Drought improves for much of North Carolina, but not all

The recent rainy trend continued in many parts of North Carolina last week, further improving drought conditions. However, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor report released on Thursday, parts of the state remain in severe to extreme drought.

Western Brunswick County is continuing to experience exceptional drought, which represents the worst drought condition. Because many reservoir and groundwater levels are still below normal, the public is encouraged to conserve water.

Some counties in the Foothills and southwestern Piedmont received 2 inches of rain or more last week, which removed those areas from the official designation of drought. Those areas improved to the Abnormally Dry classification, reflecting long-term dryness dating back to last fall. Heavy rain fell in parts of the southern Coastal Plain to improve drought conditions, with soil moisture and streamflows rising to near-normal levels.

“Overall, the past two weeks are a sign that even normal summertime rain showers are having a positive impact in keeping water levels from dropping and alleviating some of the drought's ongoing impacts,” said Corey Davis, Assistant State Climatologist at the NC State Climate Office at NC State University and a member of the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC). “In the past week, the heaviest rains hit some of the driest areas in the southern mountains and along the southern coastline. Those areas, along with parts of the northern Piedmont, still have a way to go to reduce longer-term rainfall deficits. Some lake and groundwater levels remain very low, but this is a sign that we're making a dent in the drought and slowly getting closer to normal in parts of the state.”

Areas including Charlotte, Salisbury, Hickory and Morganton are now officially out of drought. Every rain event this summer slowly saturated the soil, recharged streams and refilled reservoirs in these areas. Lake James, west of Morganton, is now at its normal summer target level, recovering from a 4-foot deficit earlier this year.

However, the latest map, which includes data from Aug. 4-11, still shows many areas experiencing drought conditions. Parts of Guilford, Rockingham, Caswell, Person and Granville counties in Central North Carolina and portions of Macon, Jackson and Transylvania counties in Western North Carolina continue to be in extreme drought, the second worst category. Part of Columbus County in southeastern North Carolina also is categorized as in extreme drought. More information on what the classifications mean for water systems and the public is available at ncdrought.org.   

Despite recent rains, some reservoir levels are still below average due to the year-long drought.  Falls Lake in Durham, Wake and Granville counties is nearly 2.7 feet below normal. In Durham County, Lake Michie is down 6.5 feet, and Little River Reservoir is 12.1 feet below normal. Tanasee Creek, Wolf Creek and Bear Creek lakes in western North Carolina, and Lake Norman and Lake Wylie in the Catawba basin remain below target elevations. Kerr Lake in Vance County is down 6.2 feet. 

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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