Savannah River Site Annual Meteorology Report for 2004

Summaries of meteorological observations collected at the Savannah River Site in 2004 show a year that was overall cooler and drier than average. Although the annual rainfall of 42.9 inches was the eleventh driest of all the years over a period of record that began in 1952, rainfall was quite variable through the year. September total rainfall of 10.26 inches was the highest in this 53 year record; conversely, the monthly rainfall in March, 0.81 inches, was the lowest on record. Rainfall of 0.01 inch or more occurred on 104 days during the year. The annual average temperature for 2004, 63.4 degrees F, was the eleventh coldest of any year in an available record that dates to 1964. Cooler than average conditions were observed in 9 of the 12 months of the year. The coldest temperature during the year was 20.3 degrees F on the morning of December 15; the warmest observed temperature was 98.2 degrees F on the afternoon of July 14. The most notable weather event of 2004 was an active Atlantic hurricane season that resulted in six named storms striking the Southeast U.S. during August and September. Although each of these storms posed a significant threat to the SRS, their eventual paths resulted in only minimal impacts. The remnants of hurricanes Frances and Jeanne produced 24-hr rainfall totals of 3.99 inches (Sept. 8) and 3.48 inches (Sept. 27), respectively. Surface winds associated with Jeanne resulted in sustained speeds approaching 15 mph with gusts to 35 mph on September 27. An ice storm on January 26 produced an estimated accumulation of one-fourth to one-half inch of ice, resulting in scattered power outages and considerable damage to trees across the Site. A strong cold front moving through the area on March 7 produced a 15-minute average surface wind of 24 mph with a gust to near 50 mph