Drought Status
Thursday’s federal drought map indicates that only Northampton County, in the northeastern part of the state, is under a severe drought for this week. Severe drought is the second category of the four drought categories. There are a total of 12 counties, also consolidated to the northeastern part of North Carolina, that are under moderate drought status. Moderate drought is the first category of drought.
Fifty-five counties are considered to be abnormally dry. Abnormally dry is not a drought category, but means these areas could go into moderate drought is dry conditions continue. The remaining 32 counties are under normal conditions for this time of the year.
Drought is determined based on a number of factors, including impacts to agriculture, water supplies, stream flows, and groundwater levels. An area cannot be considered under a drought without impacts. Right now, agriculture has been adversely impacted in some areas of the state due to the lack of rainfall, although water supplies remain adequate.
We still need to see regular rainfall for a longer period of time before drought and dry conditions improve.
For tips to save water go to www.savewaternc.org. For the full Drought Advisory, go to www.ncdrought.org.
For previous weeks' drought status maps, visit the Drought Management Advisory Council's Archives page. For a comparison with drought conditions last year, go to 2009-2010 Comparison of U.S. Drought Monitor.