Drought in North Carolina, August 1 to 31, 2011

Name: Drought in North Carolina, August 1 to 31, 2011
Start: 2011-08-01T00:00
End: 2011-08-31T23:59
Location: North Carolina

August 1 to 31, 2011 · NWS MHX · 16 events in 16 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 11 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 16

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS MHX wrote it up.

Severe drought (D2) began impacting Eastern North Carolina in early June and worsened to extreme drought (D3) by early July for several extreme eastern North Carolina counties. As of mid August and prior to Hurricane Irene, Local Climatological Data Sites New Bern and Cape Hatteras observed fifty-three and seventy-six percent of normal precipitation, respectively. Hurricane Irene brought much needed 7 to 14 inches of precipitation to the region in late August which diminished drought impacts below D0 for all counties except Duplin that remains abnormally dry (D0). Prior to Hurricane Irene, the region had received well below normal precipitation since last winter. As a result of these conditions, the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources banned open burning in Eastern North Carolina through early August but lifted then ban by mid month.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 31, 10:49 PM EST, 1 hour 11 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 31, 10:49 PM EST, 1 hour 11 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
1149 PM EDT SUN JUL 31 2011

.SYNOPSIS...
A COLD FRONT WILL SLOWLY MOVE SOUTH THROUGH EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA
AND LINGER THROUGH SOUTHERN NORTH CAROLINA THROUGH MONDAY. HIGH
PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN FOR LATE MONDAY THROUGH MID WEEK. ANOTHER
COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA LATE WEDNESDAY AND INTO THURSDAY.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM MONDAY MORNING/...
AS OF 1150 PM SUNDAY...PRECIPITATION HAS PUSHED OFFSHORE AND WILL
LOWER POPS FOR THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. THE 4 KM EMC WRF DOES SHOW
SOME REDEVELOPMENT NEAR THE VIRGINIA/NORTH CAROLINA BORDER IN THE
NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS AND SHOWS THIS ACTIVITY MOVING INTO OUR NRN
CWA. WILL MONITOR TO SEE IF THIS OCCURS...BUT FOR NOW...LOW CHC
POPS TO RUN OVERNIGHT.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 AM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH 6 PM MONDAY/...
AS OF 300 PM SUNDAY...FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL MAKE IT AS FAR SOUTH
AS THE CRYSTAL COAST ON MONDAY AND LOSE CHARACTERISTICS AS IS IT
BECOMES STATIONARY. THIS WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR MORE THUNDERSHOWERS...
ESPECIALLY FOR THE SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE CWA. SKIES ARE
EXPECTED TO BECOME PARTLY CLOUDY FOR NORTHERN AREAS BY AFTERNOON
AS DRIER AIR SINKS SOUTH WITH BUILDING HIGH PRESSURE. COULD BE AN
ISO THUNDERSHOWER FOR THE NORTH AS MORE SHORT WAVE ENERGY ALOFT
SWINGS THROUGH.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
AS OF 340 PM SUNDAY...MODELS CONTINUE TO AGREE ON TROFFING ALONG E
COAST DEVELOPING MON NIGHT AND CONTINUING INTO WED. LATEST MODEL
DATA INDICATES DRYING WILL BE STRONG ENOUGH FOR NO POPS LATE MON
NIGHT THROUGH WED.

RIDGE REBUILDS THU-FRI WITH GRADUAL INCREASE IN TEMPS...AND RETURN
OF INLAND TROF/OFFSHORE HIGH SFC PATTERN. STRONGER SHRT WV AND
APPROACHING SFC FRONT SUPPORTS CHC POPS FOR FRI NIGHT THROUGH SUN.
TROPICS WILL HAVE TO BE WATCHED WITH MED RANGE MODELS INDICATING
SYSTEM PSBLY APPROACHING FROM SE NEXT WEEKEND.

&&

.AVIATION /04Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
/SHORT TERM THROUGH MONDAY/...
VARIABLE CONDITIONS OVER THE AREA LATE THIS EVENING WILL
EVENTUALLY DETERIORATE AS MOIST LEVELS RESULT IN LOW STRAUS/DENSE
FOG ESPECIALLY WHERE THE HEAVIER RAIN HAS FALLEN. EXPECT MAINLY
IFR CONDITIONS BY AROUND MIDNIGHT TO EARLY MORNING. FOG/STRATUS
LIFTS OUT AND SCATTERS AFTER SUNRISE MONDAY AS DRIER AIR BEGINS TO
WORK INTO THE AREA. EXPECT MAINLY VFR BY LATE MONDAY MORNING
EXCEPT INVOF ANY ISO/SCT AFTN THUNDERSHOWERS.

/LONG TERM MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
AS OF 340 PM SUNDAY...SCATTERED CONVECTION WITH SUB VFR CONDITIONS
PSBL EARLY MON EVENING...THEN ISOLATED THREAT THU-FRI. VFR
PREVAILING TUE-WED.

&&

.MARINE...
/SHORT TERM THROUGH MONDAY/...
FAIRLY WEAK FLOW REGIME WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT ACROSS THE
WATERS. A COLD FRONT WILL BISECT THE WATERS...WITH WINDS SOUTHEAST
ACROSS THE NORTHERN WATERS...WITH SOUTHWEST WINDS ACROSS THE
SOUTHERN WATERS. WINDS WILL GENERALLY BE 5 TO 10 KTS THROUGH
TONIGHT. THE FRONT WEAKENS ON MONDAY WITH SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST WINDS
ACROSS ALL OF THE WATERS...REMAINING ON THE LIGHT SIDE. SHOWERS
AND STORMS WILL AFFECT MUCH OF THE WATERS TONIGHT...SHIFTING
SOUTH INTO THE SOUTHERN WATERS FOR MONDAY.

/LONG TERM MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
AS OF 340 PM SUNDAY...WEAK FRONT STALLED OVER AREA MON NIGHT WILL
PUSH OFFSHORE AND DISSIPATE TUE...WITH A BRIEF WIND SHIFT TO W-NW.
FLOW QUICKLY RETURNS TO S-SW TUE NIGHT. SPEEDS INCREASE TO 15-20 KT
WED NIGHT WITH TIGHTENING PRES GRAD. WEAK BACKDOOR FRONT WILL
PRODUCE BRIEF WIND SHIFT NRN WATERS THU...OTRW S-SW WILL PERSIST
THROUGH REST OF WEEK.

SEAS MAINLY 2-3 FT THROUGH TUE NIGHT...THEN BUILDING TO 4-5 FT OUTER
PORTIONS WED-THU WITH INCREASING SW FLOW AND THE POSSIBILITY OF SE
SWELL FROM A POTENTIAL SYSTEM DEVELOPING IN THE TROPICS.

&&

.MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...NONE.
MARINE...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS...TL
NEAR TERM...CTC
SHORT TERM...TL
LONG TERM...JBM
AVIATION...JBM/BTC/TL
MARINE...JBM/BTC/TL

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 31, 2:52 PM EST, 9 hours 8 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
352 PM EDT SUN JUL 31 2011

NCZ029-044>047-079>081-090>095-098-103-104-012000-
MARTIN-PITT-WASHINGTON-TYRRELL-MAINLAND DARE-GREENE-BEAUFORT-
MAINLAND HYDE-DUPLIN-LENOIR-JONES-CRAVEN-PAMLICO-CARTERET-ONSLOW-
OUTER BANKS DARE-OUTER BANKS HYDE-
352 PM EDT SUN JUL 31 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.
SOME THUNDERSTORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH MAIN THREATS OF LOCALLY
HEAVY RAINFALL WITH FLOODING...AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 31, 6:47 PM EST, 5 hours 13 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
747 PM EDT SUN JUL 31 2011

NCZ093-095-010045-
CARTERET-CRAVEN-
747 PM EDT SUN JUL 31 2011

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS CARTERET AND CRAVEN COUNTIES
THROUGH 845 PM EDT...

AT 744 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM CHERRY BRANCH TO PINE KNOLL
SHORES...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES EAST OF HAVELOCK TO 7
MILES SOUTHWEST OF MOREHEAD CITY...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.
ADDITIONALLY...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER SEA LEVEL AND ATLANTIC IS
REMAINING NEARLY STATIONARY.

LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...BACHELOR...HARLOWE...
FORT MACON STATE PARK...GREAT NECK...MERRIMON...SOUTH RIVER.

HAZARDS INCLUDE...
GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH.
HEAVY RAINFALL AND MINOR FLOODING.

SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARLY BUILDING OR VEHICLE. STRONG WINDS ARE
CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN SMALL TREES AND BLOWING AROUND TRASH CANS...
POTTED PLANTS...LAWN FURNITURE AND OTHER LIGHT OUTDOOR OBJECTS.

THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL...WHICH WILL CAUSE MINOR
FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS INCLUDING DITCHES...CREEKS...ROADWAYS AND
AREAS OF POOR DRAINAGE. AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED
ROADS. MOTORISTS SHOULD ALSO REDUCE DRIVING SPEEDS TO AVOID
HYDROPLANING.

&&

LAT...LON 3468 7689 3471 7677 3472 7689 3496 7689
      3492 7676 3503 7642 3498 7642 3495 7644
      3498 7633 3504 7636 3501 7627 3468 7652
      3468 7661 3466 7651 3490 7628 3487 7628
      3463 7650
TIME...MOT...LOC 2344Z 270DEG 11KT 3491 7678 3465 7678

26

Special weather statement, Jul 31, 7:43 PM EST, 4 hours 17 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
843 PM EDT SUN JUL 31 2011

NCZ095-104-010130-
CARTERET-OUTER BANKS HYDE-
843 PM EDT SUN JUL 31 2011

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE ACROSS HYDE AND CARTERET COUNTIES
THROUGH 930 PM EDT...

AT 842 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
PORTSMOUTH VILLAGE...OR ABOUT 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF OCRACOKE...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...OCRACOKE.

HAZARDS INCLUDE...
GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH.
HEAVY RAINFALL AND MINOR FLOODING.

SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARLY BUILDING OR VEHICLE. STRONG WINDS ARE
CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN SMALL TREES AND BLOWING AROUND TRASH CANS...
POTTED PLANTS...LAWN FURNITURE AND OTHER LIGHT OUTDOOR OBJECTS.

THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL...WHICH WILL CAUSE MINOR
FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS INCLUDING DITCHES...CREEKS...ROADWAYS AND
AREAS OF POOR DRAINAGE. AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED
ROADS. MOTORISTS SHOULD ALSO REDUCE DRIVING SPEEDS TO AVOID
HYDROPLANING.

&&

LAT...LON 3513 7591 3506 7600 3505 7603 3506 7603
      3497 7615 3499 7617 3508 7607 3507 7602
      3509 7604 3510 7608 3511 7607 3508 7601
      3513 7598 3512 7595 3520 7578 3518 7577
TIME...MOT...LOC 0042Z 242DEG 19KT 3504 7606

26

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

16 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Beaufort

When: August 1, 12:00 AM EST to August 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Beaufort forecast zone
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 35.486, -76.845 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe drought (D2) designation continued for Beaufort County through late August 2011 just prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene at Bunyan (15.66 inches), Washington (13.11 inches), and Aurora (13.10 inches) indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Beaufort County.

Drought, Carteret

When: August 1, 12:00 AM EST to August 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Carteret forecast zone
Reported by: State Official

Extreme drought (D3) designation continued for Carteret County through late August 2011 just prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene at Cedar Island (11.95 inches), Croatan Forest (11.13 inches), and Newport (10.41 inches) indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Carteret County.

Drought, Craven

When: August 1, 12:00 AM EST to August 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Craven forecast zone
Reported by: State Official

Extreme drought (D3) designation continued for Craven County through late August 2011 just prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene at New Bern (14.79 inches), Havelock (12.64 inches), and Trent Woods (10.94 inches) indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Craven County.

Drought, Duplin

When: August 1, 12:00 AM EST to August 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Duplin forecast zone
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 34.936, -77.933 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe drought (D2) designation continued for Duplin County through late August 2011 just prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene at Beulaville (9.61 inches) and Mount Olive (5.68 inches) indicated sufficient precipitation to diminish drought designation for Duplin County to abnormally dry (D0).

Drought, Eastern Dare

When: August 1, 12:00 AM EST to August 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Eastern Dare forecast zone
Reported by: State Official

Severe drought (D2) designation continued for Outer Banks Dare County through late August 2011 just prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Outer Banks Dare County.

Drought, Western Dare

When: August 1, 12:00 AM EST to August 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Western Dare forecast zone
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 35.787, -75.781 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe drought (D2) designation continued for Mainland Dare County through late August 2011 just prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene at Dare Bomb Range (7.57 inches) indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Mainland Dare County.

Drought, Greene

When: August 1, 12:00 AM EST to August 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Greene forecast zone
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 35.485, -77.676 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe drought (D2) designation continued for Greene County through mid August 2011 prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Greene County.

Drought, Jones

When: August 1, 12:00 AM EST to August 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Jones forecast zone
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 35.022, -77.355 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme drought (D3) designation continued for Jones County through mid August 2011 prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Jones County.

Drought, Lenoir

When: August 1, 12:00 AM EST to August 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Lenoir forecast zone
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 35.239, -77.641 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme drought (D3) designation continued for Lenoir County through mid August 2011 prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene at Kinston (9.53 inches) indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Lenoir County.

Drought, Onslow

When: August 1, 12:00 AM EST to August 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Onslow forecast zone
Reported by: State Official

Extreme drought (D3) designation continued for Onslow County through late August 2011 just prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene at Jacksonville (11.70 inches), Maysville (10.68 inches), and Swansboro (9.76 inches) indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Onslow County.

Drought, Pamlico

When: August 1, 12:00 AM EST to August 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Pamlico forecast zone
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 35.152, -76.667 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe drought (D2) designation continued for Pamlico County through late August 2011 just prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene at Bayboro (15.74 inches) and Merritt (9.42 inches) indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Onslow County.

Drought, Pitt

When: August 1, 12:00 AM EST to August 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Pitt forecast zone
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 35.594, -77.375 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe drought (D2) designation continued for Pitt County through mid August 2011 prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene at Grifton (12.69 inches), Greenville (12.32 inches) and Winterville (11.20 inches) indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Pitt County.

Drought, Tyrrell

When: August 1, 12:00 AM EST to August 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Tyrrell forecast zone
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 35.870, -76.170 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe drought (D2) designation continued for Tyrrell County through late August 2011 just prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Tyrrell County.

Drought, Washington

When: August 1, 12:00 AM EST to August 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Washington forecast zone
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 35.839, -76.569 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe drought (D2) designation continued for Washington County through late August 2011 just prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene at Pocosin Lakes (11.20 inches) indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Washington County.

Drought, Eastern Hyde

When: August 1, 12:00 AM EST to August 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Eastern Hyde forecast zone
Reported by: State Official

Severe drought (D2) designation continued for Outer Banks Hyde County through late August 2011 just prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene at Ocracoke (7.37 inches) indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Outer Banks Hyde County.

Drought, Western Hyde

When: August 1, 12:00 AM EST to August 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Western Hyde forecast zone
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 35.410, -76.148 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe drought (D2) designation continued for Mainland Hyde County through late August 2011 just prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene at Fairfield (7.61 inches) indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Mainland Hyde County.

What these are

Drought: A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in North Carolina in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history Warnings in North Carolina, August 2011

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 330207, 330209, 330212, 330218, 330222, 330223, 330259, 330261, 330263, 330264, 330266, 330267, 330268, 330269, 330270, 330271.