Note: I had hoped to get the September Weather Summary and 09-10 Water Year summary posts in tonight, but needed to do some data entry for CoCoRaHS. I had computer issues this summer, and was without access for most of the summer. We're back online now, but the data entry took longer than expected. I'm hoping to get the summaries up soon...lots to talk about.
But for now, a quick commentary on mid-Missouri weather as of October 2nd
Since I was young, I've always pondered the official beginnings of the season according to the calander. My birthday lands on December 9 which to me has always felt like winter. Snow, cold, no leaves...winter. It always confused me that it is still fall until just days before Christmas.
I think, however that the Autumnal Equinox is a very good dividing line many years that marks the beginning of fall. When the wind shifts to the north, it brings drier and cooler air than it has for the past few months. The freshly-cut corn and bean fields fill the air with the memories of hay rides and fall festivals. This year was no different. We topped out at 90 degrees this September, with many more days in the mid to upper 80s throughout much of the month. But the last week or so was just plain nice. Tomorrow night, we will even have a chance for our first frost to greet us. This is fast becoming my favorite time of year.
I have a lot to talk about in my September summary, which is why I'm choosing not to write the post now. Some highlights are the high temperatures, reaching our yearly rain total this month, and some ponderings on the increasing rain intensities over the past 30 years.
Oh, and we're up to 20 mows now. Hopefully we're getting close!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
August Weather Summary
This past month is easy for me to summarize: Hot and sticky. I know...kinda goes with the territory for mid-Missouri in the summer, but it was just nonstop this year. It's possible that I've just been spoiled with the fantastic summers of 2008 and 2009. We spent much of August this year under a heat advisory, and spent a two-week period with daily Heat Indices at or above 100°. Not only is that uncomfortable, but it's also dangerous. Heat is the #1 weather-related killer in the country.
Temperatures
Notice the beginning of the month. Although we didn't get close to records, the constant heat was very uncomfortable.
Mean Temp: 79.6°
Deviation: +4.0°
Maximum: 99° on Aug. 3, 10, 13
Minimum: 55° on Aug. 28
As a side note, the maximum dew point recorded this month was on Aug 9 at 79°
Precipitation
Yes, the temperature was the big story of the month, but making its appearance in the shop talk was once again what a wet summer we are having. For the third year in a row, we have experienced above-average rainfall amounts. So far, for the period of June - August, we are 4.91" above the 30-year mean. With only 7 days with measurable precip, we ended up with a total of 6.80" this month (about half of that fell on Aug. 20 alone).
Other Weather Info:
Days with thunder: 4
Days with fog: 4
Days with wind gust (>= 20 mph): 4
Number of mows: 19
Mean Temp: 79.6°
Deviation: +4.0°
Maximum: 99° on Aug. 3, 10, 13
Minimum: 55° on Aug. 28
As a side note, the maximum dew point recorded this month was on Aug 9 at 79°
Precipitation
Yes, the temperature was the big story of the month, but making its appearance in the shop talk was once again what a wet summer we are having. For the third year in a row, we have experienced above-average rainfall amounts. So far, for the period of June - August, we are 4.91" above the 30-year mean. With only 7 days with measurable precip, we ended up with a total of 6.80" this month (about half of that fell on Aug. 20 alone).
Average August: 3.64"
Actual August: 6.80" (+3.16")
Days with measurable precip: 7
Other Weather Info:
Days with thunder: 4
Days with fog: 4
Days with wind gust (>= 20 mph): 4
Number of mows: 19
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
July Weather Summary
July ended with a warm and wet tone in the books, although if you were to guess, it would seem hot and dry. Even with 13 days of precipitation, it didn't seem like it was overly wet (at this station). Still, it was no typical July, but it has fallen in line with the past two years. Although we were much cooler last year, we also recorded a surplus of +2.36" (this year was +2.83").
Temperature
Mean Temp: 79.6°
Deviation: +2.1°
Maximum: 96° on July 14
Minimum: 56° on July 2
Precipitation
Average July: 4.12"
Actual July: 6.95" (+2.83")
Days with measurable precipitation: 13
Other Weather Info
Days with thunder: 10
Days with fog: 3
Days with wind gust (>=20 mph): 4
# of Mows so far this year? 14
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Severe Storm July 20
For the past three days, a line of strong and severe storms have raced through our area bringing with them very heavy rain, lots of lightning, and strong winds. Sunday morning's storm brought with it some hail in addition. We missed out on Monday's storm, but it knocked down a barn 20 miles north of us. Tuesday's storm is the topic of this post. The storm hit around 7:30 a.m. and had lots of lightning, and the strongest winds I've seen since my 6 years in Fulton. Officially at this station, we recorded a NW wind at 48.3 mph. Now the anemometer is in a somewhat sheltered area given the houses around us, so I would bump that speed up for accuracy. After the initial storm passed, light rain fell for about 2.5 hours. Rainfall totaled 1.02" for the morning.
At night, we had another storm roll through, bringing our daily total to 1.32"
Below are pictures of the damage to the neighborhood. Anything that wasn't secured down was blown out of yards. Multiple trees, up to 12" in diameter were snapped in half, and those folks with 6' privacy fencing lost sections. The van across our street was damaged by a flying piece of fence. The storm was apparently at its worse over southern Fulton (including my neighborhood). Where I work, on the north side, we didn't have a single twig on the ground. But as I drove home for lunch, I saw more and more limbs on the side of the road.
At night, we had another storm roll through, bringing our daily total to 1.32"
Below are pictures of the damage to the neighborhood. Anything that wasn't secured down was blown out of yards. Multiple trees, up to 12" in diameter were snapped in half, and those folks with 6' privacy fencing lost sections. The van across our street was damaged by a flying piece of fence. The storm was apparently at its worse over southern Fulton (including my neighborhood). Where I work, on the north side, we didn't have a single twig on the ground. But as I drove home for lunch, I saw more and more limbs on the side of the road.
One of the damaged fences
Saturday, July 3, 2010
June Weather Summary
So far, I can say that the past few summers have just been plain nice in Missouri. We are still experiencing days with dew points topping 70°, but temperatures haven't been that oppressive (which can be a typical talking point for Missouri loafers). The last time we officially hit 100° was August 16, 2007 (according to the NWS Columbia Station). I remember 2007 as an intense summer. We had a string of 20 days at or above 90° (from 7/31 - 8/19), and if I remember right we had a minor to moderate drought in parts of Missouri. I remember a funny scene on the news that summer. The Governor was giving a speech at a Mid-Missouri farm announcing the release of state emergency funds for the drought...in the middle of a tropical downpour!
All that being said, we have enjoyed a couple of nice years, but the law of averages are not pointing in our favor. And traditionally July and August are our toughest months.
Dew Point
I am interested in keeping track of the amount of moisture in the air throughout the year (by means of dew point temperature). Although I could manually check the hi/low Td for each day as I do with the temperature, I'm not convinced I would stay disciplined enough to keep steady data (feeling overwhelmed as I do often). For now, a glance of nighttime temps will suffice, as a lower Td will allow for more cooling overnight. This month, we had 10 days with a nighttime low at or above 70°. That makes for some sticky weather -- or "Air you can wear"-- as one local meteorologist puts it.
Temperature
Mostly above average this month. We had 23 days with a high exceeding the average, which helped bump up our mean temp quite a bit over the 30 year average.
Mean Temp: 77.4°
Deviation: +4.7°
Maximum: 95° on Jun. 20
Minimum: 59° on Jun. 30
Precipitation
Interspersed as it was, we still didn't hit the mark this month. Pop-up showers and thunderstorms were the norm in Missouri this month, so extreme differences can be found from station to station. We weren't that lucky, although we did receive our fair share. The lawn looks the brownest that it has in three years (which is its normal dormancy period for MO). I don't mind much because it gives the mowing a little respite.
Average June: 3.87"
Actual June: 2.79" (1.08)
Days with measurable precip: 12
Other Weather Info
Days with thunder = 7
Days with fog = 1
Days with wind gust (>= 20 mph) = 5
Our lawn mowing count is up to 10 for the year. I'm still thinking the total might top out at around 18...we'll see.
Random Photos and Video
Below is a video I shot shortly after sundown on May 24. The lightning was simply beautiful that night, so I couldn't help getting video of it. The camera view is facing ESE.
Other photos I have are ones that I've snapped over the summer. There are plenty, but I chose only a sampling. Enjoy!
All that being said, we have enjoyed a couple of nice years, but the law of averages are not pointing in our favor. And traditionally July and August are our toughest months.
Dew Point
I am interested in keeping track of the amount of moisture in the air throughout the year (by means of dew point temperature). Although I could manually check the hi/low Td for each day as I do with the temperature, I'm not convinced I would stay disciplined enough to keep steady data (feeling overwhelmed as I do often). For now, a glance of nighttime temps will suffice, as a lower Td will allow for more cooling overnight. This month, we had 10 days with a nighttime low at or above 70°. That makes for some sticky weather -- or "Air you can wear"-- as one local meteorologist puts it.
Temperature
Mostly above average this month. We had 23 days with a high exceeding the average, which helped bump up our mean temp quite a bit over the 30 year average.
Mean Temp: 77.4°
Deviation: +4.7°
Maximum: 95° on Jun. 20
Minimum: 59° on Jun. 30
Precipitation
Interspersed as it was, we still didn't hit the mark this month. Pop-up showers and thunderstorms were the norm in Missouri this month, so extreme differences can be found from station to station. We weren't that lucky, although we did receive our fair share. The lawn looks the brownest that it has in three years (which is its normal dormancy period for MO). I don't mind much because it gives the mowing a little respite.
Average June: 3.87"
Actual June: 2.79" (1.08)
Days with measurable precip: 12
Other Weather Info
Days with thunder = 7
Days with fog = 1
Days with wind gust (>= 20 mph) = 5
Our lawn mowing count is up to 10 for the year. I'm still thinking the total might top out at around 18...we'll see.
Random Photos and Video
Below is a video I shot shortly after sundown on May 24. The lightning was simply beautiful that night, so I couldn't help getting video of it. The camera view is facing ESE.
Other photos I have are ones that I've snapped over the summer. There are plenty, but I chose only a sampling. Enjoy!
Sunrise - June 27, Montauk Springs
The garden so far. We've got peppers that are close to being ready,
lots of green tomatoes, and squash comin out of our ears!
Friday, June 11, 2010
June 8 Shelf Cloud
June has been relatively active for Missouri. While we have experienced average precip here, the poor folks in northern MO have had an extremely wet 14 days. Estimates for extreme northern MO are up to 10" according to the AHPS Precipitation Analysis team.
The purpose of this post, however is to share one of the most exciting clouds I've witnessed. On the morning of June 8th, around 11:00 a.m., a rather large complex of storms eased its way southeast. After hearing reports of a wicked shelf cloud 30 minutes ahead of the actual storm, I grabbed the camera and waited outside. I was not disappointed! I made an attemt (my first) at pasting together a panoramic of the clouds, but believe me the picture doesn't do the cloud justice. This was amazing.
The purpose of this post, however is to share one of the most exciting clouds I've witnessed. On the morning of June 8th, around 11:00 a.m., a rather large complex of storms eased its way southeast. After hearing reports of a wicked shelf cloud 30 minutes ahead of the actual storm, I grabbed the camera and waited outside. I was not disappointed! I made an attemt (my first) at pasting together a panoramic of the clouds, but believe me the picture doesn't do the cloud justice. This was amazing.
(For a larger view, click on the picture)
May Weather Summary
Since the last post, May dried off and heated up. We enjoyed some sun at the beginning of the month, a wet--although not over the top--middle, and by the end, we were getting a nice welcome into summer.
Temperature
Mean Temp: 64.7°
Deviation: +1.0°
Maximum: 91° on May 24
Minimum: 41° on May 8
Precipitation
Average May: 4.97"
Actual May: 4.23" (0.74")
Days with measurable precip: 12
Even with 12 days of measurable precipitation, we still came under the mark for the month. This is partly due to the fact that we didn't have any 1" events, but rather more moderate amounts as shown in the above graph. Compare this with last year's totals below. We had 12 days of measurable precip, but over an inch more rain filled the bucket.
Other Weather Info
Days with thunder: 10
Days with fog: 4
Days with wind gust (>= 20 mph): 5
As of today (June 11), we've mowed the yard 7 times.
Mean Temp: 64.7°
Deviation: +1.0°
Maximum: 91° on May 24
Minimum: 41° on May 8
Precipitation
Average May: 4.97"
Actual May: 4.23" (0.74")
Days with measurable precip: 12
Even with 12 days of measurable precipitation, we still came under the mark for the month. This is partly due to the fact that we didn't have any 1" events, but rather more moderate amounts as shown in the above graph. Compare this with last year's totals below. We had 12 days of measurable precip, but over an inch more rain filled the bucket.
Other Weather Info
Days with thunder: 10
Days with fog: 4
Days with wind gust (>= 20 mph): 5
As of today (June 11), we've mowed the yard 7 times.
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