Most of North Carolina remains in severe or extreme drought despite recent rainfall

RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — Recent rainfall improved drought conditions in parts of North Carolina, but most of the state remains in severe or extreme drought, according to the N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council.

Officials said the exceptional drought classification has now been removed.

“The weekend rains were beneficial in much of the state,” said Klaus Albertin, chair of the Drought Management Advisory Council. “For the first time in months, we actually saw the rainfall deficits drop a little.”

Albertin said soil moisture and stream flows increased in the short term following the rain, while the drop in reservoir levels slowed. However, he noted that water demand continues to exceed inflows for many water supplies.

The southern Piedmont and western portions of the state received the heaviest rainfall, with some areas improving by one drought category. Rain gauges near Asheville recorded nearly 8 inches of rain during the week ending Wednesday, according to the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

Albertin said the northern Piedmont, including the drainage areas for Falls Lake and Jordan Lake, received below-normal rainfall totals.

“We are hopeful that the recent rains are an indication that the dry pattern we experienced since last August is shifting towards a more typical pattern for North Carolina,” Albertin said.

Despite the rainfall, officials said reservoir levels, streamflows and other drought indicators remain well below normal across much of the state.

According to the N.C. State Climate Office, rainfall totals since August remain about 18 inches below average in both Boone and Raleigh. The Raleigh area also recorded its driest six-month period on record, based on data from the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

Groundwater levels across many parts of the state are also near record lows, according to North Carolina’s monitoring well network, with some records dating back to 1965.

Officials encourage residents to check with their local water systems for any water restrictions currently in place.

The Drought Management Advisory Council is made up of drought experts from government agencies in North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina. The group meets weekly and provides recommendations used to update the U.S. Drought Monitor.

North Carolina’s updated drought map is released every Thursday