Brunswick County remains in exceptional drought as dry conditions persist across North Carolina
RALEIGH, N.C. (WWAY) — Nine North Carolina counties, including Brunswick County, remain in exceptional drought, the most severe classification, despite recent rainfall in parts of the state.
According to the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council’s latest update, 46 counties are in extreme drought, 31 are in severe drought and 14 are experiencing moderate drought.
State officials said localized heavy rainfall helped reduce irrigation demand in some areas but did not significantly improve overall drought conditions because many reservoirs, groundwater supplies and soil moisture levels remain below normal.
“To substantially improve our drinking water supplies, it has to rain upstream of the reservoirs,” said Linwood Peele, supervisor of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Water Supply Planning Branch.
The state said Wilmington has received more than 23 inches less rainfall than normal for this point in the year, while streamflow and groundwater levels remain below normal or at record lows in parts of North Carolina.
Officials are urging water systems in counties experiencing exceptional or extreme drought to follow their water shortage response plans. Residents are encouraged to check with their local water provider for any water use restrictions and to conserve water whenever possible.
The North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council updates the state’s drought map each Thursday based on conditions through the previous Tuesday.
