Last Updated on February 17, 2023 9:29 am
The High Country continues to see small gains in the on going drought situation for 2016. Ashe, Avery and Watauga continue to remain in the moderate drought status for the second week in row, according to the latest report from the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council.
18 counties are in the abnormally dry status this week, 24 in moderate drought, 9 in severe drought, 6 in extreme drought and 0 in exceptional drought. Those numbers remain unchanged from last week.
Much of the sudden relief, for the area, has arrived in just the last 17 days. November 28-30 recorded 3.55 inches in Boone, while 2.15 inches fell from December 1 through December 13. By comparison from August 31 until November 27th, a three month span, only 5.78 inches had officially been recorded for Boone.
Drought categories are based on streamflow, groundwater levels, the amount of water stored in reservoirs, soil moisture, the time of year and other relevant factors for assessing the extent and severity of dry conditions.
Drought map December 13, 2016 from the North Carolina Drought Management Council and USDA
