RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) – After an abnormally cold March, Richmond finally reached its first 80-degree-day of 2013 on Monday, April 8. Aided by sunshine, a southerly flow around a surface area of high pressure off the Mid-Atlantic coast, and an upper ridge over the East Coast, temperatures Monday afternoon soared into the upper 70s and low 80s.
Richmond International Airport’s high temperature was 81 degrees, well above the average high for that date of 68 degrees.
What is significant about this first 80-degree-day for Richmond is that it is our latest first 80-degree-day since 1993, when we didn’t hit the 80-degree mark until April 15.
In case you’re wondering, the last time we were at 80+ degrees was in the Fall before Superstorm Sandy on October 25, 2012. During October 23-25, 2012, we had a stretch of 80+ degree days (82, 84 and 80 degrees, respectively). This week’s stretch of 80+ days will be our first of 2013 and our first since late October.
Richmond International Airport may very well tie or surpass the record high temperature by Wednesday, April 10. The record stands at 88 degrees from 1922 for that date. We expect to be very close to it!
Meteorologist Carrie Rose
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