NORTH CAROLINA -- You may not have to water the lawn very often this summer. The long range outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for June through August is for wetter than normal conditions in much of the eastern United States including North Carolina.

• Wetter than normal weather predicted for summer.
• Parts of western NC have seen more than 13 inches of rain.
• Coastal areas have received more than 14 inches.

That would be a continuation of wet pattern that began here in the Carolinas this spring. With recent rains, many locations in the state are well above average for rainfall for May and for the year.

Western North Carolina has been one of the wettest parts of the state in recent weeks. Asheville has seen over 13 inches of rain in May, which is almost ten inches above average for the month. The city is just over a foot of rain above normal for the year. The excessive rain in the mountains over the last couple of weeks has led to mudslides and washed out roads in some locations.

Some parts of coastal North Carolina have seen even more rain than Asheville this year. Wilmington is experiencing the wettest year to date on record for the Port City. With over 14 inches of rain in May, the city is about 10 inches above normal for May and around 13 inches above normal for the year.

Fortunately, there could still be periods of dry weather even in a summer that ends up wetter than average. Many residents near the mountains are hoping one of those dry periods comes soon to allow the recent flood waters to recede. If a stretch of dry weather does not arrive soon, flooding concerns may continue into summer.