50 Degrees of Diurnal Temperature Change
We mentioned in a news article Friday entitled Beautiful Weather in East Brings Big Temperature Swings an incredible "diurnal" (day to night) temperature variation: "Friday morning, the temperature started the day at 23 degrees F in Elkins, W.V. By 2:00 p.m. Friday, the temperature had risen to 71 degrees." They officially rose another degree to 72 after we wrote that, making for a 49-degree swing!
That station is indicated by a green circle on the map above, which shows low vs. high temperatures yesterday. At unofficial stations, the diurnal change was as much as 53 degrees!
We also explained why this is happening: It's Fall, and the humidity is low in the afternoon (see chart below) and the dew point drops, so very cold temperatures can be achieved in the morning, while there is still enough sun to heat temperatures well in the afternoon.
In August, I did a blog about these temperature swings because the weather station in my yard (should be fairly accurate, maybe a foot too low in placement), differed 44 degrees in one day.
Today, I broke that record again with a 48 degree rise from 16 to 64! It's quite surreal to have such a pleasant afternoon following a harsh freeze.
Typically "official" stations don't see these variations due to them being more accurate or placed at a different elevation, which makes the 48 degrees at Elkins all the more impressive. Nonetheless, here are the unofficial reports:
- Incredibly in Gassaway, WV the thermometer jumped 53 degrees from 29 to 82! - At West Fork River in West Virginia, a rise of 49.7. - An Ohio D.O.T station (which is under quality control caution) rose from 22 to 71, a total of 49 degrees.
Report a Typo
