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The Weather Year in Review: The Yin and Yang of 2023

drought

A photo of the scenery from Thunder Hill Overlook in the Mountains on October 16

Nov 4, 2024

October Dries Out in a Monthly Rainfall Reversal

Coming off a soaking September, October offered a decidedly drier pattern, along with mostly warm temperatures. That has made for an unconventional start to fall across the state. Dry Weather and Drought Return Fresh off the flooding from Hurricane Helene in late September, our weather took a much drier turn in October. The National Centers…
A photo of hazy skies over Whiteside Mountain on August 27

Sep 4, 2024

Debby’s Deluge, Late-August Heat Ends a Summer of Extremes

August was wet for most of North Carolina thanks to Debby’s rainfall, while temperatures peaked in the final week of the month. That ended a roller coaster summer with extremes of all sorts. Doused by Debby, but Dry in the West Our August precipitation was dominated by Tropical Storm Debby’s contribution, which single-handedly made for…
A photo of sunflowers blooming in Sampson County

Aug 5, 2024

July’s Soaking Showers Stop Drought in its Tracks

Last month started with more extreme heat, but a wetter pattern followed that brought improvements to our summer drought. Heat Continues in Early July Hot weather especially early in the month made for an overall warmer-than-normal July in North Carolina. The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) reports a preliminary statewide average temperature of 79.3°F,…
A photo of sunset between two trees near Lincolnton, NC.

Jul 5, 2024

A Record Dry June Accelerates Drought’s Arrival

Extreme heat hit home in June, with little rainfall throughout the month. That combination brought the rapid onset of drought conditions in North Carolina. Summer Sizzle Shows Up A boost from a late-month heat wave helped put our June temperatures well above normal. The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) reports a preliminary statewide average…
A photo of the sun rising over trees in Cabarrus County

Apr 4, 2024

Rain Returns and Pollen Proliferates in a Warm March

It was a record wet March in parts of North Carolina, while the entire state experienced warm temperatures and the corresponding arrival of pollen season last month. Frequent Rains Roll Through Heavy rain especially at the coast fueled a wet March for the state. NCEI reports a preliminary statewide average precipitation of 5.45 inches, which…
A map of total snow accumulations during the 2023-24 winter in North Carolina

Mar 18, 2024

Winter Recap 2023-24: Rain Returns, but Snow Stays Away

The long-awaited arrival of El Niño late last year helped our winter start with a splash, with multiple rain events across the state in December and January. But prevailing warm weather meant no snow for most areas, with the last flakes now a distant memory from more than two years ago. To wrap up this…
A photo of a cherry tree in bloom in Raleigh in late February

Mar 6, 2024

Spring Leaps In, Drought Creeps Back in February

Warm weather dominated last month, and so did dry conditions across much of the state. In light of those unseasonable stretches, we look at how early spring has settled in this year. Feeling Warm in February Spring-like temperatures flourished in February, making it a warmer-than-normal month across the state. Preliminary data from the National Centers…
A photo of daffodils blooming in Chapel Hill on January 30.

Feb 1, 2024

Drought Disappears as January Stays Wet in the West

Warm temperatures dominated January, as did wet weather in western North Carolina, which brought our ongoing drought to an end. Mild Weather for a Winter Month Mostly warm weather, interrupted by a mid-month chill, left our overall temperatures above normal in January. The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) notes a preliminary statewide average temperature…
A graph of monthly temperature departures from the 1901 to 2000 average for North Carolina in 2023

Jan 16, 2024

The Weather Year in Review: The Yin and Yang of 2023

Characterized by evolving large-scale patterns and a variety of conditions across North Carolina, from wet to dry and smoky to stormy, 2023 was an interesting and impactful year in our local weather and climate. As part of our annual wrap-up, this post summarizes our 2023 Year in Review webinar. The recording is available on YouTube,…