99 of North Carolina's 100 counties are experiencing drought
According to a news release from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, 99 of the state's 100 counties are experiencing drought.
The North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council stated that five counties in Eastern North Carolina are experiencing severe drought conditions. Those counties are Carteret, Onslow, Jones and Pamlico.
“The good news is that these persistent drought and dry conditions have occurred over the winter, when water demands are lower,” said Klaus Albertin, chair of the DMAC. “Farmers have seen some pasture and winter grain impacts, but it’s not the main growing season, so impacts were limited. Water supply reservoirs have been able to manage their levels and are at targets for this time of year. The deficits could set up a challenging spring if the pattern doesn’t change.”
North Carolina has been experiencing drought conditions since mid-October 2024. According to data from the National Centers for Environmental Information for the period of October 2024 through February 2025, the state had a precipitation deficit of 6.64 inches. The next report is scheduled to be released on Tuesday April 8, 2025 at 11 a.m.
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Drought, abnormally dry conditions continue in North Carolina
In the latest advisory, the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council classified five counties in Eastern North Carolina as experiencing severe drought, or D2 conditions: Carteret, Craven, Jones, Onslow and Pamlico counties. Fifty-eight counties are classified as experiencing moderate drought, or D1 conditions. Another 36 counties are classified as abnormally dry.
Climate at a Glance | Statewide Mapping | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)
Historical and spatial comparisons of local, county, state, regional, national, and global meteorological data to determine trends and patterns
NCEI.Monitoring.Infonoaa.gov
