Got a press release from Grandfather Mountain staff about the weather records shattered this past month, February 2010. With the negative NAO (North Atlantic Oscillation) in full swing this winter, the mountains of western NC have been continually hit with NW winds, which means cold and wrap-around snows. Reading some of these numbers might make some of you feel warmer and better...
(FYI, for those not familiar with Grandfather, it's between Boone and Linville, NC, and noted for it's mile-high swinging bridge. Their official weather station is by that bridge near the gift shop. Check it out.)
While February is the shorty with 28 days (this year), the weather station could be reached only 61% of the time to be checked...that's only 17 days. Personnel couldn't get up there for 11 days last month.
The persistent cold has been noteworthy throughout much of the East this winter. The average high 2/2010 was 29.31 degrees F, which is a whopping 8.1 degrees below average. The average low 2/2010 was 16.38 degrees F, a noticeable drop from average by 5.35 degrees. The coldest recording was a frigid 1 degree, but that pales in comparison to the record February low of minus 19 set back on 2/25/67.
Two ways to look at winter precipitation: snowfall, and melted/liquid values. Per the liquid equivalent, it was a wet month for sure, totaling 7.32". The 54-year average is 4.74", so 2/2010 was 54% above average. Good for the mountain springs and foliage to come, no doubt.
In terms of the frozen stuff, this winter's running total is 81.5" of recorded snow, which normally at the end of February is but 38.08". In February alone there was 39.1" of snow, far above the 54-year average of 13.90". Snowfall was 181% above the norm...but keep in mind that over those 11 days where no one could reach the station, there was approximately 15" of snow that was not officially recorded and part of the above numbers. Wow.
Lastly, the wintry winds did howl, as well, as expected at such high, bare elevations...that's why that mile-high bridge does some serious swingin'. I've seen higher numbers from there, but winds did exceed 60mph nine times, with the highest 3-second gust on 2/11 clocked at 95.5 mph...just 0.5mph away from a Category 2 hurricane.
Now, dontcha feel better about this winter already? Yeah, whatever...
Incoming winter storm later today may give a nice little dumping in a more unusual location from Darlington, SC north-ish to Wadesboro, NC and over to Rockingham, NC. For various reasons my accumulation models paint a hotspot of sorts in that area for a good half-foot of snow, not a normal occurrence in that area. We shall see...
Stay warm, all y'all! March Madness is in full swing, and I ain't even talkin' college hoops, yet!
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