Source:  Corey Davis, NC CLIMATE OFFICE, 9/3/19


August ended with near-normal temperatures and precipitation across the state, on average, but all eyes are on Hurricane Dorian as it threatens the coast this week.

From Summer Heat to Fall-Like Temperatures
The hot weather that plagued our July backed off as the calendar turned to August, giving us more moderate weather over the past month. The preliminary average statewide temperature of 75.9°F ranked as our 56th-warmest (or 70th-coolest) August since 1895.

The Bermuda high pressure system spent much of the month close to its namesake island, which helped offered a break from the heat across North Carolina. On average, mean temperatures were generally within 2 degrees of normal, and most of the state never flirted with the hundred-degree heat we saw as recently as July 31.

We even received our first taste of fall late in the month, with high temperatures in the 70s from August 24-26 and lows dipping into the 50s on the morning of August 30. The former period was during our first cold air damming -- or Appalachian wedge event -- of the season.

High pressure to our north funneled cool air southward, which was anchored in place by the Appalachians. That produced several days of cloudy and often wet weather.

For the full report, click here.