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Highland County, Virginia
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==Climate and weather== {{climate chart | [[Monterey, Virginia|Monterey, VA]] |17|37|3.35 |18|41|3.16 |26|49|4.10 |34|59|3.73 |44|68|4.29 |52|76|4.09 |56|80|4.24 |54|78|2.94 |48|72|3.39 |37|63|3.56 |29|51|3.56 |21|42|3.47 |float=right |clear=right |units=imperial |source=NOAA (normals, 1971–2000);<ref name= NCDC >{{Cite web |url=http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim81/VAnorm.pdf |title=Climatography of the United States NO. 81 |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=May 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906092309/http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim81/VAnorm.pdf |archive-date=September 6, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Weather Channel<ref name="weather">{{cite web |url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/USVA0514 |title=Monthly Averages for Monterey, VA |access-date=December 26, 2013 |publisher=The Weather Channel }}</ref> }} Highland County is in the [[Oceanic climate|marine west coast climate]] zone, with a [[Köppen Climate Classification]] of ''Cfb''.<ref name="weatherbase">{{cite web|title=Climate Summary for Monterey, Virginia|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=896544&cityname=Monterey%2C+Virginia%2C+United+States+of+America&units=|publisher=weatherbase.com|access-date=December 26, 2013}}</ref> As such, Highland experiences warm summers with an average temperature less than {{convert|72|F|C}} during all months. In addition, the region features consistent rainfall year-round and lacks a dry season.<ref name="noaa">{{cite web|title=Additional Climate Subdivisions|publisher=National Weather Service|url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/global/climate_max.htm|access-date=December 26, 2013}}</ref> Monterey, the county seat, is representative of the average climate of Highland, as it is situated at roughly the mean elevation for the county.<ref name="handbook8-9">[[#OrenHandbook|Oren]], 1922, pp. 8-9.</ref> Locations in the county's higher elevations experience cooler temperatures whereas locations in lower elevations experience warmer and milder temperatures.<ref name="handbook8-9"/> The lowest temperature on record in Monterey occurred in January 1985 at {{convert|-26|F|C|1}} and the highest recorded temperature occurred in July 1952 at {{convert|95|F|C}}.<ref name="weather"/> The winter season is long in Highland, though less severely cold than other locations.<ref name="history21">[[#OrenHistory|Oren]], 1911, p. 21.</ref> The average annual temperature for the county is {{convert|47.6|F|C}}.<ref name="overview2">''[[#EconOverview|Economic Overview 2002 Bath and Highland County]]'', 2002, p. 2.</ref> From 1948 to 1990, the average annual precipitation was {{convert|40.96|in|mm|1|disp=or}} and the average annual snowfall was {{convert|34.40|in|m|2|disp=or}}.<ref name="regionalClimate">{{cite web|title=Highland County Climate (1948-1990)|website=Regional Data Center for Virginia's Central Shenandoah Valley|publisher=Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission|url=http://rdc.cspdc.org/getreport.aspx|access-date=December 27, 2013}}</ref> [[Tornadoes]] in Highland County are very rare, with only one tornado on record in the county with the [[National Weather Service]].<ref name="tornadoes">{{cite web|title=Virginia Historical Tornadoes by County|publisher=National Weather Service|url=http://www.erh.noaa.gov/lwx/Historic_Events/VAcnty-tornado-events.htm|access-date=December 26, 2013}}</ref><ref name="VAtornado">{{cite web|title=Historical Virginia Tornadoes|publisher=National Weather Service|url=http://www.erh.noaa.gov/lwx/Historic_Events/va-tors.html|access-date=December 26, 2013}}</ref> This tornado occurred on April 28, 1959, at approximately 3:00 PM near [[Mustoe, Highland County, Virginia|Mustoe]].<ref name="data">{{cite web|title=Tornado Database File (1950-2012)|publisher=National Weather Service|url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/wcm/data/1950-2012_torn.csv|format=CSV|access-date=December 26, 2013}}</ref><ref name="map">{{Google maps | url = https://maps.google.com/maps?q=38.32,-79.63&hl=en&ll=38.320111,-79.623671&spn=0.022357,0.047808&sll=38.003386,-79.420925&sspn=5.747159,12.23877&t=m&z=15 | title=Tornado location| access-date = December 26, 2013 }}</ref> The tornado's classification on the [[Fujita scale]] is reported by the National Weather Service in its database to be unknown,<ref name="data"/> though another document records it as an F1.<ref name="tornadoes"/> The exact path of the tornado is uncertain, however, no damage or injuries were reported.<ref name="tornadoes"/> Another possible, but unconfirmed, tornado touchdown may have occurred on April 4, 1974, during the [[1974 Super Outbreak]]. A barn and chicken house were damaged during this storm and a building was lifted off its foundation in the Big Valley area.<ref name="VAtornado"/> Since 1955, Highland County has experienced twenty instances of severe hail, which is defined by the National Weather Service as hailstones having a diameter of at least {{convert|1|in|cm}}. If the old definition of at least {{convert|3/4|in|cm}} diameter hailstones is considered, the county has experienced twenty-two instances of severe hail during the same period.<ref name="hail">{{cite web|title=Hail Database Files (1955-2012)|publisher=National Weather Service|url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/wcm/|access-date=December 26, 2013}}</ref> Highland County has significant wind resources, attaining an average annual wind power class of 5 in some regions.<ref name="natResources"/><ref name="windMap">{{cite web|title=Virginia annual average wind power|publisher=National Renewable Energy Laboratory|url=http://rredc.nrel.gov/wind/pubs/atlas/maps/chap3/3-32m.html|access-date=December 26, 2013}}</ref> Class 5 wind power is considered excellent for generating electricity via [[wind power]], with average annual wind speeds between {{convert|16.8|and|17.9|mph|kph}}.<ref name="windMapVA">{{cite web|title=Virginia 50-Meter Wind Map|publisher=U.S. Department of Energy: windpoweringamerica.gov|url=http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/maps_template.asp?stateab=va|access-date=December 26, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227141220/http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/maps_template.asp?stateab=va|archive-date=December 27, 2013}}</ref> Between 1955 and 2012, there have been twenty-one instances of damaging wind in the county on record with the National Weather Service. Of the nine instances which have estimated wind speeds, the average maximum gust speed was {{convert|52.8|mph|kph}}.<ref name="wind">{{cite web|title=Wind Database Files (1955-2012)|publisher=National Weather Service|url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/wcm/|access-date=December 26, 2013}}</ref>
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