Our streak of dry weather continues for now, but there is some hope for moisture in sight.
Any rainfall will be welcomed across the Western Carolinas. We ended September with less than half of our normal rainfall for the month. That made for the 5th straight month with drier-than-normal conditions and the 7th of the year. The annual moisture deficit is now up to 8 inches as we enter October --typically the driest month of the year.
The latest drought report shows expanding drought around Western North Carolina with nearly half of the combined Western Carolinas under the lowest level of drought.
Warm and dry weather from the weekend will carry into the first half of the work week with highs breaking into the 80s each day under lots of sunshine through Wednesday. Rain will be possible late in the week with some showers by Friday afternoon. Some rain may carry over into the weekend. For now, it doesn't appear rainfall totals will amount to much.
Despite the warm and dry pattern, fall color is progressing across the highest elevations in Western North Carolina. According to data from Explore Fall, the Balsam Mountains lead the way in the color changing. The combination of cool nights and warm, sunny days should help move some of the fall colors along over the next week.
STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSPersistent dry spell continues in Western Carolinas, hope for rainfall as fall colors progress | WLOS
