Last Updated on December 24, 2019 4:25 pm
With drought conditions and wildfires impacting the High Country, and all of western North Carolina, the question many people are asking is when will we get rain. The answer is this coming week, finally.
Before looking ahead to the rain possibility let's look back at just how dry it has been. As November is about to come to a close there has only been 0.27 inches of precipitation recorded for the month, as of Saturday, in Boone. For the moment that breaks the record of November 2007 which recorded 0.47 inches.
For the season to date (Sept 1 – Nov 26) there's only been 5.14 inches of precipitation. By comparison a normal measurement for that time period should be in the 10 to 15 inch range. For the past six months (May-Nov) 17.56 inches has been recorded, making it the 3rd driest for that time period since 1980. And for the year, 36.93 inches are in the books marking the 4th driest since 1980.
Now to the rain possibilities. Rainfall is expected to come in two waves and amount totals are expected to be substantial, according to the National Weather Service. Clouds will increase on Monday as the first round of rain is forecast for Monday night into Tuesday. Amounts of 1/2 to 3/4 inch are forecast for most of the region in the first round of rain, but along the Blue Ridge one to one-and-half inches are likely.
On Wednesday the second round is forecast to move into the area, bringing with it up to two inches of rain possible, and up to two and half inches possible near the crest of the Blue Ridge.
