We Could Use a Little Rain...

Rainfall deficits for 2009 are growing across North Carolina. As of this morning, Raleigh-Durham is 3.28" behind normal for rain this year and Wilmington is 4.45" behind normal. If we don't see much rain over the coming days or weeks, much of the state will likely slip back into a drought situation.

The latest drought monitor released last week now has portions of eastern North Carolina under a moderate drought with a severe to moderate drought in western North Carolina. The rest of the state is considered to be "abnormally dry," the stage just before a moderate drought.

Unfortunately, the prospects for rain aren't looking to good for most of this week. We do anticipate a front to move into the state Friday that should bring our next chance for measurable rain. It still to early to say exactly how much rain we can expect out of that system. That may be one of our few chances for rain over the coming week or two. The six to ten day outlook from the Climate Prediction Center forecasts below normal precipitation for our part of the country...