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Variable Temperatures and Rainfall Adorn December’s Weather Mantle

December

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…
A photo of snow covering the ground with the sun rising in the skies on December 3, 2024

Jan 6, 2025

Despite Snow Chances, December Wraps Up Near-Record Warmth in 2024

December started with snow and finished with heavy rain in the Mountains, sandwiching unseasonably warm spells that added to a near-record warm year. We also check on recent and possible upcoming snow events. Wet in the West, Including Snow Wet conditions in the Mountains were offset by drier weather across the eastern two-thirds of the…
A photo of cloudy skies in Weaverville on December 29

Jan 3, 2024

Winter Gets a Warm, Wet Start in December

Fall-like temperatures carried over into December, but our fall drought faded as wetter weather emerged last month. A few areas also picked up snow, but most of the state finished 2023 with no accumulations. Warm Throughout December The calendar said it was December, but it rarely felt like winter thanks to prevailing warmth last month.…
A photo of snow on the ground in Valle Crucis, NC, on December 26.

Jan 5, 2023

A Christmas Chill Decked December’s Halls

December’s temperatures were marked by a big cooldown just in time for Christmas. Rain throughout the month lifted the Mountains out of drought. And a new tool feature helps us put the past month in perspective. Temperatures Tumble for the Holidays After a warm start to December, our temperatures came crashing down during a Christmastime…

Jan 4, 2021

Warm, Wet December Weather Lands Short of Annual Records

With year-long temperature and precipitation records on the line, we narrowly missed both following warm and wet (but not warm and wet enough) weather in December. The initial stats still show it was an extreme year. You’re invited to learn more in an upcoming webinar! Cooler Spells Temper our Temperatures While a moderately warm month could have set a new annual…

Jan 10, 2020

A Warm December Wraps Up a Record Warm Year

December was a month of mostly warm temperatures and fairly wet weather. It also put 2019 on top of the rankings for North Carolina’s warmest years, as the statistics show. A Warm Start to Winter Several spells of fall-like warmth with only a few days of wintry chill yielded a warmer-than-normal December in North Carolina.…

Jan 3, 2019

A Drenched December Caps a Record Wet Year

Precipitation continued to be the main story in North Carolina’s weather, including a record wet December that — despite a substantial wintry event early in the month — was also a bit warmer than normal. December’s rainfall wrapped up a wet year that also set records across the state. Snowy to Start, Rainy for the…

Jan 3, 2018

Arctic Air Invades in December, But Was It Too Cold for Snow?

This month’s climate summary highlights December’s surge of cold weather, ongoing dry conditions, and a new sensor being tested at one of our ECONet stations. Cold Air Arrives Late in the Month It was up on the housetop, down through the chimney, and in the air on many silent nights. An Arctic chill made its…

Jan 4, 2017

Variable Temperatures and Rainfall Adorn December’s Weather Mantle

Last month saw a temperature roller coaster as well as near- to slightly below-normal rainfall across most of the state. Temperatures Take a Topsy-Turvy Sleigh Ride Unlike last December, which had record-setting warm weather throughout the month, last month had a mix of warm and cooler days that averaged out to be slightly warmer than…