bob Woodson -  6/1/93 kf4mmm@qsl.net
    LKU     Louisa, VA 1N Joseph Bowers 1944 - NWS ID  44-5050-02 STATION CLOSED RDU   Raleigh-Durham, NC Raleigh-Durham International Airport 35-52-14N 078-47-11W 130M
    LOU     Louisa, VA 6S John Bullock (about 1970) STATION CLOSED ROX    Roxboro, NC 2SE Merriell A. Jay 1/93
    LYH     Lynchburg, VA NWS Lynchburg Regional Airport 37-19-15N 079-12-24W 295M ILM     Wilmington, NC NWS New Hanover International Airport 34-16-06N 077-54-22W 9M
    NEW    Newmarket, VA 2W Joyce Winfree STATION CLOSED 5/31/10 joywood@shentel.net CHS   Charleston, SC NWS Charleston Air Force Base 32-53-56N 080-02-26W 13M
    NPN     Newport News, VA 7N Gary Leonard -  6/91 GaryMLeonard@aol.com CAE    Columbia, SC NWS Columbia Metropolitan Airport 33-56-31N 081-07-05W 73M 
    NOR     Norfolk, VA 3NE Jim Fentress 6/1/77 FLO    Florence, SC Florence Regional Airport 34-11-16N 079-43-51W 44M
    ORF     Norfolk, VA 5NE 36-54-13N 076-11-31W 14M  1871 GSP   Greenville-Spartanburg, SC NWS Greenville-Spartanburg Airport 34-53-02N 082-13-15W 286M 
    POR     Portsmouth, VA 36.81° North 76.33° West 3S Bill Trotter -  7/1/76 wxr@cox.net CRE    North Myrtle Beach, SC Grand Strand Airport 33-48-42N 078-43-26W 10M
    MEC     Mechanicsville, VA Glen Martin 11/19/91 OGB   Orangeburg, SC  Orangeburg Municipal Airport 33-27-50N 080-51-13W 59M
    FHC    Norfolk, VA  Fred Heutte Center 36° 54'N 76° 16'W 01/01/03 fhcgarden@cox.net AND   Anderson, SC 
    RIC     Richmond, VA Richmond International Airport 37-30-40N 077-19-24W 50M TRI     Tri-cities, TN  (Bristol / Johnson / Kingsport), Tri-City Regional Airport 36-28-47N 082-23-56W 474M 
    ROA    Roanoke, VA Roanoke Regional Airport 37-19-01N 079-58-27W 362M DAV  Davis, WV Dave Lesher canaanwx@canaantv.tv