December was 7.1 deg F above normal for temperature. The high for the month was 61.2 deg. F, recorded on December 2. The low for the month was 19.3 deg F, recorded on December 14. There were 17 days when the minimum temperature was at or below 32 F, 0 days when the maximum temperature was at or below 32 F, and 0 days when the minimum temperature was below 0. There were 798 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days.
December was a below-normal month for precipitation with 2.76 inches of liquid precipitation recorded, which was 0.42 inches below normal. The maximum rainfall in a single day was 0.83 inches recorded on December 10. There were 10 days of rain >.01 in, 7 >.10 in and 0 > 1 in.
Overall, the year’s temperatures were above normal. The annual mean of 52.3 F was 2.1 F above normal. The annual precipitation of 37.36 inches was 4.17 inches below normal.
2023 Weather Data
January
January was the coldest month of 2023 but was warmer than normal with a monthly mean of 36.7 F, which was 9.5 F above normal, with a high of 58.0 F and a low for the month of 20.4 F. Precipitation was 0.43 inches above normal with 3.35 inches of liquid precipitation. There were 5.2 inches of snow this month, with a maximum daily total of 3.2 inches on January 26.
February
February was an above-normal month for temperature, with a mean of 37.0 F, which was 7.9 F above normal. The high was 70.9 F and the low was 5.2 F. Precipitation was 0.47 inches below normal at 1.99 inches. There were 1.0 inches of snow for the month, with a maximum daily total of 1.0 inches on February 28.
March
March temperatures were 1.6 F above normal with a mean of 38.6 F. The high was 60.9 F and the low was 18.5 F. Precipitation was 0.57 inches below normal with 2.81 inches of liquid precipitation. There was also 4.5 inches of snow.
April
Temperatures were 3.7 F above normal in April with a mean temperature of 53.0 F. The high was 86.1 F and the low was 27.0 F. Rainfall was 0.56 inches below normal at 2.95 inches. The high wind speed for the month and year was 44 mph.
May
Temperatures were 1.9 F below normal with a mean temperature of 57.9 F. The high was 85.0 F and the low of 29.9 F. Precipitation was 0.59 inches, 3.05 inches below normal. The last day of temperatures below freezing was May 18. Conditions were considerably dry at the end of May:
June
Temperatures for the month were 2.7 F below normal with a mean of 65.4 F. The high for the month, as well as the year, was 91.2 F and the low was 38.4 F. Precipitation was 0.20 inches below normal with 3.89 inches of rainfall. The wildfires in Canada caused significant smoke in our region during June 6-8 and June 28-30.
July
July was the warmest month and temperatures were normal with a mean of 72.2 F The high for the month was 89.9 F and the low was 54.6 F. Rainfall was 2.60 inches above normal with 6.39 inches of precipitation. July was the rainiest month of 2023.
August
August temperatures were 1.0 F below normal with a mean of 69.4. The high was 87.5 F and the low was 51.5 F. Precipitation was 1.42 inches above normal at 5.58 inches.
September
Temperatures were normal with a mean of 63.2 F. The high was 90.0 F and the low was 43.1 F. There were 2.43 inches of rainfall, which was 1.52 inches below normal.
At the end of September, the dry conditions had improved significantly:
October
October was mild with temperatures at 1.7 F above normal with a mean of 53.6 F. The high was 81.5 F and the low was 31.8 F, which was the first freeze on October 31. Rainfall was 2.33 inches, which was 1.13 inches below normal.
November
Temperatures in November were near normal at 0.5 below normal with a mean of 40.7 F. The high was 67.4 F and the low was 17.0 F. Precipitation was 2.29 inches, 0.70 inches below normal. The first snowfall of the season was on November 1.
December
December was 7.1 F above normal, with a mean temperature of 39.3 F. The high for the month was 61.2 F deg. F, recorded on December 2. The low for the month was 19.3 F, recorded on December 14.
December was a below-normal month for precipitation with 2.76 inches of liquid precipitation recorded, which was 0.42 inches below normal. There was a trace of snowfall.
November was 0.5 deg F below normal for temperature. The high for the month was 67.4 deg. F, recorded on November 7. The low for the month was 17 deg F, recorded on November 29. There were 17 days at or below 32 F and 2 days when the maximum temperature was at or below 32 F. There were 730 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days.
November was a below-normal month for precipitation with 2.29 inches of rainfall recorded, which was 0.70 inches below normal. The maximum rainfall in a single day was 1.38 inches recorded on November 21. There were 6 days of rain >.01 in, 2 >.10 in, and 1 > 1 in.
Along with the new electric vehicle (EV) technology there is also a developing etiquette at public charging stations. Most of the time, charging at a public station is an amicable experience. Owners will sometimes gather while charging, or waiting for an available charger, and talk about their cars or other topics. However, there are inconsiderate people that one may encounter from time-to-time.
Here are a few guidelines. Some are common sense, some I have learned from experience, and others I found from research:
– Always be courteous.
– Don’t ICE a charging space (block a charging space with an internal combustion engine vehicle), and don’t park your vehicle at a charging station unless you intend to use it.
– Read and follow what is on any posted sign.
– Don’t cut in line. Ask if there is a queue and follow the guidelines.
– Park at the correct connector. When you find a public charging station, make sure you park at the right type of plug-in point. For example, if your vehicle isn’t compatible with DC fast charging, then a Level 2 (240-volt) station is what you’ll need.
– Never unplug another person’s vehicle. Some connectors are locked while the vehicle is charging. If it isn’t yours, leave it alone.
– If you are leaving your vehicle, consider leaving a note to let others know when you will return. Otherwise, plan to return before the charging session is complete.
– When charging is complete, don’t leave your car connected for more than 10 minutes. Electrify America will start charging a penalty after 10 minutes. EvGo is limited to a 60 minute charging session.
– If the charging station is busy, consider ending your session at 80%. By design, the charging of most EVs slows dramatically once you’ve reached 80% of capacity. The limit protects the battery from the tremendous amount of damaging heat created as a fast-charged battery nears its capacity.
– Properly stow the connector when you’re done. Leave the charger the way you found it or better. Tangled cables and connectors on the ground may make it difficult for the next user.
– After charging is complete, move to a regular parking space if you still have other business at a location.
– If you don’t know what you’re doing, ask someone or call customer service.
October was 1.7 deg F above normal for temperature. The high for the month was 81.5 deg. F recorded on October 3. The low for the month was 31.8 deg F, recorded on Oct 31, the first freeze of the season. There were 0 days at or above 90 deg F and 1 days at or below 32 deg F. There were 383 heating degree days and 29 cooling degree days.
October was below average for precipitation with 2.33 inches of rainfall recorded, which was 1.13 inches below normal. The maximum rainfall in a single day was 1.00 inches recorded on October 14. There were 7 days of rain >.01 in, 5 >.10 in and 0 > 1 inch.
September was near normal for temperature. The high for the month was 90.0 deg. F recorded on September 5. The low for the month was 43.1 deg F, recorded on September 15. There was 1 day at or above 90 deg F and 0 days at or below 32 deg F. There were 154 heating degree days and 100 cooling degree days.
September had 2.43 inches of rainfall recorded, which was 1.52 inches below normal. The maximum rainfall in a single day was 0.68 inches recorded on September 9. There were 10 days of rain >.01 in, 7 >.10 in, and 0 > 1 in. There was enough rainfall to end the moderate drought conditions in Pennsylvania.
August was 1.0 deg F below normal for temperature. The high for the month was 87.5 deg. F recorded on August 21. The low for the month was 51.5 deg F, recorded on August 2. There were 0 days at or above 90 deg F. There were 38 heating degree days and 174 cooling degree days.
August was an above-normal month for precipitation with 5.58 inches of rainfall recorded, which was 1.42 inches above normal. The maximum rainfall in a single day was 1.22 inches recorded on August 14. There were 11 days of rain >.01 in, 8 >.10 in, and 1 >1 in.
On Friday afternoon July 21, 2023, I was trimming back the Hydrangas by our front door. It was then that I discovered a bird’s nest, with 3 light blue eggs. I immediately stopped trimming and let them be. A few days later, on July 25, I found that the eggs had hatched.
On July 29 they had grown quite a bit.
On the morning of July 30, I found that one of the hatchlings was not in the nest. I found it nearby and rescued it. It seemed to be uninjured, but it was probably tired, thirsty, and hungry.
On August 1, their flight feathers were developing.
On August 4, I took my last photograph of the young birds in their nest.
On August 5, the nest had fallen from its original location with no sign of the young Robins.
Later, one hatchling was spotted on the ground in the shrubs. It is hoped that the others survived as well.
Update: Early in the evening I found one of the fledglings in our backyard.
Stormstown Dispatch 