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NOUS42 KILM 020359
PNSILM
NCZ087-096-097-099>101-SCZ017-023-024-032>034-039-046-021200-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
1058 PM EST FRI JAN 01 2010

...WILMINGTON SETS ALL-TIME DECEMBER MONTHLY RAINFALL RECORD...

THE MONTH OF DECEMBER CONTINUED THE WET AMPLIFIED PATTERN OF
NOVEMBER AS A SIGNIFICANT LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVED THROUGH THE
AREA ON THE 2ND. THIS SYSTEM PRODUCED THUNDERSTORMS AND HEAVY
RAIN...WITH WILMINGTON AIRPORT RECEIVING 2.70 INCHES OF RAINFALL.
LIGHT RAIN CONTINUED FOR SEVERAL DAYS AFTER PRODUCING ANOTHER INCH
OF RAINFALL. AFTER A BRIEF REPRIEVE WITH ONLY A FEW MINOR
EVENTS...ANOTHER DEEP LOW PRESSURE MOVED ACROSS THE CAROLINAS ON THE
18TH BRINGING MORE HEAVY RAIN TO WILMINGTON. AN ADDITIONAL 1.94
INCHES OF RAIN FELL FROM THIS SYSTEM. A THIRD LOW CAME THROUGH ON
CHRISTMAS DAY PRODUCING ANOTHER 2.14 INCHES OF RAIN. DECEMBER
FINISHED JUST HOW IT BEGAN WITH A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM ON NEW YEARS
EVE PRODUCING ANOTHER 0.77 INCHES OF RAIN. FOR THE
MONTH...WILMINGTON AIRPORT RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 8.86 INCHES OF
RAINFALL.

THE 8.86 INCHES OF RAIN IS A NEW DECEMBER RECORD...AND SHATTERS A
132 YEAR OLD RECORD OF 7.13 INCHES SET IN 1877!

ALTHOUGH LARGE MONTHLY RAINFALL TOTALS ARE NORMAL IN WILMINGTON
DURING THE SUMMER AND FALL...THE 8.86 INCHES IS THE 3RD WETTEST
WINTER MONTH (DJF) ON RECORD (11.22 IN FEBRUARY 1998 AND 10.22 IN
JANUARY 1991).

THIS RAINFALL HELPED PUSH WILMINGTON TO 59.73 INCHES OF RAIN FOR THE
YEAR. THIS IS ABOVE THE NORMAL ANNUAL RAINFALL...ENDING THE DROUGHT
CONDITIONS IN NEW HANOVER COUNTY.

$$

JDW