Monday Daily Weather Summary

ONLINE DAILY WEATHER SUMMARY

Monday, 1 February 1999

WELCOME TO ONLINE WEATHER - The Daily Weather Summary file will describe the current weather pattern across the U.S. Additional Supplemental Information Files will provide optional background material.

Sincerely,

Ed Hopkins

WEATHER OVER THE WEEKEND
WEATHER FOR THE START OF THE NEW WEEK
TEMPERATURE EXTREMES IN THE COTERMINOUS U.S.
ALASKAN WEATHER
HAWAIIAN WEATHER
WHAT WILL THE GROUNDHOG SEE?
AN INVITE
REPORTS FROM THE FIELD
HISTORICAL WEATHER EVENTS

WEATHER OVER THE WEEKEND --....

WEATHER FOR THE START OF THE NEW WEEK -- ....

TEMPERATURE EXTREMES IN THE COTERMINOUS U.S. -- The lowest temperature on Sunday was XX degrees below zero at XXX, while Sunday's highest temperature was XX degrees at XXX.

ALASKAN WEATHER -- ...

Sunday morning's lowest temperature in Alaska was XX degrees below zero at XXX and the state's high by mid-afternoon was XX degrees at XXX.

HAWAIIAN WEATHER -- ...

WHAT WILL THE GROUNDHOG SEE? -- Will cloudy conditions this morning prevent the groundhog from casting a shadow at early morning celebrations in several locates, including Wisconsin and Pennsylvania? For more details on the significance of Groundhog Day, please refer to Monday's optional Supplemental Summary Information file.

Regardless of the outcome, welcome to February! According to various sources, the name for the shortest month of the year was derived from "Februalia", an ancient Roman festival of purification at this time of year (before the new year that commenced with the spring equinox in March), during which sacrifices were made to atone for sins.

AN INVITE -- If you witness some interesting weather phenomena or would like to share some weather-related experience with others in the DataStreme Project, we cordially invite your contributions. Please email these to the address appearing below. Some of these may appear in the section titled "Reports from the Field"

HISTORICAL WEATHER EVENTS - 1 February

From the files of the Aviation Weather Center, Kansas City, MO and Intellicast

...1893...Thunder and lightning accompanied sleet and snow at Saint Louis, MO during the evening hours, even though the temperature was just 13 degrees above zero. (The Weather Channel)
...1920...A great anticyclone was over the northeastern United States. Northfield, VT had a high pressure reading of 31.14 inches (on the 31st) and Portland, ME had a reading of 31.09 inches which is the highest ever recorded at sea level in the United States. This caused cold temperatures with a reading of 45 degrees below zero at Pittsburg, NH. 3 days later, a snow and sleet storm paralyzed the region. (Intellicast)
...1951...The greatest ice storm of record in the U.S. produced glaze up to four inches thick from Texas to Pennsylvania causing twenty-five deaths, 500 serious injuries, and 100 million dollars damage. Tennessee was hardest hit by the storm. Communications and utilities were interrupted for a week to ten days. (David Ludlum)
The temperature at Taylor Park Dam plunged to 60 degrees below zero, a record for the state of Colorado (which has been broken by a one degree at Maybell on 1 Feb. 1985). The temperature at Gavial, NM dropped to a state record low of 50 degrees below zero. (Sandra and TI Richard Sanders - 1987) (Intellicast)
...1955...An F3 tornado tracked 8 miles from Commerce Landing to near Robinsonville in Mississippi, killing 20 people and injuring 141. Despite that fact the funnel was seen, that heavy objects were thrown long distances, and that the tornado was in a forecast box, the event was not officially called a tornado. A survey team stated that since all debris was thrown in one direction, the event should not be listed as a tornado. Obviously, a survey team today would arrive at a different (and the correct) conclusion. (Intellicast)
...1985...Snow, sleet and ice glazed southern Tennessee and northern sections of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The winter storm produced up to eleven inches of sleet and ice in Lauderdale County AL, one of the worst storms of record for the state. All streets in Florence, AL were closed for the first time of record. (1st-2nd) (The Weather Channel)
The low temperature at Madison, WI reached 28 degrees below zero, breaking the record low for this day of 22 degrees below zero, which was recorded in 1959. The 28 below zero reading also tied the all-time record low for the month of February. Previous 28 degree below zero readings for Madison occurred on 2 February 1959 and on 9 February 1899. (Intellicast)
...1987...A storm in the Pacific Northwest produced wind gusts to 100 mph at Cape Blanco, OR, and up to six inches of rain in the northern coastal mountain ranges. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
...1988...Thirty cities in the eastern U.S. reported new record high temperatures for the date, including Richmond, VA with a reading of 73 degrees. Thunderstorms in southern Louisiana deluged Basile with 12.34 inches of rain. Arctic cold gripped the north central U.S. Wolf Point, MT reported a low of 32 degrees below zero. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
...1989...While arctic cold continued to invade the central U.S., fifty-four cities in the south central and eastern U.S. reported new record high temperatures for the date. Russell, KS, the hot spot in the nation with a high of 84 degrees the previous day, reported a morning low of 12 above. Tioga, ND reported a wind chill reading of 90 degrees below zero. (The National Weather Summary)
...1990...Thunderstorms associated with an upper level weather disturbance produced severe weather across the eastern half of Texas during the late afternoon and evening. Four persons were injured at Waco, TX where thunderstorms produced wind gusts to 80 mph. Thunderstorms produced wind gusts to 97 mph at Cotulla, TX injuring two other persons. Golf ball size hail was reported at Whitney and northeast of Whitsett. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
...1992...Dickinson, ND reached 68 degrees which set a new all-time record high temperature for the month of February. The previous record high for February was 66 set on the 27th in 1932. The Canadian Maritimes were in the midst of one of their worst blizzards ever. By the time the storm ended late on the 2nd, a general 2 to 3 feet had fallen across New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Moncton, New Brunswick was buried under 63 inches to set a new all-time single storm record. Winds frequently gusted from 70 to 90 mph. The storm actually backed in from the east and passed very close to Sable Island with a central pressure of 960 millibars (28.35 inches), far deeper than any computer model had forecasted. The backlash of the storm grazed downeast Maine and Cape Cod. Danforth, ME recorded 13 inches and Wellfleet, MA measured 7 inches. (Intellicast)