THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 17, 1996 TAG: 9608170239
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 49 lines
Sweaters in August?
It hasn't been quite that cool, but halfway through the month Hampton Roads has yet to see a day get past 85 degrees. Normally, the area would be sweating through at least several days in the high 90s, and triple digits are not unusual.
The average high temperature at the National Weather Service office at Norfolk International Airport for the first 15 days of the month was 79.8 degrees; the average low, 68.9. That means the average temperature has been 74.4 degrees - 3.3 degrees below normal.
Still, it would have to get chillier yet for this month to be the coolest August on record in Norfolk. That mark was set in 1927, when the average temperature was 71.5 degrees.
Thus far, the highest temperature of the month was 85, on Aug. 9. The last time the region saw a reading of 90 or higher was on the last day of July, when the mercury barely made it to 90.
``Since then, we haven't gotten anywhere near 90,'' said Bryan Cullen, a meteorologist at the weather service office in Wakefield. ``It's very unusual to not hit 90 so far into August.''
The blame - or perhaps the credit - goes to an upper-level air pattern that has gone largely unchanged most of the year and has insulated the area from most of the hottest weather.
``It's been bringing us colder-than-normal weather all year,'' Cullen said.
The Hampton Roads forecast, for now, is for more of the same:
Today: Partly sunny with a chance of showers and thunderstorms and a high in the mid-80s. Winds will be variable at 5 to 10 mph. The chance of rain is 30 percent.
Tonight: Fair with a low in the mid- to upper 60s and light winds.
Sunday: Partly sunny with a high in the low to mid-80s.
Monday: Mostly sunny and pleasant with a high in the lower to mid-80s and an overnight low in the 60s.
Tuesday: Partly sunny with a high in the 80s and a low in the lower 70s. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by BETH BERGMAN/The Virginian-Pilot
With temperatures never topping 85 this month, the sand at the beach
isn't too hot for burying. At Ocean View on Friday, Jarian Riddick,
4, enjoyed his growing coating, courtesy his cousin Daniale Roberts,
11. The two, from Portsmouth, can look forward to more days of
not-hot weather.
KEYWORDS: WEATHER by CNB