Drought — Polk Mountains, North Carolina

2016-11-01 to 2016-11-30 · Polk Mountains, North Carolina

Wider weather episode

Abnormally dry weather that began early in 2016 and continued through the spring, summer, and early fall resulted in establishment of extreme to exceptional drought conditions across the across the southern and central mountains and southern foothills of North Carolina by November. Total rainfall deficits for the period from July until the end of November were as much as 18 inches below normal, while annual rainfall deficits were two feet or more below normal. The drought conditions worsened farther to the southwest across the state. Drought conditions were exacerbated by an unusually warm late summer and early fall, when it is not unusual to see temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above normal. Stream flows and reservoir levels were well below normal across the area, while the very dry vegetation resulted in volatile wildfire conditions. A strong cold front brought much needed rainfall to the area during the last couple of days of the month, spelling the start of a wetter period that brought an end to the more extreme drought conditions.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 667802. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.