Weather

April has variable temperatures, abundant pollen


The temperature last month was quite variable from day to daywhile many fields miss the rainfall. However, a rich feature in April is pollen.

Warm days and cool nights

Our mid-spring month is sometimes like three different seasons, including the warmth of early summer and the chill of winter nights. They equate to a preliminary statewide mean temperature of 58.8°FAccording to the National Center for Environmental Information (NCEI), April 44 is the warmest in the past 128 years.

The magnitude of our temperature variation is seen in several local charts, particularly in eastern North Carolina.

Average high temperature in Wilmington is 1 degree above normal and associated with the temperature is 26-warmest in April, while the average low temperature is 1 degree below normal and tied to the most interesting 67th since 1874. Elizabeth City similarly, April is the 36th warmest based on average highs and April is the 42nd coolest based on average lows.

A summary of temperatures for April 2022, highlighting average monthly temperatures, difference from normal, and comparison with history and recent years

Our temperatures often drop with the vagaries (and winds) of high-pressure systems moving through, and they make a dramatic difference between days.

On April 20th, High pressure in our north active in cooler air and produced a 30-year low at night. Just two days later, the high pressure descended south move behind a warm front on April 22 and raised our afternoon high to the 80s.

Under that model, we’ve seen the effects of both extremes. By the end of the month, temperatures hit 80°F across most of the state for five days in a row. That period ended with our warmest day of the year so far on April 26, like afternoon highs reached above the 80s.

Just two days later, morning lows dropped to 30s on April 28, with light frost observed in parts of western North Carolina.

Photo of frost on leaves from Waynesville on the morning of April 28
Frost on the leaves near Waynesville on the morning of April 28, when temperatures dropped to 34°F. (Photo taken by Local weather in Yokel)

Drought persists in the middle of arid April

April showers were not as widespread as we might have hoped, leaving much of the state drier than usual. The NCEI reports a statewide preliminary average rainfall of 2.84 inchesone inch below the recent 30-year average and ranks as April 36 driest since 1895.

All parts of the state had rain last month, but the total was mild in some places. Raleigh recorded a total of 2.05 inches for the 36th driest April since 1887, and Greenville tied in April was the 9th driest with a total of just 1.54 inches.

A few wet areas during the month include the southern Piedmont and a stretch of the Coastal Plain from Whiteville to New Bern. Those spots have benefited from rain during some violent local events.

On April 5, low pressure across the Carolinas brought a total of up to 2 inches of rain in some of our coastal counties. One same setup on April 18 brought the heaviest rainfall across the southern tier, including a 24-hour total of 2.4 inches in both Rutherford County in the Foothills and Bald Head Island along the south coast.

Summary infographic for April 2022 precipitation, highlighting average monthly temperatures, departure from normal, and comparison with history and recent years

Less rain last month also means fewer storms and less severe weather. In fact, there were no confirmed tornadoes in North Carolina all month, even though April was one of the Climatologically the most popular months for tornado activity.

The last April without a tornado hit in North Carolina was in 2017. In that case, rain was more widespread, causing flooding along the Tar River and eradicating drought in the mountains.

After this April, the drought condition is largely unchanged from the beginning of the month. Moderate (D1) and severe (D2) droughts are still present over most of the Coastal Plain, with minor improvements as heavier rainfall subsides on the south coast and some recessions. at the end of the month further north.

The good news is that even after a dry month, some new areas have fallen into a dry spell. While some below-normal flows have now occurred across northern Piedmont, the driest conditions remain in the east.

Even in drought-affected areas, soil moisture is generally sufficient for farmers to begin planting. USDA/NASS reports that 60% of corn was planted as of April 24, the 5-year average.

More rain in May is sure to help these newly planted plants take root, and despite the lack of showers in April, it will also help those May flowers bloom.

A long pollen season

Because the trees had lost their leaves when they woke up from hibernation, the landscape was green now. But at times in April, it takes on a brilliant golden hue thanks to the diffusion of nature’s sparkling light: pollen.

Data from NC’s Air Quality Division shows how pollen counts have skyrocketed so far this spring, starting with the first increase in pollen levels on trees on May 31. 3. At that time, pine trees dominated the pollen producers.

Currently, tree pollen levels are declining, with oak and maple trees being the last to produce seeds. That is largely consistent with historical trend showed that pollen grains peaked in April.

Chart of daily pollen counts from trees, grasses and weeds in Raleigh
Daily pollen counts from trees, grasses and weeds in Raleigh. (From NC DAQ . Pollen Lab)

However, in the last few days of the month, the grass thrived, including a seed count of 23 seeds per cubic meter on April 28. That was the highest grass pollen level of the season – so far, anyway. . Historically, pollen peaks in mid to late May, meaning allergy sufferers can experience itchy eyes, sniffles and stuffy noses for several more weeks.

While the highest daily grass and tree pollen levels observed so far this year are much lower than a year ago. 2019, the April spike of that year was less than a week apart. This year, the steady emergence of pollen from various sources over the past month has kept pollen season – and our noses – on and off.





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