NWS Wilmington, NC

Weather Forecast Office

October Heat Grips the Carolinas

Persistent high pressure aloft across the Eastern U.S. has helped sustain hot temperatures

Record temperatures have occurred across the Southeastern U.S. while cooler than normal conditions cover most of the remainder of the nation

September was very warm across most of North and South Carolina. Temperatures were three to five degrees above normal making it one of the top warmest Septembers in recorded local history. Heat has continued into October and is breaking daily, monthly and now some seasonal records as well.

The reason for the recent hot weather has been a strong area of high pressure aloft. Sinking air within this high causes the air to warm and keeps skies sunny. Northwesterly winds crossing the Appalachian Mountains also helps warm the air further through compressional heating -- the same process that makes a tire pump heat up while you're using it.

With the exception of Hurricane Dorian's coastal rainfall back in September, the persistent high pressure has kept the Carolinas unusually dry. Expanding drought conditions and worsening soil moisture deficits mean the ground and the air above it warms quickly during the day. Drought has literally helped to create the heat we're dealing with.

Hottest October Daily Temperatures on record (through Oct 4, 2019)

Wilmington, NC

1	98	10/3/2019
2	97	10/4/2019
3	95	10/3/1986
4 (tied)	94	10/5/1986
4 (tied)	94	10/4/1986

Florence, SC

1	102	10/6/1954
2	100	10/5/1954
3 (tied)	99	10/3/2019
3 (tied)	99	10/4/2019
4	98	10/4/1954

North Myrtle Beach, SC

1	93	10/5/1951
2	92	10/6/1954
3 (tied)	91	10/4/2019
3 (tied)	91	10/5/2018
3 (tied)	91	10/10/2009

The entire year of 2019 has been one of the warmest ever recorded across the eastern sections of North and South Carolina. All but one month this year (March) has experienced above normal temperatures. Exceptional heat in late May brought the earliest 100 degree temperatures ever observed to Wilmington. Now in October we've experienced the hottest temperatures ever seen this late in the year. While it's never possible to blame a weather event or even a single year's weather on climate change, conditions much like these we're experiencing are expected to become more common in the decades ahead due to a warming climate.

Year to date temperatures versus normals for Wilmington, NC

Year to date temperatures versus normals for Florence, SC

Year to date temperatures versus normals for North Myrtle Beach, SC

Most Number of 90 degree Temperatures in a Year (through Oct 4, 2019)

Wilmington, NC

1	77	2019
2	71	1980
3	68	2010
4	67	1986
5	66	1993

Florence, SC

1	108	1954
2	107	2019
3	102	1998
4	101	2010
5	100	2018

North Myrtle Beach, SC

1	51	2010
2	47	1990
3	46	1941
4 (tied)	41	1954
4 (tied)	41	1952

Hottest Year to Date Observed Average Temperatures (through Oct 3, 2019)

Wilmington, NC

1	68.9	2019
2 (tied)	68.6	1990
2 (tied)	68.6	2017
4 (tied)	68.4	1991
4 (tied)	68.4	2012

Florence, SC

1	70.3	1974
2	70.0	1975
3	69.6	1990
4	69.4	2019
5	69.0	2012

North Myrtle Beach, SC

1	68.3	2012
2 (tied)	68.2	2019
2 (tied)	68.2	2017
2 (tied)	68.2	1990
5	67.8	2016

Temperature records began in Wilmington in 1874; in Myrtle Beach in 1931; and in Florence in 1948.

Research & Page Author: Tim Armstrong
Page Created: October 3, 2019
Last Updated: October 4, 2019