Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Up from Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon
Garrett County Airport
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Top of Wisp
Canaan Heights/Davis 3SE
Climate Reference Network Canaan
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Atop Canaan Ski area
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Cabin Mt at Bald Knob
Cabin Mt-Western Sods
Temp sensor issues continue, set to be repaired soon*
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Spruce Knob
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Canaan Valley Refuge
Mt.Davis
Snowshoe
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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
So far theme of the summer has been dry, with above average temperatures. Both of those conditions can enhance the other. July continued where June left off. Above average temperatures, below normal precipitation.
The first 2 weeks of July was the warmest period of the month with some modification to a more seasonal second half of July temperature wise. The first 2 weeks was also the driest period of the month, with some improvement the second half of the month. Not everyone saw the improvement. That’s typical nature of summertime precip with is often convective showers and storms vs any consistent widespread synoptic systems.
More details on those subjects below. First let’s look at the updated drought monitor based off data through July 30th and released on August 1st.
A look nationally below:
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Now a look in to the Allegheny Region :
State by State impacts and the 1 week change in drought category. Also included the historic drought perspective of the ebbs and flows of such occurrences
MARYLAND
1 week change below
Historic Perspective
WEST VIRGINIA
1 week change below
Historic Perspective
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PENNSYLVANIA
1 week change below
Historical Perspective
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VIRGINIA
1 week change below
Historical Perspective
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Drought progression over the weeks
That early July period with the above normal temps in the image below
First half of July 2m temp in the image above
and minimal rainfall the first half of the month
rainfall accumulation
most areas a inch or less of rain, that accompanied by above average temps lead to rapid worsening of the drought conditions. Rainfall deficits the first half of the month
-deficit in the above image
The 2nd half of July saw more in the way of seasonal July temps. The period from July 16 to the 31st below
-2nd half of July in the image above
Rainfall amounts the 2nd half of July in the image below
In most areas that’s improved vs the first 2 weeks. Still mostly below normal for the period. The worst of the conditions continued for the most part NE Garrett, and the east side of the Alleghenies and the drought monitor status indicates that. The rainfall deficit and in some localized cases surplus for the second half of July vs the average in the image below.
– departure
Most of the precipitation that does occur this time of year, convective in nature is rapid runoff, quick hitting shots, that do limit the effectiveness in enhancing soil moisture and improving overall drought conditions.
In spite of the dry conditions and lower soil moisture as seen below
Crops, such as corn across the high ground, seems to be holding its own very well
Cranesville “Field Corn” 8/1/24Sweet Corn near Bittinger 8/1/24. This in a very sandy soil areaOakland -Sweet Corn
Not much afternoon shriveling/pineapple look. 2nd crops of hay are a slow go, but grass is remaining green across the high ground.
Since most 1st cuttings of hay, the lack of rainfall these last 2 months (June and July combo) is even more impressive
Total precip since June 1st through July 31st
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If you overlap that drought monitor it lines up nicely
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The departure vs average in precipitation since June 1st through July 31st
Now let’s hop to some local stations and look at comparisons in lack of moisture vs other dry June/July periods..
BAYARD
Since 1902 this is the 6th driest July recorded at Bayard. Coming in at 2.19″
The June/July combo precipitation. The 9th driest June July combo. Coming in with 5.78 over the 2 months. Some months of greater than 10 missed days of data were excluded
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CANAAN VALLEY COOP
This includes Canaan Valley 1 and 2. Site location move, within a relative close proximity.
Precipitation this July. Coming in at 4″. Since 1945 that comes in as the 23rd driest July.
Canaan Valley 1
The June/July combo. Coming in as the 18th driest combo since 1945 with 7.83″
Canaan Valley 1
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DAVIS 3SE
Since 2002 this coming in as the 2nd driest July at 3.82″
The June July combo also coming in as the 2nd driest since 2002 at 7.80
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Some past drier times predating the Canaan Valley Coop
CORTLAND
July of 1930 with only 1.61
That 1930 combo is also the lowest combo at
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SNOWSHOE
July coming in as the 7th driest since 1977 at 2.74″
The June July combo coming in as 3rd driest since 1977 at 5.50(3 missing days)
back north
SAVAGE RIVER DAM
Coming in as the 5th driest July since 1947 at 1.63″
The June July combo coming in as the 5th driest as well at 3.58″. Since 1947
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FROSTBURG
2 data sites for site relocation
July coming in as the 5th driest July since 1898 at .97. A few missing years in the mix there.
site 1
The June July combo coming in as the 3rd driest combo since 1898. Again a few missing years in the mix.
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site 1
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CUMBERLAND
2 data sets
July coming in as the 9th driest since 1891 at .97
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site 1
The June July combo coming in as the 4th driest since 1891 at 2.45″
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site 1
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SOMSERSET
July coming in as the 12th driest since 1948 at 2.42″
The June July combo coming in as 4th driest since 1948 at 4.18. There is quite a few missing years in the 80s,90s.
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CONFLUENCE
July coming in as the 4th driest since 1946 at 1.64
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The June July combo coming in as the 9th driest at 5.53″ since 1947
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BITTINGER 2NW VALLEY
I came in July with 2.92″ of precip
looking back at the coop that ran 53-75, that’s 3rd driest out of that brief history
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and the combo of June July I finished at 5.63″, 4th driest of that short history
MEAN TEMPS FOR JULY 2024
As you work east of the Alleghenies, not only has the area seen even less precipitation, the heat stress takes a toll on crops and vegetation more than across the high ground. Very visible if you are traveling from the high ground to the lower elevations
LavaleLavale- Drought/heat stress causing some leaves to brown Cumberland FlintstoneNear Flintstone. These south facing hillside, which are the most extreme impacts, toss on a lack of topsoil when 68 was built, those trees go under stress regularCorn near Md/PA line. A bit stunted and shriveled.
What will this do to leaf season across the Alleghenies remains to be seen. Leaf out was a bit early this year. Trees have been more stressed. That may cause some sensitive and typical early changers to change earlier, and less vibrant. Some drought intolerant yellow birch have already began a change in areas that sit elevated and dry out the most. She typical early changing maples in swampy areas have some hints of change. Which is typical of them as we get in to August.
What lays ahead as far as drought conditions
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With convective action possible basically over the next week, it will provide improvement and relief for some, others will remain below average. Eyes will turn to a potential tropical system late next week as of now look to take most of the moisture to our east, but definitely worth watching.
NOW for the final extreme and not one most would think of when they think back to July 2024. Remember the month began with a frost in some of the coldest spots!
The coldest average July minimum temperature recorded in Canaan Valley was 48.6 in 1963
The Northern Canaan Valley station on the refuge came in at 48.5 this July.
To STRESS there is no comparison though here. By saying it’s technically the coldest min recorded in the valley for the month of July would technically be accurate. However, as most of the media does now days. They tell you want they want you to hear. They leave out major details. That major detail is, this station is sited in a colder night time location. Just as the original Canaan Valley coop was sited in a colder night time vs the current site. Back in 63′ when that 48.6 occured, had there been a station at the present day Northern. Valley location, you may had 43 or 44. This is on ways similar to so many today going by airport/ASOS max temp numbers. Those will often read higher by site location. Having data is good. But if you have data but unaware of the data’s origins, metadata you can come to very wrong conclusions or the very least, misleading conclusions.
Cloudy a.m, high ground fog. Then sun, clouds, breezy, warm. Isolated pockets of showers-mainly east
Bittinger 2NW Valley
rainfall- T
Dyacon Data Below
Up from Bittinger 2NW Valley morning predawnUp from Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Bittinger 2NW Valley morning Bittinger 2NW Valley morning West of Bittinger afternoon Up from Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon Foxtown Rd afternoon Rock Lodge Rd near The north branch of the Cassleman Brennemans Grove afternoon Rock Lodge/495 afternoon Bittinger afternoonUp from Bittinger 2NW Valley predawn. Lightning visible from storms well north
The Glades
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Garrett County Airport
Cherry Creek at Mosser Rd morning Mchenry morning Mchenry morning Cherry Creek at Mosser Rd morning Rock Lodge Rd morning State Park Rd morning Deep Creek Lake morning Near Deep Creek morning Mchenry afternoon
Top of Wisp
Canaan Heights/Davis 3SE
Climate Reference Network Canaan
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Atop Canaan Ski area
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Cabin Mt at Bald Knob
Cabin Mt-Western Sods
*sensor issues continue*
Spruce Knob
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Canaan Valley Refuge
Mt.Davis
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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
Cranesville
––––––––New York Ironweed–––
The Yough at Sang Run
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Oakland
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Grantsville to Savage Mt
495 workReplacing the tunnel I spent a lot of time going through as a kid–––––––
Allegheny Mountains Weather 