CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It has been dry!
The Charlotte area is experiencing the driest spring since 2016. We have not had measurable rainfall, which is defined as an amount equal to or greater than 0.01", since May 12. On that day we picked up 0.29" of rain in Charlotte.
The Spring Season:
Spring in the meteorology world consists of three months - March, April, and May. We wrapped up the month of April with only 1.53" of rain in Charlotte, which is 1.51" below normal. In March we picked up 4.42" of rain, which is 0.41" above normal. May has been very dry. So far, we've only seen 1.64" of rain, 0.78" below normal. May 2020 was much wetter with 4.46" of rain.
When we compare this spring so far to this time last spring, there's a stark difference. Last spring was very wet with over 15" of rain. That amount is double what we've seen so far this spring.
Drought:
So of course with the dry weather, drought concerns increase. The latest drought monitor shows 66% of North Carolina is in a drought status and 40% of South Carolina remains under drought status. Parts of coastal North and South Carolina are under a moderate drought, but what does that mean?
When conditions are abnormally dry, pastures are dry, which leads to mild crop stress, irrigation increases and lawns are brown. When there is a moderate drought, wildfire danger increases, there's increased stress on wildlife, trees, and landscape, and streamflow is reduced, just to name a few impacts.
Our rain chances look to increase late the week and into the weekend.
Contact Iisha Scott at iscott@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
