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39 counties now in drought

Friday, July 30, 2010 12:00 AM | Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend |

Updated Monday, May 23, 2011 1:59 PM

RALEIGH – The number of North Carolina counties experiencing drought more than doubled this week, as the state continued to feel the impact of dry conditions and scorching temperatures.

This week’s map, released by the U.S. Drought Monitor and posted at www.ncdrought.org , shows that 39 counties are experiencing drought, including four northeastern counties, where severe drought has emerged. Severe drought is the second worst of the four-category drought ranking system.

Thursday’s map also shows that the number of counties in moderate drought — the least severe of the four categories — spread to Wake, Durham and Buncombe counties as well as counties bordering Tennessee, South Carolina and Virginia.

A total of 45 North Carolina counties are abnormally dry. Abnormally dry means that drought is not present but could return without sufficient rainfall.

The North Carolina counties in drought are in an agricultural drought because there is not enough soil moisture to meet the needs of crops, especially corn.

Thursday’s map does not take into account the impact rainfall from the past few days may have had on streamflows, reservoirs, lakes and groundwater. That information will be reflected in next week’s drought map.

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