Source: NCSU COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, 8/4/21


As we come closer to harvest, weather forecasts become more important. In collaboration with AWIS Weather Service, we cover the next 7 days for North Carolina viticulture regions, including diurnal temperature ranges.

General Weather Discussion
A very slow moving frontal boundary near the Atlantic Coast, combined with an East Coast Upper level trough, has kept it on the wet side recently, mainly over the Eastern Carolina’s to Northeast Florida. One more upper level disturbance will move through the Eastern US late this week, keeping scattered to numerous showers around. Showers will be more scattered next week.

On the temperature side, a warming to near to a little above seasonal levels is expected late this weekend, lasting most of next week. This means maximum temperatures mostly upper 80s to lower 90s, minimums upper 60s to lower 70s.

This puts most areas in the 15-20 degree diurnal temperature ranges, 20-25 higher elevations of the Appalachians.

Looking further ahead, there are signs that the latter half of August will trend to a more frequent wetter and cooler period. For now, no immediate tropical threat is indicated into next week. But will be watching a weak system currently in the mid-far Southern Atlantic as it moves West / Northwest into next week.

Diurnal Temperature Ranges
Diurnal temperature ranges are important for ripening. Over the next 7 days, highest levels of diurnal temperature will exceed 25 F and will be seen in the Yadkin Valley AVA and neighboring counties from Thursday to Friday, 8/6/2021 (Figure 1).

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