Current Conditions
as of October 15, 2019 at 8am ET
US Drought Monitor of
North Carolina
- D0 - Abnormally Dry
- D1 - Moderate Drought
- D2 - Severe Drought
- D3 - Extreme Drought
- D4 - Exceptional Drought
Drought Classifications
S - Short-Term impacts, typically less than 6 months (e.g. agriculture, grasslands)
L - Long-Term impacts, typically greater than 6 months (e.g. hydrology, ecology)
The Current Drought Assessment was released on October 17, 2019.
North Carolina Drought Advisory
The North Carolina Drought Advisory issued by the Drought Management Advisory Council has been updated to reflect drought conditions on October 15, 2019 indicated on the weekly U.S. Drought Monitor of North Carolina.
Until further notice, the NC DMAC strongly urges the implementation of the following drought response actions - in addition to previous advisories - for all water users located in or dependent on water resources from the areas of the state experiencing the following drought conditions:
D2 - Severe Drought
- Implement Water Shortage Response Plans, if not already enacted.
- Stay informed on drought conditions and advisories (www.ncdrought.org).
- Participate, as appropriate, in regional and local coordination for the management of water resources.
- Reexamine water delivery systems to minimize water loss and maximize water use efficiency.
- Eliminate nonessential uses of water.
- Evaluate the feasibility of incorporating water reuse, reclamation and/or recycling into daily operations.
- Seek to reduce water usage by, at least, the same percentage as the percent differential between normal seasonal water supply availability and the actual water supply availability resulting from current drought conditions.
- Increase public awareness and educational outreach programs emphasizing the need to conserve water.
D1 - Moderate Drought
- Adhere to local water use restrictions.
- Participate, as appropriate, in regional and local coordination for the management of water resources.
- Stay informed on drought conditions and advisories (www.ncdrought.org).
- Project water needs and available water supply for a ninety day period from the issuance of this advisory.
- Assess your vulnerability to the drought conditions and adjust water usage to prolong available supply.
- Inspect water delivery system components (e.g. irrigation lines, fixtures, processing equipment, water system lines, etc.), repair leaks and ensure that existing equipment is operating as efficiently as possible.
- Minimize nonessential uses of water.
- Implement available public awareness and educational outreach programs emphasizing the need to conserve water.
D0 - Abnormally Dry
- Review and be prepared to implement your Water Shortage Response Plans at the appropriate time.
- Participate, as appropriate, in regional and local coordination for the management of water resources.
- Stay informed on drought conditions and advisories (www.ncdrought.org).
County Drought Classification
If the US Drought Monitor of NC shows more than one drought designation in a county, the drought intensity classification for each county published by the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council is the highest drought designation that applies to at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the land area of a county.
D2
- Alexander
- Caldwell
- Catawba
- Cherokee
- Clay
- Cleveland
- Davie
- Gaston
- Iredell
- Lincoln
- Macon
- Rowan
- Stokes
- Wilkes
- Yadkin
Total: 15
D1
- Alamance
- Alleghany
- Anson
- Ashe
- Avery
- Buncombe
- Burke
- Cabarrus
- Caswell
- Chatham
- Davidson
- Durham
- Edgecombe
- Forsyth
- Franklin
- Graham
- Granville
- Guilford
- Halifax
- Haywood
- Henderson
- Jackson
- Johnston
- Lee
- Madison
- McDowell
- Mecklenburg
- Mitchell
- Montgomery
- Moore
- Nash
- Northampton
- Orange
- Person
- Polk
- Randolph
- Richmond
- Rockingham
- Rutherford
- Scotland
- Stanly
- Surry
- Swain
- Transylvania
- Union
- Vance
- Wake
- Warren
- Watauga
- Wilson
- Yancey
Total: 51
D0
- Bertie
- Bladen
- Camden
- Chowan
- Cumberland
- Gates
- Greene
- Harnett
- Hertford
- Hoke
- Martin
- Pasquotank
- Perquimans
- Robeson
- Sampson
- Wayne
Total: 16