December 2011 was Warm and Dry
 
After very cold Decembers in 2009 and 2010, December 2011 ended as the 13th warmest in North Carolina since 1895 according to the State Climate Office of North Carolina.  Statewide, average temperatures were generally more than 4 degrees above normal.  This is most evident in daily maximum temperatures where most reporting stations ranked December as the 10th warmest, and many (including Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh, Wilmington, New Bern and Elizabeth City) had maximum temperatures ranked in the top 5 warmest for all Decembers.
 
Precipitation patterns varied across the state in December 2011 ranked as the driest December since 1895.
 
Southeastern North Carolina averaged 3.75 degrees warmer than normal and rainfall was 2.69 inches or about 23% below normal.
 
According to the report, While drought isn't a concern for most agricultural sectors in North Carolina, water supply recharge is.  The colder months are when North Carolina generally recharges its groundwater, river, and reservoir supplies.  while the cooler half of the year doesn't necessarily produce more precipitation across the state, the nature of rainfall is different.  Widespread storms help to recharge water supplies more effectively than localized thunderstorms.  The other big factor for winter recharge is the low evaporation and plant transpiration rates.  During the cold seasons, nearly every drop that falls goes to recharge.  In contrast summer evaporation rates are so high that much of what may ball from a single thunderstorm is returned to the atmosphere within days.
 
The lack of rainfall in eastern NC has resulted in drought impacts to river and groundwater supplies in those areas.  If dry conditions persist, it may also start to impact winter grain production for growers.
 
Bladen County continues to be in a moderate drought.
 
In December, Bladen County's average daily maximum temperature was 62 degrees.  Average daily minimum temp was 38.5 degrees and rainfall averaged about a half inch.