2024 Climate Summary for southeastern North Carolina & northeastern South Carolina

Consistent and abnormal warmth was the big story for 2024 across the Carolinas.  Ten of 12 months recorded above normal temperatures and it was tied for the hottest year on record in Lumberton, NC.

The length of the growing season -- the time between the last spring freeze and the first fall freeze -- was the longest on record in Myrtle Beach (295 days) and in Florence, SC (273 days).  Myrtle Beach, SC experienced 10 nights this summer with low temperatures at or above 80 degrees, the second most ever recorded.  Florence saw four days with temperatures at or above 100 degrees and Lumberton had six 100+ degree days, the most since 2015.

The number of days with measurable rain this year was the lowest since 2011 in Wilmington and Florence, but the number of days with heavy rain (greater than 1.00 inch) was near or even above normal.  This implies when it rained, it tended to rain hard.

No snow fell this year, making it nearly three years since any snow or sleet fell across this portion of North or South Carolina.

Top Ten Local Weather Events of 2024 (in chronological order)

1)  January 9:  Severe Thunderstorms with Strong Winds

A strong cold front moved across the Carolinas during the evening hours of January 9.  Winds ahead of the front were blowing at 20 to 30 mph with gusts as 50 mph, bringing in a tropical airmass which allowed inland temperatures to reach 70 degrees.  This warmth generated enough instability to fuel a line of severe thunderstorms along the cold front.  Hurricane-force thunderstorm wind gusts were recorded in Southport and at Federal Point in southern New Hanover County.  Damage to trees, power lines, and some structures were reported from many locations across the eastern Carolinas along with widespread measured gusts of 55 to 70 mph.  Wilmington recorded a gust of 72 mph, the strongest since Hurricane Isaias in 2020.

Additional Details: https://www.weather.gov/ilm/2024-01-09-Severe

2)  January 20-22:  Coldest Temperatures of the Year

An arctic cold front moved off the East Coast on January 19.  Strong high pressure followed behind the front and pushed the coldest airmass of the year across the Carolinas.  The period of cold temperatures lasted three days (Jan 20 through 22) and brought low temperatures in the teens inland with some lower 20s near the beaches during the morning of January 21.  This was the coldest weather since similar conditions were observed on January 30, 2022. 

Shelters were opened and warm clothing was distributed in Florence, New Hanover, and Brunswick counties for the homeless.  Local media reports stated the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores was assisting 20 cold-stunned sea turtles.  From a climatological perspective, these readings were very near the 30-year average for the lowest expected annual temperature.

Additional Details: https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=PNSILM&e=202401211350

3)  April 20:  Severe Thunderstorms with Large Hail

Radar loop of severe thunderstorms with large hail on April 20, 2024

Severe thunderstorms developed across North and South Carolina during the afternoon and evening of April 20, 2024.  Large hail and damaging winds occurred in multiple swaths from Maxton and Pembroke into the city of Lumberton, and from Hartsville and Society Hill to Nichols and Loris.  This was the most significant outbreak of large hail across this portion of the Carolinas since May 7, 2021.

Thunderstorms began developing along the front in the Charlotte area between 2 and 3 pm. These storms became severe before 4 pm, producing large hail and damaging winds in Gaston County, NC; and in York and Cherokee counties in SC.  Storms moved east-southeastward across the Sandhills and into the Laurinburg-Maxton area around 4:30 pm.  The storms struck Pembroke shortly before 5:00 pm dropping quarter to golf ball-size hail.  The storms slid southeastward across Lumberton and into western Bladen county where multiple reports of hail golf ball size or larger were received.

As the front began to sink southward, a second cluster of severe thunderstorms developed south of Charlotte and moved into South Carolina's Pee Dee region around 6:00 pm. Quarter-sized hail fell in Hartsville and Brownsville, SC. In addition, damaging wind gusts blew down trees and power lines in Society Hill, SC. This cluster of storms continued moving east-southeastward into Horry County where quarter to ping pong ball size hail was reported from two locations in Loris shortly after 8:00 pm. 

A third cluster of severe thunderstorms developed near in Duplin County, NC near the Pender county line around midnight.  Damage appears it was limited to Duplin County.  A final round of thunderstorms also affected the Grand Strand area around midnight.  As these storms exited the coast a wind gust of 49 mph was recorded at Springmaid Pier in Myrtle Beach.

Additional Details: https://www.weather.gov/ilm/2024-04-20_Severe

4)  May 14:  Tornado Outbreak with Seven Confirmed Touchdowns

Warm and unstable air moved north behind a warm front located across southern North Carolina during the afternoon of Thursday May 14.  Low level winds were southeasterly while upper level winds were southwesterly; this wind shear allowed thunderstorms to rotate and produce seven confirmed tornadoes across the area during the late afternoon and evening hours.  Fortunately no injuries or fatalities were reported.

Damage was observed to trees and power lines and a few roofs and garage doors.  The most significant damage occurred in the city of Marion, SC where an NWS storm survey found considerable damage to roofs and walls of buildings downtown, plus damage to trees along the 1.84 mile long tornado path.  Damage consistent with winds up to 90 mph was found, making this an EF1 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

Additional Details: https://www.weather.gov/ilm/Tornadoes051424

5)  June through July:  Summer Drought

Persistently dry weather developed as climatological summer began in June.  Rainfall deficits climbed steadily throughout the month and into the first half of July, reaching 4 to 6 inches below normal across the inland portions of the eastern Carolinas.  Drought conditions rapidly developed during the month of June and severe drought (category D3) developed From Florence, SC across Marion and into Whiteville, NC by July 1.

Lumberton, NC recorded only 0.90" during June making this the second driest June on record since records began there in 1904.  According to the Southeast Regional Climate Center, the heat and lack of precipitation negatively impacted many crops in the region. Dryland corn was particularly affected as moisture deficits emerged during the pollination stage resulting in stunted growth and poor kernel production. Hot and dry weather during the month delayed the maturity of cotton and peanuts and slowed the growth of hay.

6)  July 4-9 and 14-17 Heat Waves with Temperatures Over 100° F

The hottest temperatures of the year occurred during a pair of heat waves in early and mid July.  Temperatures soared in intense mid summer sunshine beneath descending air from high pressure aloft.
 

July's daily high temperatures exceeded 100 degrees four times in Florence, SC, the most hot days observed in a single summer since 2019.  In Lumberton, NC temperatures reached or exceeded 100 degrees six times in July, the most since 2015.  Slightly cooler air blowing onshore kept Wilmington and Myrtle Beach below 100 degrees, although high humidity still caused the heat index to reach dangerous levels at multiple points throughout July.

7)  August 5-9:  Tropical Storm Debby

Debby was a category 1 hurricane that struck the Florida Gulf Coast on August 5.  Debby weakened to a tropical storm as it moved northeastward across Georgia and emerged offshore in the Atlantic on August 6.  Debby then turned northwestward and made a second landfall near Bulls Bay, SC (just north of Charleston) early in the morning of August 8.  Across the Carolinas, Debby brought multiple days of heavy rain and flooding along with wind gusts along the beaches near 40 mph.  Significant river flooding developed along the Northeast Cape Fear River, Lumber River, Waccamaw River, and the Pee Dee River. 

Debby also produced several tornadoes across the Carolinas with minor damage reported near Longwood, NC; Newton's Crossroads/Harrells, NC; and Maple Hill, NC.

Additional Details: https://www.weather.gov/ilm/TropicalStormDebby2024

8)  September 16:  Severe Flooding with Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight

Historic rainfall occurred across the Cape Fear Region of southeastern North Carolina on September 16 as Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight made landfall.  Gauges and automated radar estimates showed that 12 to 20 inches of rain fell within a 25-mile wide stripe running from Carolina Beach and Southport through Bolivia, the Green Swamp, and ending south of the Delco community in eastern Columbus County.  Although this system never became a named tropical system, observed weather impacts including heavy rain, flash flooding, and strong winds were similar to tropical storms and hurricanes of the past.

Additional Details: https://www.weather.gov/ilm/2024PTC8

9)  September 27:  Tropical Storm Helene

Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend area of the Florida Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm late in the evening of September 26, 2024.  Helene's largest impacts were across the southern Appalachians where widespread severe flooding occurred with hundreds of fatalities and billions in property damage.  Across the eastern Carolinas, storm total rainfall ranged from less than an inch along the coast to over four inches inland.  Wind gusts peaked in the 45 to 60 mph range during the morning hours of September 27. 

Lines of thunderstorms well east of Helene's center produced six confirmed tornadoes across southeast NC and northeast SC on September 27.  The strongest tornado brought winds estimated as high as 95 mph to Garland, NC.

Additional Details: https://www.weather.gov/ilm/Helene2024

10)  Fall Drought and Near Record Dry October

Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight and Tropical Storm Helene produced ample rain across most of the eastern Carolinas during the middle and late portions of September.  But after Helene the atmospheric pattern flipped into one dominated by high pressure across the eastern United States. 

In Florence, SC only 0.01" of rain fell during October and in Wilmington 0.13" was recorded, the third driest October on record for both cities.  Myrtle Beach measured 0.08" making this the second driest on October since records began there in 1931.  The exceptionally dry weather led to moderate drought conditions gradually developing in November.

2024 City Climate Summaries

Monthly observed average temperatures and rainfall totals with departures from normal

Wilmington, North Carolina

     Avg Hi/Dep   Avg Lo/Dep   Avg T/Dep   Warmest   Coolest   Precip/Dep
JAN   60.1/+2.9    37.3/+1.0   48.7/+1.9   83/26th   19/21st   1.68/-2.13
FEB   62.6/+2.3    40.3/+1.9   51.4/+2.1   75/28th   30/8th    1.85/-1.62
MAR   70.8/+4.3    49.4/+5.3   60.1/+4.8   84/31st   36/25th   6.33/+2.36
APR   76.2/+1.6    54.4/+1.8   65.3/+1.7   89/18th   39/23rd   2.01/-1.06
MAY   83.5/+2.4    64.1/+3.0   73.8/+2.7   92/25th   56/21st   3.94/-0.60
JUN   88.9/+1.9    69.0/-0.3   79.0/+0.8   99/24th   48/2nd    2.63/-3.04
JUL   90.2/+0.2    74.8/+1.8   82.5/+1.0   97/14th   66/29th   7.79/+0.93
AUG   87.9/-0.4    71.7/+0.0   79.8/-0.2   96/1st    60/22nd  14.66/+6.50
SEP   83.7/-0.2    67.7/+1.0   75.7/+0.4   92/1st    56/10th   8.53/+0.16
OCT   78.2/+2.1    54.5/-1.1   66.3/+0.4   87/1st    39/18th   0.13/-4.53
NOV   71.2/+3.8    49.3/+4.5   60.3/+4.2   85/8th    27/30th   1.25/-2.31
DEC   60.9/+0.6    37.9/-1.2   49.4/-0.3   80/10th   21/7th    1.84/-1.85
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANN   76.2/+1.8    55.9/+1.5   66.0/+1.6   99        19       52.64/-7.51


Number of days with Temperatures...
90 degrees or higher:  48 (3 more than normal)
32 degrees or lower:   26 (11 fewer than normal)

Heating degree days: 1870 (456 fewer than normal)
Cooling degree days: 2352 (219 more than normal)

Number of days with precipitation...
0.01" or greater: 110 (11 fewer than normal)
0.10" or greater:  71 (8 fewer than normal)
0.50" or greater:  33 (3 fewer than normal)
1.00" or greater:  15 (3 fewer than normal)

Thunderstorms occurred on 57 days.
No snow or sleet occurred.

Average wind speed: 7.7 MPH
Maximum 2-minute wind speed: 44 mph on January 9th (Severe thunderstorms)
Maximum 5-second wind gust: 73 mph on January 9th (Severe thunderstorms)

Notes: Fifth hottest year since temperature records began in Wilmington 
in 1874.

North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

     Avg Hi/Dep   Avg Lo/Dep   Avg T/Dep   Warmest   Coolest   Precip/Dep
JAN   57.1/+1.4    38.0/+1.3   47.6/+1.4   75/26th   20/21st   1.10/-1.91
FEB   61.2/+3.0    41.3/+1.7   51.3/+2.4   69/28th   31/8th    1.85/-1.33
MAR   69.3/+4.6    50.6/+5.2   60.0/+5.0   77/14th   39/19th   4.10/+0.51
APR   72.6/+0.8    55.4/+2.1   64.0/+1.5   83/20th   40/23rd   3.51/+0.74
MAY   80.8/+2.1    65.5/+3.4   73.1/+2.7   90/27th   56/11th   4.70/+1.74
JUN   86.8/+2.0    71.8/+1.5   79.3/+1.8   93/24th   55/1th    1.73/-2.34
JUL   87.6/+0.0    75.5/+1.8   81.6/+1.0   92/15th   68/29th   8.67/+3.27
AUG   85.1/-1.4    72.4/-0.1   78.7/-0.8   89/2nd    63/22nd  13.61/+7.36
SEP   82.0/-1.2    69.0/+1.3   75.5/+0.0   88/4th    57/10th   4.51/-2.14
OCT   76.7/+1.1    55.2/-1.1   66.0/+0.0   84/14th   40/18th   0.08/-4.12
NOV   70.3/+3.9    51.2/+5.6   60.8/+4.8   82/6th    27/30th   0.98/-2.31
DEC   59.2/-0.1    39.4/-0.6   49.3/-0.3   73/10th   20/7th    1.43/-1.67
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANN   74.1/+1.4    57.1/+1.9   65.6/+1.6   93        20       46.27/-2.20


Number of days with Temperatures...
90 degrees or higher:  12 (9 fewer than normal)
32 degrees or lower:   20 (14 fewer than normal)

Heating degree days: 1866 (477 fewer than normal)
Cooling degree days: 2203 (200 more than normal)

Number of days with precipitation...
0.01" or greater:  96 (26 fewer than normal)
0.10" or greater:  65 (6 fewer than normal)
0.50" or greater:  35 (4 more than normal)
1.00" or greater:  13 (exactly normal)

Thunderstorms occurred on 51 days.
No snow or sleet occurred.

Average wind speed: 7.9 MPH
Maximum 2-minute wind speed: 41 mph on  January 9th (Severe thunderstorms) 
Maximum 5-second wind gust: 63 mph on  January 9th (Severe thunderstorms) 

Notes: Fifth hottest year since Myrtle Beach temperature records began 
in 1931.

Florence, South Carolina

     Avg Hi/Dep   Avg Lo/Dep   Avg T/Dep   Warmest   Coolest   Precip/Dep
JAN   59.7/+2.6    36.0/+0.0   47.9/+1.3   82/26th   16/21st   2.74/-0.34
FEB   63.4/+2.6    38.6/+0.0   51.0/+1.3   78/28th   26/19th   1.85/-1.15
MAR   72.2/+3.9    47.5/+3.2   59.8/+3.5   84/31st   35/19th   4.60/+1.41
APR   78.0/+1.3    53.4/+1.3   65.7/+1.3   91/18th   36/23rd   2.11/-0.89
MAY   85.1/+1.6    63.1/+2.2   74.1/+1.9   93/28th   53/31st   5.60/+1.89
JUN   92.5/+3.3    68.7/-0.3   80.6/+1.5  101/24th   47/2nd    0.89/-3.72
JUL   93.5/+1.5    73.3/+0.9   83.4/+1.2  103/6th    65/2nd    7.76/+1.96
AUG   90.2/-0.1    71.4/+0.0   80.8/-0.1   99/29th   60/22nd  10.36/+5.50
SEP   85.8/+0.4    68.0/+2.2   76.9/+1.3   96/1st    54/10th   7.55/+3.02
OCT   79.3/+2.6    53.5/-0.8   66.4/+0.9   88/7th    40/18th   0.01/-3.41
NOV   70.8/+3.8    49.5/+6.0   60.2/+4.9   84/6th    25/30th   1.49/-1.14
DEC   60.4/+1.0    37.8/-0.5   49.1/+0.2   75/17th   18/7th    2.71/-0.76
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANN   77.6/+2.0    55.1/+1.2   66.3/+1.6  103        16       47.68/+2.38


Number of days with Temperatures...
90 degrees or higher:  85 (15 more than normal)
32 degrees or lower:   32 (8 fewer than normal)

Heating degree days: 1916 (418 fewer than normal)
Cooling degree days: 2500 (243 more than normal)

Number of days with precipitation...
0.01" or greater: 103 (8 fewer than normal)
0.10" or greater:  69 (4 fewer than normal)
0.50" or greater:  32 (2 more than normal)
1.00" or greater:  15 (3 more than normal)

Thunderstorms occurred on 51 days.
No snow or sleet occurred.

Average wind speed: 6.9 MPH
Maximum 2-minute wind speed: 39 mph on  January 9th (Severe thunderstorms) 
Maximum 5-second wind gust: 63 mph on  January 9th (Severe thunderstorms) 

Notes: Fourth hottest year on record since Florence temperature records began 
in 1948.

Lumberton, North Carolina

     Avg Hi/Dep   Avg Lo/Dep   Avg T/Dep   Warmest   Coolest   Precip/Dep
JAN   58.4/+3.8    36.0/+0.7   47.2/+2.3   79/26th   18/21st   3.49/+0.94
FEB   61.8/+3.2    38.3/+0.9   50.1/+2.1   77/28th   28/8th    1.98/-0.79
MAR   70.1/+4.3    45.6/+2.5   57.9/+3.4   82/31st   31/19th   4.09/+0.83
APR   77.0/+2.3    51.1/+0.4   64.0/+1.3   90/18th   36/23rd   1.77/-1.08
MAY   85.0/+2.5    62.6/+3.1   73.8/+2.8   93/28th   53/13th   5.53/+2.12
JUN   92.8/+4.0    67.7/-1.0   80.3/+1.5   99/26th   50/1st    0.90/-4.02
JUL   93.1/+2.1    73.3/+1.0   83.2/+1.6  103/15th   63/2nd    8.84/+4.23
AUG   89.1/+0.0    71.0/+0.1   80.0/+0.0   97/29th   59/22nd   8.00/+3.23
SEP   84.4/+0.2    67.4/+2.2   75.9/+1.4   94/1st    53/10th   5.33/+0.40
OCT   78.5/+2.6    51.2/-1.3   64.8/+0.6   88/5th    36/18th   0.61/-1.68
NOV   70.3/+4.4    47.7/+5.3   59.0/+4.9   85/6th    25/30th   1.06/-1.89
DEC   59.2/+1.7    37.6/+0.1   48.4/+0.9   74/10th   18/7th    2.40/-0.91
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANN   76.6/+2.5    54.1/+1.2   65.4/+1.9  103        18       44.00/+1.38


Number of days with Temperatures...
90 degrees or higher:  76 (9 more than normal)
32 degrees or lower:   33 (18 fewer than normal)

Heating degree days: 2120 (489 fewer than normal)
Cooling degree days: 2364 (277 more than normal)

Number of days with precipitation...
0.01" or greater:  98 (20 fewer than normal)
0.10" or greater:  70 (1 fewer than normal)
0.50" or greater:  26 (2 fewer than normal)
1.00" or greater:  14 (4 more than normal)

Thunderstorms occurred on 52 days.
No snow or sleet occurred.

Average wind speed: 6.1 MPH
Maximum 2-minute wind speed: 44 mph on  January 9th (Severe thunderstorms) 
Maximum 5-second wind gust: 62 mph on  January 9th (Severe thunderstorms) 

Notes: Tied with 1921 for the hottest year on record since Lumberton 
temperature records began in 1903.

2024 Temperature and Rainfall summary for Lumberton, NC

Research and Page Author: Tim Armstrong
Last Updated: January 2, 2025