CLIMATES 



The climatic regime, like the landform, differs widely from one part of 

 the study area to another. The northeastern portion is the coldest. The low- 

 est midwinter temperatures along the coast of North Carolina are on the order 

 of 20°F (-7°C) and the average daily maximum during midsummer along the extreme 

 southern coast is only 86 °F (30°C), some 6°F less than is usually recorded in 

 the interior. July is the wettest month and October the driest. Along the 

 coast, snow and sleet usually fall only once or twice a year and are usually 

 associated with northeasterly winds. Prevailing winds in North Carolina blow 

 from the southwest most of the year and from the northeast in September and Oct- 

 ober (Hardy 1974). The weather along the coast of South Carolina is similar to 

 that in North Carolina with some variation. Average annual temperatures along 

 the South Carolina coast are about 68°F (20°C), with an average daily maximum 

 in July of 88°F (31°C) and average daily rainimums in January from 35°F (1.7°C) 

 in the northeast to 42 °F (6°C) in the southeast. March is particularly rainy 

 along the coast, and October and November are the driest months. Prevailing 

 winds in South Carolina are from the southwest and south in spring and summer, 

 predominantly from the northeast in autumn, and from the northeast and southwest 

 in winter (Landers 1974). 



The climate in Georgia is characterized by short mild winters and warm hu- 

 mid summers. The coastal area becomes progressively drier and warmer from north 

 to south. Peak periods of precipitation occur in winter and early spring; the 

 average annual rainfall ranges from 75 in (190 cm) in the extreme northeastern 

 part of the state to 53 in (135 cm) along the lower east coast. Average summer 

 temperatures range from 73 °F (23 °C) in the extreme north to 82 °F (28 °C) in parts 

 of south Georgia; average temperature for the three winter months ranges from 

 41 °F (5°C) in the north to 56°F (13°C) on the lower east coast. Areas in north- 

 ern Georgia have freezing temperatures during the day for almost a third of the 

 year but the lower coast only has about ten days of freezing temperatures annu- 

 ally (Carter 1974). 



Florida has a wider range of climate than any other state in the southeast . 

 The climate ranges from temperate to subtropical in the north, to tropical in 

 the Florida Keys. Summers are warm, humid, and long, and winters are mild and 

 brief. Rainfall is abundant, especially from June to September. Mean annual 

 temperatures range from the upper 60 ' s (F) in northern Florida to the mid-70' s 

 in the south and reach nearly 78°F (26°C) at Key West. Rainfall varies widely 

 from area to area and from year to year, with most areas usually receiving be- 

 tween 50-65 in (127-165 cm). The drier Keys have an average annual rainfall of 

 only about 40 in (100 cm). On the southern part of the peninsula, prevailing 

 winds are from the southeast and east; elsewhere they are more erratic but tend 

 to be from the north in winter and from the south in summer. Tropical storms 

 frequently cause great damage; few years pass without a hurricane affecting part 

 of the state (Bradley 1974). 



The Gulf has a maritime tropical climate with mean winter temperatures of 

 about 70°F (21 °C) and mean summer temperatures of 84°F (29°C). Relative to sea- 

 sons in other parts of the study area, both summer and winter are hot and humid; 

 humidity is greatest during spring and summer and lowest during late fall and 

 winter (BLM 1978a). Rain occurs fairly evenly throughout the year along the 



