North Carolina Climate November 2009

Transcription

1 North Carolina Climate November 2009 Online: North Carolina Climate, the monthly newsletter of the State Climate Office of NC, covers a monthly climate summary for October with impacts to agriculture and water resources, a winter weather outlook, as well as recent news of the Carolinas and Virginia Climate Conference and a new station installation in Stanly County. Published November 9, 2009 Climate Summary Temperature and Precipitation by Climate Division Departures from Normal for October 2009 Based on Preliminary Data October 2009 continued the same story told the previous month. Heavy rains fell in the western half of North Carolina, while conditions in the eastern half were generally much drier. Temperatures across most of North Carolina were near-normal to slightly below-normal in October. The Northern Coastal Plain was the warmest and driest region for the month. Localized flooding was observed in western NC in October, but damages were not widely reported. Wet conditions in western NC in September and October did contribute to the muted colors of fall foliage in that region. Impacts to Agriculture and Water Resources In eastern parts of North Carolina, drier conditions helped some growers with harvest. Periods of rainfall delayed harvest for some growers, especially in western parts of the state. Harvest for most crops is similar or ahead of last year.

2 Drought concerns in eastern NC continue. Water restrictions were implemented in Siler City and Rocky Mount in response to low stream flows. Similarly, Jordan and Falls reservoirs are below levels typical for this time of year. Moderate Drought (D1) conditions expanded in October to include much of the eastern Piedmont region in central NC. The NC Drought Management Advisory Council continues to hold weekly monitoring meetings to closely monitor for drought impacts. Precipitation for October 2009 Based on estimates from NWS Radar Data Courtesy NWS/NCEP Precipitation for October 2009: Percent of Normal Based on estimates from NWS Radar Data Courtesy NWS/NCEP

3 Change in US Drought Monitoring Status during October 2009 Provided by DENR Division of Water Resources

4 Winter Weather Outlook Temperature Outlook, valid December through February Precipitation Outlook, valid December through February The ocean temperatures in the tropical Pacific are warmer that normal now, a phase called El Nino. This event is expected to peak in the mid- to late-winter as a moderate-to-strong El Nino. Historically, winters in NC tend to be wet during El Nino events. NC is more likely to experience more coastal storms, and has an increase chance of frozen precipitation during El Nino events. This is represented in the seasonal forecast guidance from the NWS Climate Prediction Center. While there are many factors that drive seasonal forecasts, we're more confident in the outlooks during stronger El Nino events.

5 Recent News New Station The State Climate Office recently constructed a new ECONet station in Stanly County. Kendall Valley Elementary School (NEWL) Location: New London, Stanly County Installed in October 2009; supported by the Renaissance Computing Institute (RENCI) Carolinas and Virginia Climate Conference On October the Carolinas and Virginia Climate Conference was held to discuss climatology and climate-related issues specifically affecting North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Climatologists, meteorologists, and researchers met in Wilmington, NC to learn more about climate work being done across the region. The State Climate Office of NC was given the opportunity to present on the office's climate outreach and operational climate products. Such products include the Hurricane Climatology Toolkit, Heat Index Climatology, Holiday Climatology, Recreation Climatology (not yet operational), and Winter Weather Climatology. The SCO also presented on Agroclimate, a reference crop evapotranspiration climatology for the Southeast, and various other agriculture and water resources related products that are currently under development.

6 Statewide Summary for October 2009 As part of the monthly newsletter, the SCO provides a basic summary of monthly conditions for all locations that have an automated reporting station. A daily version of this product is available online at: Station Avg Daily Max Temp Avg Daily Min Temp Total Rainfall Avg Daily Wind Speed Max Daily Wind Speed Vector Avg Wind Aurora, NC (AURO) 71.6 F (-2.2 F) 55 F (+2.6 F) 1.4 in 3.8 mph 21.4 mph 1.6 mph Northwest (318 ) Boone, NC (BOON) 61.5 F (-0.1 F) 41 F (+3.3 F) 5.7 in 4.6 mph 28.8 mph 2.5 mph West Southwest (248 ) Buckland, NC (BUCK) 71.2 F (-0.7 F) F (+4.1 F) in 2.2 mph 15.5 mph 0.6 mph Northwest (312 ) Burnsville, NC (BURN) 63.6 F (-4.8 F) 8 mi 42.5 F (+4.8 F) 8 mi 3.7 in 4 mph 28.9 mph 1.1 mph Northeast (37 ) Castle Hayne, NC (CAST) 72.3 F (-2.7 F) 55.6 F (+4.2 F) 2.6 in 3.7 mph 20.8 mph 1.7 mph North (8 ) Clayton, NC (CLAY) 70 F (-2.3 F) 51.4 F (+2.7 F) 1.4 in 4.1 mph 23.6 mph 0.9 mph Northwest (321 ) Clayton, NC (CLA2) 71.4 F (-0.9 F) 48.5 F (-0.2 F) 2.7 in 2.5 mph 14.6 mph 0.9 mph North Northwest (342 ) Clinton, NC (CLIN) 71 F (-3 F) 52.1 F (+2.8 F) 1.2 in 4.6 mph 21.7 mph 1.4 mph North (4 ) Fletcher, NC (FLET) 65.1 F (-2.9 F) 44.6 F (+5.6 F) 3.5 in 3.8 mph 24.4 mph 1.2 mph North (357 ) Franklin, NC (WINE) 56.3 F (-13.1 F) F (+0.3 F) in 6.9 mph 27.3 mph 3.5 mph West Southwest (250 )

7 Goldsboro, NC (GOLD) 70.3 F (-4.6 F) 50.8 F (+0.1 F) 1.3 in 5.6 mph 28.3 mph 1.8 mph West Northwest (298 ) Greensboro, NC (NCAT) 66.8 F (-2.8 F) 12 mi 49.2 F (+1.7 F) 12 mi 0 in 3.8 mph 22 mph 0.4 mph Southeast (146 ) Hamlet, NC (HAML) 71.8 F (-2.5 F) 50.3 F (+3.7 F) 0.3 in 3.8 mph 26.4 mph 0.5 mph North Northeast (11 ) Hendersonville, NC (BEAR) 56.7 F (-12.7 F) 7 mi 44.6 F (+2.6 F) 7 mi 4.6 in 11.9 mph 36 mph 4.8 mph West Southwest (245 ) High Point, NC (HIGH) 67.4 F (-4.6 F) 2 mi 47.3 F (-0.7 F) 2 mi 0.1 in 2.2 mph 15.9 mph 0.4 mph North Northwest (343 ) Jackson Springs, NC (JACK) 69 F (-3 F) 51.7 F (+2 F) 2.1 in 5 mph 22.3 mph 1.4 mph North (6 ) Kinston, NC (KINS) 71.6 F (-5.5 F) 52.8 F (+1.9 F) 1.1 in 2.4 mph 25.3 mph 0.6 mph West (265 ) Laurel Springs, NC (LAUR) 60.6 F (-2.3 F) 41 F (+5.3 F) 4.3 in 4 mph 30.4 mph 0.9 mph West Southwest (250 ) Lewiston, NC (LEWS) 70.6 F (-2.5 F) 50.9 F (+3.2 F) 0.8 in 5.4 mph 26 mph 1.9 mph Northwest (316 ) Mount Mitchell, NC (MITC) 54 F (-2 F) 40.3 F (+2.5 F) 7.6 in 12 mph 57 mph 9.7 mph West (271 ) Oxford, NC (OXFO) 67.5 F (-3.5 F) 49.8 F (+3.7 F) 1.1 in 3.2 mph 22.1 mph 0.5 mph West Northwest (284 ) Plymouth, NC (PLYM) 71.3 F (-3.2 F) 2 mi 52.3 F (+1.3 F) 2 mi 1 in 6.5 mph 28.7 mph 1.9 mph North Northwest (339 )

8 Raleigh, NC (LAKE) 69.6 F (-2.6 F) 51.2 F (+1 F) 1.2 in 4.7 mph 24.7 mph 1.2 mph Northwest (323 ) Raleigh, NC (REED) 69.3 F (-0.5 F) 51 F (+1.6 F) 0.4 in 3.9 mph 21.1 mph 1.3 mph North Northwest (344 ) Reidsville, NC (REID) 66 F (-4.5 F) 49.4 F (+3.8 F) 6.4 in 3.5 mph 23.1 mph 1 mph West Northwest (287 ) Rocky Mount, NC (ROCK) 71.3 F (-1.9 F) 50.9 F (+2 F) 1 in 4 mph 25.1 mph 0.7 mph North Northwest (330 ) Salisbury, NC (SALI) 67.1 F (-3.4 F) 47 F (+2.6 F) 4.2 in 1.9 mph 18.8 mph 0.5 mph North (359 ) Siler City, NC (SILR) 67 F (-4.4 F) 46.6 F (+0.1 F) 2 in 4.2 mph 22.2 mph 1.1 mph North (355 ) Taylorsville, NC (TAYL) 65.9 F 46.4 F 3.2 in 1.7 mph 25.5 mph 0.1 mph South (191 ) Waynesville, NC (WAYN) 65.4 F (-2.1 F) 43.3 F (+5.9 F) 4.5 in 1.6 mph 19.6 mph 0.6 mph North Northeast (25 ) Whiteville, NC (WHIT) 73 F (-4.4 F) 53.2 F (+4.1 F) 3.1 in 2.7 mph 20.5 mph 0.6 mph North Northeast (17 ) Williamston, NC (WILL) 71 F (-1.9 F) 52.4 F (+2.7 F) 0.5 in 3.6 mph 18.3 mph 1.2 mph Northwest (315 ) Legend: Parameter Parameter's value approximated from hourly data. ( +/- Departure from normal ) Distance to reference station