Lake Bistineau Climate
                                                          (and Record Floods)
                (an extension of the Lake Bistineau History Page. If you have comments please contact Joe Hinton at                                                                               jhinton@bayou.com

             Lake Bistineau is within a zone of humid subtropical climate.

                                                Prehistoric  Climate
Ice Age :

  During the latest Ice Age period which began about 1.6 million years ago and ended about 10,000 years ago, glacier ice extended over more than one-fourth of the earth's surface. One glacier covered Canada and extended south into the United States.

About 21000-14,500  B.C. :

  Climatic conditions at Lake Bistineau were considerably cooler than today.  A mixed deciduous forest existed in the area with as much as 10% of the forest composed of  Spruce

Between 14,500 and 10,500 B.C. :

  There was an increased availability of precipitation during the summer growing season

Between 10,500 and 6,500 B.C. :

  The mixed deciduous forest in the area were dominated by Hickory and Oak

 6,500-2000 B.C. :

   This was a period of warming and drying and by 3000 B.C. the hickories and oaks that earlier dominated the forest around Lake Bistineau gave way to the Southern Pines.

 Around 2000 B.C. :

  The warming and drying period ended with a slight cooling trend and increase in moisture and with minor fluctuations and a decrease in moisture between 1100-1300 A.D. the climate and forest found at the Lake today became prevalent.

                                                 Todays Climate

During the summer and early fall :

Prevailing winds from the south bring warm, humid air up from the Gulf of Mexico.
Temperatures rise above 90 degrees F on an average of 103 days per year.
Precipitation usually occurs in the form of widely scattered afternoon thunderstorms,
Tropical storms move up from the Gulf causing heavier rainfall on occasion.

During the winter and spring :

The area is fairly cold
Continental cold fronts move in from the north and displace the warm maritime air
Temperatures drop to 32 degrees F or below on an average of 43 days per year.

Over the Year :

Precipitation occurs on an average of two out of seven days per year
Precipitation, usually in the form of rain averages 48-50 inches per year



   This was a period of warming and drying and by 3000 B.C. the hickories and oaks that earlier dominated the forest around Lake Bistineau gave way to the Southern Pines.

 Around 2000 B.C. :

  The warming and drying period ended with a slight cooling trend and increase in moisture and with minor fluctuations and a decrease in moisture between 1100-1300 A.D. the climate and forest found at the Lake today became prevalent.

                                                 Todays Climate

During the summer and early fall :

Prevailing winds from the south bring warm, humid air up from the Gulf of Mexico.
Temperatures rise above 90 degrees F on an average of 103 days per year.
Precipitation usually occurs in the form of widely scattered afternoon thunderstorms,
Tropical storms move up from the Gulf causing heavier rainfall on occasion.

During the winter and spring :

The area is fairly cold
Continental cold fronts move in from the north and displace the warm maritime air
Temperatures drop to 32 degrees F or below on an average of 43 days per year.

Over the Year :

Precipitation occurs on an average of two out of seven days per year
Precipitation, usually in the form of rain averages 48-50 inches per year

 
Click Here for Historic Floods

RECORD DRY PERIODS: 
1921 - 46 days..October 3rd thru November 17th. 
1924 - 45 days..June 22nd thru August 5th
1956 - 44 days..December 4th thru January 16th
1924 - 41 days.. September 28th thru November 7th
1918 - 40 days.. June 27th thru August 5th
1969 - 40 days.. June 5th thru July 14th
2000 - 40 days.. July 32st thru September 8th


               Return to Page 1                       Return to Links        Return to Plants & Animals