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After Matthew, Fall-Like Weather Finally Arrives

drought

Oct 2, 2017

After Irma, Dry Weather Dominates in September

Our latest climate summary takes a focused look at the recent dry conditions across much of the state. Despite increasing activity in the tropics last month and several storms passing close to North Carolina, most of the state escaped September without much rainfall to show from tropical systems or otherwise. The main exception was parts…

May 1, 2017

April Showers Bring Flooding and Drought Relief

We’re still cooling off and wringing out after one of our warmest and wettest Aprils on record. From Freezing to 90, Warm Weather Rushes In Warm, humid air in place for much of the month made for our warmest April on record out of the past 123 years, narrowly edging April 2002 by 0.04°F for…

Apr 3, 2017

Warm Weather Bookends a Cool Mid-Month in March

After a warm, dry February, our temperatures and precipitation rebounded to near-normal levels in March. Winter’s Parting Shot Brings an Early Spring Cooldown February’s warm pattern spilled over into the beginning of March, and above-normal temperatures were also in place for the final week of the month. However, that warmer weather was balanced out by…

Mar 2, 2017

Rapid Reaction: An Unusual Event for NC Drought Monitoring

It’s a tradition so well-established that you might not even know it happens. Every Thursday morning, the US Drought Monitor’s weekly assessment of conditions becomes the official drought status for North Carolina. However, that’s not the case this week. The map on the front page of the NC Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC) website, which…

Mar 1, 2017

Spring Springs Early in a Warm, Dry February

Distinctly un-winter-like weather settled in last month, leading to near-record warm and dry conditions. A Warm Weather Pattern Persists The cold temperatures from earlier in the year are now a distant memory, having been replaced by much milder weather. Last month was the 4th-warmest February since 1895, with a statewide average temperature of 49.19°F, or…

Feb 1, 2017

January’s Frigid Start Gives Way to Milder Weather

Following an early-month shot of wintry weather, conditions warmed up while we also chipped away at the ongoing drought. After an Early Chill, Warmer Weather Arrived Despite seeing some of the coldest temperatures in nearly three years in the wake of a snow event early in the month, last month as a whole was a…

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…

Dec 1, 2016

Dry Weather Dominates November Across North Carolina

Much of the state received less than an inch of rain last month, which led to expanding drought and impacts including multiple wildfires. Fall’s First Freeze Ends the 2016 Growing Season Clear skies and sunshine dominated last month, so with few cloudy or rainy days, it’s probably not surprising that our temperatures were above normal.…

Nov 1, 2016

After Matthew, Fall-Like Weather Finally Arrives

The weather news in October was headlined by a single event: Hurricane Matthew. However, after the storm, dry weather took hold for the rest of the month. October Temperatures Above Normal But Still Seasonal Last month’s statewide average temperature of 62.45°F ranks as the 13th-warmest October in North Carolina since 1895. Average maximum, minimum, and…