Saturday, August 11, 2012

A WET Opening To August 2012


August 7, 2012
View From Lonesome Pine Airport
Looking To High Knob Massif
Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

The High Knob Landform

Framed by cloud capped forests of the High Knob Massif, a field of late summer wildflowers is bathed in heavenly light as sunset approaches Lonesome Pine Airport in Wise County, Virginia.

August 7, 2012
Lonesome Pine Airport - Elevation 2684 feet
Cloud Capped Forests of High Knob Massif
Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

Rod Addington Photography

August 7, 2012
Heavenly Rays of Sunlight
Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

Special Edition: Colors Of Heaven's Glory

Nestled against northern slopes of the sprawling High Knob Massif, where flowing air is often forced to rise & converge, the City of Norton has received measurable rain on 32 of the past 41 days.  
[ For the period ending on August 11, 2012 ].

Updated - August 20, 2012
( Northern Base of High Knob Massif )
August 2012 Rainfall Days
City of Norton Water Plant
Observers - Water Plant Staff
Elevation 2342 feet

( Daily Amounts Ending At 9 AM )

8/1:  1.62"
8/2:  0.07"

8/4:  0.40"
8/5: 0.02"
8/6: 1.55"
8/7:  0.35"
8/8: 0.06"
8/9:  0.01"
8/10: 1.34"
8/11: 0.80"

8/15: 0.03"
8/16: 0.40"

8/18: 0.90"
8/19: 0.02"
8/20: 0.50"

*August 1-20 Total: 8.07"

Total Since July 1: 18.77"

Total Since June 1: 21.56"

2012 Total: 48.82"
( As of August 20, 2012 )

Total Since January 1, 2011: 125.28"

*Doppler radar and other rain gauges show a general 6.00" to 8.00" of rainfall across the City of Norton during the first 10 days of August ( ending AM of August 11 ).  This includes Flag Rock Recreation Area and Benges Basin of the Norton Reservoir system.

August 7, 2012
Looking West - Lonesome Pine Airport
Glory Of Heavenly Light Near Sunset
Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

A general 15.00" to 25.00" of summer rain has fallen in the High Knob Massif area during the June 1 to August 11 period of 2012.

Updated - August 20, 2012
August 2012 Rainfall Days
Robinson Knob of High Knob Massif
Observers - Otis & Nancy Ward
Elevation 3240 feet

( Daily Amounts Ending At 8 AM )

8/1:  1.14"
8/2:  0.03"

8/4:  0.20"
8/5:  0.35"
8/6:  0.79"
8/7:  1.34"
8/8:  0.54"

8/10:  0.40"
8/11: 0.26"

8/15: 0.02"
8/16: 0.18"

8/18: 0.34"
8/19: 0.03"
8/20: 1.00"

August 1-20 Total: 6.62"

Total Since July 1: 20.80"

Total Since June 1: 23.87"

2012 Total: 49.03" ( M )
( As of August 20, 2012 )

Total Since January 1, 2011: 130.17" ( M )

( M ) - Indicates missing moisture in deeper falls of winter snow.

Despite again missing heaviest rains this summer, the total at Big Cherry Dam since the beginning of January 2011 has been more than 128.00" when factoring in the moisture losses ( 2.04" so far in 2012 ) on the 4-inch diameter NWS gauge.

August 7, 2012
Looking Into The Heavens
Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

A huge precipitation gradient has again developed across Virginia in 2012, as well documented by this website in recent years, with extreme differences since the beginning of 2011 varying from less than 60.00" in drier locations of the Old Dominion to more than 130.00" of total precipitation in wetter portions of the High Knob Massif ( a 70.00"+ variation in just over 19 months ).


Precipitation Statistics
Virginia & District of Columbia
( Totals As Of August 12, 2012 )





Washington National Airport
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 5.93"
2012 Precipitation Total: 16.67"
( 63.56" since January 1, 2011 )

Washington Dulles Airport
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 5.82"
2012 Precipitation: 18.63"
( 64.83" since January 1, 2011 )

Danville
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 6.78"
2012 Precipitation: 19.32"
( 58.33" since January 1, 2011 )

Lynchburg
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 5.37"
2012 Precipitation: 20.78"
( 59.75" since January 1, 2011 )

Richmond
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 10.63"
2012 Precipitation: 22.94"
( 70.48" since January 1, 2011 )

Roanoke
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 8.51"
2012 Precipitation: 23.00"
( 68.03" since January 1, 2011 )

Charlottesville
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 9.46"
2012 Precipitation: 23.54"

Christiansburg
June 1-August 10 Rainfall: 6.30"
2012 Precipitation: 23.94"

Wallops Island
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 7.70"
2012 Precipitation: 24.01"
( 60.24" since January 1, 2011 )

Galax WTP
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 8.17"
2012 Precipitation: 25.31"

Gathright Dam
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 8.44"
2012 Precipitation: 26.00"

Blacksburg
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 8.44"
2012 Precipitation: 26.47"
( 70.15" since January 1, 2011 )

Hot Springs
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 9.46"
2012 Precipitation: 27.59"

Covington FP
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 11.18"
2012 Precipitation: 28.59"

Trout Dale 3 SSE
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 10.90"
2012 Precipitation: 30.19"

Clintwood 1 W
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 11.17"
2012 Precipitation: 30.35"
( 91.33" since January 1, 2011 )

Nora 4 SSE
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 9.98"
2012 Precipitation: 30.37"
( 87.80" since January 1, 2011 )

Burkes Garden
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 7.96"
2012 Precipitation: 31.27"
( 81.96" since January 1, 2011 )

Grundy
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 14.76"
2012 Precipitation: 31.35"

Wytheville 1 S
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 9.87"
2012 Precipitation: 32.02"
( 73.52" since January 1, 2011 )

Saltville 1 N
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 11.68"
2012 Precipitation: 32.50"

Lebanon
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 12.69"
2012 Precipitation: 33.20"

Meadows of Dan 5 SW
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 12.02"
2012 Precipitation: 37.46"
( 106.35" since January 1, 2011 )

Richlands
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 15.92"
2012 Precipitation: 37.87"

Appalachia Lake Water Plant
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 18.29"
2012 Precipitation: 42.23"
( 110.12" since January 1, 2011 )

Coeburn Filter Plant
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 17.48"
2012 Precipitation: 42.48"
( 110.29" since January 1, 2011 )

Norton Water Plant
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 19.71"
2012 Precipitation: 46.97"
( 123.43" since January 1, 2011 )

Robinson Knob of High Knob Massif
June 1-August 12 Rainfall: 22.30"
2012 Precipitation: 47.46" ( M )
( 128.60" since January 1, 2011 ) ( M )

( M ) - Indicates missing moisture in deeper falls of winter snow.

August 7, 2012
Lonesome Pine Airport - Wise Plateau
Looking West Into Heavenly Light & Rising Air
Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.


Major Late Summer
Pattern Change
( Greenland Blocking )

August 7, 2012
Cumberland Overthrust Block
Beams Of Sunlight Above The Wise Plateau
Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

Summer 2012 has been a changeable beast, opening cool and damp in early June before giving way to dryness and all-time record heat by late June.  A literal monsoon followed to dominate the heart of summer with excessive rainfall and high humidity levels throughout July and the first ten days of August.  Soaking wetness!

Then, suddenly, a gush of cooler air was felt once again during the weekend of August 11-12 as low temperatures dipped into the 40s amid high mountain valleys from the High Knob Massif to Burkes Garden, with 50s across the lower terrain.

The culprit of this pattern flip could easily be seen on upper air charts for August 14, with a large region of above average 500 MB heights across Greenland in a classic blocking position that is notorious for aiding the development of below average temperatures across the eastern USA during the cold season.

European Model ( ECMWF ) Analysis
500 MB Height Anomaly At 8 AM - August 14, 2012

Forecasted 500 MB Anomalies At 8 AM - August 17

Forecasted 500 MB Anomalies At 8 AM - August 19 

Forecasted height anomalies become more extreme during the 3-5 day period ahead, from August 14, such that the next approaching Canadian cold front will be more vigorous with heavier rain potential ( booming storms ) and a renewed surge of unseasonably cool, late summer air.

( Follow Up Notes )
A large MCS developed in the Mississippi Valley during August 17 with widespread debris cloudiness keeping the local atmosphere relatively stable into August 18.  

Strong convection developed along northern slopes of the High Knob Massif late on August 18 with rainfall totals of 0.50" to 1.00"+ from the City of Norton into portions of Pickem Mountain, Clear Creek Basin, Machine Creek Basin, and the highcountry communities of High Chaparral, Robinson Knob, and Flat Gap.

August 12, 2012
The Glorious Milky Way Galaxy
Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.


Climate Statistics
Mid-August 2012
( August 1-15 Period )

Clintwood 1 W - Elevation 1560 feet
Average Daily MAX: 80.3 degrees
Average Daily MIN: 61.1 degrees
MEAN: 70.7 degrees
August 1-15 Rainfall: 3.17"
2012 Precipitation: 30.41"

City of Norton - Elevation 2141 feet
Average Daily MAX: 79.2 degrees
Average Daily MIN: 58.3 degrees
MEAN: 68.8 degrees
August 1-11 Rainfall: 6.22"
2012 Precipitation: 46.97"

Nora 4 SSE - Elevation 2650 feet
Average Daily MAX: 77.2 degrees
Average Daily MIN: 62.1 degrees
MEAN: 69.6 degrees
August 1-15 Rainfall: 2.93"
2012 Precipitation: 30.37"

In the High Knob highcountry the first half of August generated mean daily maximums around 70 degrees at highest elevations ( with temps during August 10-15 not getting above the 60s ) and mean nightly minimums in the mid-upper 50s.

A warm start being tempered by recent cooling.

Rainfall remained abundant with a general 3.50" to 6.50"+ across the massif area during the first half of August ( rain fell on 12 out of 15 days in some places ).

Wes Ward measured an additional 1.33" of rain in the official NWS gauge at the Norton Water Plant through morning hours of August 18, boosting the August 1-18 rainfall tally to 7.55" ( locally 8.00" to 9.00" has fallen upon the High Knob Massif ). 

August 12, 2012
"A Shooting Star" - Annual Perseids Meteor Show
Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

A welcomed break came just in time to generate a starry, cool night for the annual Perseids Meteor Show with temperatures dropping into the 40s to lower 50s amid higher mountain valleys during August 12 ( elevations above 2000-3000 feet ).

August 12, 2012
Colorful Tail of Meteor 
Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.


Adding To Heaven's Glory
Majesty Of July-August 2012

August 13, 2012
North of The Wise Plateau
Magnificent Sunset From Boggs Hill
Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

New July-August 2012 Additions
Gallery Of Heavenly Photographs
Special Edition: Colors Of Heaven's Glory

The talented, truly gifted photographers of this website have once again come through with an array of simply awesome July and August scenes, adding to the already impressive gallery collection found at the above link.

August 13, 2012
Flaming Colors Of An August Sunset
Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

Many sunrises & sunsets have been spectacular, with heavenly light and the always interesting mixture of mountain wave and synoptic cloud forms.  Purely magical.

July 28, 2012
Flaming Colors Of A Morning Sunrise
Photograph by Wayne Riner - © All Rights Reserved.

Wayne Riner Photograph Thoughts...
 "The rain of the night left us with a colorful sunrise."

July 19, 2012
Silver Leaf Community
Vivid Cloud To Ground Lightning Strike
Photograph by Harold L. Jerrell - © All Rights Reserved.

Many thunderstorms during the summer generated vivid lightning!

July 19, 2012
Powell River Basin
Lightning Circuits In The Sky
Photograph by Harold L. Jerrell - © All Rights Reserved.

July 19, 2012
Vivid Lightning Circuit
Photograph by Harold L. Jerrell - © All Rights Reserved.