north carolina climate noaa/national weather service raleigh, nc june 18, 2009 phillip badgett –...

North Carolina ClimateNorth Carolina Climate

NOAA/National Weather Service Raleigh, NC

NOAA/National Weather Service Raleigh, NC

June 18, 2009

Phillip Badgett – NOAA/NWS Raleigh, NC

June 18, 2009

Phillip Badgett – NOAA/NWS Raleigh, NC

[email protected]@noaa.gov

National Weather Service

North Carolina Topographic MapNorth Carolina Topographic Map


North Carolina’s Unique Topography and GeographyNorth Carolina’s Unique

Topography and Geography


• The Appalachian Mountains… the proximity to the Gulf Coast and the Atlantic Ocean… and Gulf Stream… all have a profound affect on North Carolina’s Climate.

• Elevations range from sea level to 6684 feet at Mt. Mitchell.

• Geographic regions include the Mountains… Foothills… Piedmont… Sandhills… Coastal Plain… Coastal Area… and Outer Banks.

• The Appalachian Mountains… the proximity to the Gulf Coast and the Atlantic Ocean… and Gulf Stream… all have a profound affect on North Carolina’s Climate.

• Elevations range from sea level to 6684 feet at Mt. Mitchell.

• Geographic regions include the Mountains… Foothills… Piedmont… Sandhills… Coastal Plain… Coastal Area… and Outer Banks.

Factors that Influence North Carolina’s Climate



• Mountains and moisture sources (Gulf and Atlantic) play major roles in Cold Air Damming (CAD) and Thermal Moisture Boundary (TMB) formation… and resultant severe weather and winter weather climatology.

• Tornado outbreaks are often tied to location of TMB. (March 1984, November 1988, November 2008 just a few examples).

• Mountains can disrupt or weaken tornado outbreaks in Tennessee Valley from affecting our Piedmont (April 3-4, 1974 event).

• Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) crossing mountains (often break up crossing the mountains… but can re-intensify east of mountains. (RNK study).

• CAD results when cold stable air arriving from the northeast is dammed up along the mountains.

• Mountains and moisture sources (Gulf and Atlantic) play major roles in Cold Air Damming (CAD) and Thermal Moisture Boundary (TMB) formation… and resultant severe weather and winter weather climatology.

• Tornado outbreaks are often tied to location of TMB. (March 1984, November 1988, November 2008 just a few examples).

• Mountains can disrupt or weaken tornado outbreaks in Tennessee Valley from affecting our Piedmont (April 3-4, 1974 event).

• Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) crossing mountains (often break up crossing the mountains… but can re-intensify east of mountains. (RNK study).

• CAD results when cold stable air arriving from the northeast is dammed up along the mountains.




• CAD (profound affect on North Carolina’s Climate often enhancing winter storms… severe weather near TMB along CAD periphery to the east and south… and enhancing or reducing QPF.

• CAD (profound affect on North Carolina’s Climate often enhancing winter storms… severe weather near TMB along CAD periphery to the east and south… and enhancing or reducing QPF.

TMB Severe Weather 3/28/1984TMB Severe Weather 3/28/1984

March 1984 TornadoesMarch 1984 Tornadoes

Cold Air Damming Cold Air Damming


CAD with Ice Storm Dec. 2002CAD with Ice Storm Dec. 2002

Ice Accrual December 2002Ice Accrual December 2002

North Carolina’s Annual Precipitation






• Wettest weather station in North Carolina…

91.72 Inches (Annual Average)… Lake Toxaway, Transylvania County

•Driest weather station in North Carolina…

37.32 Inches… Asheville (downtown), Buncombe County

• Wettest weather station in North Carolina…

91.72 Inches (Annual Average)… Lake Toxaway, Transylvania County

•Driest weather station in North Carolina…

37.32 Inches… Asheville (downtown), Buncombe County




• Wettest calendar year for any station…

129.60 Inches (1924), Rosman, Transylvania County

•Driest calendar year for any station…

22.69 Inches (1930), Mount Airy, Surry County

• Wettest calendar year for any station…

129.60 Inches (1924), Rosman, Transylvania County

•Driest calendar year for any station…

22.69 Inches (1930), Mount Airy, Surry County

North Carolina’s Precipitation Influences

North Carolina’s Precipitation Influences


•Primary storm tracks, CAD, and TMB/Coastal Fronts (cool season).

•Tropical cyclone tracks and low level boundaries (warm season).

•Piedmont trough position (enhances summer pulse storms and resultant QPF and pulse severe). (Reference Tony Ray study).

• Sandhills enhanced summer rainfall due to differential heating of sandy soil versus other soil types surrounding the region. (SCO study).

•Primary storm tracks, CAD, and TMB/Coastal Fronts (cool season).

•Tropical cyclone tracks and low level boundaries (warm season).

•Piedmont trough position (enhances summer pulse storms and resultant QPF and pulse severe). (Reference Tony Ray study).

• Sandhills enhanced summer rainfall due to differential heating of sandy soil versus other soil types surrounding the region. (SCO study).

North Carolina’s Annual Temperature






• Warmest weather station in North Carolina…

63.8 degrees… Wilmington, New Hanover County

•Coldest weather station in North Carolina (where people actually live)…

48.8 degrees… Banner Elk, Avery County. 43.8 degrees… Mount Mitchell, Yancey County

• Warmest weather station in North Carolina…

63.8 degrees… Wilmington, New Hanover County

•Coldest weather station in North Carolina (where people actually live)…

48.8 degrees… Banner Elk, Avery County. 43.8 degrees… Mount Mitchell, Yancey County




• Lowest temperature on record was 34 below at Mount Mitchell (January 21, 1985).

Raleigh was 9 degrees below zero on that same date for lowest all time in the Raleigh area.

•Highest temperature on record was 110 degrees at Fayetteville (August 21, 1983)

Raleigh was 101 degrees that same day.

• Lowest temperature on record was 34 below at Mount Mitchell (January 21, 1985).

Raleigh was 9 degrees below zero on that same date for lowest all time in the Raleigh area.

•Highest temperature on record was 110 degrees at Fayetteville (August 21, 1983)

Raleigh was 101 degrees that same day.

Winter Weather ClimatologyWinter Weather Climatology


• Winter weather season typically runs between December and March.

•Predominate snow events are most common over the northwest… with least occurrences along the coast.

•Freezing rain is most often predominate over the Northern Piedmont Damming Region (due to CAD).

•Sleet is rarely the predominate winter storm precipitation type (it is typically found with transition zones of precipitation).

• Winter weather season typically runs between December and March.

•Predominate snow events are most common over the northwest… with least occurrences along the coast.

•Freezing rain is most often predominate over the Northern Piedmont Damming Region (due to CAD).

•Sleet is rarely the predominate winter storm precipitation type (it is typically found with transition zones of precipitation).

North Carolina’s Annual Average Snowfall

North Carolina’s Annual Average Snowfall


North Carolina’s Number of Days with Snow and Sleet AccumulationNorth Carolina’s Number of Days with Snow and Sleet Accumulation


North Carolina’s Number of Events per Year with Sleet and Freezing RainNorth Carolina’s Number of Events

per Year with Sleet and Freezing Rain


A Typical Strong Winter Storm with Cold Air Damming

A Typical Strong Winter Storm with Cold Air Damming


Severe Weather ClimatologySevere Weather Climatology


• Three Distinctive Severe Weather Seasons

Primary (late February through May)

Pulse Severe (June through August)

Secondary (October and November)

• Three Distinctive Severe Weather Seasons

Primary (late February through May)

Pulse Severe (June through August)

Secondary (October and November)

Tornado Track (EF3 and Greater Since 1950)

Tornado Track (EF3 and Greater Since 1950)


Monthly Distribution of Tornadoes for the Raleigh CWA

Monthly Distribution of Tornadoes for the Raleigh CWA


Monthly Distribution of Severe Thunderstorm Wind Events for the Raleigh

CWA

Monthly Distribution of Severe Thunderstorm Wind Events for the Raleigh

CWA


Hourly Frequency of Severe Thunderstorm Wind Events for the

Raleigh CWA

Hourly Frequency of Severe Thunderstorm Wind Events for the

Raleigh CWA


Monthly Distribution of Severe Thunderstorm Hail Events for the Raleigh

CWA

Monthly Distribution of Severe Thunderstorm Hail Events for the Raleigh

CWA


Hourly Frequency of Severe Thunderstorm Hail Events for the Raleigh

CWA

Hourly Frequency of Severe Thunderstorm Hail Events for the Raleigh

CWA


Flash Flood ClimatologyFlash Flood Climatology


River Flood ClimatologyRiver Flood Climatology


All Hurricanes Affecting North Carolina 1851-2008All Hurricanes Affecting

North Carolina 1851-2008


June Hurricanes Affecting North Carolina 1851-2008June Hurricanes Affecting North Carolina 1851-2008


July Hurricanes Affecting North Carolina 1851-2008July Hurricanes Affecting North Carolina 1851-2008


August Hurricanes Affecting North Carolina 1851-2008

August Hurricanes Affecting North Carolina 1851-2008


September Hurricanes Affecting North Carolina 1851-2008

September Hurricanes Affecting North Carolina 1851-2008


October Hurricanes Affecting North Carolina 1851-2008

October Hurricanes Affecting North Carolina 1851-2008


November Hurricanes Affecting North Carolina 1851-2008

November Hurricanes Affecting North Carolina 1851-2008


Record Tropical Season 2004Record Tropical Season 2004

Tropical Cyclone Tracks that Produced Tornadoes over RAH CWA (1950 through 2008)

Tropical Cyclone Tracks that Produced Tornadoes over RAH CWA (1950 through 2008)

CreditsCredits


• North Carolina State Climate Office• Southeastern River Forecast Center• National Climatic Data Center• Brandon Dunstan• Jonathan Blaes, Darin Figurskey, Ryan Ellis, Brandon

Locklear, Mike Moneypenny, Barrett Smith - (NWS RAH).

• North Carolina State Climate Office• Southeastern River Forecast Center• National Climatic Data Center• Brandon Dunstan• Jonathan Blaes, Darin Figurskey, Ryan Ellis, Brandon

Locklear, Mike Moneypenny, Barrett Smith - (NWS RAH).

north carolina climate noaa/national weather service raleigh, nc june 18, 2009 phillip badgett –...

Documents

tmb severe weather

appalachian mountains

resultant severe weather

winter weather climatology

winter storms severe

cold air damming cad

cad results

moisture sources gulf