Month to month break down of 2015 weather events

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — 2015 was a year of historic flooding, an early hurricane season, and even the warmest December on record.

2015 brought several memorable and historically important weather events to the Carolinas.

In January, an arctic outbreak produced morning lows in the teens which setting a new daily record for January 8 of 16 degrees.

The majority of February was down right cold. In Wilmington, it was the fifth coldest February in recorded history. Temperatures averaged more than eight degrees below normal. On February 20, the coldest temperature of 13 degrees was observed in Wilmington since February 1996. Elizabethtown reported a morning low of nine degrees, the coldest in our area. On February 24, wintry precipitation was seen around the Cape Fear. 1.4 inches of snow was reported in Watha.

Compared to February, March was a relatively calm month weather-wise.

On April 9, severe weather north of Lumberton dropped 1.25” diameter hail.

May began the Atlantic Hurricane season a little early with Tropical Storm Ana, maximum winds reached 60 mph.

June was a hot one. At the Lumberton airport, 100 plus degree temperatures were recorded on six consecutive days from June 13th to the 18th.

July gave us another heat wave then severe thunderstorms produced a downburst. an national weather service storm survey determined wind gusts reached 90 mph.

August 5 was the hottest day of the month with 99 degrees recorded in Lumberton and 96 in Wilmington.

During the morning of September 9, a pair of waterspouts were reported off the coast of Topsail Beach.

On September 27 a full moon and lunar eclipse was accompanied by moderate onshore winds which produced unusually high tides and some of the worst coastal flooding in years.

October was a rainy month. A persistent plume of tropical moisture drop up to 24 inches of rain in portions of the Carolinas.

November’s first widespread freeze occurred on November 24 behind a strong cold front.

This past December was warmest in recorded history with temperatures averaging 12 to 14 degrees above normal.

2015 was the second wettest year in history.

If you would like to learn more about weather and climate during 2015, click here.