NATIONAL STORM SUMMARY

 

SEPTEMBER 2011

 

1st-10thThe low pressure system, Post Tropical Cyclone Lee, over the Southeast, slowly moved northeast Tuesday and kept widespread precipitation going from the Ohio and Tennessee valleys eastward across the East Coast. Very heavy rains and flash flooding occurred over the Appalachians, Mid-Atlantic and southern New England. Moreover, severe thunderstorms developed over portions of the Mid-Atlantic and Florida. A tornado was spotted in Glen Raven, North Carolina and high winds knocked many trees and power lines.

 

11th-17thUncharacteristically heavy showers dotted the Four Corners

States and occasionally expanded to cover much of the West. On September 12, daily-record rainfall totals included 0.10 inch in Yuma, AZ, and 0.07 inch in Redding, CA. The following day, rainfall records for September 13 reached 1.10 inches in Kingman, AZ, and 0.99 inch in Needles, CA. For

Kingman, it was the wettest day since February 19, when 1.50 inches fell. For Needles, it was the wettest day since December 22, 2010, when 1.01 inches fell. In Colorado Springs, CO, a 4.50-inch total on September 14 represented not only the wettest September day on record, but also the

wettest day for any month. In both instances, Colorado Springs’ previous record had been 4.29 inches on September 11, 2008. On September 15, Tucson, AZ, was pelted by 2.84 inches of rain, marking its wettest day since October 1, 1983 (2.96 inches). Tucson also set a September record with 5.57 inches of rain, eclipsing its 1964 standard of 5.11 inches.

Showers lingered through week’s end in the West; daily record amounts for September 16 included 1.03 inches in Ely, NV, and 0.20 inch in Idaho Falls, ID. By September 17, heavy showers erupted across the Mid-South, where daily record amounts reached 3.02 inches in Joplin, MO, and 1.98 inches in Harrison, AR. Pockets of heavy rain also developed along the Mid-Atlantic Coast, where Cape Hatteras, NC (6.96 inches), collected a daily-record total for September 17.

 

18th-24thMeanwhile, significant rain with weekly totals of 2 inches or more shifted into the Mid-South, Ohio Valley, and Southeast. A few totals in excess of 4 inches were reported, mostly in the southern Appalachians. Heavy rain (at least 2 inches) fell in parts of the mid-Atlantic coastal plain and southern New England, triggering a new round of flooding. Farther west, cool, damp weather hampered early-season harvest efforts in the Midwest. Some of the heaviest rain with locally 2 inches or more) fell across the southern and eastern Plains. Early in the week, locally heavy showers lingered on the southern Plains. Before the rain ended, Waco, TX (2.13 inches on September 18), experienced its wettest calendar day since January 9, when 2.44 inches fell. Elsewhere on September 18, daily-record amounts included 2.20 inches in Daytona Beach, FL; 1.39 inches in Batesville, AR; and 1.07 inches in Longview, TX. Heavy showers continued for several days in the Southeast, where daily-record amounts reached 3.49 inches (on September 20) in Birmingham, AL, and 2.88 inches (on September 21) in Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP), SC. GSP’s 3-day (September 21-23) rainfall totaled 5.84 inches. Meanwhile, a slow-moving storm arrived in North Dakota, resulting in daily-record totals for September 20 in Minot (1.17 inches) and Grand Forks (1.13 inches). Late in the week, heavy rain returned to the waterlogged Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern States. Daily-record amounts for September 23 included 3.19 inches in Baltimore, MD; 3.06 inches in Mt. Pocono, PA; and 2.97 inches in Greensboro, NC. In Harrisburg, PA, where 1.76 inches fell on September 23, both the annual (59.90 inches) and September totals (16.51 inches) set records. Harrisburg’s previous marks had been set in 1972 (59.27 inches) and September 1975 (14.97 inches), respectively.

 

25th-30thA slow-moving storm resulted in a prolonged period of cool weather across the mid-South and the Midwest. The storm also produced widespread showers from the Mississippi River to the East Coast. Significant rain (2 inches or more) also soaked the Ohio Valley and much of the Great Lakes region. Toward week’s end, cool air settled across the Midwest, resulting in widespread frost. During the early- to mid-week period, soaking rains affected the Midwestern and mid-Atlantic States. September 25 featured a daily-record rainfall (2.17 inches) in Indianapolis, IN. The following day, record-setting amounts for September 26 included 3.93 inches in Rockford, IL, and 3.76 inches in Cincinnati, OH. In Rockford, the only higher total during a September day occurred on September 9, 1941, when 5.45 inches fell. Dayton, OH, noted its wettest September on record (10.84 inches), bolstered by a daily-record total of 3.10 inches on September 26. In Michigan, Marquette’s weekly rainfall reached 4.58 inches, aided by daily-record amounts on September 27 and 29 (1.19 and 2.90 inches, respectively). Farther south, locally heavy showers in the Southeast produced 5.20 inches in Key West, FL, from September 25-27. Meanwhile in New York, Binghamton’s weekly total of 4.50 inches boosted its record-high annual precipitation to 57.85 inches (previously, 49.78 inches in 2006). Several Mid-Atlantic locations, including Baltimore, MD, and Philadelphia, PA, completed their wettest August-September periods on record. With 23.70 inches, Baltimore broke its August-September 1934 mark of 19.04 inches. Philadelphia’s August-

September sum of 29.58 inches demolished its 1882 standard of 18.49 inches. September rainfall records were also broken in several communities, including Binghamton (16.58 inches); Williamsport, PA (15.97 inches); Baltimore (13.32 inches); and Allentown, PA (12.99 inches). Both Binghamton and Allentown had also established rainfall records for August. In stark contrast, Texas locations such as Victoria (11.89 inches) and Laredo (4.76 inches) completed their driest October-September periods on record.

Previous records had been 14.64 inches in 1955-56 in Victoria, and 6.03 inches in 1964-65 in Laredo.


Jim G. Munley, jr.
http://www.jimmunleywx.com



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