RALEIGH (AP) ó Tropical Storm Hanna appears to have helped some central North Carolina counties struggling with water shortages and drought.
A federal drought map released Thursday shows the areas where Hanna dumped its heaviest rainfall are in less severe drought categories or are considered only ěabnormally dry.î
Woody Yonts with the stateís Drought Management Advisory Council said Hanna provided many central and southern North Carolina counties some short-term help when it passed through Saturday. But he said itís too early to tell whether that rain will have a long-term impact.
Yonts noted that in August, Tropical Storm Fay dropped some much-needed rainfall on western North Carolina counties, but that those counties are still in extreme and severe drought