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

SUMMARY OF CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA 
JULY 2004

...ABOVE AVERAGE NUMBER OF THUNDERSTORMS
PROVIDE CONSIDERABLE RAINFALL FOR MANY...

The one data category from your reports that stands out the most is the high number of thunderstorm days across the region in July 2004. Lots of downpours noted, typical in mid-summertime. However, a look at the data and the negative rainfall departures for several indicates that quite a few of us were bypassed. Highest rainfall amounts are clearly seen over Southeastern Virginia and the lower DelMarVa Peninsula with two days having training thunderstorms which helped push monthly totals well above 10 inches! Below normal rainfall noted for the mountains of Virginia and, surprisingly, Eastern North Carolina. Seems the rainfall corridor was from central South Carolina through central North Carolina, and over the aforementioned Southeastern Virginia and the Virginia Eastern Shore.

With the plentiful rainfall in many areas, temperature averages were held down in quite a few locales. In all three states, near normal averages noted with a few exceptions.

High pressure centers repeatedly dominated the area from offshore Southeast US and the winds on their backsides funneled abundant moisture north-northeast across those areas mentioned earlier.

  • CLOUD STAMPS    In a recent email from former group member Eleanor Talbot, she writes: " As many of you have heard, the United States Postal Service has finally published a series of stamps called Cloudscapes. A group of 15 stamps, in order of height, will premier on Monday, October 4th, at a First Day of Issue ceremony that will be held at no other place than the Blue Hill Observatory in Milton, Massachusetts! The Observatory will be expanding the festivities throughout the entire weekend, including an Open House on Saturday, October 2nd, and a Kite Building and Flying day for kids on the 3rd before the First Day of Issue ceremony on Monday. For all the details, check out the Blue Hill website at http://www.bluehill.org and look for "upcoming events." For more details about the cloud stamps themselves, the NWS office in Memphis has each one on their webpage. Here's the link: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/meg/Stamps/stamps.html " Thanks Eleanor!


  • DROUGHT MONITOR    Looks like most of the area is out of the dry spell at this time (end of July). For the latest U.S. Drought Monitor graphic, visit http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html.


  • U.S. DAILY WEATHER MAPS PROJECT   Looking for that NOAA Daily Weather Map for a given date since 1871? Look no further! Visit the NOAA Central Library U.S. Daily Weather Maps Project [1871-2001] at http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/dwm/data_rescue_daily_weather_maps.html. A link to maps for 2002 to the present is found at the top of the page. Great resource! Note: You will need to download and install a small program in order to view the maps.

  • STATIONS MAPS   Ever wonder just where Clayton's station in Bridgewater, Virginia is located or where are Hampton (Dave) and Herndon (Russ), also in Virginia? Or just where is Bob's site in Raleigh or Bob's site in Brevard, North Carolina? And, let's see, where is Joyce in New Market, VA? And is Tri-Cities really in TN or VA or both? An Internet link to MapQuest.com depicting the general area of our region in which you are located is now available with a click to your station ID in the STATION / LOCATION table found at the end of this report. And with MapQuest, you can zoom in and out to get a better idea of where we are all located within the entire region. None of your specific street addresses was used; simply the general area in which you're located is depicted.


  • 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 used for these purposes.

ACON VA/NC/SC Member Station Extremes - JULY 2004
State
Maximum Temperature
Minimum
Temperature
Warmest
Average
Temperature
Coldest
Average
Temperature
Maximum
Precipitation
Minimum
Precipitation
Virginia
96°
Hampton
52°
Blacksburg
81.0°
Norfolk (FHC)
71.1°
Blacksburg
12.45"
Norfolk (FHC)
1.47"
Woodstock
North Carolina
99°
Fayetteville, Charlotte
56°
Asheville
81.7°
Beaufort
72.9°
Asheville
8.16"
Raleigh (RDU)
2.67"
Lumberton
South Carolina
98°
Orangeburg, Columbia
60°
Anderson
82.7°
Charleston
77.8°
Greenville-Spartanburg
5.67"
North Myrtle Beach
3.11"
Columbia

(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
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     ANN 86.32 68.90 77.61 -0.1  92  5,14 64   17   9  0  0 0 74% 27 WNW  14             7 0 0 0  0     2400 LWX
     BCB 81.1  61.2  71.1   0.0  86    10 52   17   0  0  0 0 72% 29 300° 14   3.2       7 0 0 0  4 50% 2400 RNK
     BRI 87    67    74.8  +0.5  93     6 56   17   6  0  0 0                            4 0 0 0  1     2400 LWX
                                       25
     CEN 86.8  69.3  77.2  +2.1  93    14 63   17  10  0  0 0     11 335° 14             7 0 0 0  0     2400 LWX
                                                                     223° 31
     CHO 84.0  65.8  74.9  -2.0  89  6,17 57   17   0  0  0 0     31 140°  1   3.2      12 0 0 0 11     2400 LWX
     DAN 87.4  66.1  76.7  -2.1  92 10,14 57   16  10  0  0 0 76% 37 010° 23   4.2      14 0 0 0  6 30% 2400 RNK
     DCA 85.8  71.3  78.5  -0.7  92   2,5 66   15   4  0  0 0     41 280° 14   7.8       8 1 0 0  0     2400 LWX
     IAD 85.1  66.6  75.8  +0.1  91     5 59   17   2  0  0 0     43 260°  5   5.3       7 0 0 0  3     2400 LWX
     FCH 86.2  69.7  78.0        92 2,5,7 64 24,25  8  0  0 0                           10 0 0 0  0     2400 LWX
     HAM 85.7  76.1  80.4        96     5 65   16  14  0  0 0     38 NW  7,24       S   12 0 0 0  0     2400 AKQ
     HER 84.0  67.5  75.8  +0.1  88.9  22 61.5 17  17  0  0 0                            6+0 0 0        2400 LWX
     HRN 83.4  66.6  74.5  -1.2  88.8   5 59.4 17   0  0  0 0 79% 24 SW   22   2.7  S    7 0 0 0  0     2400 LWX
     LYH 85.4  64.6  75.0  -0.1  91  6,13 55   17   4  0  0 0 74% 40 180° 29   3.6       8 0 0 0  7 30% 2400 RNK
     NEW 82.74 63.0  72.87 -0.2  91     6 53   17   3  0  0 0 61% 15 S  23,31       S    8 0 0 0  5     1800 LWX
     NPN 88.5  70.3  79.4        95     5 63   16  14  0  0 0     41 W    14            13 0 0 0  0     2400 AKQ
     NOR 87.5  71.3  79.4  +0.4  93   5,7 65   16  11  0  0 0                            5 0 0 0  0     2400 AKQ
     ORF 86.1  72.3  79.2  +0.1  92  7,14 67 16,17  6  0  0 0 80% 37 290°  7   6.4      17 0 0 0  0 40% 2400 AKQ
     FHC 89.0  73.0  81.0        95     7 67.6  7  14  0  0 0 81% 27 220° 27   2.8  202°                2400 AKQ
     POR 86.2  71.6  78.9  -1.0  93     7 66 16,17  4  0  0 0 82% 27 023°  7   2.2  150°11 0 0 0  0 44% 2400 AKQ
                                                                  27 023  14
     MEC 87.58 66.68 75.74       94   5,7 62   17   5  0  0 0 64%                       14 0 0 0  1     1700 AKQ
     RIC 87.4  69.9  78.6  +0.7  93   5,8 63   17  12  0  0 0 79% 38 310°  7   6.2      10 0 0 0  1 60% 2400 AKQ
     RGL 85.69 68.75 77.22 -0.68 91.6   9 63.5 17   5  0  0 0 73% 21 S    14   1.0  S   10 0 0 0  1     2400 AKQ
     ROA 85.4  67.6  76.5  +0.3  90  9,13 57   17   4  0  0 0 68% 33 250°  4   5.4       7 0 0 0  2 40% 2400 RNK
                                                                  33 320° 10
                                                                  33 040° 18
     ROK 86.5  65.2  75.8  -0.2  92     9 55 17,18, 8  0  0 0     17 W  8,14             5 0 0 0  0     2300 RNK
                                               19
     AKQ 88    69    78.5        94   5,7 59   16  14  0  0 0                                           2400 AKQ
     WAL 84.7  71.2  78.0  +1.4  93     5 65   16   4  0  0 0     40 320° 14   8.4       3 0 0 0  2     2400 AKQ
     WEE 81.5  63.6  72.6        94     6 62   17   5  0  0 0                        NE  6 0 0 0  0     2400
     WOO 80.7  66.0  73.4  -1.4  86  7,31 59   16   0  0  0 0                            5 0 0 0  7     2400 LWX
     WSH 84.3  65.1  74.1        91.8   5 59.6 17   2  0  0 0     15 E    30   0.3   E   8 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 82.2  63.6  72.9  -0.1  88    14 56   16   0  0  0 0     35 290°  5   4.6       4 0 0 0  5     2400 GSP
                                                                  35 040°  9
     MRH 87.7  75.7  81.7        94     6 70   20   5  0  0 0     46 180° 17   7.9      19 0 0 0  1     2400 MHX
     CLT 87.8  68.0  77.9  -2.4  99    10 58   16  12  0  0 0     28 260°  4   4.0      10 0 0 0  0     2400 GSP
     ECG 87.8  72.4  80.1  +0.3  94     7 65 16,17  7  0  0 0 81% 51 320°  7   6.3      13 0 0 0  3 30% 2400 AKQ
     FAY 91.2  71.1  81.2        99     7 64   17  21  0  0 0     41 250° 10   5.7      11 0 0 0  5     2400 RAH
     GSO 87.5  68.7  78.1  +0.2  93     6 62   16  11  0  0 0     53 110° 17   5.8      12 0 0 0  2     2400 RAH
     HSE 86.5  75.0  80.7  +1.5  90 15,31 68   22   5  0  0 0     30 150° 18   8.1       0 0 0 0  1     2400 MHX
     HKY 86.5  67.6  77.0  -0.7  94    14 60   16   7  0  0 0     30 320°  4   3.9       9 0 0 0  6     2400 GSP
     LBT 90.4  70.8  80.6  +1.4  98     7 64 16,17 19  0  0 0     38 120° 11   4.5       0 0 0 0  7     2400 ILM
     EWN 89.4  70.8  80.1  +0.4  97     7 65 17,20 14  0  0 0     35 070° 10   4.7      21 0 0 0  3     2400 MHX
     RAL 90.3  67.5  78.9  +0.1  96  9,10 58   16  16E 0  0 0     24E     22            13E0 0 0  0     2400 RAH
     RDU 89.2  69.2  79.2  +0.4  96    10 60   16  15  0  0 0     29 200° 10   4.6      14 0 0 0  3     2400 RAH
     ROX 88.2  68.2  78.2  +1.8  94    10 63   16  15  0  0 0     37 N    10             6 1 0 0  7 50% 2200 RAH
     ILM 89.3  72.2  80.8  -0.4  97     7 67   17  12  0  0 0     40 250° 12   5.3      15 0 0 0  4     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 89.5  69.3  79.4  -0.3  94 10,23 60    16 15  0  0 0     37 270°  4   4.8      17 0 0 0  4     2400 GSP
     CAE 91.7  72.0  81.8  -0.2  98    14 67 19,20 22  0  0 0     39 020°  5   5.1      11 0 0 0  1     2400 CAE
     CHS 91.6  73.7  82.7  +1.0  97    14 69    16 23  0  0 0     35 090° 24   6.6      15 0 0 0  2     2400 CHS
     CRE 87.0  73.2  80.1  +0.6  96    14 69 20,21  5  0  0 0     29 240° 18   6.3       8 0 0 0  6     2400 ILM
     FLO 90.3  71.4  80.8  -0.3  97    14 66    17 18  0  0 0     53 160°  9   5.5      12 0 0 0  5     2400 ILM
     GSP 87.0  68.6  77.8  -1.0  91 13,14 60    16  8  0  0 0     39 300°  5   4.5      11 0 0 0  2     2400 GSP
     OGB 91.5  71.2  81.4        98    14 67    17 22  0  0 0     32 190° 11   2.8      18 0 0 0  4     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 84.5  63.6  74.0  -0.2  90 10,25  54   16 2  0  0 0     38 280°   5   3.4      12 0 0 0  8     2400 MRX        
     DAV 72.6  57.2  64.9        78   12   51   17 0  0  0 0                             7 0 0 0  1     1900 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
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANN  3.43        1.05 27 1.17 27-28 11 1 24.36  0.0          0.0  16.3  30.23  25 29.55  14 29.95  2400
BCB  3.37  -0.80 0.83 11 0.83    11 13 0 24.90  0.0          0.0  30.7                             2400
BRI  4.85  +1.09 2.65 11 3.36 11-12 13 1 23.46  0.0          0.0  25.2  30.24     29.74            0515/1600
CEN  3.78  +0.21 1.20  4 1.20     4 15 1 21.28  0.0          0.0  16.9  30.24  25 29.57  14        2400
CHO  4.43  -0.51 1.13  4 1.13     4 20 1 18.83  0.0          0.0                                   2400
DAN  4.62  +0.18 1.23 23 1.26 22-23 13 2 19.76  0.0          0.0        30.17  25 29.59  14        2400
DCA  6.98  +3.32 2.18  4 2.33   4-5 15 2 24.18  0.0          0.0  12.2  30.23  25 29.55  14        2400
IAD  3.73  +0.16 1.22  4 1.23   4-5 14 1 21.49  0.0          0.0  17.4                             2400
FCH  6.00        1.91 27 2.18 26-27 12 2 25.20  0.0          0.0  15.0                             2400
HAM  9.74        3.60  7 3.80   7-8 12 3        0.0          0.0        30.25     29.75            2400
HER  5.33  +1.76 1.95  7 1.95     7 12 2 25.68  0.0          0.0  20.7                             2400
HRN  4.85  +1.28 1.55  4 1.55     4 16 2 23.31  0.0          0.0  19.5  30.197 25 29.543 14 29.93  2400
LYH  2.64  -1.75 0.97 27 0.97    27 16 0 18.66  0.0          0.0  12.1  30.21  25 29.60  14        2400
NEW  2.61  +1.00 0.63  5            13 0 21.20  0.0          0.0  29.5  30.49  25 29.88  14        1700
NPN 11.37        3.06 14 30.6    14 17 4 32.08  0.0          0.0   7.1  30.10  30 29.48  14        2400
NOR  8.90  +3.50 1.90 25            16 3 30.27  0.0          0.0   7.2                             2400
ORF 10.89  +5.72 3.55 24 3.55    24 15 3 31.80  0.0          0.0   6.2  30.16   1 29.54  14        2400
FHC 12.45        4.20 25            16 4 33.96  0.0          0.0   6.0  30.152  1 29.548 14 29.942 2400
POR  6.91  +1.57 2.14 18 2.14    18 15 2 26.24  0.0          0.0   6.5  30.164  1 29.634 15 29.953 2400
MEC 10.71        3.78 29 4.82 28-29 17 3 30.71  0.0          0.0   7.4  29.94  25 29.38  14 29.73  1700
RIC  6.44  +1.77 1.02  4 1.40 24-25 19 5 27.75  0.0          0.0   6.2  30.18  25 29.54  14        2400
RGL  7.67  +3.00 2.11  6 3.67 26-27 15 3 20.19  0.0          0.0   3.25 30.16  10 29.52  14 29.93  2400
ROA  4.33  +0.33 1.80 12 1.82 11-12 14 1 24.14  0.0          0.0  22.0  30.21  25 29.63  14        2400
ROK  2.04        0.53 18 0.53    18 11 0 24.02  0.0          0.0  22.1  30.15  24 29.61  14        2400
AKQ  7.77        1.12  7            20 2 29.64  0.0          0.0   7.6                             2400
WAL 12.10  +8.54 4.46 28 4.82 27-28 13 4 26.92  0.0          0.0   3.4  30.17   1 29.54  14        2400
WEE  6.55        2.24  1 2.24     1  9 1        0.0          0.0        30.16  25 29.60  16        2400
                                                                                8       
WOO  1.47  -2.58         0.55   4-5 16 0 21.85  0.0          0.0  26.2  30.30  25 29.80 14,15      0800
WSH  4.61  +0.36 1.37  5 1.37     5 17 2 23.36  0.0          0.0  22.2  30.26  25 29.61  14        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  4.68  +0.81 1.07 11 1.10 10-11 17 1 25.30  0.0          0.0 14.3  30.19  25 29.71  14         2400
MRH  5.33        2.08 28 2.09 28-29 13 2        0.0          0.0                                   2400
CLT  6.84  +3.05 4.14 17 4.14    17 10 2 25.28  0.0          0.0 14.5  30.17  25 29.68  14         2400
ECG  6.91  +1.96 1.84 18 1.84    18 14 3 27.77  0.0          0.0  8.5  30.17   1 29.58  14         2400
FAY  3.77        1.20 28 1.20    28 11 1 15.33  0.0          0.0       30.15   1 29.61  14         2400
GSO  7.14  +2.70 4.16 17 4.16    17 12 1 18.94  0.0          0.0 18.5                              2400
HSE  4.47  -0.48 1.75 24 1.90 24-25 13 1        0.0          0.0                                   2400
HKY  4.04  -0.13 1.16 27 1.16    27 14 1 23.71  0.0          0.0 12.7  30.16  25 29.82  23         2400
LBT  2.67  -2.94 0.46 22 0.67 30-31 20 0 19.26  0.0          0.0       30.17   1 29.66  14         2400
EWN  3.55  -2.93 1.33 19 1.33    19 16 1        0.0          0.0       30.19   1 29.64  14         2400
RAL  5.88  +1.59 0.98                  0 23.63  0.0          0.0 14.8  30.19   1 29.60  14         1900
RDU  8.16  +3.87 2.82 29 2.82    29 16 3 25.51  0.0          0.0 14.9  30.17   1 29.61  14         2400
ROX  6.52  +1.93 2.18 29 2.18    29 15 2 24.03  0.0          0.0  8.0  30.19  1, 29.61  14  29.90  2100
                                                                              19
ILM  7.14  -0.48 2.03 29 2.04 28-29 18 2 24.27  0.0          0.0       30.19   1 29.65  14         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  3.56  -0.07 0.85 26 1.61 26-27 12 0 19.62  0.0          0.0  4.4  30.17  25 29.72  14        2400
CAE  3.11  -2.43 2.16 27 2.17 27-28  9 1 30.46  0.0          0.0  0.4  30.18   1 29.69  14        2400
CHS  3.77  -2.36 0.63  9 0.86  30-1 16 0 20.75  0.0          0.0    T                             2400
CRE  5.67  +0.48 1.84 18 1.85 17-18 15 1 21.95  0.0          0.0       30.13  25 29.67  14        2400
FLO  5.37  +0.09 1.29 28 1.92 28-29 18 1 18.14  0.0          0.0       30.17   1 29.66  14        2400
GSP  4.74  +0.09 2.31 17 2.32 17-18 13 1 22.37  0.0          0.0  9.3  30.17  25 30.68  14        2400
OGB  4.68        2.17 27 3.25 27-28 11 2 26.92  0.0          0.0       30.18   1 29.71  14        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  5.01  +0.80 1.63 25 1.70 25-26 17 1 29.39  0.0           0.0  15.6                           2400
DAV  4.35        0.99  4            16 0 41.71  0.0           0.0 197.9                           1900

Virginia:

Annandale - Lowell sends these notes: " July was a little below average in rainfall and near average in temperature with no really hot days although high humidity gave high dew point temperatures. July's mean average temperature (77.6°F) was only - 0.1°F departure. July had 11 days with measurable rain which was average but had a rainfall departure of - 0.81"inches. The rainfall totals over the area varied widely with some particularly high totals in NE Maryland. July's average sky cover makes it normally the clearest month of the year but this month was the cloudiest July on my records and the third cloudiest month of 2004 lowering the temperature ranges and reducing the number of equal to or greater than 90°F days. July had only 9 days with 90øF or above temperatures and in 2002 we had 20 days. Both July of 2003 and 2004 had a small number of equal to or greater than 90°F days. This year had 16 days of equal to or greater than 90°F and last year had but 12 days which was a record low number going back to 1992. Only one July in the last 24-years has the maximum temperature for July been less than 92°F; that occurred in 2000 when 91°F was the maximum for the month. The maximum temperature for 2004 is still 92°F and is the first time in the last 24 years we have gone this long in the summer without a 93°F or hotter day. The previous latest date was July 9, 1992. July's average temperature range was only 17.4°F the least since 1996 except for last year and only four years have been lower in the last 24-years. The lowest daily temperature range for the month was only 4°F that occurred on the 25th; the 24 year-record is 3°F that occurred on July 13, 1989. The maximum wind gust for July was only 27 mph from the WNW on the 14th at 1500. July had only one daily temperature and precipitation record for the month which is the least recorded since these observations were started in November of 2001. The previous low record was four. Only 1 daily record was set! July DAILY Records Tied or Broken in 24 Years of records: Daily LOW range: 25th. " [ - +/- ] 

Arlington - NWS WBC reports: " RECORDS: ON THE 4TH...A RECORD DAILY RAINFALL OF 2.18 INCHES BROKE THE OLD RECORD OF 2.00 INCHES SET IN 1882. JULY 2004 FOLLOWED JUNE'S LEAD AS A WETTER AND SLIGHTLY COOLER THAN AVERAGE MONTH IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL. THE MOST DOMINANT CHARACTERISTIC OF THE MONTH WAS DAMPNESS. THAT ALLOWED THE AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE TO BE TWO AND A HALF DEGREES COOLER THAN NORMAL WHILE THE NIGHT TIME LOWS WERE ACTUALLY MORE THAN A DEGREE WARMER THAN NORMAL. THE DAMPNESS OF COURSE ALSO ALLOWED FOR A RATHER CLOUDY AND RAINY MONTH BY JULY STANDARDS. LESS THAN A QUARTER OF THE DAYS HAD MORE SUN THAN CLOUDS...AND RAINFALL WAS CLOSE TO DOUBLE THE AVERAGE FOR JULY. THE NEARLY SEVEN INCHES OF RAIN THAT FELL WAS ENOUGH FOR THE 15TH WETTEST JULY ON RECORD...A FEAT EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE WITH NO TROPICAL CYCLONES DURING JULY TO ADD TO OUR TOTAL. JULY 2004 ALSO PRODUCED THE WETTEST 4TH OF JULY ON RECORD...MORE THAN TWO INCHES ON THAT DAY ALONE. INTERESTINGLY...A SHORT WINDOW OF DRY WEATHER ON THE EVENING OF THE 4TH STILL ALLOWED MOST OF THE CELEBRATION ON THE NATIONAL MALL TO GO ON UNHINDERED. TWO DAYS IN JULY HAD MORE THAN TWO INCHES OF RAIN...THE 4TH AND THE 27TH. IT WAS THE WETTEST MONTH SINCE JUNE OF 2003. - [ - + ] "

Bridgewater - " The average temperature was .5 degrees above normal and the precipitation was 1.09 inches above normal. The precipitation for the year is about an inch above normal. There were numerous chances for thunderstorms during the month when nothing happened. At the time of this writing, it's getting a bit dry. This weather information is what I recorded at my location in south Bridgewater. Some nearby places had heavy rainfall in slow-moving thunderstorms, when Bridgewater received very little of anything. " - notes from Clayton [ + + ] 

Centreville - " With rain and temperature records well out of reach for this July, it is a comfort to report that the average daily high for the month of 86.8° was a slight tenth of a degree cooler than the 86.9° normal average high. The hottest we got was 93° on July 14th, so the 103° record high set 16 years ago remains as "top temp" for another year. Our mean monthly low of 69.3° came in at 6.1° above the 63.2° normal average low for the month. However, for the year, we have been averaging 4.9° above normal for our lows, so our July average monthly low maintains a comfortable position among its peers. Precipitation amounts for July in Centreville shouldn't have been the cause for much alarm when only 0.21" over the 3.57" average was recorded. With the spillways delivering at full volume, this staggering fifth-of-an-inch excess helped bring our annual rainfall deficit to less than four inches. The 3.78" total was tallied with 15 days of reportable rain for July, and included our greatest daily amount of 1.20" that fell just before noon on Independence Day. A nice contribution by Mother Nature to help maintain comfortable temperatures and produce clearing skies for the evening celebrations that were soon to follow. " - notes from Paul [ - + ] 

Herndon - Bob notes:" My average MAX temp was 3.4° BELOW the Dulles "normal" and the average MIN was 3.5° ABOVE. Dulles is about 4 miles WSW and its "normal" is the 1971-2000 average. " - [ + + ] 

Herndon - Russ reports:" July was cooler and wetter than normal. The monthly temperature was 1.2° below average and precipitation was 1.28" above average. Thunderstorms passed through on July 4th, 5th, 7th, 14th, 19th, 22nd and 23rd. The storms on July 4th pre-empted some of the man-made fireworks in our area with nature's. We haven't watered the lawn once! " - [ - + ] 

Lexington - Scott reports: " Reminder: It's hurricane season and the WREL HurricaneCenter is up and running! This site is primarily designed for the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions. We run computer model maps on all systems as well as provide inland and coastal information for this area. The address is: http://www.wrel.com/hurricane.htm. "

Norfolk - More interesting notes from Maloit and Brown at NWS AKQ: " THIS WAS THE 8TH WETTEST JULY ON RECORD AT NORFOLK WITH 10.89 INCHES OF RAINFALL. THE 10 WETTEST JULYS ON RECORD: 14.37 1994; 13.73 1975 ; 12.92 1945 ; 12.70 1969 ; 12.40 1939 ; 11.92 1922 ; 11.73 1917 ; 10.89 2004 ; 10.79 1950 ; 10.69 1889 . THIS WAS ALSO THE 8TH MOST NUMBER OF DAYS WITH MEASURABLE RAINFALL AT NORFOLK IN JULY (15 - TIE WITH 2003 AND OTHER YEARS). THE 10 MOST NUMBER OF DAYS WITH MEASURABLE RAINFALL IN JULY: 22 1917; 21 1889 ; 20 1945 ; 19 1994* ; 18 1906* ; 17 1985* ; 16 2000* ; 15 2004* ; 14 1991* ; 13 1996* . * Denotes other years. OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST AT NORFOLK... 15.75 INCHES OF RAINFALL SO FAR THIS SUMMER ALREADY RANK THIS AS THE 56TH WETTEST SUMMER ON RECORD...ONLY NEED A SLIGHTLY BELOW AVERAGE AVERAGE AUGUST (4.74 INCHES - AVERAGE 4.79 INCHES) TO MAKE THIS ONE OF THE TOP 15 WETTEST SUMMERS ON RECORD...HOWEVER NEED AN ABOVE NORMAL 5.90 INCHES TO CRACK THE TOP 10. WITH AN AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 79.2 DEGREES THIS IS THE 28TH WARMEST JULY ON RECORD. THIS WAS DONE WITH A BELOW NORMAL NUMBER OF 90+ DEGREE DAYS (6 - 13 IS NORMAL FOR JULY)...BUT AN ABOVE NORMAL NUMBER OF NIGHTS WITH LOW TEMPERATURES OF 70+ DEGREES (27 - 22 IS NORMAL). FOR THIS SUMMER...NORFOLK IS ALREADY BELOW NORMAL FOR NUMBER OF 90+ DEGREE DAYS TO DATE (9 - 20 IS NORMAL FOR JUNE AND JULY). IT WOULD TAKE A RECORD NUMBER OF 90+ DAYS IN AUGUST (20 - 19 IS THE RECORD AND 9 IS NORMAL) JUST TO REACH THE NORMAL NUMBER OF 90+ DEGREE DAYS IN A SUMMER (29). "

Portsmouth - " Little change from June 2004...that strong onshore and SE flow resulted in abundant rains from the SE and S as Bermuda high pressure continued to funnel moisture north along the SE US and Mid-Altantic coasts. Rainfall measured 1.57" ABOVE normal (129%). The average temperature was 1° BELOW normal due to the above normal rainfall. Fog- of varying degrees - was noted on a whopping 21 of the 31 days, again no surprise considering the excess rainfall. That was 1 more day than the whopping high in June of 20! A quiet month for new records with one station record tied or broken: 16TH - TEMPERATURE - MINIMUM TIED 66ø [PREVIOUSLY 1981]" - [ - + ] 

Mechanicsville - Glenn notes a... " A lot of t-storms during the month with very heavy showers. T-storms occuring on the 20th caused flood of low lying areas." "

Richmond - NWS AKQ reports: " ...MOST NUMBER OF DAYS IN JULY WITH MEASURABLE RAINFALL ON RECORD AT RICHMOND (TIE)... ...TIED FOR FOURTH MOST NUMBER OF DAYS WITH MEASURABLE RAINFALL ON RECORD FOR ANY MONTH AT RICHMOND... WITH 19 DAYS WITH MEASURABLE RAINFALL...JULY 2004 IS TIED FOR THE MOST NUMBER OF DAYS WITH MEASURABLE RAINFALL IN JULY WITH JULY 1945 AND JULY OF 1889. TOP 5 NUMBER OF DAYS WITH MEASURABLE RAINFALL IN JULY: 19 2004...1945...1889; 18 2003 ; 17 1959...1950* ; 16 1994...1985* ; 15 1996...1969*. * DENOTES OTHER YEARS | THE 19 DAYS OF MEASURABLE RAINFALL ALSO TIE IT FOR 4TH MOST NUMBER OF DAYS WITH MEASURABLE RAINFALL FOR ANY MONTH. TOP 5 NUMBER OF DAYS WITH MEASURABLE RAINFALL FOR ANY MONTH: 23 MAY 2003; 22 JAN 1937 ; 20 JUN 1924* ; 19 JUL 2004* ; 18 JUL 2003* . OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST AT RICHMOND... 16.37 INCHES OF RAINFALL SO FAR THIS SUMMER ALREADY RANK THIS AS THE 31ST WETTEST SUMMER ON RECORD...ONLY NEED A SLIGHTLY ABOVE AVERAGE AUGUST (4.31 INCHES - AVERAGE 4.18 INCHES) TO MAKE THIS ONE OF THE TOP 10 WETTEST SUMMERS ON RECORD; WITH AN AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 78.6 DEGREES THIS IS THE 27TH WARMEST JULY ON RECORD. THIS WAS DONE WITH A BELOW NORMAL NUMBER OF 90+ DEGREE DAYS (11 - 15 IS NORMAL FOR JULY)...BUT AN ABOVE NORMAL NUMBER OF NIGHTS WITH LOW TEMPERATURES OF 70+ DEGREES (19 - 15 IS NORMAL); FOR THIS SUMMER...RICHMOND IS ALREADY BELOW NORMAL FOR NUMBER OF 90+ DEGREE DAYS TO DATE (14 - 23 IS NORMAL FOR JUNE AND JULY). IT WOULD TAKE A MUCH GREATER THAN NORMAL NUMBER OF 90+ DAYS IN AUGUST (20 - 11 IS NORMAL) JUST TO REACH THE NORMAL NUMBER OF 90+ DEGREE DAYS IN A SUMMER (34); ALTHOUGH THIS JULY HAD THE MOST NUMBER OF DAYS WITH MEASURABLE RAINFALL...IT DID NOT COME ANYWHERE CLOSE TO HAVING THE MOST AMOUNT OF RAIN IN A JULY...FALLING 3.49 INCHES SHORT OF THE TOP 10 (BUT STILL 1.76 INCHES ABOVE NORMAL AND 30TH WETTEST OVERALL). THIS WAS JUST THE OPPOSITE OF JUNE OF THIS YEAR...WHICH WAS THE WETTEST JUNE ON RECORD...BUT WAS 8 DAYS SHORT OF THE MOST WET DAYS IN JUNE. "

Ruther Glen - Danny notes: " The streak of below normal precipitation months finally comes to an end with rainfall coming in a full three inches above normal, thanks to nearly four inches of rainfall on the 26th and 27th of the month. This month's precipitation erases nearly four months of rainfall deficits, but still leaves us below average for the year. An unseasonably cool stretch of weather toward the end of the month kept temperatures for the month slightly below normal. This is the second straight month of slightly below normal temperatures. " - [ - + ] 

Roanoke - Wendell sends these notes:" Believe it or not, I just had my 4th driest July on record. Only 1983 with 0.98" and 1977 with 1.01" and 1998 with 1.47" were drier than the 2.04" this July. And so many areas nearby in Roanoke had very heavy rains. The average temperture of 75.8° was 0.2° below normal. Our dry spell is so hard to believe since so much of the State has had so much rain. " - [ - -]

North Carolina:

Cape Hatteras - The average temperature in July 2004 was 80.8°. This was 2.2° warmer than the 1895-2004 average, the 8th warmest July on record (1895-2004). 4.48" of precipitation fell in July. This was 0.96" LESS than the 1895-2004 average, the 49th driest such month on record (1895-2004). - from NWS MHX [ + - ]

Raleigh - Bob reports: " JULY WAS A FAIRLY WET MONTH BUT THE AVERAGE DAILY TEMPERATURE WAS NEAR NORMAL. THIS STATION EXPERIENCED A NEARBY LIGHTNING STRIKE ON JULY 27TH RESULTING IN MY DAVIS WEATHER STATION IN NEED OF REPAIRS. RECORDS AFTER JULY 17TH WERE LOST. " - [ +/- + ] 

Raleigh - NWS Raleigh (RAH) reports: " Numerous thunderstorms in July brought bountiful rainfall to much of western and northern North Carolina, continuing the wet trend that began in June. Most reporting stations across the state received between 4 and 7 inches of rain. These totals were either near normal or above normal. The greatest monthly rainfall amounts, 6 to 8 inches, fell over the western and northern portions of the state from the Mountains east across the Foothills, Piedmont, northern Coastal Plain, northern Coastal Area, and the northern Outer Banks. The largest rainfall totals occurred at Oxford, located in the northern Piedmont (8.79 inches), Robbinsville, located in the southwest Mountains (8.72 inches); and Raleigh, in the northeast Piedmont (8.16 inches). Drier than normal conditions were limited to portions of southern and eastern North Carolina where rainfall totals of between 2.25 and 4 inches were recorded. These values were only half of normal. Tarboro, located in the Coastal Plain, was the driest spot, tallying only 2.35 inches. Mocksville, located in the western Piedmont, received only 2.86 inches. Temperatures during July 2004 averaged slightly above normal in the eastern sections, while the western part of the state averaged slightly below normal. The Outer Banks were an exception with monthly temperatures averaging around 1.5° above normal. There was only one prolonged period of hot weather during July. It occurred from the 4th through the 15th when daily highs frequently reached the 90s with little thunderstorm activity. The last two weeks of the month featured scattered to occasionally numerous thunderstorms that brought clouds, significant rains, and cooler daytime temperatures to North Carolina. More extensive details can be downloaded here. " -

Wilmington - " RECORD WARMEST MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 77° TIED ON 5TH. " - from NWS ILM  

South Carolina:

Nearby Cities:

Tri-Cities - " The average monthly temperature at Tri-Cities was 74.0 degrees, which was 0.2° below normal. A record low was broken on the 20th, when the temperature dropped to 57° beating the old record for that day of 58° set in 1947. The coolest July at Tri-Cities was back in 1967, when the average temperature was only 69.8°. Tri-Cities received 5.01" of rain in July, which was 0.80" above normal. It ranked as the 29th wettest July on record. Measurable rain fell on 17 days, and four of those days receiving more than one-half-inch of rain with one day reporting over an inch. The heaviest rain fell on the 25th, when 1.63" was recorded, which also broke the old daily rainfall record for that day of 0.94" set in 1977. Another 24-hour rainfall record was broken on the 26th, when 0.81" fell surpassing the previous record for that day of 0.72" set in 1993. The wettest July at Tri-Cities was back in 1949, when 9.73" fell. " - from NWS MRX [ - + ] 

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  
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 2003-2004 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  
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


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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
ANN    Annandale, VA 1 3/4 ENE - Lowell Koontz  8/31/79  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 WEE   Weems, VA 3WNW Francis J. Socey
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 m.psb@verizon.net    Ruther Glen, VA 38°0'45" N 77°32'29" W 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  BRE    Brevard, NC 1SE Bob Keehn 1/1/90 rkeehn@brinet.com
IAD   Dulles - Washington-Dulles International Airport  38-56-05N 077-26-51W 93M  CLT    Charlotte, NC NWS Charlotte/Douglas International Airpot 35-12-48N 080-56-55W 220M
FCH    Falls Church, VA Erica Page - 3/7/94 Windie1970@aol.com HKY  Hickory, NC 
HAM    Hampton, VA 5NE Dave Kessel 1989 davidckessel@cox.net ECG  Elizabeth City, NC,  Coast Guard Air Station 36-15-47N 076-10-58W 11M
CTR  Chesterfield, VA Albert Arnold 06/03 FAY  Fayetteville, NC Fayetteville Regional Airport, 34-59-22N 078-52-48W 55M
HER    Herndon, VA R.M. Beall P- 10/76   T-  1/91 beall47@earthlink.net GSO   Greensboro, NC NWS Piedmont Triad International Airport 36-05-51N 079-56-37W 275M
   HSE    Cape Hatteras, NC  Mitchell Field 35-13-56N 075-27-21W 3M
HRN   Herndon, VA 4SW Russ Topping -  1985 weatherwatcher@cox.net 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
LXI     Lexington, VA  Scott M. Lancey, WREL Radio -  06/96 weather@wrel.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 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 wvweather@mountain.net