Same was true in 2025; year-to-date rainfall slightly below average
By Carl Quintrell, weather correspondent
STANLEY — September ended as the driest month so far in 2026. It is interesting to note that last September was the driest month during 2025.
Rainfall for the month was 2.96 inches, or 1.12 inches below the average of 4.08 inches. The month of September had 12 days with measurable rain. The average number of days with rain during September is nine.
The total year-to-date rain is 30.75 inches, or 0.57 inches below average.
The driest September dates back to 1985, with only 0.32 inch of rain recorded. The wettest September was in 2003, with 14.15 inches of rain thanks to the remnants of Hurricane Isabel.
High temperatures for September were above average. The average mean temperature was 70.3 degrees, or 2.8 degrees above the 58-year average of 67.5 degrees. The average afternoon high temperature for the month was 79.5 degrees, or 1.3 degree above the average high of 78.2 degrees.
High temperatures for September climbed into the 90s on five days, the 80s on 11 days, the 70s on 10 days, the 60s on three days and only in the 50s on one day during the month. The high for the month was 95 degrees on Sept. 2.
The warmest September on record was in 1998, where the average afternoon high was 85.6 degrees with 11 days reaching the 90-degree mark or higher. The coolest September was in 2006, where the average afternoon high was only 73 degrees with no days above the 90-degree mark.
The average daily low temperature for the month was 61.0 degrees, or 4.2 degrees above the average low of 56.8 degrees. Low temperatures for September were down into the 40s on three days, the 50s on 11 days, the 60s on 14 days and into the 70s on two days during the month. The low for the month was 43 degrees on Sept. 25.
The peak wind gust for the month was 27 mph on Sept. 10.
Records broken during the month of September:
• Sept. 2 — high temperature of 95 degrees; previous record of 94 degrees in 1973.
• Sept. 10 — maximum low temperature of 73 degrees; previous record of 70 degrees in 2010.
Other statistics for the month:
• 14 clear to partly cloudy days (19 avg.)
• 16 cloudy to mostly cloudy days (11 avg.)
• 22 days with dew (22 avg.)
• Four days with fog (four avg.)
• Three days with a thundershower (two avg.)
For more local weather information,
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