Wilmington summer recap: Heat, drought and heavy rain

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) — Wilmington just wrapped up its third-warmest meteorological summer on record, according to the National Weather Service.

Meteorological summer includes June, July and August.

“When you go back and you look at the meteorological summer, so June, July, August, currently we’re looking at our third warmest in Wilmington, which records go back all the way to 1874,” meteorologist Brandon Locklear said.

Locklear said much of the summer was marked by hotter-than-normal temperatures and dry conditions.

“I think the drought had a critical role in seeing these really hot temperatures we’ve seen this summer,” Locklear said.

Temperatures frequently climbed into the 90s, with heat index values topping 100 degrees. More than 32 heat advisories were issued during the summer.

“You have to go all the way back to like 2010 and 2011, and we only issued 19, so we’ve almost doubled that,” Locklear said.

The prolonged heat and lack of rain contributed to worsening drought conditions across the region. Several counties reached severe to extreme drought, while southern Brunswick County reached the exceptional drought category, prompting water conservation efforts.

The heat also dried out the soil.

“When you dry out that soil, there’s no more of that evaporation happening. There’s none of that heating being absorbed by that evaporation. So it goes directly into heating the surface and heating the ground above it,” Locklear said.

Those dry conditions created another problem when heavier rain finally returned. The hard, dry ground had a tougher time absorbing the water, allowing more runoff and increasing the risk of flooding during heavy downpours.

In Ogden, heavy rain washed out part of Dovefield Drive, with water rising above ankle level in some areas.

August brought a major shift in the weather pattern.

Wilmington recorded rain on 21 of the month’s 31 days, totaling nearly 15 inches by the end of August and making it the second-rainiest August on record.

Locklear said the sea breeze and higher moisture levels helped fuel the frequent thunderstorms.

“We contend with the sea breeze coming inland, right? And that higher moisture. And so, when you get that set up and you’re dealing with thunderstorms,” Locklear said.

Even as fall approaches, forecasters say another important part of the weather calendar is just beginning.

September is typically the most active month of Atlantic hurricane season, with the climatological peak falling around Sept. 10.

“We still have a good, like probably six weeks that we need to be closely monitored in the tropics,” Locklear said.

The National Weather Service is reminding residents to review their hurricane plans, know their evacuation routes, check their emergency kits and make sure they have a way to receive weather alerts.