North Carolina drought improves in some areas, but persists for most of the state
Almost all of North Carolina received some rain the past week, easing the year-long drought in a few areas. But most of the state remains in drought conditions, with several counties stuck in a stubborn extreme or exceptional drought, the two worst categories, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor report released on Thursday. Because many reservoirs and groundwater levels are still below normal in these areas, the public is encouraged to conserve water.
The northern Piedmont in the Roanoke River Basin continued its dry spell. Parts of Guilford, Rockingham, Caswell, Person and Granville counties remain in extreme drought, the second worst category, according to the latest drought map, which includes data from Aug. 18-25. Western Warren County received up to 2 inches of rain, but the eastern part of the county, along with Halifax County, saw as a little as 0.1 inch and are classified as in extreme drought. Kerr Lake in Vance, Granville and Warren counties dropped another foot during the week, and officials with the John H. Kerr Dam & Reservoir along the Virginia state line expect to reduce power generation due to the lake’s low level.
Some areas on the southern coast recorded 2 to 8 inches of rain during the week, improving drought conditions in many counties. Part of Brunswick County, however, still remains in exceptional drought. The town of Longwood, in the southcentral part of the county, is experiencing its driest period on record over the past six months.
“The forecast for the southern coast is for above normal rain starting Friday, so those areas should continue to improve,” said Klaus Albertin, chair of the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council and Water Resources Engineer with the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources. “But looking ahead, the forecast for the entire state is for a hot, dry week or two. Conditions are improving, but as we have been saying, the drought isn’t over yet.”
The severe drought in parts of Western North Carolina continued to improve. As much as 4.9 inches of rain fell in the region, and parts of Transylvania County improved from severe to moderate drought, the second worst category. But streamflow and groundwater levels in parts of the county remain below normal or much below normal. Streamflow on the French Broad River at Rosman increased to its normal range.
Levels in streams and reservoirs in the central part of the state held fairly steady due to the near normal rainfall. Streamflows at locations in the Upper Cape Fear, Neuse and Tar-Pamlico river basins returned to the well-below-normal category. A few, such as Brush Creek at Muirfield Road in Guilford County and Little Fishing Creek near White Oak, are at record lows. The level of Falls Lake in Durham, Wake and Granville counties, which had increased due to heavy rains in July, continues to decline. Levels improved in Tanasee Creek, Wolf Creek and Bear Creek lakes in western North Carolina. Lake Norman and Lake Wylie in the Catawba River Basin remain below target elevations. More information on what the classifications mean for water systems and the public is available at ncdrought.org.
For counties in exceptional or extreme drought, water systems are advised to follow their Water Shortage Response Plans and adhere to water use reduction measures. Systems in these areas must report weekly water use and conservation status online at the Water Use Reporting website.
Residents can check with their local water supply system for information on water use restrictions such as limits on lawn watering, car washing, or other measures. Systems may also have tips for conserving water, such as washing only full loads of laundry.
Tips for Homeowners
- Check your local water system’s conservation status, and follow any conservation measures or restrictions.
- At homes with private wells, watch for the pump cycling when no water is being used or tap water that looks muddy, as these can be signs the well is running low. DEQ's Drought Indicator Wells can provide insights into local groundwater conditions.
- Limit outdoor watering to before 10 a.m. to reduce evaporation.
- Fix leaky faucets or toilets and wait until dishwashers and washing machines are full before running them to save both water and money on utility bills.
- Use dishwashers rather than washing by hand. Dishwashers are more energy- and water-efficient, and they typically don’t need dishes to be heavily pre-rinsed.
- Use a broom instead of a hose to clean sidewalks and driveways.
- Hold off on washing your car until the drought eases or visit a commercial car wash that recycles and treats its water.
About the Drought Management Advisory Council
North Carolina maintains one of the most comprehensive state level drought monitoring efforts in the United States. Each week, the DMAC, a multiagency group of drought experts from various government agencies in North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina, evaluates a wide range of environmental, hydrological, and agricultural indicators to produce the state’s official drought assessment and recommendations to the U.S. Drought Monitor. DMAC is chaired by DEQ’s Division of Water Resources.
DMAC members meet weekly and submit their drought condition recommendations to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the National Drought Mitigation Center for updates to the U.S. Drought Monitor, a map of the nation’s drought conditions. DMAC’s drought map is updated weekly on Thursdays, based on conditions through the previous Tuesday. To view North Carolina’s drought map, visit www.ncdrought.org.
To learn more, visit DEQ’s drought education page.
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