Thursday Daily Weather Summary

ONLINE DAILY WEATHER SUMMARY

Thursday, 18 February 1999

YESTERDAY'S TEMPERATURE EXTREMES ACROSS THE CONTINENTAL US
ALASKAN WEATHER
HAWAIIAN WEATHER
CONCEPT OF THE DAY
HISTORICAL WEATHER EVENTS

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YESTERDAY'S TEMPERATURE EXTREMES ACROSS THE CONTINENTAL US -- The lowest temperature on Wednesday was XX degrees below zero at XXX. Wednesday's high was XX degrees at XXX.

ALASKAN WEATHER -- .

The lowest overnight minimum temperature in Alaska on Wednesday morning was XX degrees below zero at XXX and the midafternoon high was XX degrees at XXX.

HAWAIIAN WEATHER -- ....

MONITORING THE SEASONAL MOTIONS OF THE SUN -- We are rapidly approaching the Spring Equinox (on Saturday, 20 March 1999), where we all experienced 12 hours of sunlight (plus a few minutes - see Thursday's optional Supplemental Information file), the length of daytime is increasing by several minutes from one day to the next. For Washington, DC, this increase is about 3 minutes more possible sunshine each day. This effect is accentuated the higher the latitude. On the first day of winter, 21 December, International Falls, MN on the Canadian border had only 8 hours and 17 minutes of possible sunlight compared to Key West, FL at 10 hours and 37 minutes. (Barrow, AK had NO sunlight, being north of the Arctic Circle.) By the summer solstice on 21 June, residents in International Falls should bask in a lengthy 16 hours and 9 minutes of possible sunshine, while Key West would have 13 hours and 40 minutes of possible sunshine (Barrow conceivably could have 24 hours of sunshine, barring no clouds). A portfolio of sunrise photos shows the beginning of the path of midlatitude sun over year.

HISTORICAL WEATHER EVENTS - 18 February

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

...1899...While much of the central and eastern U.S. was recovering from the most severe cold wave of modern history, the temperature at San Francisco soared to 80 degrees to establish a record for month of February. (David Ludlum)
...1959...Some of the higher elevations of California were in the midst of a five day storm which produced 189 inches of snow, a single storm record for North America. (13th-19th) (David Ludlum)
...1979...The record low temperature for the state of New York was set at Old Forge when the temperature plummeted to 52 degrees below zero. (Intellicast)
...1980...A series of 6 major storms hit California from the 13th to the 21st. The southern part of the state was hit the hardest with 30 deaths due to flooding, mudslides, and traffic accidents. 12.75 inches of rain were measured at the Los Angeles Civic Center and 31.69 inches was recorded at Mount Wilson.
...1984...A major storm system dumped heavy snow in the Midwest with the heaviest amounts in Nebraska. Twenty four inches were recorded at Verdigre and 22 inches fell at Norfolk. Twenty four hour snowfall records were set at Norfolk and Grand Island. Winds up to 40 mph resulted in considerable blowing and drifting of the snow and many roads in northeastern Nebraska were made impassable. (Intellicast)
...1987...A small but intense low pressure system combined with northerly upslope winds to produce eight inches of snow in five hours at Meeteetsie, WY, located southeast of Cody. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
...1988...Thunderstorms soaked the Central Gulf Coast Region with heavy rain. Totals in southern Louisiana ranged up to 8.50 inches near the town of Ridge, with 6.55 inches at Plaguemine. Thunderstorms in northern Florida drenched Apalachicola with 5.41 inches of rain in 24 hours, and produced wind gusts to 75 mph at Mayo. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
...1989...Low pressure off the coast of North Carolina brought freezing rain and heavy snow to Virginia and the Carolinas. Snowfall totals in Virginia ranged up to 18 inches at Franklin. Freezing rain reached a thickness of two inches around Charlotte, NC. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
...1990...An intense but slow moving Pacific storm worked its way across Utah over a two day period. The storm blanketed the valleys with 4 to 12 inches of snow, and produced up to 42 inches of snow in the mountains. Heavy snow also fell across northern Arizona. Williams received 22 inches of snow, and 12 inches was reported along the south rim of the Grand Canyon. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
...1992...A thunderstorm spawned an unusually strong tornado for so far north for the time of the year in southern Van Wert county in Ohio. The tornado touched down just west of US Route 127 and traveled northeastward for about 3 miles. One house was completely leveled and 9 others experienced severe damage. Six people were injured. This tornado was classified as F4 on the Fujita scale with winds from 207 to 260 mph. (Intellicast)