Precipitation
There is an average of forty-five inches of rain a year (fifty in the mountains). July storms account for much of this precipitation. As much as 15% of the rainfall during the warm season in the Carolinas can be attributed to tropical cyclones. Mountains usually see some snow in the fall and winter. Moist winds from the southwest drop an average of 80 inches (2,000 mm) of precipitation on the western side of the mountains, while the northeast-facing slopes average less than half that amount.
| Average Monthly Precipitation | |||||||||||||
| City | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | 2.6 inches (66 mm) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) | 4 inches (100 mm) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 4 inches (100 mm) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 38.1 inches (970 mm) |
| Cape Hatteras | 5.6 inches (140 mm) | 4.1 inches (100 mm) | 4.6 inches (120 mm) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) | 4.2 inches (110 mm) | 4.9 inches (120 mm) | 6.4 inches (160 mm) | 5.3 inches (130 mm) | 5.3 inches (130 mm) | 4.9 inches (120 mm) | 4.5 inches (110 mm) | 56.9 inches (1,450 mm) |
| Charlotte | 3.7 inches (94 mm) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) | 4.6 inches (120 mm) | 3 inches (76 mm) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) | 4.1 inches (100 mm) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 43 inches (1,100 mm) |
| Greensboro | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) | 4.4 inches (110 mm) | 4.1 inches (100 mm) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 42.3 inches (1,070 mm) |
| Raleigh | 3.5 inches (89 mm) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 4.4 inches (110 mm) | 4.4 inches (110 mm) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) | 3 inches (76 mm) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) | 41.8 inches (1,060 mm) |
| Wilmington | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) | 5.4 inches (140 mm) | 7.9 inches (200 mm) | 7 inches (180 mm) | 5.6 inches (140 mm) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) | 55 inches (1,400 mm) |
Read more about this topic: Climate Of North Carolina