Head of High Knob Lake Basin of High Knob Massif – December 7, 2014
Climate Statistics
( Lower Elevations of Russell Fork Basin )
Clintwood 1 W – Elevation 1560 feet
Average Daily MAX: 47.6 degrees
Average Daily MIN: 30.6 degrees
MEAN: 39.1 degrees
Highest Temperature: 61 degrees
Lowest Temperature: 19 degrees
Total Precipitation: 3.06″
Total Snowfall: Trace
2014 Precipitation: 49.63″
2014 Snowfall: 53.8″
( Northern Base of High Knob Massif )
City of Norton – Elevation 2141 feet
Average Daily MAX: 44.7 degrees
Average Daily MIN: 28.0 degrees
MEAN: 36.4 degrees
Highest Temperature: 58 degrees
Lowest Temperature: 15 degrees
Total Precipitation: 5.48″
Total Snowfall: 1.3″
2014 Precipitation: 56.65″
2014 Snowfall: 62.6″
( Along the Tennessee Valley Divide )
Nora 4 SSE – Elevation 2650 feet
Average Daily MAX: 45.1 degrees
Average Daily MIN: 32.3 degrees
MEAN: 38.7 degrees
Highest Temperature: 58 degrees
Lowest Temperature: 18 degrees
Total Precipitation: 3.50″
Total Snowfall: 1.4″
2014 Precipitation: 46.39″
2014 Snowfall: 56.9″
December 2014 was seasonally wet but much less snowy and milder than November 2014 as a high wave number and low amplitude pattern dominated the USA ( many disturbances embedded amid a generally zonal flow field ).
Snow Covered State Route 619 – High Knob Massif on December 10, 2014
A general 3″ to 6″ of December snowfall above 3000 feet in the High Knob Massif was much below the 15-20″ average.
Whitewater In Clear Creek Gorge of High Knob Massif – December 7, 2014
A general 5.00″ to 6.00″+ of total precipitation fell during December within the High Knob Massif and its immediate orographic lifting zone ( Appalachia, Norton, Big Stone Gap ).
These totals were in contrast to just 3.06″ in Clintwood and 3.14″ in Grundy amid the downslope forced precipitation shadow northeast of the massif area on mean southwesterly air flows.
The year of 2014 was seasonally cool in the City of Norton with a mean annual temperature of 48.6 degrees. Extremes during the year varied from a high of 85 degrees during the summer ( June-August ) to a low of -13 degrees below zero.
City of Norton Temperatures – Elevation 2141 feetFrozen Upper Falls of Little Stony Gorge – High Knob Massif 2014
Precipitation Totals During 2014
City of Norton Water Plant
*Data courtesy of Andrew Greear & Staff of the City of Norton Water Plant ( Joe Carter, Bill Ballard, Wes Ward, Ed Dauphine ).
The 56.65″ of total precipitation officially measured during 2014 in the National Weather Service rain gauge at the City of Norton Water Plant was -1.39″ below the 1983-2013 average.
Around 63″ of snow fell at the Norton Water Plant during 2014, nestled amid the northern base of the High Knob Massif at an elevation of 2342 feet above mean sea level.
Rugged Northern Slopes of High Knob Massif – City of Norton & Jefferson National Forest
The annual climate of the City of Norton is dominated by rising and sinking air across the sprawling High Knob Massif, with air rising on northerly & southwesterly air flows being predominate to make Norton the wettest town or city in Virginia, on average, and cooler than many other sites of similar elevation.
Appalachia Lake Water Plant
Little Stone Mountain – NW Flank of High Knob Massif
Appalachia Lake WP rests at an elevation of 2360 feet above mean sea level on the other side of Stonega Lookout peak of Little Stone Mountain ( rime capped peak on far left side of above photograph rising to 3384 feet ).
A total of 56.61″ was measured by Jack Pitts & Mark Quillin some 7.0 air miles southwest of Norton, along the northwestern flank of the High Knob Massif, at the Appalachia Lake Water Plant.
Daily Precipitation At Appalachia Lake Water Plant During 2014
Big Stone Gap Water Plant
The Big Stone Gap Water Plant is nestled amid the rugged and majestically beautiful mouth of South Fork of Powell River Gorge, draining the high country of Big Cherry Lake basin.
South Fork of Powell River Gorge – Big Stone Gap Water Plant
A total of 58.27″ of precipitation were hand measured at the Big Stone Gap Water Plant during 2014 by Superintendent Gary Hampton and his fine staff.
A general 65.00″ to 70.00″ of precipitation fell across upper elevations in the High Knob Massif during 2014, with local max amounts topping 70.00″ in wettest places resting in between Robinson Knob and Big Cherry Lake Dam.
A total of 64.49″ were measured at Big Cherry Dam during 2014. With missing gauge moisture due to evaporation ( measurements are made once a week ) throughout the year, and some moisture losses in snowfall, the actual total was figured to have been amid the 67.00″ to 68.00″ range ( or around 5.00″ to 6.00″ less than max totals amid the upper basin and adjacent high basins ).
*MAX monthly amounts reported within 5 miles or less of the High Knob peak are a general guide to the wettest places in the high country in 2014. These are totals that were reported at or above an elevation of 3120 feet.
A general 80.00″ to 120.00″ of snow fell across upper elevations in the High Knob Massif during 2014.
More Than 18″ of Snowfall In High Chaparral of High Knob Massif – February 15, 2014
Monthly Snowfall Totals By Elevation
High Chaparral Community
Elevation 3300 feet
January 25.2″
February 23.5″
March 15.4″
April 1.5″
November 16.5″
December 3.5″
2014 Total: 85.6″
Snowfall during 2014 in High Chaparral was close to the previous 6 years ( 2008-2013 ) which averaged 83.8″ . Measurements are courtesy of Joe & Darlene Fields.
Photographer Roddy Addington Standing In 2 feet of Snow – High Knob Massif 2014
Main Crest Zone Area
High Knob-Eagle Knob
Elevation 4200 feet
January 35.0″
February 32.3″
March 21.0″
April 2.5″
November 23.0″
December 5.5″
2014 Total: 119.3″
Snowfall during 2014 in the main crest zone of the massif was close to the previous 6 years ( 2008-2013 ) which averaged around 117.0″ ( snow reports courtesy of various sources including my friends Steve Blankenbecker, James & Carol Bolling, Cal Adams, Roddy Addington, Bill Harris, VDOT and, of course, myself ).
Photographer Bill Harris Wades Through Deep Snow – High Knob Massif 2014
Some 88 days or nearly 13 weeks had 1″ or more of snow depth on northern slopes in High Knob Lake Basin ( and adjacent northern slope basins in the upper elevations of the massif ) during 2014.
High Knob Lake Shines Amid Snow-Rime Covered Basin – November 2014
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