ENVIRONMENT
Fayetteville is located in the Coastal Plain at the foot of North
Carolina's Piedmont plateau. The City, located adjacent to the Cape
Fear River, is 107 feet above sea level. Elevations in the County range
from 40 to 486 feet above sea level.
CLIMATE
The climate of Cumberland County is comparable to other communities
in the Carolinas. Generally, these areas are known for their long,
pleasant spring and fall seasons; a short and mild winter season; and a
hot summer season.
It is not unusual for temperatures to reach 80 degrees during any
month of the year. Normally temperatures drop to the freezing point
only at isolated times during the months December through February.
Precipitation averages 42 inches a year. In spring and summer,
rainfall usually comes in the form of heavy showers, lasting for short
periods. In the fall and winter, rain tends to fall slowly and steadily
over 24 to 48 hours time spans. Normally, snow and sleet occur in trace
amounts, once or twice in a winter season and freezing rain is rare. An
accumulated total of snow or sleet during a winter season averages less
than 2 ½ inches.
ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS, BY MONTH
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Wind speed (mph) |
8.3 |
8.7 |
9.4 |
9.0 |
7.9 |
7.2 |
6.8 |
6.4 |
6.8 |
6.8 |
7.3 |
7.8 |
| Morning humidity (%) |
80 |
78 |
80 |
81 |
84 |
86 |
88 |
91 |
91 |
90 |
85 |
81 |
| Afternoon humidity (%) |
55 |
52 |
50 |
47 |
54 |
57 |
59 |
60 |
59 |
54 |
52 |
55 |
| Sunshine (%) |
52 |
56 |
61 |
64 |
61 |
61 |
61 |
59 |
59 |
61 |
58 |
54 |
| Days clear of clouds |
9 |
9 |
9 |
10 |
8 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
10 |
13 |
11 |
10 |
| Partly cloudy days |
7 |
6 |
7 |
9 |
10 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
9 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
| Cloudy days |
15 |
14 |
14 |
11 |
13 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
14 |
Based on data reported by main weather stations
www.city-data.com/city/Fort-Bragg-North-Carolina.html
www.nc-climate.ncsu.edu/cronos/normals.php?station=313017
PRECIPITATION, COOLING AND HEATING DEGREE DAYS, BY MONTH
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Normal Monthly Precipitation |
4.2 |
3.4 |
4.4 |
3.1 |
3.3 |
4.2 |
5.2 |
5.2 |
4.8 |
3 |
2.9 |
3.2 |
| Normal Cooling Degree Days |
0 |
0 |
1.7 |
12.8 |
76.7 |
186.7 |
266.1 |
235.6 |
137.2 |
34.4 |
5 |
0 |
| Normal Heating Degree Days |
401.1 |
320 |
228.9 |
93.9 |
21.1 |
1.1 |
0 |
0 |
3.9 |
92.2 |
207.2 |
351.1 |
TEMPERATURE, BY MONTH
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Normal Monthly Maximum Temperature |
52.3 °F |
56.1 °F |
64.2 °F |
73.3 °F |
80.2 °F |
87 °F |
90.4 °F |
88.5 °F |
83.3 °F |
73.9 °F |
65 °F |
55.5 °F |
| Normal Monthly Minimum Temperature |
31.1 °F |
32.8 °F |
39.4 °F |
47 °F |
56.2 °F |
65.2 °F |
70.4 °F |
68.9 °F |
62.6 °F |
49.4 °F |
40.7 °F |
33.8 °F |
| Normal Monthly Mean Temperatures |
41.7 °F |
44.5 °F |
51.8 °F |
60.2 °F |
68.2 °F |
76.1 °F |
80.4 °F |
78.7 °F |
73 °F |
61.7 °F |
52.9 °F |
44.7 °F |
| Highest Mean Temperature |
52.4 °F |
51.3 °F |
56.9 °F |
63.9 °F |
72.5 °F |
80.8 °F |
84.5 °F |
81.7 °F |
77.3 °F |
68.1 °F |
62.1 °F |
52.9 °F |
| Median Monthly Mean Temperature |
40.7 °F |
44.3 °F |
51.8 °F |
60.2 °F |
68.1 °F |
76.5 °F |
80.1 °F |
78.5 °F |
72.8 °F |
61.4 °F |
53.2 °F |
44.4 °F |
| Lowest Mean Temperature |
32.1 °F |
35.6 °F |
46.8 °F |
56.1 °F |
64.1 °F |
72 °F |
77.8 °F |
76.1 °F |
69.5 °F |
55.8 °F |
46.5 °F |
35.8 °F |
| Year of Highest Mean Temperature |
1974 |
1990 |
1997 |
1977 |
1991 |
1981 |
1993 |
1975 |
1980 |
1984 |
1985 |
1971 |
| Year of Lowest Mean Temperature |
1977 |
1978 |
1981 |
1983 |
1992 |
1979 |
2000 |
1981 |
1984 |
1987 |
1976 |
1989 |
The following chart shows the ranking of the 5 major air pollutants
montitored by the EPA. The chart shows the quantity of pollutant as a
percentage to the minimum allowed (before it is considered a serious
health risk) by the EPA. It is interesting to note that in the majority
of cases Ozone is the major pollutant facing most cities.
Sources: EPA - Air Quality Trends 2001
The 'Air Quality Index' score is based on data gathered from the
EPA, USGS, and local authorities. Although no city in the US ranked a
score of poor or worst, there is still a wide spectrum of air quality
index scores. Please note the score is only an estimate --- weather,
the seasons, and local conditions can radically affect the air quality
anytime during the year. Sources: EPA, USGS, and Synergos Technologies,
Inc. http://www.ersys.com/usa/37/3722920/air.htm
AIR QUALITY
Cumberland County joined other parties in signing the Early Action
Compact. The EAC is an agreement between the North Carolina Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR), local government and
organizations, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 4 (EPA) office. The EAC is intended to address the new 8-hour
ozone standard and how Cumberland County will attain this new standard.
Cumberland County was previously designated attainment for the 1-hour
ozone standard, however, when EPA set the new standard, Cumberland
County was in danger of becoming non-attainment for the 8-hour ozone
standard. This agreement is a commitment from Cumberland County to
reduce ground level ozone sooner than EPA regulates. While Cumberland
County has this agreement it is designated "non-attainment deferred".
Cumberland County submits a Bi-Annual Progress Report of its Early
Action Compact strategies to EPA and NCDENR every June and December.
These strategies include activities and accomplishments demonstrated by
all parts of the community, including local government and businesses.
Some examples of those strategies would be the organization of our Air
Quality Technical and Stakeholders committee which is composed of
citizens, local government officials, community leaders and
environmental personnel; the retrofitting of Diesel School Buses on
Fort Bragg; the revision of the Landscape Ordinance and the Enhance
Mass Transit System of Fayetteville Area System of Transit. Cumberland
County is continuously working to educate the community on air quality
and it's effect on health and economics. The county is creating a
curriculum which will run in Kidsville, a children's newspaper during
the school year and an environmental page which runs in the Up and
Coming weekly community newspaper, every other week.
Source: Cumberland County Planning & Inspections Department, www.co.cumberland.nc.us
SEISMIC ZONE
CLASS 1 - LOW PROBABILITY EARTHQUAKE ZONE
Fayetteville is identified as a Class 1 - Low Probability Earthquake
Zone. This classification is set by the USGS, and ranges from a Class 0
- Very Low Probability, to a Class 4 - Within Seismic Zone
HURRICANES
Limited Hurricane Experience
Although hurricanes can and do occur along the North Carolina coast, in
the last 50 years only 8 hurricanes have had an impact on Cumberland
County: Hazel - 1954, Connie - 1955, Ione - 1955, Gloria - 1985, Bob -
1991, Fran - 1996, Floyd - 1999 and Isabel - 2003. With Fayetteville
located approximately 90 miles from the closest point on the North
Carolina Coast, the effect of these storms on the city was mostly from
water damage due to heavy rains, with only a minimal loss of work days.
Peak Winds
The peak wind recorded in Fayetteville occurred during hurricane Fran
in the early morning of September 6, 1996. Wind velocity was recorded
at:
- Sustained Winds...55 kts, which is 63 mph
- Peak Gust...69 kts, which is 79.5 mph
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