Physical Features Chapter 2

Raleigh is located in the northeast region of NC on the bottom of the Great Smoky Mountains of the Appalachian Range. The location of Raleigh is to the north of the American Piedmont and the Atlantic Coastal Plain regions meet, that area is know as the “fall line” the reasons because where an upland region like the Smoky Mountains meets with the lower region, the Coastal Plain at which area waterfalls start to appear in rivers and creeks in that area. The result of Raleigh being in that area it main physical features is rolling hills that slope toward the east side of the state fall line.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Raleigh occupies a total area of 115.6 square miles of which 144.6 square miles re dry land and 1.0 square miles is covered by water.
Raleigh is in the subtropical climate with mostly moderate temperatures during the spring, fall and winter, and very hot summer time with high humidity. The weather in the winter during the day is low60's-mid/low 50's °F, and during the night it is in the 30’s °F, during that period Raleigh receives an average of about 7 inches of snow , it also gets freezing rain and sleet and some time experiences major ice storms.


The springs and fall are usually in low to mid 70’s °F during the day and with lows at 40’s-50’s °F at night, and summer time during the day it is in the upper 80 to low to mid 90’s °F.
That regions rainiest period is during the hurricane season in the Golf of Mexico during the month of July through August.