Northeast North Carolina is a region rich in agriculture, close-knit communities, and thriving wildlife. However, in terms of weather and climate, it is critically understudied. Understanding precipitation patterns within a specific region is important for decision making, especially in the agricultural and water resource management industries. Additionally, this region experiences saltwater intrusion, causing the rivers used for irrigation to become brackish. By identifying the seasonal patterns in precipitation, growers and agricultural consultants can better predict when a heavy rain event may occur to help flush out salts. Various modes of climate variability have been investigated in previous literature to understand what is driving the precipitation patterns in the greater southeastern United States, but what about Northeast North Carolina specifically? This study aimed to identify the teleconnection(s) with the strongest correlation to precipitation variability as well as document how that variability is distributed spatially across the region. The results of this study found that the Bermuda High Index and the El Niño-Southern Oscillation contributed the most to seasonal precipitation variability from 1981 to 2024. Additionally, this project identified the wet and dry spells that are experienced in the region seasonally. This analysis showed that the fall and summer exhibited the greatest frequency and severity of dry and wet spells, respectively. Spatial and temporal analyses aided in the identification of when, where, and how much it rains in the region. The results of this study provide useful information to support sustainable water usage and guide the development of climate mitigation plans.
Paige Strecker (2026) studied this question.