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Rainfall Still Up for Year-to-Date at Grandfather Mountain; 4.56 inches, 12 percent Above Average

Sept. 5, 2012. Rainfall for the year-to-date continues to be up according to the weather station at the top of Grandfather Mountain. Rain for the year-to-date is 41.76 inches, which is 4.56 inches (or 12 percent) above the norm for this time of the year. The rainfall reading for this month was down slightly. The rainfall total of 5.55 inches of rain was 0.23 inches, or four percent, below the 57-year average rainfall total for August 5.78 inches. Rain fell 13 days during the month.

Grandfather Mountain measures precipitation at multiple locations on the Mountain. An automatic weighing precipitation gauge on the corner of the Top Shop parking lot recorded 6.42 inches of liquid precipitation this month. Entrance Gate employees recorded 6.16 inches of rain for the month and the naturalist staff recorded 7.85 inches at the weather equipment near the Fudge Shop.

The automatic weather station at the top of Grandfather Mountain recorded the average high temperature for the month as 66.9 degrees and the average low temperature as 55.3 degrees. These numbers read a few degrees higher than the State Climate Office data from Mt. Mitchell State Park. The average high temperature at Mt. Mitchell was 65.1 degrees and the average low temperature was 52.8 degrees.

The highest three-second gust during the month was 46.11 mph recorded August 16. Grandfather Mountain observed fog during four days this month.

For more information on Grandfather Mountain’s weather data or to access current conditions visit www.grandfather.com.