GREENSBORO, NC -- While the Triad doesn't necessarily have a wet season and dry season like some parts of the United States, the summer months definitely receive more rain (on average) than any other season. Recently a viewer asked Chief Meteorologist Grant Gilmore to explain why it is that it rains more in the summer?
The simple answer might surprise you and that is because it is warmer. Air that is warmer is able to evaporate more water into the atmosphere. An air mass with more water vapor available to precipitate will naturally create more precipitation. While this is not the only reason, it is the primary reason for greater rainfall in the Triad during the summer months.
Weather patters during the summer in the Triad tend to draw more moisture up from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean which contributes to greater amounts of precipitation. This is in contrast to more of a northwesterly, colder and drier flow that can setup during the winter months.
Another contributing factor to greater Triad rainfall in the summer is the tropics. The Triad's third wettest month on average is September which coincides with the peak of hurricane season. While the Triad doesn't necessarily receive hurricanes or even tropical storms on a regular basis, even a tropical wave will bring heavy rainfall to the area.
THE TRIAD'S TOP 3 WETTEST MONTHS:
1) JULY -- 4.48"
2) SEPTEMBER -- 4.19"
3) AUGUST -- 3.88"
If you have a weather question that you'd like Chief Meteorologist Grant Gilmore to answer you can send it to him on twitter, facebook or email (ggilmore@wfmy.com).
