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Welcome to West Henrico Co. - Glen Allen VA.

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Weather_Station

Fairfax County, VA

Weather center has precip. sensor and dew sensor.
Maximum and minimum therometers
Vanage pro 2
Tripping bucket rain gauge
Three standing precip. gauges
Soil wetness and temperature instruments
Relative humidity sensor
Assmann psychrometer
   
March 6-8, 1962 Snowstorm

Rockingham County, VA

Storm of March 5th-9th See the following address for my write-up on this storm! http://www.annandaleweather.com/links/digest/greatestsnow.htm See this address for the NWS write up.
It is known as the "Ash Wednesday Storm." It caused over $200 million (1962 dollars) in property damage and major coastal erosion from North Carolina to Long Island, NY. In New Jersey alone, it was estimated to have destroyed or greatly damaged 45,000 homes. The Red Cross recorded that the storm killed 40 people. It hit during "Spring Tide." When the sun and moon are in phase, they produce a higher than normal astronomical tide. Water reached nine feet at Norfolk (flooding begins around five feet). Houses were toppled into the ocean and boardwalks were broken and twisted. The islands of Chincoteague and Assateague, Maryland were completely underwater. Ocean City, Maryland sustained major damage especially to the south end of the island. Winds up to 70 mph built 40-foot waves at sea. Heavy snow fell in the Appalachian Mountains. Big Meadows, southeast of Luray, recorded Virginia's greatest 24-hour snowfall with 33 inches and the greatest single storm snowfall with 42 inches. Nearly two feet of snow fell from Charlottesville (21 inches) to Luray (24 inches) to Winchester (22 inches). Roads were blocked and electrical service was out for several days. Washington and Baltimore fell into the mixed precipitation zone.
The Ash Wednesday storm is noteworthy for producing devastating tidal flooding along the Atlantic Coast as well as record snows in the interior of Virginia. The extremely high tides and massive waves caused tremendous damage -worst in many of the hurricanes that have hit the region. National Airport received only 4 inches of snow with a liquid equivalent of 1.33 inches. However, close-in suburbs, such as Silver Spring, Md. and Falls Church, Virginia received 11 inches of snow. Outlying areas such as Rockville, Maryland received 19 inches of snow and Leesburg, Virginia received 20 inches of snow. Other snow totals included 15 inches at Richmond; 23 inches at Culpeper; 26 inches at Charlottesville; 32 inches at Winchester; and 35 inches at Fort Royal, Virginia and Big Meadows on the Skyline Drive top the list with 42 inches of snow. (p. 73-76 Washington Weather Book 2002 by Ambrose, Henry, Weiss)
   
1969 Christmas Snowstorm

Rockingham County VA

Snow starting falling around 0830 Christmas Day and by midnight we had 7.5 inches then another 5.0 inches fell before daylight of the 26th. This was the most snow on the ground at Christmas since 1908 at Dale Enterprise when 8.0 was on the gound from a 13.0 inch snow on December 22, 1908.
   
Feb 17-18, 1979 Snowstorm

Alexandria,VA

The President's Day snowstorm was the 3rd greatest snowstorm in Washinton DC history. This small, but intense low pressure system "exploded" near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina and moved slowly up the coast. Snow began to fall in the District during the afternoon of February 18th. On the morning of February 19th Washingtonians awoke to the biggest snowfall since the Knickerbockers snowstorm of 1922. National Airport received 18.7 inches of snow, while up to 26 inches of snow buried the eastern suburbs. With 6 inches of snow on the ground before the storm, the snow-covered in Washington area ranged from 24 to 30 inches on the ground. Forecasters believed the storm would move south of Washington and out to sea only grazing the area with a light snow of 1 to 3 inches. As snow piled up across the Washington area snow forecasts were updated frequently to catch up with the rapid increase in accumulation. National Airport received 18.7 inches of snow and Dulles Airport received 16.3 inches of snow. . (p. 81-86 Washington Weather Book 2002 by Ambrose, Henry, Weiss)
   
Feb 11 - 12 1983 Snowstorm

Alexandria, VA

The sixth largest snowstorm in Washington history occurred with 16.6 inches in DC, 23 inches at Dulles, 36 inches in the Blue Ridge Mountains. (Bob Ryan's 2002 Almanac) The Middle Atlantic Coast States and southern New England were in the midst of a major snowstorm. In Pennsylvania, the storm produced 21 inches at Philadelphia, 24 inches at Harrisburg, and 25 inches at Allentown, establishing record 24-hour totals and single storm totals for those locations. New York City received 22 inches of snow, and 35 inches was reported at Glen Gary, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of West Virginia. (10th-12th) (Storm Data) (The Weather Channel)
A huge snowstorm swept up the eastern seaboard, burying the Virginia Washington area in a swath of very heavy snow. During the late evening of February 10th a low over Georgia started giving a light snow to the Washington area. The snow slowly picked up in intensity during the overnight hours and by morning the surface low was positioned just east of Wilmington, North Carolina. A tight pressure gradient between the storm and a high-pressure area to the north causing winds to increase to gust over 40 mph and snowfall rates of 3 inches per hour were common. Many observers particularly in the Maryland suburbs reported several episodes of lightning and thunder. Most of the southern and eastern suburbs recorded 15 to 20 inches of snow while 20 to 30 inches of snow fell in the northern and western suburbs. National Airport received 16.6 inches while 22.8 inches fell at both BWI and Dulles Airport. In Northwest Montgomery and Frederick Counties the storm was the greatest ever recorded easily exceeding the totals received during the famous Knickerbockers storm of January 1922. (p. 90 Washington Weather Book 2002 by Ambrose, Henry, Weiss)
   
Jan 6 - 8, 1996 Snowstorm

1.7 miles NNE of Annandale, VA

THE BLIZZARD OF JANUARY 7-8, 1996 - This was the 4th greatest snowstorm for Washington DC history.
The storm began on Saturday the 6th and continued at an amazingly steady rate until mid-afternoon Sunday, January 7th. By that time, 13 to 17 inches of snow had accumulated in most areas with up to 20 inches in the distant western suburbs. The snow bands were accompanied by lightning, thunder and whiteout conditions at times. Monday morning January 8th, the snow squalls had tapered off leaving the Washington metro area buried in 15 to 25 inches of snow. The blizzard of 1996 was just the first of 3 snowstorms to hit the Washington area during the snowy week of January 7-12. On the 9th an Alberta clipper storm center passed directly over the region, dropping another quick shot of surprisingly heavy snowfall in the area. The western suburbs were dusted with only an inch of snow while up to 6 inches of snow fell in eastern areas such as Prince George's and Charles Counties. January 10th was a nice sunny day with high temperatures reaching a rather balmy 34 degrees at National Airport. The third and final snow took place on the 12th as a quick moving coastal storm dropping 5 to 12 inches of snow across the region.
This storm was incredibly massive and truly historic in its scope as many all-time snow records were broken over a large area. Records included 24.9 inches in Roanoke, Virginia; 30.7 inches in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; 27.8 inches Newark, New Jersey; and 14.4 inches as far away as Cincinnati, Ohio. The snowfall at National Airport measured 17.1 inches while the snowfall at Dulles accumulated to 24.6 inches. Other snowfall totals included 21 inches in Fredericksburg, Virginia; 22.5 inches in Baltimore, Maryland; and 25.7 inches in Rockville, Maryland. Generally snowfall amounts between Washington and Boston were between 17 to 30 inches.
On January 18th there was an extremely rapid thaw brought on by temperatures to 62 degrees along with high dew point temperatures and heavy rain. (p. 96-101 Washington Weather Book 2002 by Ambrose, Henry, Weiss)
   
Jan 25, 2000 Snowstorm

1.7 miles NNE of Annandale, VA

Mesoscale Predictability of the Surprise Snowstorm of 24-25 January 2000
Issn: 1520-0493 Journal: Monthly Weather Review Volume: 130 Issue: 6 Pages: 1617-1632
Authors: Zhang, F., Snyder, Chris, Rotunno, Richard


A mesoscale model is used here to investigate the possible sources of forecast error for the 24-25 January 2000 snowstorm along the east coast of the United States. The primary focus is the quantitative precipitation forecast out to lead times of 36 hours. The success of the present high-resolution control forecast shows that the storm could have been well forecasted with conventional data in real time. Various experiments suggest that insufficient model grid resolution and errors in the initial conditions both contributed significantly to problems in the forecast.
   
Feb 15 - 18, 2003 Snowstorm

1.7 miles NNE of Annandale, VA

The Presidents’ Day Weekend Snowstorm of February 2003
National: 16.7" The 5th largest snowstorm for Washington DC.
BWI: 28.2" The Greatest of all Baltimore snowstorms.
Dulles: 22.4"
Feb. 17, 2003
The 5th largest snowstorm at Annandale-Barcroft Hills Weather Center in the last 23 years with a toal of 15.8 inches and was the most snow since January- 6-8 -1996 when 18.1 inches was recorded.
This MAJOR storm had a 2/15/2003 snow total of 1.3 inches, 2/16/2003 snow total of 13.0 inches, 2/17/2003 snow total of 1.5 inches. Yet another 7.7 inches of snow would fall before the month was over.
Heavy accumulations weighed down on buildings and several structural collapses occurred. (Nat.Weather Service )
   
Ice Crystals

Crystals on window panes

Frost - Barely freezing cold and slow moving damp air are conducive to grow frost crystals on sheltered surfaces.
When temperatures are at the edge of freezing, crystals grow on their edges, molecules hitting the broader sides bouncing off. The orientation of the molecules and their polar charged edges being more likely to capture stray water molecules that bounce against them than the non-charged surfaces along the crystal's flatter side.
   
High Cirrus Clouds

3-18 Km or 10,000 - 60,000 Feet

In the winter of 1803 a London pharmacist named Luke Howard derived a cloud classification system based on four cloud types.
Flat or "layered" (stratus)
Puffed or "heaped" (cumulus)
Wispy or "curled" (cirrus)
"Precipitating" (nimbus)
His system won quick acceptance.

There are three primary cloud forms, (1) the heap cloud, known as Cumulus, (2) the layer cloud, known as Stratus, (3) the streak cloud known as Cirrus.
The three basic cloud forms are then subdivided into ten different divisions based on cloud base height. They are from the highest to lowest
1. Cirrus, 2. Cirrostratus 3. Cirrocumulus 4. Altostratus 5. Altocumulus 6.
Stratus 7. Stratocumulus 8. Nimbostratus 9. Cumulus 10. Cumulonimbus.

The World Meteorological Organization recognizes 10 genera, 20 species and 30 -odd varieties of cloud names.





   
Cumulus & Mid-Clouds

2 - 8 Km or 6,500-25,000 Feet

Cumulus Clouds - In the winter of 1803 a London pharmacist named Luke Howard derived a cloud classification system based on four cloud types.
Flat or "layered" (stratus)
Puffed or "heaped" (cumulus)
Wispy or "curled" (cirrus)
Precipitating (nimbus)
His system won quick acceptance.

There are three primary cloud forms, (1) the heap cloud, known as Cumulus, (2) the layer cloud, known as Stratus, (3) the streak cloud known as Cirrus.
The three basic cloud forms are then subdivided into ten different divisions based on cloud base height. They are from the highest to lowest
1. Cirrus, 2. Cirrostratus 3. Cirrocumulus 4. Altostratus 5. Altocumulus 6.
Stratus 7. Stratocumulus 8. Nimbostratus 9. Cumulus 10. Cumulonimbus.

The World Meteorological Organization recognizes 10 genera, 20 species and 30 -odd varieties of cloud names.
   
Low Clouds

Below 2 Km or below 6,000 Feet

Stratus Clouds - In the winter of 1803 a London pharmacist named Luke Howard derived a cloud classification system based on four cloud types.
Flat or "layered" (stratus)
Puffed or "heaped" (cumulus)
Wispy or "curled" (cirrus)
Precipitating (nimbus)
His system won quick acceptance.

There are three primary cloud forms, (1) the heap cloud, known as Cumulus, (2) the layer cloud, known as Stratus, (3) the streak cloud known as Cirrus.
The three basic cloud forms are then subdivided into ten different divisions based on cloud base height. They are from the highest to lowest
1. Cirrus, 2. Cirrostratus 3. Cirrocumulus 4. Altostratus 5. Altocumulus 6.
Stratus 7. Stratocumulus 8. Nimbostratus 9. Cumulus 10. Cumulonimbus.

The World Meteorological Organization recognizes 10 genera, 20 species and 30 -odd varieties of cloud names.
   
Special Clouds

At different Heights

Special Clouds - In the winter of 1803 a London pharmacist named Luke Howard derived a cloud classification system based on four cloud types.
Flat or "layered" (stratus)
Puffed or "heaped" (cumulus)
Wispy or "curled" (cirrus)
Precipitating (nimbus)
His system won quick acceptance.

There are three primary cloud forms, (1) the heap cloud, known as Cumulus, (2) the layer cloud, known as Stratus, (3) the streak cloud known as Cirrus.
The three basic cloud forms are then subdivided into ten different divisions based on cloud base height. They are from the highest to lowest
1. Cirrus, 2. Cirrostratus 3. Cirrocumulus 4. Altostratus 5. Altocumulus 6.
Stratus 7. Stratocumulus 8. Nimbostratus 9. Cumulus 10. Cumulonimbus.

The World Meteorological Organization recognizes 10 genera, 20 species and 30 -odd varieties of cloud names.
   
Hail

Hail Storm occurred at Annandale - Barcroft Hills Weather Center on August 11, 2004

Hailstorm occurred on August 11, 2004. I have never observed such large hail in my life! We had hail stones as large as 2.5 x 3.0 inches (the average size was around 2 inches). They were conglomerates and far from being spherical. The maximum wind hit 50 mph at 1606 from the west. Quarter size hail started around 1610 and was followed by large hail for about one or two minutes around 1616 and the storm was over in around 20 minutes. It did put some dents in our car top. We were lucky there wasn't much of the large hail and it didn't last long. Total rainfall from storm was 0.93 inches and we had 0.38 inches in 5 minutes. Maximum rain rate was 11.08 inches per hour at 1607. Rainfall at this rate lasted less than one minute but a new record rate on Davis Vantage Pro instrument.
   
Glazes

Severe Glaze is often referred to as a Ice Storm

Ice Storms or Glaze is a coating of ice that forms on objects when rain occurs with the air temperature below freezing on the earth's surface.
   
Hurricane Isabel

Images of local storms and major hurricanes in the southeast U.S.

Hurricane Isabel- Peak winds were 41 mph on September 8, 2003 at 04:03 PM
Attic- A limb speared through the roof and attic then into the bedroom.
Bedroom- Damage to a neighbor's house that lives in a wooded area.
Isabel Map- Shows the storm track to the SW of us.
Satellite- Well developed storm and came ashore as a Cat#2 & was once a Cat#5.
   
Hurricane Katrina

Hurriane hit Gulf Coast on 8-29-2005

Second Lowest air pressure and Larger than Camille.
Katrina was a Category 1 hurricane when making landfall on the Miami-Dade/Broward county line in Florida, U. S.
After moving SW across Florida the hurricane exited west into the Gulf of Mexico where it underwent intensification.
Katrina was a Category 5 storm on August 28, 2005 for the entire day. The lowest reported pressure was 902 Mb lower than Camille's 909 Mb.
The highest sustained winds were 184 mph.
It made its second landfall near Buras, Louisiana with 145 mph winds, or Category 4, on August 29, 2005.
Hurricane Katrina's eyewall then passed over the eastern edge of New Orleans before the hurricane was again over water.
A few hours later it made landfall for a third time near the Louisiana/Mississippi border with 125 mph winds, or Category 3.
Katrina lost hurricane status crossing over 100 miles inland, near Laurel, MI.
It was downgraded to a tropical depression near Clarksville, TN and continued northward.

   
March 1-2, 2009 - Glen Allen Snowstorm

1st Glen Allen Album

West Henrico Co. - Glen Allen Weather Station recorded 9.0 inches of snow from the snowstorm of March 1st and 2nd. The west end of Richmond was the hardest hit. The Richmond International Airport first reported 5.7 inches that was later revised to 6.3 inches.
   
White Christmas in Richmond

Dec. 18-19, 2009

On December 18, Asheville, North Carolina, received 10.1 inches of snow, a record for the date.” (Weatherwise, March/April 2010, page 62) The first snow flakes in the Richmond, Va area started at 1622 and 8.7 inches at West Henrico Co. - Glen Allen VA. area while the Richmond International Airport reported only 6.0 inches but a record for the date and it was still snowing. West Henrico Co. - Glen Allen VA. area station got 8.7 inches on the 18th and 4.2 inches on the 19th for a total of 12.9 inches. Richmond International Airport had a record snowfall for the date of the 18th of 6.0 inches. This breaks the old record of 5.3 inches set in 1916 and the most snow in December since 1989 when 9.9 inches was recorded for the month. The Richmond International Airport had a total of 7.4 inches on the 18 and 19 making this the fifth largest December storm on their records. The West Henrico Co. - Glen Allen VA. station at midnight had 8.7 inches and ended up with 12.9 inches when the storm was over on the 19th.
   
Jan. 30-31, 2010

West Henrico Co. - Glen Allen VA.

This was one of the coldest snows Richmond, VA has seen in the past 30 years that lasted for 22 hours and was all snow for the whole storm except some snow pellets and some light freezing drizzle at the end of the storm in western Henrico Co. The Richmond International Airport had a high of 27 °F and a low of 18 °F on the 30th or a daily mean of 22.5 °F and is thought to be the coldest significant snow storm in Richmond since a 13 inch snow of March 1st and 2nd in 1980. The daily mean temperature for March 1st 1980 was 17 °F at the Richmond International Airport. This storm started between 0410 and 0415 AM and lasted until 0200 AM of the 31st. The heaviest snowfall rate was 2.0 inches per hour between 1100 and noon and visibility to about 0.2 miles. The wind hit 21 mph at 1608 and there was more drifting in this storm than the Dec 18th-19th of 2009. (West Henrico Co. - Glen Allen VA. Station )
   
Chicago Blizzard

Night of Feb. 2, 2011 and morning of Feb.3, 2011

2011
Chicago Snowcane
Chicago receives a 20.2 inch snowfall in the blizzard of 2011 making it the third worst storm since snow records began in 1886 in Chicago (125 years). Tom Skilling, veteran meteorologist of WGN-TV in Chicago who experienced the 1967, 1979, and 1999 record snowstorms for Chicago was being interviewed by Jim Catore today. Tom Skilling said that while the 2011 storm of 20.2 inches falls a few inches short of the all-time record, that the amazing winds of this blizzard made this the worst snowstorm he has seen in the area.
   
Hurricane Irene

Glen Allen & Richmond, VA

The worst of the storm was between 1700 to 2100.
The high wind gust today was 52 mph at 17:53 hours and new record wind speed for this station. (Records since September 2008)
The Richmond International Airport recorded a wind gust to 71 mph.
The Richmond International Airport highest gust during Isabel was 73 mph.
Irene was certainly the worst wind storm since Isabel for the Richmond area.
The West Henrico Co. - Glen Allen VA. total precip. yesterday was 3.75 inches a calendar day record rainfall for this station. (Records since August 2008)
The precip. for today was 0.08 inches & for Aug. 6.65 inches and the ave. precip. to Aug. 28 is 3.69 inches giving a departure of + 2.96 inches.
The storm total was 3.83 inches and 24 hour total which sets a new record for the most precipitation in 24 hours. (Records since August 2008)
Also two large trees down in our neighbors yard.
   

 

 



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