Extreme drought expands in North Carolina
Drought conditions continue to increase in severity across North Carolina. Thirty counties are now experiencing extreme drought, and most counties are experiencing severe or moderate drought, according to the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council.
For counties in extreme drought, water systems are advised to follow their Water Shortage Response Plan and adhere to water use reduction measures.
They must report weekly water use and conservation status online through the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources' Local Water Supply Plan website.
The public should check with their local water supply system for any information on water use restrictions that might be in place. The N.C. Forest Service’s ban on all open burning remains in effect until further notice.
Based on data from the Southeast Regional Climate Center, many rain gage stations in the state are reporting their top five lowest rainfall amounts since the beginning of the year. A rainfall station at Raleigh-Durham International Airport recorded the lowest rainfall total, year-to-date, on Wednesday across a 140-year period. Many streams and rivers are at all-time low levels, according to U.S. Geological Survey data.
