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A Divided December Started Cold, Then Heated Up

Climate Summary

A photo of sun and clouds over Grandfather Mountain

Jul 1, 2026

Heat Heightens and Drought Drags On in June

The start of summer brought several waves of hot weather, plus mostly dry weather with a few late-month rain showers. For more potential rain chances, we check in on the tropics and the emerging El Niño event. Summer Sizzle Sets In Multiple rounds of hot weather made this an overall warmer-than-normal June in North Carolina.…
A photo of storm clouds over a road in Person County, NC, on May 26, 2026

Jun 4, 2026

Rain Returns in May As a Hot, Dry Spring Wraps Up

May brought widespread rainfall and some drought relief, along with typical temperatures for this time of year. However, spring was warm and dry overall, leaving us looking for better rain chances later this year. A Precipitation Bounceback A long-awaited round of rainfall late in the month made this a near-normal May in terms of precipitation.…
A photo of a tractor kicking up dust in an eastern North Carolina field in April 2026

May 4, 2026

An Anomalous April Was Hot and Dry with Deepening Drought

Periods of summer-like heat and limited rainfall combined to cause drought intensification last month, which has led to new emerging impacts across the state. Untimely Temperatures Several long stretches of unseasonable temperatures boosted this to one of our warmest Aprils on record. Based on preliminary data from the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), last…
A photo of tornado damage on a building in Jacksonville, NC

Apr 2, 2026

Severe Pollen, Severe Drought, and Severe Storms Ramp Up in March

Spring kicked into high gear in March, with warm weather and high pollen counts, mostly dry conditions and emerging drought impacts, and the first severe storms of the year. Warm Weather Blossoms With winter’s chill now behind us, March brought spring-like weather and overall above-normal temperatures across North Carolina. Data from the National Centers for…
A satellite image of snow on the ground across North Carolina on February 2, 2026

Mar 19, 2026

Winter Recap 2025-26: Cool and Dry, With a Snowy Centerpiece

It wouldn’t be a classic North Carolina winter without a bit of ice, a solid snow, and temperatures running the full range from frigid to spring-like – sometimes only days apart. We fit all of those and more into the 2025-26 winter. In this post, we’ll wrap up the season with a look at the…
A photo of snow on Grandfather Mountain on February 24, 2026

Mar 9, 2026

Snow Melted, But Severe Drought Continued in February

Snow and rain each fell in an overall dry February, which featured both winter chill and spring-like warmth. In one constant last month, drought continued with no improvements just yet. A Snowy Start, Then Weekly Rainfall Despite multiple precipitation events in both a frozen and a liquid form, February finished as another dry month for…
An aerial photo of Greenville, NC, after the snow on February 1, 2026

Feb 4, 2026

January’s Warm Start Flipped to a Frigid, Frozen Finish

The new year began with a memorable weather month, including an arriving chill and a wintry conclusion, which changed the landscape of our latest snow events. Temperatures in Freefall After warmer weather initially, a late-month chill put January’s temperatures slightly below normal overall. The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) reports a preliminary statewide average…
A photo of smoke from a wildfire near Banner Elk, NC, in November 2025

Jan 20, 2026

The Weather Year in Review: Dry Days, Plus a Few Storms, in 2025

It’s a climate conundrum: how can a year characterized by overall dry weather be most notable for its big precipitation events? That’s the reality of 2025 in North Carolina, which featured persistent drought as well as the return of snowfall, welcome spring rains for agriculture, and a solitary soaking from the tropics. As part of…
A photo of clouds over Pinehurst Resort on December 26

Jan 7, 2026

A Divided December Started Cold, Then Heated Up

December delivered mixed temperatures throughout the month, along with more dry weather and drought in central and western North Carolina. It also left us with a few more records to tally from 2025. From Wintry to Warm in One Month Balanced between a chilly start and a warmer finish, our December temperatures were near-normal overall…