PARKERSBURG -This past November was one of the driest on record for the state and the Parkersburg area, according to the National Weather Service in Charleston.
West Virginia usually sees 3 to 3.5 inches of precipitation every November, including rainfall and melting snow, according to a news release.
The state average was approximately 3.17 inches of precipitation for November, the weather service reported, citing an unofficial value that is only an estimate based on weekly observer reports.
The measurement will not be official until it is confirmed by the National Climatic Data Center.
About 0.44 inch of precipitation fell in Parkersburg, making this the second-driest November since it was measured at 0.11 in 1904, the weather service reported. The weather service has been tracking rainfall amounts in Parkersburg since 1889.
Over the last month, the jet stream was positioned in such a way it prevented moisture from coming up from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, said meteorologist Tom Mazza of the National Weather Service in Charleston.
There also was high pressure dominating throughout the month.
"High pressure keeps moisture away," Mazza said.
Traditionally, November is a busy month for rainfall, but this year saw longer spells of dry weather throughout the month.
Rodney Miller, plant supervisor for the Parkersburg wastewater treatment plant, takes daily weather readings at the 19th Street facility. The readings are needed to track the amount of rain or snowfall, which affects the amount of water entering the plant.
These measurements are sent to the National Weather Service in Charleston for use.
Miller said he has recorded .34 of an inch of rainfall for November with the maximum reading of .25 an inch on Nov. 12. Last year, Parkersburg received 4.89 inches of rainfall for November. The Parkersburg area received 4.74 inches of rainfall in November 2010.
In October 2012, the Parkersburg area saw 3.77 inches of rainfall, Miller said. The area received 7 inches in September, 2.55 inches in August, 3.54 inches in July and 2.46 inches in June.
"It is definitely been a lot lower than in the past," Miller said. "It has definitely been dry out."
The National Weather Service is reporting 0.68 inch of precipitation fell in Beckley this past November, making it the second driest November on record for Beckley. The driest was in 2001 when 0.66 inch fell.
Huntington saw 0.62 inch of precipitation in November, making it the third driest record with the driest occurring in 2001 at 0.10 inch.
Charleston saw 1.05 inches of precipitation in November, making it the seventh driest on record with the driest being in 1904 when 0.45 inch fell.
