Source: Corey Davis, NC CLIMATE OFFICE, 1/10/20


December was a month of mostly warm temperatures and fairly wet weather. It also put 2019 on top of the rankings for North Carolina's warmest years, as the statistics show.

A Warm Start to Winter
Several spells of fall-like warmth with only a few days of wintry chill yielded a warmer-than-normal December in North Carolina. According to NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), the statewide average temperature of 46.5°F ranks as our 17th-warmest December dating back to 1895.

On December 10 and 16, highs hit the 70s in eastern North Carolina as warm air rushed in from the south ahead of approaching cold fronts.

And instead of steadily declining on the way into winter, our December temperatures peaked near the end of the month. High pressure off our coast brought in a feed of warm, moist air off the Atlantic, and temperatures again reached the 70s on December 28, 29, and 30.

For the full report, click here.