Friday, October 1, 2010

Daily Rainfall Records Drowned from Mid Atlantic to Northeast

Oct. 6 Update: The Northeast Regional Climate Center reports that an additional record was set on Sept. 30 at Elkins WV: 1.86" (old record 1.03" in 1976).

Original post:
In addition to the records set earlier in North Carolina, the torrential rainfall from a weather system fed in part by the moisture from the remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole smashed rainfall records yesterday and today from the Mid Atlantic area through the Northeast. In the Washington DC region, records were set at all 3 major reporting locations.

At Washington National, the 4.66" exceeded by nearly 2" the old record for the date of 2.76" set in 1924. This was also the third highest September daily amount for the 140 years of records, behind 4.76" on the 16th in 1976 and 5.16" on the 2nd in 1922. Washington DC records began in 1871.

At Washington Dulles, the 4.74" destroyed by a factor of 5 the old record for Sept. 30 of 0.86" set in 1976. It was also the third highest amount for any day in September, exceeded only by 5.11" on the 6th in 2008 and 5.52" on the 14th in 1966. This means that 2 out of the 3 highest daily totals for September at Dulles have now been set in the last 3 years. Records began at Dulles in 1963.

At Baltimore-Washington International, the 6.02" was almost four times the previous Baltimore record of 1.60" in 1920. It was the highest amount for any day in September since records began in 1870. The old record was 5.97" on the 24th in 1912. It was also the second highest rainfall for any day in any month at Baltimore, behind the 7.62" on Aug. 23, 1933.

The combined total of 15.42" at the 3 locations is the second highest for any day since records began at Dulles. The highest was the 18.97" from Tropical Storm Agnes on June 21, 1972. The other dates with totals over 10" were:
6/25/2006 13.88"
9/14/1966 13.41"
9/5/1979 11.85"
10/8/2005 10.83"
9/16/1999 10.74"
9/6/2008 10.25"
Rainfall amounts were even higher along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, ranging up to 13" in southern St. Mary's County MD.

Other daily rainfall records set on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 (old record in parentheses):
Sept. 30:
Elizabeth City NC 5.86" (4.52", 1971)
Richmond VA 3.69" (2.85", 1924)
Norfolk VA 7.85" (3.88", 1943)
Wilmington DE 4.32" (3.56", 1924)
Allentown PA 5.73" (3.72", 1934)
Philadelphia PA 2.41" (2.38", 1900)
Reading PA 5.15" (2.48", 1924)
Mt. Pocono PA 5.74" (3.00", 1920)
Harrisburg PA 3.22" (2.00", 1920)
Williamsport PA 3.91" (3.90", 1924)
Avoca PA 3.69" (3.33", 1924)
Binghamton NY 4.24" (0.90", 1999)
Syracuse NY 2.66" (1.53", 1924)
Albany NY 2.68" (2.51", 1920)
Massena NY 3.41" (1.22", 1986)
Newark NJ 1.21" (1.15", 1983)
Bridgeport CT 0.73" (0.65", 1983)
Montpelier VT 1.91" (0.91", 1959)
Oct. 1:
Wilmington DE 3.23" (2.50", 1902)
LaGuardia NY 2.24" (1.12", 1979)
Kennedy Airpt NY 2.02" (1.37", 1966)
Albany NY 3.04" (1.02", 2006)
Newark NJ 2.36" (1.50", 1936)
Burlington VT 1.49" (1.25", 1977)
Hartford CT 2.15" (1.57", 2006)
Worcester MA 2.19" (1.53", 1966)
Concord NH 1.33" (1.30", 1979)
The Norfolk rainfall was the second highest for any day in September, behind only the 8.93" on the 1st in 2006. Seven of the 30 daily records for September at Norfolk have now been set in the last 9 years. Norfolk precipitation records began in 1871.

The Binghamton amount was a new all-time daily record, beating the old record of 4.05" on June 27, 2006. The old September daily record was 3.50" on the 27th in 1985. The top two all-time daily precipitation amounts at Binghamton have now occurred in the last 5 years. Binghamton records began in 1951.

The Albany total was the second highest for any day in October, slightly under the 3.09" on the 9th in 1903. Albany records began in 1874.

Images (click to enlarge): 24-hour Mid Atlantic and Northeast precipitation, Washington/Baltimore regional storm total rainfall, both ending 8 am EDT, Oct. 1, 2010; From National Weather Service

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