The village that is now called Stormstown was located on one of the area’s earliest roads. Laid out in 1791-92, the road served as a main route for the shipment of Centre County iron west to Pittsburgh. First settler Abraham Elder’s tavern, on the east end of the village, was a stopping place for iron haulers. In 1812 David Storm recorded a plat of 30 lots, plus a school lot, that he named Walkerville, on the west side of present-day Municipal Lane in the middle of Stormstown. The origin of the Walker connection has not yet been tracked down. Some twenty years after Walkerville was established, Caleb Way slowly started selling off lots between Walkerville and the former site of Elder’ tavern, in an area that was briefly called Wayville. Eventually, by the time of the Civil War, the whole area was called Stormstown. The enterprises of the village included a gristmill, sawmill, distillery, tannery, wagon maker, and several craftsmen’s shops – blacksmith, weaver, potter, and chairmaker. An Easter fire in 1867 destroyed twenty-six buildings, many of which were never rebuilt. – See more at: http://www.centrehistory.org/abcs-of-centre-county/#sthash.RLS2TFw7.dpuf
December 2019 Weather Summary
December was 1.8 deg F above normal for temperature. The high for the month was 56.9 deg. F, recorded on December 23. The low for the month was 12.3 deg F, recorded on December 20. There were 23 days at or below 32 F and 3 days when the maximum temperature was at or below 32 F. There were 973 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days.
December was a below-normal month for precipitation with 2.69 inches of rainfall recorded, which was 0.44 inches below normal. The maximum rainfall in a single day was 0.71 inches recorded on December 9. There were 12 days of rain >.01 in, 7 >.10 in and 0 > 1 in.
High wind speed of 34 mph on December 18.
Outlook for January 2020
2019 Stormstown Weather Summary
Overall, the year’s temperatures were normal. The annual mean of 50.6 F was just 0.4 F above normal. The record annual precipitation of 38.03 inches was 2.67 inches below normal.
January
January was the coldest month of 2019 with a monthly mean of 26.2 F, which was 1.9 F below normal, with a high of 58 F and a low for the month and year of -9 F. Precipitation was 1.79 inches below normal with 1.32 inches of liquid precipitation. Eight inches of snow fell during January 19-20. There was some ice accumulation on January 8.
We were also treated to a total lunar eclipse on January 20.
February
February was warmer with temperatures at 1.9 F above normal. The high was 58 F and the low was -3 F. Precipitation was 0.49 inches above normal at 2.76 inches. The high wind speed for the month and year was 58 mph, recorded on February 24. Snowfall on February 11.
March
March temperatures were below normal with a high of 70 F and a low of 7 F. Precipitation was 1.8 inches below normal with 1.75 inches of liquid precipitation.
April
Temperatures were 1.9 F above normal in April. The high was 74 F and the low was 22 F. Rainfall was 0.85 inches above normal at 4.24 inches. The last day of temperatures below freezing was April 29.
May
Temperatures were about 3 F above normal with a high of 84 F and a low of 40 F. Precipitation was 7.15 inches; about 3.92 inches above normal.
June
Temperatures for the month were about 1 F below normal. The high was 90 F and the low was 38 F. Precipitation was above normal with 4.18 inches of rainfall.
July
July was the warmest month of the year. The temperatures were 2 F above normal. The high for the month and year was 94 F and the low was 52 F. Rainfall was 1.61 inches below normal with 1.85 inches of precipitation.
August
The month’s temperatures were 1 F below normal. The high was 90 F and the low was 47 F. Precipitation was 0.72 inches below normal at 3.42 inches.
A severe thunderstorm on August 18 caused some minor to moderate damage in the area with downed trees and power lines. There was also pea-sized hail and heavy rain as high as 10 in/hr. The maximum wind speed was 36 mph, the temperature dropped 22 F, and the total rainfall was 1.35 inches.
September
Temperatures were 2 F above normal this month. The high was 90 F and the low was 42 F. It was also a relatively dry month with 2.22 inches of rainfall. This was 1.76 inches below normal.
October
October was warmer at 2.2 F above normal. The high was 88 F and the low was 30 F. The first day with below-freezing temperatures was October 19. Rainfall was above normal at 5.42 inches, which was 2.08 inches above normal.
November
Temperatures began to drop in November and were 4.5 F below normal. The high was 61 F and the low was 18 F. Precipitation was 1.03 inches, 2.21 inches below normal. The first significant snowfall was recorded on November 24.
December
The temperatures were 1.8 F above normal. The high was 57 F and the low was 12 F. Precipitation was 0.44 inches below normal at 2.69 inches.
Snow was recorded on December 2.
An ice storm was observed on December 17.
2019 Insolation
Ice Storm
On Tuesday, December 17, our area experienced an ice storm. Freezing rain, supercooled rain droplets, froze on contact on many surfaces during the night.
About 0.16 inches of ice accretion was observed.
Also, snow squalls, on Wednesday, caused a pile up on I-80 that shut down the highway for 34 miles, in both directions, between the 178/220 North/Lock Haven exit in Clinton County and the 212B/I-180 West/Williamsport exit in Northumberland County.
Summary of Autumn 2019
Meteorological Autumn is officially over. Here is a brief summary of September 1-November 30 in Stormstown, PA:
Number of days Max T >= 90 F: 1
Number of Days Max T <= 32 F: 1
Number of Days Min T <= 32 F: 20
Max T: 90.0 F – September 11, 2019
Min T: 18.3 F – November 26, 2019
Sep Dep from Normal: 2.0 F
Oct Dep from Normal: 2.2 F
Nov Dep from Normal: -4.5 F
Heating Degree Days: 1318
Cooling Degree Days: 123
Sep Precip: 2.22″, 1.76″ below normal
Oct Precip: 5.42″, 2.08″ above normal
Nov Precip: 1.03″, 2.21″ below normal
The outlook for Winter 2019:
November 2019 Weather Summary
November was 4.5 deg F below normal for temperature. The high for the month was 61.4 deg. F, recorded on November 26. The low for the month was 18.3 deg F, recorded on November 9. There were 19 days at or below 32 F and 1 day when the maximum temperature was at or below 32 F. There were 830 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days.
November was a below-normal month for precipitation with 1.03 inches of rainfall recorded, which was 2.21 inches below normal. The maximum rainfall in a single day was 0.53 inches recorded on November 23. There were 5 days of rain >.01 in, 3 >.10 in and 0 > 1 in.
High wind speed of 47 mph on November 28.
Outlook for December 2019
October 2019 Weather Summary
October was 2.2 deg F above normal for temperature. The high for the month was 87.6 deg. F recorded on October 1. The low for the month was 29.7 deg F, recorded on October 19. There was 1 day at or below 32 F. There were 372 heating degree days and 19 cooling degree days.
October was an above-normal month for precipitation with 5.42 inches of rainfall recorded, which was 2.08 inches above normal. The maximum rainfall in a single day was 1.25 inches recorded on October 27. There were 11 days of rain >.01 in, 8 >.10 in and 2 > 1 in.
High wind speed of 42 mph on October 31.
Outlook for November 2019
Florida Flights
On Wednesday, October 9, nonstop flights to two Florida destinations will begin. Allegiant Airlines will be flying to Sanford and St. Petersburg with Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft.
Fares are about $50 one way,
September 2019 Weather Summary
September was 2.0 deg F above normal for temperature. The high for the month was 90.0 deg. F recorded on September 11. The low for the month was 47.6 deg F, recorded on September 27. There was 1 day at or above 90 deg F. There were 116 heating degree days and 104 cooling degree days.
September was a below normal month for precipitation with 2.22 inches of rainfall recorded, which was 1.76 inches below normal. The maximum rainfall in a single day was 1.10 inches recorded on September 2. There were 7 days of rain >.01 in, 5 >.10 in and 1 > 1 in.
High wind speed of 24 mph on September 2.
Outlook for October 2019
Paws and Hot Asphalt
During a recent walk with my dogs, I decided to take along my infrared thermometer.
During the summer, it is important to remember that the pads of a dogs paws are subjected to hot surfaces outside. Since there are no sidewalks where I live, our dogs walk on asphalt, gravel or grass.
I took a few measurements during a walk today. It was sunny around 2:45 PM EDT, and I found that the temperature of the asphalt can reach 140 F. It became increasingly cloudy during my walk so the asphalt cooled off a bit.
The gravel along the side of the road is preferable at 100 F. Grass in much better, even if it is dry and brown. I measured 85 F for dry grass. Green grass was cooler at 80 F. In the shade, the green grass measured 70 F. Even concrete in the shade was better than asphalt at 90 F.
By contrast, at 7 AM EDT, the asphalt temperature was 76 F.
These readings show that asphalt can be harmful to your dog’s pads. Today the air temperature was in the low 80s. If it was above 90 F, it follows that asphalt can be greater than 140 F and could burn dog’s paws.
A simple check is to place your finger tips on the asphalt for a few seconds to see if it’s comfortable.
“Betsy Ross” Flag
The following story caught my attention this morning:
Major League Soccer club bans Utah couple from waving ‘Betsy Ross flag’ at games
Since when has our country’s first flag become controversial?! I had no idea it had been appropriated by some hate groups until Nike recalled Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July shoes, which featured the flag, over concerns that the design glorifies slavery and racism.
In recent years, hate groups, such as the KKK, have attempted to adopt the Betsy Ross flag. Nike’s decision to recall the shoes seems to be not a result of excessive political correctness but motivated by making money.
Despite the flag’s name, Betsy Ross’ role in designing and creating the revolution-era flag “is largely fictitious,” according to the U.S. National Archives.
Nevertheless, I will fly my own “Betsy Ross” flag, as I see fit, to reappropriate the flag as what it actually is: a symbol of liberty, equality, and justice.
