| 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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