North Carolina
Drought Management Advisory Council

Current Conditions

as of December 5, 2023 at 8am ET

US Drought Monitor of
North Carolina

Drought Classifications

D0 - Abnormally Dry
D1 - Moderate Drought
D2 - Severe Drought
D3 - Extreme Drought
D4 - Exceptional Drought

North Carolina Drought Advisory

The North Carolina Drought Advisory issued by the Drought Management Advisory Council has been updated to reflect drought conditions on December 5, 2023 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:

D3 - Extreme Drought

  • All water users are advised to follow their Water Shortage Response Plan (WSRP). An effective WSRP should adhere to the guidelines set forth by the water use rules during drought that became effective March 19, 2007. Water users without a written plan are advised to follow the applicable default water use reduction measures outlined in Section .0614 of the rules during extreme drought designations.
  • Stay informed on drought conditions and advisories (www.ncdrought.org).
  • Participate in regional and local coordination for the management of water resources.
  • Reduce socially and economically important water uses to ensure the availability of water for critical needs (e.g. firefighting, health and safety, etc.).
  • Revisit and/or explore, if not already accomplished, alternative water sources and reuse options.

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.

D3

  • Burke
  • Cherokee
  • Clay
  • Cleveland
  • Graham
  • Henderson
  • Jackson
  • Macon
  • McDowell
  • Polk
  • Rutherford
  • Swain
  • Transylvania

Total: 13

D2

  • Alexander
  • Alleghany
  • Anson
  • Ashe
  • Avery
  • Buncombe
  • Caldwell
  • Caswell
  • Catawba
  • Davidson
  • Davie
  • Forsyth
  • Gaston
  • Guilford
  • Haywood
  • Iredell
  • Lincoln
  • Mitchell
  • Rockingham
  • Rowan
  • Stanly
  • Stokes
  • Surry
  • Union
  • Vance
  • Warren
  • Watauga
  • Wilkes
  • Yadkin

Total: 29

D1

  • Alamance
  • Cabarrus
  • Camden
  • Chatham
  • Currituck
  • Durham
  • Franklin
  • Granville
  • Hoke
  • Lee
  • Madison
  • Mecklenburg
  • Montgomery
  • Moore
  • Onslow
  • Orange
  • Pasquotank
  • Pender
  • Perquimans
  • Person
  • Randolph
  • Richmond
  • Robeson
  • Scotland
  • Yancey

Total: 25

D0

  • Bladen
  • Brunswick
  • Chowan
  • Columbus
  • Cumberland
  • Dare
  • Duplin
  • Gates
  • Halifax
  • Harnett
  • Hyde
  • Johnston
  • Jones
  • Nash
  • New Hanover
  • Sampson
  • Tyrrell
  • Wake

Total: 18