New York City sets an all-time 1-day rainfall record

[phantom power]

A long series of "training" thunderstorms that each moved along the same path deluged the New York City and Newark areas yesterday, smashing an all-time 1-day rainfall record at New York City's JFK Airport, which recorded 7.80 inches of rain. It was the most rain at JFK since record keeping began in 1948. The previous record was a 6.3" deluge on June 30, 1984. New York City's official measuring site, Central Park, got 5.81" yesterday, the fifth wettest day on record there. The 6.40" that fell on Newark, NJ yesterday was that city's 2nd heaviest 1-day rainfall in history, next to the 6.73" that fell on November 3, 1977.

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=1882

[TygrBright]

1. Gawd Musta Misread the Delivery Address on Rick Perry's Prayer for Rain... n/t

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. It never rains, but it pours

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/national/

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Northeast Region: (Information provided by the http://www.nrcc.cornell.edu/">Northeast Regional Climate Center)

• July 2011 was hot and dry in the Northeast. Eleven of the states in the region had temperature averages that placed in the top 15 warmest since 1895, with Delaware having its warmest July in 117 years. Out of the top 15, but still much warmer than normal, Maine placed 24th warmest since 1895. State departures ranged from +1.8 degrees F (1.0 degrees C) in Connecticut to +3.8 degrees F (2.1 degrees C) in Delaware. On average, the Northeast's temperature was 72.8 degrees F (22.7 degrees C), which was 2.9 degrees F (1.6 degrees C) warmer than normal and the 7th warmest since 1895. The persistent ridge that had the central US in a serious heat wave moved east during the third week of the month. The mercury soared into the upper 90's and low 100's (32-40 degrees C), establishing new temperature records throughout the Northeast. On the 22nd, the mercury reached 104 degrees F (40 degrees C) at Central Park, NY, 106 degrees F (41.1 degrees C) at Baltimore, MD, and 108 degrees F (42.2 degrees C) at Newark, NJ. Interestingly, the previous high for the date at all of these three locations was 101 degrees F (38.3 degrees C) on July 22, 1957. The highs of 103 degrees F (39.4 degrees C) at Bridgeport, CT and 105 degrees F (40.6 degrees C) at Washington Dulles on the 22nd were all-time highs for those locations. Also notable were the many daily high minimum temperature records that were broken during the month. With minimum temperatures of 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) to 84 degrees F (28.9 degrees C), Binghamton and Central Park, NY, Scranton, PA, and Washington National, DC tied or established new all-time high minimum temperature records on the 22nd or 23rd. New monthly average temperature records were set at seven first order stations, including Atlantic City, NJ, Washington National, DC, and Baltimore, MD. The previous warmest July at these three locations was just last year.


• The Northeast's average rainfall total of 2.98 inches (75.7mm) made this month the 13th driest July since 1895. It was also the 13th driest July in New Hampshire and New York; Connecticut saw its 14th driest July in 117 years. State departures ranged from 50 percent of normal in Connecticut to 88 percent of normal in Delaware. The Northeast averaged 70 percent of its typical July rainfall amount. Hot and dry weather during July resulted in moderate drought conditions in most of Delaware and Maryland, western New York and central and northwestern Pennsylvania. The southeastern shore of Maryland was experiencing severe drought conditions according to the US Drought Monitor issued on the 2nd of August. Reports of dry pastures and crop stress were received from the agricultural communities in these locations. In addition, some municipalities in Pennsylvania and New Hampshire issued water conservation advisories. While the month of July was dry, precipitation during the previous six months was plentiful enough that eight of the Northeast states averaged above normal for the period January through July. In fact, the period was the 3rd wettest since 1895 in Pennsylvania, the 7th wettest in New York and Vermont and the 8th wettest in the Northeast.


• The region had its share of severe weather during July. Seventeen days out of the month saw reports of wind damage, hail and/or intense rain somewhere in the region. Lightning strikes on the 22nd injured at least 5 people, four at a campsite in Aroostook County, ME, and one in Charleston, WV. Lightning also caused house fires on the 23rd in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. A particularly strong line of storms on the 29th resulted in the formation of tornados and downbursts in northeastern Pennsylvania, and central and southeastern New York. Wind speeds ranged from 65 to 120 mph (29 to 54 m/s). Trees were snapped or uprooted and several structures damaged, including a barn that was blown off its foundation in Otsego County, NY. A downburst near Scranton, PA left one person injured.

For more information, please go to the http://www.nrcc.cornell.edu/">Northeast Regional Climate Center Home Page.

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