Record Mid Atlantic Rainfall for May 26

Images (click to enlarge): 24-hour precipitation ending at 8 am, May 26, from National Weather Service/NOAA; Washington, DC 2008-9 monthly precipitation vs. average, CapitalClimate chart from NWS data

May 27 Update: Even with 4 more days providing several more opportunities for adding to the month's total, it's going to be hard for this May to reach the 10.66" recorded just last year at Washington National, which made it the 3rd wettest in Washington history. Nevertheless, May 2009 is already the 10th wettest May, and it's well within striking distance of the 8th or even 7th spot. Here are the current top 9:

1889 10.69
1953 10.69"
2008 10.66"
1886 10.60"
1948 8.87"
1989 7.77"
2003 7.06"
1946 6.99"
1897 6.97  

Evening Update: More National Weather Service reports:

A RECORD RAINFALL OF 3.59 INCH(ES) WAS SET AT WASHINGTON DULLES DC TODAY.   
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 1.59 SET IN 2002.  

**********************12 HOUR RAINFALL**********************  
  
LOCATION              12 HOUR    TIME/DATE    COMMENTS  
                     RAINFALL       OF  
                     (INCHES)   MEASUREMENT  
  
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA  
   
..DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA  
  
   WASHINGTON            3.63  1214 PM  5/26   LOCAL MESONET  
  
MARYLAND  
   
..PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY  
  
   GREENBELT             2.50   809 AM  5/26    
  
VIRGINIA  
   
..FAIRFAX COUNTY  
  
   HERNDON               3.03   929 AM  5/26   LOCAL MESONET  
   CHANTILLY             2.97   914 AM  5/26   LOCAL MESONET  
   
..LOUDOUN COUNTY  
  
   STERLING              3.03  1129 AM  5/26   LOCAL MESONET  
   ASHBURN               2.50  1128 AM  5/26   LOCAL MESONET  
  
**********************24 HOUR RAINFALL**********************  
  
LOCATION              24 HOUR    TIME/DATE    COMMENTS  
                     RAINFALL       OF  
                     (INCHES)   MEASUREMENT  
  
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA  
   
..DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA  
  
   NATIONAL ARBORETUM    2.55   824 AM  5/26   COOP  
   DALECARLIA RESERVIOR  2.02   800 AM  5/26   COOP  
   WASHINGTON 5.0 N      1.30   700 AM  5/26   COCORAHS  
  
MARYLAND  
   
..ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY  
  
   LAUREL 2.7 E          4.01   800 AM  5/26   COCORAHS  
   SEVERN 2.0 W          3.35   700 AM  5/26   COCORAHS  
   BALTO/WASH INTL       2.58   800 AM  5/26   METAR  
   ODENTON 0.8 WSW       2.07   700 AM  5/26   COCORAHS  
   
..CHARLES COUNTY  
  
   WALDORF 3.2 SW        2.69   700 AM  5/26   COCORAHS  
   
..CITY OF BALTIMORE  
  
   BALTIMORE - CYLBUR    1.45   800 AM  5/26   COOP  
   
..HOWARD COUNTY  
  
   CLARKSVILLE           3.40   800 AM  5/26   COCORAHS 1.0SE  
   LAUREL                2.90  1200 PM  5/26    
   COLUMBIA 1.7 W        2.83   600 AM  5/26   COCORAHS  
   NORTH LAUREL 1.5 ESE  2.65   700 AM  5/26   COCORAHS  
   
..MONTGOMERY COUNTY  
  
   SILVER SPRING 0.9 N   4.10   700 AM  5/26   COCORAHS  
   TAKOMA PARK 0.6 NNW   3.71   700 AM  5/26   COCORAHS  
   WHITE OAK 1.2 N       3.40   700 AM  5/26   COCORAHS  
   WHEATON-GLENMONT 0.7  2.71   700 AM  5/26   COCORAHS  
   OLNEY 0.4 ESE         2.34   700 AM  5/26   COCORAHS  
   
..PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY  
  
   GREENBELT             4.00   809 AM  5/26    
   LAUREL                3.49   800 AM  5/26   COCORAHS 2.0S  
  
VIRGINIA  
   
..ALBEMARLE COUNTY  
  
   RUCKERSVILLE          1.30   812 AM  5/26    
   
..ARLINGTON COUNTY  
  
   ARLINGTON 1.1 NW      1.75   715 AM  5/26   COCORAHS  
   REAGAN NATIONAL       1.47   800 AM  5/26   METAR  
   
..CITY OF ALEXANDRIA  
  
   ALEXANDRIA 1.8 S      1.99   740 AM  5/26   COCORAHS 1.8S  
   
..CLARKE COUNTY  
  
   MOUNT WEATHER         2.76   700 AM  5/26   COOP  
   
..FAIRFAX COUNTY  
  
   WASH DC/DULLES        3.63   800 AM  5/26   METAR  
   FRANCONIA 1.3 SSE     1.45   730 AM  5/26   COCORAHS  
   
..FREDERICK COUNTY  
  
   STEPHENS CITY 2.2 E   1.61   700 AM  5/26   COCORAHS  
   
..GREENE COUNTY  
  
   STANARDSVILLE 2.1     1.59   600 AM  5/26   COCORAHS  
   
..LOUDOUN COUNTY  
  
   STERLING PARK         4.00   839 AM  5/26    
   STERLING NWS/WFO      2.87   700 AM  5/26   WFO STERLING  
   STERLING              2.15   700 AM  5/26   COCORAHS 3.7NNW  
   ROUND HILL 2.7 WSW    1.62   700 AM  5/26   COCORAHS  
   
..PAGE COUNTY  
  
   LURAY                 1.60   900 AM  5/26   COOP  
   
..PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY  
  
   LAKE RIDGE 1.7 SW     2.22   700 AM  5/26   COCORAHS 1.7SW  
   
..ROCKINGHAM COUNTY  
  
   DALE ENTERPRISE       1.56   700 AM  5/26   COOP  

PM Update: Daily totals through 5 pm as reported by NWS show National at 1.65". The totals for Dulles and BWI are as previously shown, and all 3 are daily records. Month-to-date/year-to-date totals are:

Washington National 6.95"/16.17"
Washington Dulles   8.35"/17.86"
Baltimore (BWI)     7.09"/17.95" 

These are all at least 100% above average, but still below the monthly records for May. Notice the high percentage of the 5-month total accounted for by May alone.

Original post:
Heavy downpours overnight and into this morning have caused some local flash flooding in the Washington, DC region. Through mid afternoon, daily total rainfall amounts have already exceeded the record for May 26 at all 3 major reporting locations:

Washington National 1.66"
Washington Dulles   3.59"
Baltimore (BWI)     2.28" 

The reading at Dulles is more than double the previous record for May 26, 1.59" in 2002. It's also close to the all-time daily record for May, 3.73" on May 11, 2008. The BWI amount is also a daily record, exceeding the 1.72" on May 26, 2001. At Washington National, the total is just slightly higher than the previous record of 1.49" in 2001.

The following rainfall amounts were reported by the National Weather Service as of 8 am this morning:

***********************6 HOUR RAINFALL***********************

LOCATION               6 HOUR    TIME/DATE    COMMENTS
                     RAINFALL       OF
                     (INCHES)   MEASUREMENT


VIRGINIA

...LOUDOUN COUNTY...
   DULLES AIRPORT DAM    3.63   811 AM  5/26
   STERLING NWS/WFO      2.79   812 AM  5/26

**********************12 HOUR RAINFALL**********************

LOCATION              12 HOUR    TIME/DATE    COMMENTS
                     RAINFALL       OF
                     (INCHES)   MEASUREMENT


MARYLAND

...PRINCE GEORGE`S COUNTY...
   GREENBELT             2.50   809 AM  5/26

**********************24 HOUR RAINFALL**********************

LOCATION              24 HOUR    TIME/DATE    COMMENTS
                     RAINFALL       OF
                     (INCHES)   MEASUREMENT


MARYLAND

...PRINCE GEORGE`S COUNTY...
   GREENBELT             4.00   809 AM  5/26  

Cap and Trade: Not Dead Yet!

After previously declaring carbon cap and trade legislation DOA, CNBC's John Harwood this afternoon discussed its future prospects. The Waxman-Markey climate bill emerged last night from marathon sessions of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in a largely party-line vote.


Meanwhile, WaPo's business columnist Steven Pearlstein complains:
Climate-Change Bill Hits Some of the Right Notes but Botches the Refrain

Despite the charges made by many opponents of excessive cost, the NYT's Green, Inc. reports on a study that finds much of the revenue would be returned to consumers:
Climate Bill Would Generate $750 Billion for Consumers, Study Finds

NOAA Issues 2009 Hurricane Outlook: Near Average in Atlantic, Near to Below in Eastern Pacific

PM Update: Natural gas prices finished the day down over 9%.

Original post:
NOAA this morning issued the initial 2009 hurricane season outlook. The forecast calls for near average storm activity in the Atlantic and near to below average in the eastern Pacific. For the Atlantic, the probability is 50% for near average and 25% each for above or below average. In terms of number of storms, this represents a 70% chance for 9 to 14 named storms, 4 to 7 of which could become hurricanes, including 1 to 3 major storms. According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, the seasonal outlook is influenced by several conflicting climate effects:

Supporting more activity this season are conditions associated with the ongoing high-activity era that began in 1995, which include enhanced rainfall over West Africa, warmer Atlantic waters and reduced wind shear. But activity could be reduced if El Nino develops in the equatorial Eastern Pacific this summer or if ocean temperatures in the eastern tropical Atlantic remain cooler than normal.

In the eastern Pacific, the outlook expects an 80% chance of a near to below normal season. There is a 70% chance of storm activity in the range of: 13- 18 named storms, 6- 10 hurricanes, 2- 5 major hurricanes.

Image (click to enlarge): 2009 hurricane season outlook from NOAA

With oil up 35% year to date to a 6-month high, CNBC earlier today explored the influence of the storm season and other factors on the price of oil going forward (video below). In the short term, the better than expected hurricane forecast, higher than normal inventories, a falling dollar in the face of over $100 billion in Treasury debt to be issued next week, and a dropping stock market are being credited for a decline in natural gas prices of as much as 8% today.

Economic Impacts of Auto Mileage and Emission Standards

On this morning's CNBC Squawk on the Street, Carol Browner, assistant to President Obama for energy/climate change, explains the business impacts of today's proposed fuel economy and emissions standards to honking SUV driver Mark Haines (video below).

Image (click to enlarge): Proposed vs. existing vehicle fuel economy standards from New York Times

Record Mid Atlantic Cold New Lows Also in New England

Image (click to enlarge): Surface temperatures at 6 am May 19 from Unisys

Midnight update: Added records for West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and Maine.

PM Update: At least one additional low temperature record has been reported in Maryland, two in Virginia, one in North Carolina, three in West Virginia, one in Delaware, two in Pennsylvania, one in New York, and one in Connecticut for May 19:

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 35 DEGREES WAS SET AT SALISBURY MD THIS   
MORNING. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 36 DEGREES SET IN 2002.  

THE LOW TEMPERATURE OF 37 DEGREES FOR MAY 19TH AT ROANOKE VIRGINIA   
WILL SET A RECORD FOR THIS DATE. THE PRIOR RECORD WAS 39 DEGREES IN   
1994.  
  
THE LOW TEMPERATURE OF 38 DEGREES FOR MAY 19TH AT DANVILLE VIRGINIA   
WILL SET A RECORD FOR THIS DATE. THE PRIOR RECORD WAS 40 DEGREES IN   
1973.  

THE LOW TEMPERATURE AT THE CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT   
THIS MORNING WAS 40 DEGREES.  THIS IS A NEW RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE   
FOR THIS DATE.  THE PREVIOUS RECORD LOW FOR THIS DATE WAS 41 DEGREES   
WHICH WAS SET BACK IN 1976.  RECORDS GO BACK TO 1879.  

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 35 DEGREES WAS SET AT MARTINSBURG WV TODAY.   
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 37 SET BACK IN 2002.  

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 28 DEGREES WAS SET AT ELKINS WV TODAY.   
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 31 SET IN 2002.  

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 35 DEGREES AT CHARLESTON WV TODAY TIED  
THE OLD RECORD OF 35 SET IN 2002.  

THE TEMPERATURE FELL TO 37 DEGREES AT THE NEW CASTLE COUNTY AIRPORT   
EARLY THIS MORNING, ESTABLISHING A NEW RECORD FOR THE DATE.  THE   
PREVIOUS RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE FOR MAY 19 WAS 39 DEGREES SET IN   
2003.  

THE TEMPERATURE FELL TO 32 DEGREES AT THE LEHIGH VALLEY   
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT EARLY THIS MORNING, ESTABLISHING A NEW RECORD   
FOR THE DATE.  THE PREVIOUS RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE FOR MAY 19 WAS 35   
DEGREES SET IN 1973 AND 2002.  

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 30 DEGREES WAS SET AT AVOCA PA TODAY.   
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 32 SET IN 2002.  

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 32 DEGREES WAS SET AT SYRACUSE NY TODAY.   
THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 32 SET IN 1944.  

THIS MORNINGS LOW OF 34 DEGREES AT BRADLEY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT SET   
A RECORD LOW FOR MAY 19. THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 35 DEGREES SET IN   
2002 AND PREVIOUS YEARS. RECORDS IN THE HARTFORD AREA DATE BACK TO   
1905.  

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 32 DEGREES WAS SET AT BANGOR MAINE THIS   
MORNING. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 32 SET IN 1991.  

A record low maximum was set May 18 in South Carolina:

A RECORD LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 63 DEGREES WAS SET IN FLORENCE   
SC YESTERDAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 69 DEGREES SET IN 1973. 

Original post:
Under clear skies, calm winds, and low humidity, low temperatures in the Mid Atlantic area were near or below daily records this morning. At BWI Airport, the low of 38° was 1° below the Baltimore record for May 19 set in 2003.

The low at Washington National of 45° was within 2° of the record for the date of 43° set in 1976. The low of 38° at Dulles Airport was likewise 2° above its record, which was set in 2002.

At Washington National, the record low of 43° for the date was set in 1976. Only 2 daily lows for May have been set in the last 30 years, in 1986 and 2002. In all, only 8 of the current daily record lows for May have been set in the last 50 years. The all-time low for the month in Washington of 33° was set in 1906.

Elsewhere in the Mid Atlantic region, the National Weather Service reports:

THE TEMPERATURE FELL TO 37 DEGREES AT THE TRENTON MERCER COUNTY   
AIRPORT EARLY THIS MORNING, EQUALING THE RECORD FOR THE DATE.  THE   
RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE FOR MAY 19 IS 37 DEGREES PREVIOUSLY SET IN   
2002 AND 2003.  

Record Early Season Heat in California, Southwest

Images (click to enlarge): U.S. surface temperature at 3 pm PDT May 17 from Unisys, California surface observations (temperature in red) at 3 pm PDT May 17 from College of DuPage

PM Update, 6:00 PDT: Record heat has reached as close to the coast as Oakland and San Francisco International Airport. Some National Weather Service record reports for May 17:

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 96 DEGREES WAS SET AT MONTAGUE CA   
TODAY. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 96 SET IN 2008.  

SITE           TODAY'S HIGH     PREVIOUS HIGH / YEAR  
  ----           ------------     --------------------  
  SFO INTERNATIONAL   93(TIED)        93 / 1997  
  OAKLAND AIRPORT     91              86 / 1978  
  LIVERMORE CO-OP    103              99 / 1997   
  GILROY             103             101 / 1997  
  KING CITY          100              99 / 1997  

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 89 DEGREES WAS SET AT SANDBERG TODAY.  
THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 89 SET IN 2006.  
  
 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 102 DEGREES WAS SET AT PALMDALE TODAY.  
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 99 DEGREES SET IN 2008.  
  
 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 102 DEGREES WAS SET AT LANCASTER TODAY.  
THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 102 DEGREES SET IN 1954.  
  
 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 106 DEGREES WAS SET AT PASO ROBLES   
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 103 DEGREES SET IN 2008.  

 LOCATION            TEMP TODAY       PREVIOUS RECORD AND YEAR  
  
LAS VEGAS NV           102             102 DEGREES IN 1970    
   
BISHOP CA               97              97 DEGREES IN 2008  
  
BARSTOW-DAGGETT CA     105             103 DEGREES IN 2006   

THE FOLLOWING TABLE LISTS THE RECORD HIGHS WHICH WERE SET IN CENTRAL   
NEVADA TODAY THROUGH 5PM:  
  
AIRPORT   NEW RECORD   OLD RECORD   DATES  
ELY           84           84       2008, 1904, 1901  
EUREKA        87           87       2008  

..RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES FOR NORTHERN ARIZONA ON MAY 17 2009  
  
CITY (PERIOD OF RECORD)            NEW HIGH      PREVIOUS RECORD/YEAR  
COTTONWOOD-TUZIGOOT (1977 - 2009)      99          97         IN  2003  
FLAGSTAFF (1899 - 2009)                82          82 (TIED)  IN  1970  
PAGE (1958 - 2009)                     92          92 (TIED)  IN  2006  
SPRINGERVILLE (1911 - 2009)            85          83         IN  2003  
WINSLOW (1893 - 2009)                  93          93 (TIED)  IN  1970  

Original post:
Triple digit heat in the interior of central and southern California and the desert Southwest by mid afternoon today continued to threaten early season temperature records. Preliminary reports from the National Weather Service indicate the following records were set Saturday:

 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 88 DEGREES WAS SET AT SANDBERG TODAY.  
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 85 SET IN 2008.  
  
 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 100 DEGREES WAS SET AT PALMDALE TODAY.  
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 97 DEGREES SET IN 2006.  
  
 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 101 DEGREES WAS SET AT LANCASTER TODAY.  
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 98 DEGREES SET IN 2006.  
  
 A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 105 DEGREES WAS SET AT PASO ROBLES   
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 102 DEGREES SET IN 1970.  

RECORD TYPE        CITY         OLD RECORD       TODAY'S TEMP  
  
HIGH MIN TEMP     BISHOP       54F  IN 2002           56F       
HIGH MAX TEMP     BISHOP       93F  IN 1965           94F  
HIGH MAX TEMP     DAGGETT      101F IN 2006           102F  
HIGH MAX TEMP     NEEDLES      108F IN 2006           109F   

..RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES FOR NORTHERN ARIZONA ON MAY 16 2009  
  
CITY (PERIOD OF RECORD)            NEW HIGH      PREVIOUS RECORD/YEAR  
COTTONWOOD-TUZIGOOT (1977 - 2009)     100          100 (TIED) IN  1997  
FORT VALLEY (1909 - 2009)              79          79 (TIED)  IN  2003  
PETRIFIED FOREST (1931 - 2009)         91          90         IN  1948   

The following record has already been set on Sunday:

...RECORD HIGH LOW TEMPERATURES FOR NORTHERN ARIZONA ON MAY 17 2009...  
  
CITY (PERIOD OF RECORD)         NEW HIGH LOW     PREVIOUS RECORD/YEAR  
COTTONWOOD-TUZIGOOT (1977 - 2009)      61          60         IN  1997  

Tropical Topics: 2009 Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season Opens

May 15 is the opening day of the Eastern Pacific hurricane season. Since many storms in this region do not threaten land, the extent of activity was not fully realized until the satellite observation era. On average, there are 15 tropical storms and 9 hurricanes per year in the North Pacific east of 140 west longitude. The list of storm names for this season is:

NAME           PRONUNCIATION    NAME            PRONUNCIATION
-------------------------------------------------------------
ANDRES         AHN DRASE-       MARTY
BLANCA         BLAHN- KAH       NORA
CARLOS                          OLAF            OH- LAHF
DOLORES                         PATRICIA        
ENRIQUE        ANH REE- KAY     RICK
FELICIA        FA LEE- SHA      SANDRA
GUILLERMO      GEE YER- MO      TERRY
HILDA                           VIVIAN
IGNACIO        EEG NAH- CIO     WALDO
JIMENA         HE MAY- NA       XINA            ZEE- NAH
KEVIN                           YORK
LINDA                           ZELDA           ZEL- DAH 

The National Hurricane Center will be making several changes this season in tropical storm reporting:

• The Tropical Weather Outlook, issued 4 times a day, will include categorical probabilities of storm development: Low (less than 30%), Medium (30-50%), High (over 50%).
• The Saffir-Simpson scale traditionally used to classify hurricane strength will be modified on an experimental basis to exclude storm surge and flooding indications. The reason for doing this is that the Saffir-Simpson scale is primarily a measure of maximum wind speed, but storm surge is affected by several other factors, such as storm size and forward speed, shape of coastline, and water depth. For example, Hurricane Ike last year made landfall as a Category 2 storm, but the storm surge was comparable to what is currently defined as a Category 4-5 storm. Emergency management officials reported that many residents refused to evacuate since the storm was "only" a Category 2 or 3 as it approached land. Likewise, Katrina (2005) had Category 3 winds at landfall, but the storm surge was equivalent to Category 5. On the other hand, Hurricane Charley (2004) had Category 4 winds but only Category 2 storm surge.

The Atlantic season will begin in 2 weeks, on June 1.

CapitalClimate provides a number of links to national, local, and international tropical storm information in the list to the left titled "Tropical Topics". Discussions of significant storms will be provided in blog posts as appropriate during the hurricane season.

Image: Eastern Pacific Tropical Outlook from National Hurricane Center.