Cincinnati 5NW #13 (Hamilton County) Ronald E. Rothhaas Jr. - October was a little cool and very wet.  While highs averaged over 4 degrees below normal lows were above normal due to clouds and rain.  What is normally the driest month of the year ended with 4.56 inches of rain, a departure of +1.70.  Combined September and October rainfall added up to an amazing 12.47 inches.  This, following the summer drought, caused some trees to come out of their summer dormancy and produce spring-like flowers.  Won't they be surprised!

    Cleves 3NW #55 (Hamilton County) James F Davis - October ended up 1.7 degrees below normal.The last half being cool and wet.

    Kent 2W #53 (Portage County) Eric E. Wertz - October 2002 was a month characterized by slightly below normal precipitation and normal temperatures.  Measurable liquid equivalent precipitation occurred on 8 days with the monthly total coming to 2.01 inches.  The first trace of snowfall occurred on the 24th with the first measurable snowfall of 0.3 inches being noted on the 29th for this season.  The 1st through the 4th were unseasonably warm with a near record high of 80 degrees on the 1st, 78 on the 2nd, and a record high of 80 on the 4th.  A potent cold front swept through the region late on the 4th with gale force winds in many areas (36 mph at Kent 2W) which abruptly ended the warm spell.  Ice pellets were noted on the 29th.  The Lake Erie temperature fell from 69 to 55 during this month. 

    Kirdon 1N #2 (Wayne County) Ronald Hahn - Although October 2002 began on a warm note, temperature were mostly below normal during the later days of the month, with the last temperature of 70 degrees or more coming on the 6th.  The growing season ended on the 14th after 145 days.  Average temperatures for the month were almost 1.2 degrees below mornal.  Rainfall was almost .40 inch below normal. 

    Newcomerstown 1S #106 (Tuscarawas County) Don Keating - The wind gust of 34 on the 4'th was from the remnants of what was Hurricane "Isidore" passing through the area. Highest pressure was 30.42" on the 14'th and the lowest was 29.64" on the 4'th. There was 1 Thunder Day and 9 Fog Days.

    Ottawa 4E #15 (Putnam County) Phil & Bonnie Higley - Month started out as a warm note, then by the middle of the month we had our first killing frost!(on 15 was 28F) Then we all known that Old man winter will be on it's way.  Sure there was report of snowfall in the area for the month, but none here was seen.  As the daytime Hi's become less & less so was the hours in the day, mother natual had other idea's.  On the 29 of this month a BIG storm blowed in, had 36 M.P.H. winds but only ended up with .06" of precip., it sure made the leaves change fast.  This month been a Very DRY month, compaire to last year when we had 6.06" & the year before that with 1.51".  As a whole I feel that we are going to be ended up with below normal temperature for the first half of the winter & near to below normal in snowfall.... Any Feed backs??????

    Perrysville 4W #79 (Richland County) Katie Gerwig - October temperatures were slightly above normal with precipitation near normal.  First light frost - October 8th.  First freez - October 14th. 

    Springfield 2N #1 (Clark County) Dick Groeber - The temperatures during the first half of the month were above the station 35 year average with a high of 84 degress Fahrenheit on the 3rd.  They cooled to near the average during the last half with a low of an even freezing 32 degrees on the 31st.  This was the first time the first date of 32 degrees was this late in the month since 1995.  In terms of rainfall, this month was mostly a dry month with widely scattered rain showers.  The greatest one day amount of 1.50 inches occurred on the 25th.  The overall month total of 1.84 inches was above the station 35 year average.   

    Thompson 5SW #98 (Geauga County) Vance Lunn - Note that this is the first monthly report for my new weather station, Thompson 5 SW.  First snow of the season fell on the 29th to coat the ground with a slushy coat of snow.  This depth of a trace was the greatest for the month.  The temperature failed to reach 50 from the 23rd to the 31st and on the 29th, the high was only 38 F.

    Wooster 7N #16 (Wayne County) Jack Sisler - October was a cool month except for the first week. The mean temperature for the month was slightly below normal although average high temperatures were almost three degrees below normal. Precipitation was almost .6" below normal making it the 5th month in a row with a monthly deficit. This puts the precipitation deficit almost five inches below normal for the year so far. The first snowfall of the season occured on the 29th with .1" but the precipitation became all rain a short time after.

A = Airport

MONTHLY REPORT compiled by Jack Sisler

Date: Tue Oct 1, 2002 7:22 pm
Subject: Lili Remnants Regarding Ohio

Group:

This afternoons discussions and maps, at the moment, appear to be cutting back on precipitation amounts with the remnants of Lili centered over Ohio by Saturday morning. The forecast maps also show a northeast/southwest cold front just entering northwest Ohio at about the same time.

It's this cold front and the exact track Lili take that will depend on where the heavier rainfalls are. If the high pressure ridge in the Atlantic is strong enough, it could keep Lili further west as it rides up the front and in turn keep the heaviest precipitation farther to the west. If Lili takes a course further east after making landfall, this would allow the coldfront to progress further east and in turn give Ohio heavier precipitation.

Stay tuned!

Jack

Date: Tue Oct 1, 2002 7:33 pm
Subject: RE: [OhioWx] Lili Remnants Regarding Ohio farther to the west. If Lili takes a course further east after making landfall, this would allow the coldfront to progress further east and in turn give Ohio heavier precipitation.

Lili will be weakened to a stage where it won't "allow" the front to move east -- it's more a matter of the speed of the coldfront vs. strenght of the high pressure system that will determine. Right now HPC is keeping it a little slow and hitting most of the precip in IN / NW Ohio http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/95ep48iwbg_fill.gif but they are ready to shift that east, but I don't think numbers we saw with Izzy will be matched here.

- Rob

Date: Tue Oct 1, 2002 8:02 pm
Subject: Re: Lili Remnants Regarding Ohio

Rob:

I'm wondering though, even if we only get half of what Isidore gave us, if places that received 3"-5" from the remnants of Isidore could still experience significant flooding from Lili? Unless you think enough ground absorption would have taken place in a weeks time.

Jack

Date: Tue Oct 1, 2002 8:14 pm
Subject: RE: [OhioWx] Re: Lili Remnants Regarding Ohio

I'm wondering though, even if we only get half of what Isidore gave us, if places that received 3"-5" from the remnants of Isidore could still experience significant flooding from Lili? Unless you think enough ground absorption would have taken place in a weeks time.

True -- especially the southwest part of the state. This map shows 12-hr QPF amounts to cause flooding problems, and they run about 2-3" near Cincy.

http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/ohrfc/HAS/images/latestFFG12.jpeg

Notice the drought is gone for the state...http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/regional_monitoring/palmer.gif

- Rob

Date: Wed Oct 2, 2002 7:28 pm
Subject: Nothing Serious Here?

Group:

At the moment it appears that rainfall will be nothing major with Lilli as it was with Isidore. Most of this may be attributed to a great acceleration it takes once the remnants of Lili make landfall. Maps are showing Lili to come ashore early Thursday afternoon, in western Tennessee early Friday afternoon, over northcentral Ohio by early Saturday morning and northern New York early Saturday afternoon.

This afternoons precipitation models are forecasting 24-hour amounts from Friday night to Saturday night to be only about .5" in thenorthern half of Ohio to 1.0" in the extreme southern Ohio. With 12-hour FFG amounts ranging from 3.0"-5.0" in the northern two-thirds of Ohio and from 2.0"-3.0" in the southern third it would appear flooding won't be a problem.

I might indicate that these models also underestimated rainfall projections by 50% with the remnants of Isidore this far ahead. Anyone else have some projections?

Jack Sisler
Wooster 7N

Date: Wed Oct 2, 2002 8:37 pm
Subject: Visible Satellite Photo of Lili, again.

Hello Weather Followers;

As for Jack's question about Lili's impact on us. I think we'll have more wind with this system than from Isidore, but I don't think we'll get as much rainfall, unless for some reason, it gets hung up.
Don Keating

Date: Wed Oct 2, 2002 9:46 pm
Subject: Message from a 2way device

Group, The forecast map I'm just not receiving shows Lili moving northnortheast from s.w. La. through Ohio to N.Y.. Even with it eroding over land, we could still get nearly as much as from Isadore. She seems that intense. I'll report what I get here in Springfield.
Dick Groeber. O.W.O.N. 1.

Date: Thu Oct 3, 2002 1:49 am
Subject: WOW Lili is looking very bad...

According to the map at the link below, Lili is predicted to still be a category one in 24 hours (12 Midnight Thursday/Friday) even after passing over land to northeastern Louisiana. The discussion I read also said that high rise buildings may get winds up to one category higher than surface winds. Eeek.

Good luck Baton Rouge.

http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/tracking/at200213.html

Liz

Date: Thu Oct 3, 2002 7:43 am
Subject: Severe Weather

I'd be a bit more concerned about severe weather Friday as opposed to precip... Winds just a few hundred feet off the ground are forecast to be in the 40-60mph range, which could be brought down to the surface and cause damage from a simple rainshower let alone thunderstorm! The Eta actually has SURFACE WINDS to be in excess of 30mph much of the day.

Better action looks to be over IN/MI though as the timing issue works out, but I'd still be watching in western OH.

- Rob

Date: Thu Oct 3, 2002 8:10 am
Subject: QPF

Speaking of rainfall - interesting observation from the forecast offices around...HPC has less than 1/4" Friday night through Saturday morning for western Ohio (seems a little dry, I'm not pushing the cold front & drying in that fast.) NWS North Webster says 1/2-1", Wilmington says 1/2-1" -- more in line with what I imagine would happen.

NWS Cleveland says 2-3" overnight! Seems _way_ too high to me for such a fast-moving storm system.

- Rob

Date: Thu Oct 3, 2002 9:23 am
Subject: Lili Effects on Ohio

Group:

Precipitation forecasts this morning are still not giving excessive amounts of precip to Ohio from the remnants of Lili. The 24-hour Day2 forecast map this morning showed the maximum amount of 1.00" within an area from Cincinnati to just south of Zanesville to Marietta and points south to the Ohio River.

The latest projected path of Lili has it moving a little faster and a little more northerly track than yesterday; over western Mississippi by 1am Friday and near Owensboro, KY by 1pm Friday. If the remnants of Lili combine with another Low on a cold front west of us tomorrow, severe weather could be more of a concern. If low pressure and the front are south and east of us I think it would just be a rain event. I guess where these three things (remnants of Lili, another surface low, and cold front) come together will decide what we get where.

Keep those photos coming!

Jack

Date: Thu Oct 3, 2002 9:24 am
Subject: Message from a 2way device

Group, Let's just wait and see how much rainfall we get. I feel it could be more than the forecast models indicate. I don,t see Lili being that much drier when she gets here. Also that cold front could add to the totals because of the sharp temperature drop behind it. This could be interesting to say the least. Dick Groeber. Springfield 2. O.W.O.N.
1.

Date: Thu Oct 3, 2002 12:05 pm
Subject: Re: [OhioWx] Lili Effects on Ohio

Jack (and group):

I'm not putting a lot of faith (and never do) in the QPFs generated by NWP numerical modeling involving a tropical system (and reminants thereof). It is entirely possible that impressive totals of rain might occur as the reminants of Lili move northeast through the Ohio Valley late Friday. I wouldn't be shocked to see 1 to 3 inch rainfall amounts when (and where) the reminants pass through late tomorrow. Under this type of setup, it only takes an hour or two worth of heavy, drenching rain to produce the totals stated above.

I agree with Don K. that wind may be a little more of a factor with Lili than with Isidore a week ago. As Rob stated, it's not going to take much to carry the 40 to 60 knot winds forecast at about 5,000 feet towards the surface. Reminant convective bands from Lili can easily do the trick.

In some ways, I think this has the potential to be a more interesting event than Isidore was. There's more to watch. Heavy rain is still a possibility AND there's going to be potential for severe weather and strong wind gusts. The key is going to be exactly where the reminants track..

Stay Tuned!

Matt Higgins
Lodi 2S

Date: Thu Oct 3, 2002 7:30 pm
Subject: Lili's Timing

Hi List:
Reading Rob's comments about severe stuff Friday evening, I would agree, and also believe that we may be under the gun even further east. It appears that Lili may wedge herself between the warm front and cold front that will be over our area as she approaches. I'm not sure on the timing with the cold front but with the 850mb winds, the high dewpoints, the warming into the 80's and the front coming in, I would think that there is a good chance that we could see some nasty stuff even into eastern ohio. Perhaps I'm missing something but it seems like most of the ingredients will be there. Any thoughts?
Gary L.
Ravenna

Date: Thu Oct 3, 2002 7:41 pm
Subject: RE: [OhioWx] Lili's Timing

The key is going to be cloudiness... At this time it looks like the best CAPE's will be over IN/MI/West OH, and without instability the strong winds aloft won't mix down, nor will you get the storms needed to bring them down. By the time the strongest winds move to eastern OH you'll be late in the day, and less likely to get convection.
- Rob

Date: Thu Oct 3, 2002 9:22 pm
Subject: Re: Lili's Timing

Gary and Group:

I agree cloudiness is the key, especially if the cloud cover from the remnants of Lili get here before the peak heating of the day. However, with surface winds from the southeast @ 15-20 knots and 30+ knot winds out of the south @850mb could produce enough shear and if we get a dry slot in there it won't take long for things to get going.

One thing I'm not reading well (the models) is the placement of the Low(s). Looks like the models aren't agreeing well on this. Is there still evidence of a Low (aka Lili) moving across Ohio by early Saturday morning or does it phase with the deepening Low in the upper midwest moving into the upper Great Lakes?

I'm still sticking with my 1" or less amounts with a few "isolated" areas of 1"-2" 24-hour amounts. I don't think we will see anything of a general widespread rainfall with Lili as we did with Isidore. I think most of the dynamics will be taken from the Low further to the west.

Ok everybody. "I left the door open." Come on in and state your case. Also, all you satellite picture takers. Keep your eye on any possible pre-frontal squall line development to the west.

Jack

Date: Thu Oct 3, 2002 9:23 pm
Subject: Re: [OhioWx] Lili's Timing


Rob:
You are right about the CAPEs. I noticed that tomorrow's 18z (ETA) LI's indicated an area of -4 over NE Ohio, western PA. Which would weight more heavily in this scenario - given the copious amounts of moisture that Lili is bringing with it? Since the precip isn't expected to arrive in eastern Ohio until later in the afternoon, I'm thinking that we may see some sun maybe up until midday or so. Thanks for your input.
Gary L
Ravenna

Date: Thu Oct 3, 2002 9:46 pm
Subject: RE: [OhioWx] Lili's Timing

There's already plenty of cloudiness from Lili already streaming into southern Indiana... The only thing we can hope for is that the gray breaks up enough to let the sunshine through. Odds are it isn't going to be a newsmaker -- but the potential is so worrisome (if this only was April ;> ) if we do get sun that it's still a big issue.
- Rob

Date: Thu Oct 3, 2002 10:45 pm
Subject: Lili's Effects?

List; My opinion as to Lili's effects on Ohio.... not much rain (under an inch in most places) and more wind than Isidore gave us. Of course, these are just the predictions of a novice weather observer.
Don Keating
Newcomerstown 1S

Date: Thu Oct 3, 2002 11:23 pm
Subject: Message from a 2way device

Group, The latest forecast position map and satellite picture I received tonight from my weather chart recorder shows Lily deadheading over Ohio following I 71 and mixing with the cold front. I hope you all are right in your estimates. The ground here is nearly saturated from Isadore. More could cause flooding. Dick Groeber.
Springfield 2. O.W.O.N. 1.

Date: Fri Oct 4, 2002 7:04 am
Subject: Morning Outlook

Still concerned about gusty winds in western OH / IN / MI. QPF doesn't look to be much of a factor until you get farther northwest -- however Cleveland is still calling for 2-3" of rain today into the evening, while Wilmington / Ft Wayne / HPC are all in the 1/2-1" range. I still can't see a way of getting 2-3" in NW Ohio...

- Rob

Date: Fri Oct 4, 2002 2:58 pm
Subject: warm and breezy

The breeze is picking up around here (Streetsboro 2N). My hand held wind indicator showed a gust of 16 mph not to long ago. It previously had been calm. 3pm temp. is 81.4 F. Lili remnants affect or approching cold front-or both?

Vance Lunn
Streetsboro 2N
OWON #98

Date: Fri Oct 4, 2002 3:07 pm
Subject: Re: [OhioWx] warm and breezy

Hi Vance & List;
Peak wind here has been 25 @ 2:26 p.m. thus far. That is already 8 mph higher than Isidore did when she passed through. A solid line of showers and heavy rains in the western third of Ohio now moving east-northeastward. Pressure has dropped off a good bit this afternoon. Currently sitting at 29.70" and falling. Partly-mostly cloudy currently.
Don Keating #106
Newcomerstown 1S

Date: Fri Oct 4, 2002 3:27 pm
Subject: Re: warm and breezy

Vance and Group:

Winds at 3pm here were from the south southeast @12mph with gusts up to 26. Barometer is 29.70" and falling rapidly which is almost a .3" drop since 4am this morning.

The remnants (what little there is) of Lili has become mixed in with the cold front to the west but there's a strong Low (988mb/29.18") over upper Michigan with a good wind gradiant.

Jack Sisler
Wooster 7N

Date: Fri Oct 4, 2002 4:31 pm
Subject: Message from a 2way device

Group, From Springfield.
We are feeling the full effects here. At 4:30 p.m. there is moderate rain, s.e. wind to 27 m.p.h., barometer at 29.58 inches, rain total began at 3 p.m. at .40 inch, temperature at 68 degrees.
Dick Groeber. O.W.O.N. 1.

Date: Fri Oct 4, 2002 5:05 pm
Subject: Message from a 2way device

Group, From Springfield.
At 5 p.m. rainfall tapering off with a total thus far around .40 inch. Wind gust so far to 35 m.p.h., barometer at 29.56 inches, temperature at 69 degrees. Dick Groeber. O.W.O.N.
1.

Date: Fri Oct 4, 2002 6:29 pm
Subject: September's Weather Statistics for Centerville 1W

Weather statistics for the month of September for Centerville 1W.

High Temp (Date) ... 96o / 10th
Low Temp (Date) ... 42o / 23rd
Mean High ... 83.1o
Mean Low ... 58.0o
Monthly Mean ... 70.6o
Total Precipitation ... 5.78"
Max 24 hr Precipitation (Date) ... 4.31" / 27th
Number of Precipitation Days... 8
Total Snowfall... 0"
Max 24 hr Snowfall (Date) ... 0" /
Max Snow Depth at time of observation ... 0"
High Wind Gust (Date) ... 25 MPH / 20th
Thunderstorm Days ... 5
Highest Barometer (Date) ... 30.32" / 24th
Lowest Barometer (Date) ... 29.50" / 27th
Average High Wind Gust... 14.9 MPH

Computer that runs the weather software remains out of service.

Rainfall on 9/27 was the remnants of Tropical Storm Isidore.

Robert Flory - KA5RUC
Centerville 1W
Montgomery County
OWON #82
ILN Skywarn OMT405

Date: Fri Oct 4, 2002 7:12 pm
Subject: Rains & Winds

Hi List; As the line of showers moves out of Newcomerstown, gusty winds prevale. Maximum gusts have hit 33 mph on two occasions. First time was 6:48 p.m. and the second was 6:59 p.m. Rainfall to this point has been 0.32" and the lowest pressure has been the current reading of 29.64". It has been steady now for the past little while.
Don Keating #106
Newcomerstown 1S

Date: Fri Oct 4, 2002 7:42 pm
Subject: Message from a 2way device

Group, From Springfield. Rain began 2:45 and ended 6:15 p.m. toataling only .36 inch, wind peak gust at 35 m.p.h., barometer low at 29.55 inches, temperature fall from 84 to 69 degrees during the period. Dick Groeber.
O.W.O.N. 1.

Date: Fri Oct 4, 2002 8:38 pm
Subject: Recap

Reports from NW Ohio indicate about 1/4 - 1/2" max, so the 2-3" forecast missed a bit ;> About as expected north of the border, with some isolated wind damage reports but nothing widespread. Still no idea why all the tornado watch boxes came up... The first one I didn't mind, but the line certainly wasn't developing after it came through western Michigan so issuing one for eastern Michigan made no sense.

Anyways -- could be a while before we talk storms again, as the tropics are a bit quiet and it looks like a bit of a cooldown is headed in.

- Rob

Date: Sat Oct 5, 2002 2:30 am
Subject: The first four days and Oct - Dec, 2002

Hi List;
The first four days of October have been unlike October! With all four days establishing new record highs for my location, the average high temperature has been 84.0 degrees! Yesterdays high(October 3) of 87 had the largest margin of temperature as far as breaking the old record. It broke the previous high by seven degrees. Fog has been observed at one time or another on three of the first four days as well. I'm gonna go out on a limb here (like, what else is new!) and say October, November and December are going to average above normal temperatures and precipitation will be below normal for October and November, and near normal for December. Any other thoughts?
Don Keating #106
Newcomerstown 1S

Date: Sat Oct 5, 2002 9:19 am
Subject: Peak Wind Gusts Yesterday

Group:

Here is a public information statement with some of the peak wind
gusts yesterday.

Jack

NOUS41 KCLE 050250
PNSCLE

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
1050 PM EDT FRI OCT 4 2002

HERE ARE SOME PEAK WIND GUSTS FROM THIS EVENING.

LOCATION PEAK WIND GUST TIME (EDT)
AKRON-CANTON 40 MPH 710 PM
AKRON FULTON 38 MPH 709 PM
ASHTABULA 39 MPH 738 PM
CLEVELAND HOPKINS 41 MPH 720 PM
CLEVELAND LAKEFRONT 43 MPH 921 PM
ERIE PA 40 MPH 819 PM
FINDLAY 38 MPH 542 PM
LORAIN-ELYRIA 40 MPH 935 PM
MANSFIELD 47 MPH 839 PM
MARION 38 MPH 640 PM
MEADVILLE PA 35 MPH 815 PM
TOLEDO EXPRESS 35 MPH 658 PM
TOLEDO METCALF 39 MPH 558 PM
WOOSTER 33 MPH 714 PM
YOUNGSTOWN 36 MPH 638 PM

KUBINA/KIELTYKA

Date: Sat Oct 5, 2002 9:40 am
Subject: Uneventful Event

Group:

Other than some strong winds (but nothing meeting severe criteria I'm aware of), everything seemed to be falling apart (nothing of great concern) as the day went along. Watching the radar loop yesterday, the area of rain slowly dwindled away to very little by the time it got here.

My total rainfall was .17" and highest wind gust was 36mph @6:37pm. The highest rainfall total I saw was .59".

Jack
Wooster 7N

Date: Mon Oct 7, 2002 4:49 pm
Subject: Frost Tonight?

Group:

Good chance of getting frost here tonight as long as none of that cloudiness in the upper Mississippi Valley doesn't get here before morning. Dewpoints were in the lower 30's here already. Lowest temp I had for the season was 39 on September 24 but there was no frost.

At 4:30 it was 56 degrees.

Jack
Wooster 7N

Date: Tue Oct 8, 2002 9:53 am
Subject: Low Temperature

Group:

I had a low temperature of 32 @4:31am this morning with widespread frost. This is the coldest of the season thus far.

Jack Sisler
Wooster 7N

Date: Tue Oct 8, 2002 10:52 am
Subject: Message from a 2way device

Group, From Springfield, Ohio: low temperature
at 41 degrees. No frost. Dick Groeber.
O.W.O,N. 1.

Date: Tue Oct 8, 2002 11:31 am
Subject: Light Frost!


When I got up this morning this low temperarture was only, 35 degree's. Sure there was some frost around. But we didn't have a killing frost. Officially we still NOT into Indiana Summer. Don't we have to have a Hard Freeze like 28 degree's or so to bealbe to call this NICE daytime weather we been having Indiana Summer?  I sure wish we have one soon, I just don't like the bug's now....
4-E
Putnam, Co.
Ottawa, Oh.

Date: Tue Oct 8, 2002 11:46 am
Subject: End of the Growing Season at Lodi 2S

Hi Group:

Lodi 2S plunges to 31 degrees this morning with widespread frost on the ground. Good thing I brought in the last tomatoes out of the garden yesterday evening!

Matt Higgins
Lodi 2S/Burbank 2NW
Medina/Wayne County Border

Date: Tue Oct 8, 2002 12:12 pm
Subject: Re: Light Frost!


Phil-

I think it sometimes depends on what part of the country your in as to what people classify it as "Indian" summer. Normally, I think you have to have at least one "killing" frost (or freeze) followed by a period of cool weather before you can call it Indian summer.

It was a "killing" frost here this morning which is somewhat strange because it was the first frost of the season. Normally, we would already have had a few light frosts by now here but because of the warm autumn so far that hasn't been the case.

Jack Sisler
Wooster 7N

Date: Tue Oct 8, 2002 6:25 pm
Subject: Re: [OhioWx] Re: Light Frost!

Like some others, I had a light frost last night... Temp was 37, and the top of my car was frosty, but the rest was just wet. Not really what  would call a killing frost. Sure do like this great fall wx!

Chris Taylor
Toledo, Ohio

Date: Thu Oct 10, 2002 5:59 pm
Subject: Snow Measurement Guidlines

Group:

While Matt is in the process of getting the Ohio Precipitation Network going I thought now would be a good time to give a couple of websites to go to and study/review the guidelines given for measuring snow.

1. Snow Measurement Guidlines (http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/coop/Publications/snowguid.htm)

If anyone sees the above in a .pdf format let me know so we can put it in the Files section to be easily accessed.If anyone sees this in .pdf format let me know so I can put it in the Files section.

2. "The Snow Booklet" by Nolan J. Doesken and Arthur Judson (http://ulysses.atmos.colostate.edu/~odie/snowtxt.html)

This is an indepth book on snow measuring but also explains how it forms, how it falls, how it changes, etc. There is a cost to this publication but well worth it.

I am sure Matt will have more to offer but this should be enough to read and study before that first snow hits.

Jack

Date: Thu Oct 10, 2002 7:30 pm
Subject: CORN September Report

Just posted the September Central Ohio Raingage Network report at <http://members.tripod.com/~OhioWx/corn.html>

Larry Huff

Date: Thu Oct 10, 2002 7:44 pm
Subject: Ohio Precipitation Network-Starting Date Delayed

Hi Group:

My sincere apologies that the Ohio Precipitation Network is not ready to go at this time. I was shooting for a date of October 1 to get it started, but due to a rigorous personal work schedule plus problems on the end of MSN groups the starting date has been delayed.

I've completed the instruction sheet detailing reporting procedures to the Network and it's in the hands of Jim Kosarik at the NWS in Cleveland for his review and comment. Hopefully, Jim can turn it around fast and we can get started with the Network!

I will tell you one thing, the reporting requirements to the Network are significantly different than those of previous years under the Ohio Snow Report List. The instuction sheet I produced for the Network is nine (yes, nine) pages long! It is VERY detailed.

Right now, if everything goes right the Network should be up and running by November 1st (perhaps sooner, if Jim is "cool" with everything).

Thanks for your patience & trust me, it's going to be well worth the wait!

Matt Higgins

Date: Fri Oct 11, 2002 10:23 am
Subject: Rainfall - Hocking County.

Total rainfall at my home in northwest Hocking Co. from when it began yesterday (Oct. 10) through 9:00 a.m. today(Oct. 11)was .77".
Jim Fry
Rockbridge 4W
OWON #33

Date: Fri Oct 11, 2002 6:33 pm
Subject: Rainfall Deficit

Group:

Even with the remnants of the tropical systems that have moved through the area I still have a deficit in rainfall. Even though October is typically one of the drier months of the year, I've only had .17" so far which is .6" below normal. I had no rainfall the last six days and nine out of the last eleven days this month.

The rainfall from the remnants of Isidore in September helped but still made the month of September the fourth month in a row with a precipitation deficit. For the year I am almost five inches below normal. Need to get some water in that ground before it freezes.

What about everyone else?

Jack
Wooster 7N

Date: Sat Oct 12, 2002 6:46 pm
Subject: Hard Freeze coming!

Well just got off of the local weather page & they are calling for us to have a low temperature for Sunday night of 28 degree's.. And even cooler for Monday morning. So get readly for a good HARD freeze.......Bug's look's out...........Today we got up to 69 degree's @ 5:12 p.m. & out low so far has been 53 degree's, but with the dew point of 63F, that low temperature may just remine the low for today.
4-E
Putnam, Co.
Ottawa, Oh.

Date: Sun Oct 13, 2002 4:07 pm
Subject: thompson 5sw rainfall

Yesterday's rainfall at my new Thompson 5 SW station was 0.3" for 0.21" for Oct. so far. My streetsboro 2N station is closed for good. I wom't be able to post very often for the next few days until we get our phones hooked up. Yesterday's high was 64 F. I can't remember what the low was.

Vance
Thompson 5SW
OWON #98

Date: Mon Oct 14, 2002 8:30 am
Subject: Message from a 2way device

Group, From Springfield. I recorded my first near freezing temperature of the season here with a low of 33 degrees at 6:38 a.m. e.d.s.t.. The frost was scattered and patchy in the city. Dick Groeber.
O.W.O.N. 1.

Date: Mon Oct 14, 2002 9:46 am
Subject: Morning Low

Group:

My morning low was 28 @ 6:23am with widespread heavy frost. This was the lowest temperature of the season but not the first killing frost. The low temperature was not a record for this date which was a 26 set in 1991.

Jack Sisler
Wooster 7N
Wayne County

Date: Mon Oct 14, 2002 9:52 am
Subject: freeze!

Hi all:

While TOL recorded 29 this morning, I bottomed out at 30. Heavy frost on everything. Looks like the growing season is over around here(except maybe for some hardy mums...).

Chris Taylor
Toledo, Ohio

Date: Mon Oct 14, 2002 2:18 pm
Subject: FIRST FREEZ!

Well we findlay had our first Freeze. This morning we got down to 28 degree's. Now that is a freeze........Right now it's 56 degree's. I do believe the wooley, is RIGHT, a cold spill & then a warm peroid & then right into winter.
4-E
Putnam, Co.
Ottawa, Oh.

Date: Tue Oct 15, 2002 9:09 am
Subject: Re: [OhioWx] Digest Number 872

Low temp of 31.1 deg. Monday morning.

Dan
Macedonia
N.Summit County

Date: Wed Oct 16, 2002 10:26 am
Subject: Rainfall - Hocking County.

Total rainfall during the 24-hour period ending at 11:00 a.m. today (October 16) at my weather station in northwest Hocking County was .82". Total October rainfall is now 2.43".
Sincerely,
Jim Fry
Rockbridge 4W
OWON #33

Date: Wed Oct 16, 2002 3:15 pm
Subject: Ohio Precipitation Network Update

Hi Folks!

The Ohio Precipitation Network is READY TO GO! I've just received comments on the instruction sheet from Jim Kosarik and the NWS has bought off on the reporting format we're going to use for the Network!

You should have received an invitation notice to join the Ohio Precipitation Network this afternoon. I certainly hope you consider joining! If you wish to submit your snow observations electronically to the National Weather Service in Cleveland during the 2002-2003 snow season you must join the Network. The Ohio Snow Report list offered through YahooGroups is no longer in service and is no longer a forum to communicate your snow observation to the National Weather Service.

I will distribute the reporting instructions via e-mail to people who join the Network on a case by case basis. When you receive your instruction sheet PLEASE READ IT VERY CAREFULLY. It is very important that we adhere exactly to the reporting format that has been developed for the Network. The reporting format has been bought off on by the NWS. It reflects a very streamlined approach that will save the NWS (and any local TV stations or agencies) a lot of time in accessing the important information on the Network.

You may begin reporting to the Network as soon as you receive and read your instruction sheet. PLEASE do not begin reporting UNTIL you have read your instruction sheet and are clear with the requirements of the Network.

We're ready to roll, folks! Let's have some fun!!

Matt Higgins
Ohio Precipitation Network Manager

Date: Wed Oct 16, 2002 7:58 pm
Subject: Rainfall

Rainfall here at Newcomerstown 1S since it began yesterday about 6:30 p.m. has
been 0.86".
Don Keating #106
Newcomerstown 1S

Date: Thu Oct 17, 2002 4:22 pm
Subject: 2002 Drought Effects on Agriculture

Group:

The following are some excerpts relating to the effects on agriculture from this years drought. This information is taken from a weekly newspaper "Farm and Dairy", October 17, 2002 issue.

"U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman has designated Ohio as a disaster area due to agricultural losses caused by drought and other extreme weather. This designation will make farmers in all 88 counties eligible for disaster assistance....."

"Ohio Agriculture Director Fred L. Dailey expects this year's crop loss due to drought to rival that of past droughts in Ohio, such as in 1988, 1991, and 1999. The USDA's damage assessments in August estimate that almost half the counties can expect total crop losses of 30 percent to 50 percent, and 17 counties can expect losses of 50 percent or more."

"All but tiny corners of Ohio were in drought going into the first week of October, and topsoil moisture was way below normal."

Jack Sisler
Wooster 7N
Wayne County

Date: Sat Oct 19, 2002 12:48 pm
Subject: Message from a 2way device

Group, This mornings's rainfall totalled .45 inch with winds to 30 m.p.h.. Dick Groeber. Springfield.

Date: Tue Oct 22, 2002 7:41 am
Subject: Normal Weather?

It seems that Texas has consistently had severe/wet weather since Spring. Is that a normal weather pattern?

Just curious,
Amber

Date: Tue Oct 22, 2002 7:54 am
Subject: RE: [OhioWx] Normal Weather?

It seems that Texas has consistently had severe/wet weather since Spring.  Is that a normal weather pattern?

It's actually been a _very_ below-normal sever storm season down there. And the Drought Monitor has much of the state http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html in a bit of a drought, with some locations in severe drought.

- rd

Date: Tue Oct 22, 2002 6:41 pm
Subject: Below Normal Temps

Group:

It would appear that Indian Summer has either been put on hold or may never get here. Mean temperatures the last nine days have averaged eight degrees below normal.

FYI, the first measurable snow here last year was October 27th (.2").

Jack
Wooster 7N

Date: Tue Oct 22, 2002 7:50 pm
Subject: Re: Normal Weather?

Amber:

Except for a few isolated cases, severe weather (thunderstorms, tornadoes, etc.) has been below normal. I believe there were isolated flooding events that took place around a few major metropolitan areas in Texas and a killer tornado back in May.

One article I read said the number of tornadoes this year in the entire U.S. is half of the 10-year average number. Most of the major outbreaks this year occured in Maryland, Illinois, and Kentucky. The most destructive and deadliest tornado occured in Maryland.

They seem to think a cold air outbreak in February and March, position of the jet stream, and perhaps the drought were all factors in limiting the number of tornadoes this year.

Jack

Date: Sun Oct 27, 2002 7:57 pm
Subject: Measurable Snow Late Next Week?

Group:

I'm beginning to think there will be no Indian Summer this year especially looking at the maps for later in the week and next weekend.

In the long-range models,it appears a strong high-pressure system (30.59")will be moving south into the upper Plains by next Friday. It appears temperatures will only be in the 30's by late Friday. Liquid amounts of .3"-.4" in the extreme northern part of the state and .05" or less liquid for the rest of northern Ohio. With strong winds out of the north and a lake water temperature in the 50's this could translate into 3-5" of snow in the snowbelt(s) down to a half-inch or less further south.

Any other prognosis out there?

Jack

Date: Tue Oct 29, 2002 2:26 pm
Subject: first flakes of the season

Thompson 5SW 2:30pm 10/29/02

I observed the first flakes of snow for the 2002-03 season at around 12:30pm this afternoon at my new Thompson 5 SW station. There has been off-and-on flurries to light snow since.

Currently: Cloudy, temp. 37.5 F

Vance Lunn
Thompson 5 SW
OWON #98

Date: Tue Oct 29, 2002 3:02 pm
Subject: Re: first flakes of the season

Vance and Group:

Likewise. It started here about 11am as a mix of rain, sleet and snow. Was mostly snow for a period of time to the point it began to stick on part of the windshield on my truck. Continued that way until about 2pm but for the most part is all rain now. Temperature at 3pm was 35.

Jack Sisler
Wooster 7N
Wayne County

Date: Tue Oct 29, 2002 3:13 pm
Subject: Re: first flakes of the season

That snow has reached up here now at 2:10pm. Snowing at a decent rate and is beginning to accumulate over colder surfaces. The temp. is falling slowly and steady and is now 33.5 F

Vance

Date: Tue Oct 29, 2002 3:34 pm
Subject: Re: [OhioWx] first flakes of the season

I can relate to that. Here at Ravenna 1E the snow started just before noon and kept up for about 20 minutes before changing to rain. About 320pm there was a snow, sleet, rain mix that is still falling as of 333pm. There is slight accumulation on the grass.

Rich Rabatin
Ravenna 1E
Portage County

From: Elizabeth Stapleton <bandimal@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue Oct 29, 2002 5:48 pm
Subject: Re: [OhioWx] first flakes of the season

We have had very wet flakes falling here in University Circle (Cleveland, 44106) at least since 4:00 PM. No accumulation.

regards,
Liz

Date: Wed Oct 30, 2002 1:52 am
Subject: snowfall

Snowfall total for Oct 29th was 0.5". At 1:30 am there is a trace of snow coating the ground.

Vance Lunn
Thompson 5 SW
OWON #98

Date: Wed Oct 30, 2002 7:45 am
Subject: Question to anyone

When there any type of precip. falled from the sky, like snow, hail, freezen rain, so on. But doesn't build up on the ground wouldn't you call this a trace of precip.?
4-E
Putnam, Co.

From: "Rob Dale" <rdale@skywatch.org>
Date: Wed Oct 30, 2002 8:18 am
Subject: RE: [OhioWx] Question to anyone

Yes.
- rd

Date: Wed Oct 30, 2002 9:36 am
Subject: Re: Question to anyone

Phil and Group:

It would be considered a "trace" only if there was .4" or less on the ground at your scheduled observation time. If there is no snow on the ground at the time of your observation it would be "0" or "--" even if some snow did accumulate between your observation times but melted. Remember that, if there IS any snowfall on the ground at the time of your observation that is less than .5" it is entered as a "trace" as your snow depth. Anything from .5" or more would be rounded off to the nearest "whole" inch.

Examples:

.4" on the ground would be entered as a "Trace"
.5" on the ground would be entered as "1"
1.2" on the ground would be entered as "1"
1.6" on the ground would be entered as "2"

Remember, we're not talking about how much snow has fallen between your observation times just the snow depth at the time of your observation. Hope this helps.

Jack

Date: Wed Oct 30, 2002 12:12 pm
Subject: RE: [OhioWx] Re: Question to anyone

Maybe we're interpreting the question from Phil differently... If snow falls but melts as it lands, then a trace of snow fell. Snow depth is what I think you are referring to, and I agree that would be zero. But he is talking about freezing rain / hail / etc. which would not be a snow depth issue. Here's the guidance from NWS:

---
Snow often melts as it lands. If snow continually melts as it lands, and the accumulation never reaches 0.1 inches on your measuring surface, snowfall should be recorded as a trace (T) and record in your remarks that the "snow melted as it landed".

Date: Wed Oct 30, 2002 7:18 pm
Subject: Re: Question to anyone

Rob, Phil and Group:

I think we're both right. You're referring more as to what form the precipitation was falling between observations and I'm interpreting it as to what is on the ground at observation time. Phil did mention snow which is why I gave the explanation I did. So I think we can agree that you have to keep snow somewhat separate from freezing rain (glaze ice) and hail. Freezing rain and hail should never be reported as snowfall. These types are liquid precipitation and should be reported as such.

Jack

Date: Wed Oct 30, 2002 8:10 pm
Subject: RE: [OhioWx] Re: Question to anyone

Hail is reported as snowfall -- that's why you'll see "Trace" amounts reported in the summer months under snow. Here's more from NWS:

(b). MEASURING AND RECORDING FROZEN PRECIPITATION. In freezing weather, when snow or ice pellets are likely to occur, remove the funnel and inner tube of the raingage and leave only the large outer can exposed. Melt the catch of snow or ice pellets by adding a CAREFULLY measured amount of warm water from the tube. After the catch is melted in the can, pour the water into the tube (being careful not to spill any), and measure it.

Then subtract the amount of warm water previously added. The resulting figures are the water equivalents of the snow or ice pellets and should be entered as the amount of precipitation in the "Rain, melted snow, etc." column. If snow, ice pellets or hail fall when the funnel and inner tube have not been removed and it is apparent that the gage has caught only a portion of the precipitation, a section of the newly fallen snow, ice pellets or hail on the ground should be cut, using the outer can as a biscuit cutter, and this section melted and measured as indicated above. In the "Snow, ice pellets, (Ins. & tenths)" column, enter in inches and TENTHS, the amounts of these types of precipitation having fallen during the past 24 hours. Enter a "T" for depths too small to measure. Do not enter hail in this column.

In the next column ["At ob. - Snow, ice pellets, hail, ice on ground (Ins.)"], enter to the nearest INCH the average depth of all snow, ice pellets, and ice (including old and new) and hail remaining on the ground at the time of observation in the vicinity of the station. Enter a "T" for less than .5 inch. If drifting has occurred, make measurements at several points where drifting is the least evident, and enter the average amount. An entry should be made each day in this space as long as snow, ice pellets or ice remains on the ground. As soon as the covering has completely melted, enter "0" for the depth. Once this has been entered, leave the column blank until the next observation time at which there is frozen precipitation on the ground.


 

Return to Ohio Weather Summaries