SECTION 3: PLANNING AREA PROFILE
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Wake County has a humid subtropical climate characterized by mild winters and hot humid summers with significant precipitation even during the driest month. The county experiences an average annual high temperature of 71.6°F and an average annual low of 49.9°F. Average annual rainfall is approximately 43.3 inches and average annual snowfall is 4.8 inches. Figure 3.2 shows the average monthly precipitation for the Raleigh Airport weather station, which approximates temperature and precipitation of the County. Figure 3.2 – Average Monthly Precipitation
Source: Northeast RCC CLIMOD 2.
As shown in the map of HUC-8 watersheds in Figure 3.3, most of Wake County falls within the Upper Neuse River watershed. Portions of the east and south of the county are in the Haw River watershed and the Upper Cape Fear River watershed, respectively; an area in the northeast of the county falls in the Contentnea Creek watershed. The Neuse River runs through the county from the northwest border to the southeast central border. Wetlands According to data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wetlands Inventory, there are approximately 49,944 acres of wetlands in the County. Wetlands areas are shown by type in Figure 3.4. Natural and Beneficial Wetland Functions: The benefits of wetlands are hard to overestimate. They provide critical habitat for many plant and animal species that could not survive in other habitats. They are also critical for water management as they absorb and store vast quantities of storm water, helping reduce floods and recharge aquifers. Not only do wetlands store water like sponges, they also filter and clean water as well, absorbing toxins and other pollutants. Parks, Preserve, and Conservation Wake County is home to three state parks: Falls Lake State Recreation Area, William B. Umstead State Park, and Jordan Lake State Recreation Area. There are also a number of county and municipal parks located throughout the jurisdictions, as well as several greenways that traverse the county and connect to surrounding regions.
Wake County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2019
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