Summary of Autumn 2023

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: 2

Number of Days Min T <= 32 F: 18

The first freeze of the season occurred on October 31.

Max T: 90.0 F – September 5, 2023

Min T: 17.0 F – November 29, 2023

Sep Dep from Normal: 0.0 F

Oct Dep from Normal: 1.7 F

Nov Dep from Normal: -0.5 F

Heating Degree Days: 1267

Cooling Degree Days: 129

Sep Precip: 2.43″, 1.52″ below normal

Oct Precip: 2.33″, 1.13″ below normal

Nov Precip: 2.29″, 0.70″ below normal

The first snowfall of the season occurred on November 1.

November 2023 Weather Summary

The morning of November 1, 2023

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.

The first snowfall of the season was November 1.

High wind speed of 31 mph on November 28.

November 2023 Data

EV Charging Etiquette

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.

– Help the charging station rookies.

– Don’t be this person.

Jerk blocking two chargers.

October 2023 Weather Summary

Fall Foliage on Bald Eagle Mountain

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.

High wind speed of 32 mph on October 8.

October 2023 Data

September 2023 Weather Summary

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.

High wind speed of 25 mph on September 4.

September 2023 Data

Summary 0f Summer 2023

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: 1

Max T: 91.2 F – June 2, 2023

Min T: 38.4 F – June 8, 2023

Jun Dep from Normal: -2.7 F

Jul Dep from Normal: 0.0 F

Aug Dep from Normal: -1.0 F

Heating Degree Days: 165

Cooling Degree Days: 538

Jun Precip: 3.89″, 0.20″ below normal  

Jul Precip: 6.39″, 2.60″ above normal  

Aug Precip: 5.58″, 1.42″ above normal  

The main event of the summer was the Canadian wildfire smoke in June.

August 2023 Weather Summary

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.

High wind speed of 29 mph on August 8.

August 2023 Data

Robin’s Nest

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.

July 2023 Weather Summary

July was a normal month for temperature. The high for the month was 89.9 deg. F recorded on July 28. The low for the month was 54.6 deg F, recorded on July 31. There were no days at or above 90 deg F. There were 17 heating degree days and 240 cooling degree days.

July was an above-normal month for precipitation with 6.39 inches of rainfall recorded, which was 2.60 inches above normal. The maximum rainfall in a single day was 1.03 inches recorded on July 20. There were 15 days of rain >.01 in, 11 >.10 in, and 2 >1 in.

High wind speed of 37 mph on July 20.

July 2023 Data

June 2023 Weather Summary

June was 2.7 deg F below normal for temperature. The high for the month was 91 deg. F recorded on June 2. The low for the month was 38 deg F, recorded on June 8. There were 110 heating degree days and 124 cooling degree days.

June was a below normal month for precipitation with 3.89 inches of rainfall recorded, which was 0.20 inches below normal. The maximum rainfall in a single day was 0.83 inches recorded on June 12. There were 11 days of rain >.01 in, 8 >.10 in and 0 >1 in.

High wind speed of 30 mph on June 14.

June 2023 Data

Here is the latest drought summary for Pennsylvania:


On two occasions, smoke drifted down from the Canadian wildfires into our region. The first was June 6-8.

The second was June 28-30.

The air quality became unhealthy during both events and the first one was slightly worse.