October 2024 Weather Summary

Bill1 Comment
C/2023 3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)

October was 1.4 deg F above normal for temperature. The high for the month was 80.4 deg. F recorded on October 31. The low for the month was 29.7 deg F, recorded on Oct 27. The first freeze of the season, 31.9 F, was recorded on October 15. There were 0 days at or above 90 deg F and 7 days at or below 32 deg F. There were 392 heating degree days and 20 cooling degree days.

October was below average for precipitation with 0.95 inches of rainfall recorded, which was 2.51 inches below normal. The maximum rainfall in a single day was 0.52 inches recorded on October 1. There were 5 days of rain >.01 in, 2 >.10 in and 0 > 1 inch.

High wind speed of 25 mph on October 14.

October 2024 Data

Weather Station Overhaul

Bill1 Comment

On October 10 I gave my Davis weather station an overhaul. The dew point readings seemed to be off and I had ordered and received an overhaul kit from Davis Instruments. The instrument package has been in use since December 2015.

I removed the radiation shield, cleaned the accumulated mildew from the plates, and replaced the temperature/humidity sensor. I also installed a new battery and solar panel. I replaced the rain sensor with a more accurate one. The spikes are to deter birds from clogging the rain collector.

I will work on the wind vane and anemometer in the Spring. They were replaced about 4 years ago.

Two other sensors are also part of the instrument suite. A UV sensor measures the UV index and a solar radiation sensor provides readings of Watts per square meter.

The other part of my weather station is the air quality sensor. Its operation remains nominal. It measures 1, 2.5, and 10-micrometer particulates in units of micrograms per cubic meter.

September 2024 Weather Summary

Bill1 Comment

September was near normal for temperature. The high for the month was 83.9 deg. F recorded on September 1. The low for the month was 42.4 deg F, recorded on September 3. There were 0 days at or above 90 deg F and 0 days at or below 32 deg F. There were 120 heating degree days and 75 cooling degree days.

September had 1.94 inches of rainfall recorded, which was 2.01 inches below normal. The maximum rainfall in a single day was 0.56 inches recorded on September 23. There were 10 days of rain >.01 in, 6 >.10 in, and 0 > 1 in. There was enough rainfall to end the moderate drought conditions in Pennsylvania.

High wind speed of 25 mph on September 7.

September 2024 Data

Summary Of Summer 2024

Bill1 Comment

Meteorological Summer is officially over. Here is a brief summary of June 1-August 31 in Stormstown, PA:

Number of days Max T >= 90 F: 13

Max T: 94.7 F – July 15, 2024

Min T: 43.9 F – June 8, 2024

Jun Dep from Normal: 1.9 F

Jul Dep from Normal: 1.8 F

Aug Dep from Normal: -0.7 F

Heating Degree Days: 142

Cooling Degree Days: 714

Jun Precip: 2.45″, 1.64″ below normal  

Jul Precip: 2.30″, 1.49″ above normal  

Aug Precip: 9.36″, 5.20″ above normal  

August 2024 Weather Summary

Bill1 Comment

August was 0.7 deg F below normal for temperature. The high for the month was 92.9 deg. F recorded on August 1. The low for the month was 45.4 deg F, recorded on August 21. There was 1 day at or above 90 deg F. There were 57 heating degree days and 202 cooling degree days.

August was an above-normal month for precipitation with 9.36 inches of rainfall recorded, which was 5.20 inches above normal. The maximum rainfall in a single day was 2.17 inches recorded on August 9. There were 14 days of rain >.01 in, 10 >.10 in, and 4 >1 in.

High wind speed of 28 mph on August 31.

August 2024 Data

July 2024 Weather Summary

Bill1 Comment
Cumulonimbus Cloud SE of Stormstown, PA

July was 1.8 F above normal for temperature. The high for the month was 94.7 deg. F recorded on July 15. The low for the month was 49.5 deg F, recorded on July 2. There were 7 days at or above 90 deg F. There were 24 heating degree days and 302 cooling degree days.

July was a below-normal month for precipitation with 2.30 inches of rainfall recorded, which was 1.49 inches below normal. The maximum rainfall in a single day was 1.28 inches recorded on July 22. There were 6 days of rain >.01 in, 3 >.10 in, and 1 >1 in.

High wind speed of 29 mph on July 16.

July 2024 Data

Drought conditions worsened as well.

Practical 3-D Printing

Bill1 Comment

After my tugboat model project I began to produce more practical parts. I made covers for my electronics, a cable holder, a and switch lock plate.

Cable holder.

At a CCPaSEC board meeting, a new dissolved oxygen meter was demonstrated. One of the drawbacks was that the probe was unprotected while in use. I volunteered that I had a 3-D printer and that I would like to try making a protective cover.

Probe cover prototypes.

I started with a simple design (the prototype on the left). The posts were too small which caused the rough filament dispersal at the top of the object. The second prototype was better. However, the circular holes were too large which resulted in a weak structure. Also, the inside diameter was too tight to attach to the probe. The final design on the right has smaller circular holes, giving the cover strength. I widened the diameter of the inside diameter 2 mm from the bottom to the top. That resulted in a snug fit.

The final prototype was made with orange filament for visibility if dropped.

D. O. meter probe with protective cap.

June 2024 Weather Summary

Bill1 Comment

June was 1.9 deg F above normal for temperature. The high for the month was 93.6 deg. F recorded on June 22. The low for the month was 43.9 deg F, recorded on June 1. There were 61 heating degree days and 210 cooling degree days.

June was a below normal month for precipitation with 2.45 inches of rainfall recorded, which was 1.64 inches below normal. The maximum rainfall in a single day was 0.97 inches recorded on June 29. There were 8 days of rain >.01 in, 5 >.10 in and 0 >1 in.

High wind speed of 27 mph on June 23.

June 2024 Data

Here is the latest drought summary for Pennsylvania:

Tugboat Model Restoration

Bill1 Comment

During the 1960s, my Uncle Norman built a model of a tugboat that he had worked on as an engineer. It was gifted to me then and has been in storage for years. It is still in good shape despite missing parts, notably the stern mast, the light above the wheelhouse, two navigation lights, the stern panel to the wheelhouse, and an antenna.

Tugboat Model

I have been planning to restore it for a while. I purchased a 3-D printer to manufacture the missing parts. The model is also dusty, so the first step in restoration was to clean it.

I removed all of the dust and printed the missing parts. I dry-fitted the parts before painting and gluing them to the model. The most difficult part to make was the stern mast. I printed one section for the lower portion of the mast and three sections that included a light on each one.

Here is the model’s starboard view with all the missing parts now painted and installed.

Here is the port view. I am pleased with the results.

Summary of Spring 2024

Bill1 Comment

Meteorological Spring is officially over. Here is a brief summary of March 1 – May 31, 2024 in Stormstown, PA:

Number of Days Max T <= 32 F: 0
Number of Days Min T <= 32 F: 15
Max T: 85.4 F – May 2, 2024
Min T: 18.5 F – March 22, 2024

Mar Dep from Normal: 7.0 F
Apr Dep from Normal: 2.9 F
May Dep from Normal: 2.6

Heating Degree Days: 1231
Cooling Degree Days: 118

Mar Precip: 3.36″, 0.02″ below normal
Apr Precip: 5.92″, 2.41″ above normal
May Precip: 5.40″, 1.76″ above normal