New Bern's beneficial rain slightly aided in the major rainfall deficit

With New Bern experiencing some extremely dry days, Wednesday's rain could not have came at a more beneficial time.

There was already a burn ban issued for the entire state on Nov. 29 because of the moderate drought, and was lifted Wednesday, Dec. 8 for Craven County.

"We really need this rain because we've been dry," said Erik Heden, meteorologist for National Weather Services in Newport. "We expect the rain itself is going to be beneficial."

The half to an inch of rain that was brought Wednesday will not be enough to make up for the low precipitation levels, but it is a start.

New Bern and surrounding areas are about six to eight inches below normal for rainfall in the last three months which is significant, Heden said.

The area usually gets about three inches of precipitation a month, so the deficit is a loss of about two months worth of rain.

"We would need a day like today (Wednesday) four or five more times," he said. "That's why it could take weeks. Unless we get a big nor'easter where we get multiple ends of rain."

After Wednesday, the next couple of days is expected to be dry and warm, Heden said. There will not be another rainy period for a while after today, even though it is necessary.

The temporary rain may not end the long term drought, but the short term positive impact will be more soil and vegetation will be wet.

"The upside is we're past the agricultural season," Heden said. "The impacts aren't bad as it would be if it was growing season."

The one thing Heden said they had to be cautious of was fire danger. The last couple of weeks had some windy days during the burn ban.

Heden said Wednesday's rainy weather will help diminish the fire danger for at least the next couple of days because of the wet ground.

This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: Beneficial rain on Wednesday for New Bern weather and moderate drought