Clear cold valley start. Cold pocket frost..A pleasant fall like Dat
Bittinger 2NW Valley
Dyacon Data Below
West of Bittinger morning Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Rock Lodge Rd near The Glades afternoon West of Bittinger afternoon West of Bittinger afternoon Up from Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Towards Bowman Hill afternoon
The Glades
Near The Glades –––––On a late August day 30 years ago, we would have been in that barn bagging peat moss
Garrett County Airport
Cherry Creek at Mosser Rd afternoon
Top of Wisp
Afternoon
Canaan Heights/Davis 3SE
7am to 7am mmts coop BP
Canaan Mt Bog
–––––––––––––––––––––
Climate Reference Network Canaan
–
Cabin Mt at Bald Knob
Canaan ski area
Cabin Mt-Western Sods
Spruce Knob
Canaan Valley Refuge
Mt.Davis
Snowshoe
Petersburg Grant County Airport
Elkins Airport
Site Comparison
Dy007-Canaan Valley Refuge 3150′, Dy008-Bittinger 2nw Valley 2600′, Dy002-Cabin Mt at Bald Knob 4350′, Dy003-Cabin Mt-Western Sods 4035′, Dy004-Spruce Knob 4820′, Cvpw2-Climate Reference Network Canaan 3380′, KW99-Petersburg Grant County Airport 961, K2G4 Garrett County Airport 2933′, KCBE Cumberland Airport 774′, KEKN Elkins Airport 1985′, KMGW Morgantown Airport 1227′, PMN16-Mt.Davis 3038′, KDCA-Reagan National 15′, G1472 Snowshoe 4500′, F0183 Burkes Garden 3050′
The Valley vs Cabin Mt
Bittinger 2NW Valley vs Mt.Davis
Canaan area temps
High Ground Comparison
Up High and Down Low
Up High, High Valley, Low Valley
The Valleys
Wv High Ground Cold Spots vs DCA
RTMA
RTMA DOES NOT SHOW VALLEY TEMPS WELL AT NIGHT
Radar
Void
Satellite
Flow
Current Surface Features and 500mb Height Anomalies and Flow
** WILL FILL IN PICS AND DATA BY 8/23…IN POOR SIGNAL MICROCLIMATE MONITORING
Forest Service Cam offline since 6/24/21
Aug 21(Wed)
Clear cold start with areas of Valley frost. High bog freezes. Lots of sun with some pop up clouds in the afternoon that dissipated at sunset.
Bittinger 2NW Valley
–Glade Church morning West of Bittinger morning West of Bittinger morning West of Bittinger morning Up from Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Bittinger 2NW Valley evening Bittinger 2NW Valley evening West of Bittinger evening
The Glades
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
by the Glades
–––The Glades
Garrett County Airport
–Rock Lodge Rd morning Deep Creek Lake morning Deep Creek Lake evening Deep Creek Lake evening Glendale evening
Top of Wisp
–
Canaan Heights/Davis 3SE
Canaan Mt Bog
––––––––
Climate Reference Network Canaan
Cabin Mt at Bald Knob
Cabin Mt-Western Sods
Spruce Knob
Canaan Valley Refuge
Mt.Davis
Snowshoe
Petersburg Grant County Airport
Elkins Airport
Site Comparison
Dy007-Canaan Valley Refuge 3150′, Dy008-Bittinger 2nw Valley 2600′, Dy002-Cabin Mt at Bald Knob 4350′, Dy003-Cabin Mt-Western Sods 4035′, Dy004-Spruce Knob 4820′, Cvpw2-Climate Reference Network Canaan 3380′, KW99-Petersburg Grant County Airport 961, K2G4 Garrett County Airport 2933′, KCBE Cumberland Airport 774′, KEKN Elkins Airport 1985′, KMGW Morgantown Airport 1227′, PMN16-Mt.Davis 3038′, KDCA-Reagan National 15′, G1472 Snowshoe 4500′, F0183 Burkes Garden 3050′
The Valley vs Cabin Mt
Bittinger 2NW Valley vs Mt.Davis
Canaan area temps
High Ground Comparison
Up High and Down Low
–
Up High, High Valley, Low Valley
The Valleys
Wv High Ground Cold Spots vs DCA
RTMA
Radar
void
Satellite
little pocket of clouds near midnight across Tucker put a brief halt on temp drop
Flow
Current Surface Features and 500mb Height Anomalies and Flow
Lots of clouds, early a.m drizzle, then more clouds than sun, and breezy.
Bittinger 2NW Valley
Dyacon Data Below
West of Bittinger morning Up from Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley evening Bittinger 2NW Valley evening Bittinger 2NW Valley evening Bittinger 2NW Valley evening West of Bittinger eveningWest of Bittinger- years later the county finally replaces collapsed culvert
Garrett County Airport
Cherry Creek at Mosser Rd morning
Top of Wisp
Canaan Heights/Davis 3SE
Climate Reference Network Canaan
–
Cabin Mt at Bald Knob
–
Cabin Mt-Western Sods
Spruce Knob
Canaan Valley Refuge
Mt.Davis
–
Snowshoe
Petersburg Grant County Airport
Elkins Airport
Site Comparison
Dy007-Canaan Valley Refuge 3150′, Dy008-Bittinger 2nw Valley 2600′, Dy002-Cabin Mt at Bald Knob 4350′, Dy003-Cabin Mt-Western Sods 4035′, Dy004-Spruce Knob 4820′, Cvpw2-Climate Reference Network Canaan 3380′, KW99-Petersburg Grant County Airport 961, K2G4 Garrett County Airport 2933′, KCBE Cumberland Airport 774′, KEKN Elkins Airport 1985′, KMGW Morgantown Airport 1227′, PMN16-Mt.Davis 3038′, KDCA-Reagan National 15′, G1472 Snowshoe 4500′, F0183 Burkes Garden 3050′
Cloudy, drizzle, misty, breezy, cool. A very fall like day.
Bittinger 2NW Valley
rainfall .44
Dyacon Data Below
Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Bittinger 2NW Valley morning West of Bittinger morning Rock Lodge Rd near The Glades morning Rock Lodge Rd near The Glades afternoon West of Bittinger afternoon Up from Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley evening Bittinger 2NW Valley evening Bittinger 2NW Valley evening Rock Lodge Rd near The Glades eveningBittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Foxtown Rd evening
Garrett County Airport
Rock Lodge Rd morning Rock Lodge Rd morning Deep Creek Lake middayCherry Creek at Mosser Rd evening Railey cam morning
Top of Wisp
Canaan Heights/Davis 3SE
Climate Reference Network Canaan
-morning Evening
Cabin Mt at Bald Knob
Canaan ski camCanaan ski cam
Cabin Mt-Western Sods
Spruce Knob
Canaan Valley Refuge
Mt.Davis
–
Snowshoe
Petersburg Grant County Airport
Elkins Airport
Site Comparison
Dy007-Canaan Valley Refuge 3150′, Dy008-Bittinger 2nw Valley 2600′, Dy002-Cabin Mt at Bald Knob 4350′, Dy003-Cabin Mt-Western Sods 4035′, Dy004-Spruce Knob 4820′, Cvpw2-Climate Reference Network Canaan 3380′, KW99-Petersburg Grant County Airport 961, K2G4 Garrett County Airport 2933′, KCBE Cumberland Airport 774′, KEKN Elkins Airport 1985′, KMGW Morgantown Airport 1227′, PMN16-Mt.Davis 3038′, KDCA-Reagan National 15′, G1472 Snowshoe 4500′, F0183 Burkes Garden 3050′
The Valley vs Cabin Mt
Bittinger 2NW Valley vs Mt.Davis
Canaan area temps
High Ground Comparison
Up High and Down Low
Up High, High Valley, Low Valley
The Valleys
Wv High Ground Cold Spots vs DCA
RTMA
Radar
Satellite
Flow
Current Surface Features and 500mb Height Anomalies and Flow
Cloudy, some a.m showers, areas of fog, then clouds and sun
Bittinger 2NW Valley
rainfall .05
Dyacon Data Below
Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Bittinger 2NW Valley evening Bittinger 2NW Valley evening Bittinger 2NW Valley evening Up from Bittinger 2NW Valley evening Old Cherry Glade Church evening
Garrett County Airport
Railey cam
Top of Wisp
Canaan Heights/Davis 3SE
7am to 7am data mmts coop BP
Climate Reference Network Canaan
–
Cabin Mt at Bald Knob
Canaan Ski camCanaan Ski cam
Cabin Mt-Western Sods
Spruce Knob
Canaan Valley Refuge
Mt.Davis
–
Snowshoe
–
Petersburg Grant County Airport
Elkins Airport
Site Comparison
Dy007-Canaan Valley Refuge 3150′, Dy008-Bittinger 2nw Valley 2600′, Dy002-Cabin Mt at Bald Knob 4350′, Dy003-Cabin Mt-Western Sods 4035′, Dy004-Spruce Knob 4820′, Cvpw2-Climate Reference Network Canaan 3380′, KW99-Petersburg Grant County Airport 961, K2G4 Garrett County Airport 2933′, KCBE Cumberland Airport 774′, KEKN Elkins Airport 1985′, KMGW Morgantown Airport 1227′, PMN16-Mt.Davis 3038′, KDCA-Reagan National 15′, G1472 Snowshoe 4500′, F0183 Burkes Garden 3050′
The Valley vs Cabin Mt
Bittinger 2NW Valley vs Mt.Davis
Canaan area temps
High Ground Comparison
Up High and Down Low
Up High, High Valley, Low Valley
The Valleys
Wv High Ground Cold Spots vs DCA
RTMA
Radar
Satellite
Flow
Current Surface Features and 500mb Height Anomalies and Flow
Through 2 weeks of August, and a big thanks to the remnants of Debby, many have seen their August rainfall tallies running at and above normal for early August. This on the heels of a dry July that did begin to see a bit of uptick from mid-month on vs what occured from early June through mid July.
Let’s look at the maps
The current drought monitor as of 8/13/24 and released yesterday
the 1 week drought monitor change
I’m a bit surprised the eastern Wv panhandle and eastern Allegany County in the update didn’t fall off to D-1. Many other locations from the Alleghenies east held status or improved.
Let’s take a look at those eastern areas quick from a few sources
Since the start of August
–
The eastern panhandle running in the 6-12″ range since the start of the month. That extends up in to Washington, eastern Allegany and portions of Bedford and Fulton counties.
Throwing the drought monitor overlay to start the month on, that Eastern zone of what was D3 was in the prime bullseye 🎯
As you worked west, rainfall tallies were dropping off, but still in the 1-4″ range.
That occured at rates, that saw quite a bit absorb in to the dry upper part of the soil, as well as some runoff that allowed for stream rises that only last a couple days before receeding to and below the typical mid August flow. Further east, streams above the typical mid August flow.
Eastern panhandle flow at and above yet
Drought Monitor State by State with historical county perspectives
MD
WV
PA
VA
In the big picture. Alleghenies –> east saw big improvements in conditions. Brown lawns, rapidly green and growing.
Cumberland
July 18th
–
August 15th below
and further improved as you head east.
From June 1 to July 15th rainfall across the area
At Bittinger 2NW Valley in that 45 day period I had recorded 3.43″
in the 30 day period of July 16 to August 14th I have recorded 5.09″
Around the area. Departures for the 30 day period of 7/16-8/14 generally teter just on either side of the average. Drought was already set in, so improvements are a slow process. Despite the hottest, driest period easing as we crested mid July
Soil moisture has improved since the start of the month
Where we were to end July:
–
Where we are :
In Summary
Still dry, but improvement has occured.
Temperatures over the last 30 day period have eased back to more typical conditions of what you would find for later July through mid August.
CDAS Temp Anomalies for the previous 30 days:
–
August:
–
Last 7 days
Overall, August looks to remain pleasant. Lots of forecast to begin the month were not showing this for August and had the continuation of the hot weather. Which for the most part, has not been the case and over the next 10 days the ECMWF (euro) ensemble show temps remaining below the seasonal average
–
As does the GFS Ensembles
In the short term, some chilly air as we approach mid next week should present at least the possibility for some frost at the typical coldest microclimates.
As far as rainfall in the near term
next 10 days off the Euro ensembles. Holding near typical mid August precipitation. Better likelihood of above average precip for the period west.
and the GFS ensembles similar
–
Off modeling through Monday
With that, one wouldn’t expect much of a change in the drought status with the coming week update. With the exception of some locations west. Beyond 10 days, hints of dry weather continue.
Entering fall, which is typically the driest time of year across the higher Alleghenies. Remember meteorological Fall starts in 2 weeks. Going in to the typical dry season, on the dry side may definitely have a impact on
Foliage
Stream levels
Fall warm spells can be aided by a lack of moisture.
Increased fire threat.
Tropical systems, and or a pattern change can greatly benefit some of those concerns. The foliage situation is one now that’s beginning to get late in the game despite it being August 15th.
Typically the driest month in the Alleghenies is October. We all know though, there are plenty of Octobers that turn active, and with the tropical remnant threat a bit higher this season, that can throw averages out the window.
Fall droughts are more common and also less noticeable vs a early summer, to mid summer drought. Enviromental, vegetation water demand decreases as the growing season winds down.
Summer is typically the wettest time of the year across the higher Alleghenies. As you crest east that would be the spring season.
Most high elevation stations in the Alleghenies. The long running wettest month is June to July. Often the convective setups of warm, humid air masses fire up afternoon storms on a consistent enough basis.
This definitely was not the case this summer. In 2 weeks, a meteorological summer recap can be done. Showing where area locations stand for the 3 month period in terms of average temp, overall precip for the period vs the average.
In the meantime, we continue to watch the days shorten, the sun lowering in the sky. Equivalent to a mid April sun angle. While most of the Alleghenies are still in need of some good rainfall, one thing will be noticeable. Shorter days, cooler nights. If we remain dry, and get a few shots of dry Canadian air, our mircoclimates can really see some temps bottoming out. Night time mins in the teens can show up in September at the coldest microclimate locations. Hopefully though, we’ll see a turn to wet regime and flip the script on long running averages of wet summer, dry fall. But don’t count on it.
A chilly Valley morning, pleasant day with some building clouds
Bittinger 2NW Valley
Dyacon Data Below
Bittinger 2NW Valley morning West of Bittinger morning West of Bittinger morning Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Foxtown Rd morning Foxtown Rd morning Rock Lodge Rd near The Glades afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Towards Bowman Hill afternoon
The Glades
––––––Near
Garrett County Airport
Rock Lodge Rd morning State Park Rd morning Deep Creek Lake morning
Top of Wisp
Canaan Heights/Davis 3SE
Climate Reference Network Canaan
Cabin Mt at Bald Knob
Canaan Ski area
Cabin Mt-Western Sods
Spruce Knob
Canaan Valley Refuge
Mt Davis
Snowshoe
Petersburg Grant County Airport
Elkins Airport
Site Comparison
Dy007-Canaan Valley Refuge 3150′, Dy008-Bittinger 2nw Valley 2600′, Dy002-Cabin Mt at Bald Knob 4350′, Dy003-Cabin Mt-Western Sods 4035′, Dy004-Spruce Knob 4820′, Cvpw2-Climate Reference Network Canaan 3380′, KW99-Petersburg Grant County Airport 961, K2G4 Garrett County Airport 2933′, KCBE Cumberland Airport 774′, KEKN Elkins Airport 1985′, KMGW Morgantown Airport 1227′, PMN16-Mt.Davis 3038′, KDCA-Reagan National 15′, G1472 Snowshoe 4500′, F0183 Burkes Garden 3050′
The Valley vs Cabin Mt
Bittinger 2NW Valley vs Mt.Davis
Canaan area temps
High Ground Comparison
Up High and Down Low
Up High, High Valley, Low Valley
The Valleys
Wv High Ground Cold Spots vs DCA
RTMA
Radar
void
Satellite
Flow
Current Surface Features and 500mb Height Anomalies and Flow
Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Bittinger 2NW Valley morning West of Bittinger morning West of Bittinger morning Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley evening Bittinger 2NW Valley evening Bittinger 2NW Valley evening Bittinger 2NW Valley evening
The Glades
––––––
Garrett County Airport
Cherry Creek at Mosser Rd morning Rock Lodge Rd morning Rock Lodge Rd morning Rock Lodge Rd morning Deep Creek Lake morning State Park Rd afternoon
Top of Wisp
Canaan Heights/Davis 3SE
7am to 7am data mmts coop BP
Climate Reference Network Canaan
–
Cabin Mt at Bald Knob
Canaan Ski cam
Cabin Mt-Western Sods
Spruce Knob
–
Canaan Valley Refuge
Mt.Davis
Snowshoe
Petersburg Grant County Airport
Elkins Airport
Site Comparison
Dy007-Canaan Valley Refuge 3150′, Dy008-Bittinger 2nw Valley 2600′, Dy002-Cabin Mt at Bald Knob 4350′, Dy003-Cabin Mt-Western Sods 4035′, Dy004-Spruce Knob 4820′, Cvpw2-Climate Reference Network Canaan 3380′, KW99-Petersburg Grant County Airport 961, K2G4 Garrett County Airport 2933′, KCBE Cumberland Airport 774′, KEKN Elkins Airport 1985′, KMGW Morgantown Airport 1227′, PMN16-Mt.Davis 3038′, KDCA-Reagan National 15′, G1472 Snowshoe 4500′, F0183 Burkes Garden 3050′
The Valley vs Cabin Mt
Bittinger 2NW Valley vs Mt.Davis
Canaan area temps
High Ground Comparison
Up High and Down Low
Up High, High Valley, Low Valley
The Valleys
Wv High Ground Cold Spots vs DCA
RTMA
Radar
void
Satellite
Flow
Current Surface Features and 500mb Height Anomalies and Flow
Allegheny Mountains Weather 