Last Updated on February 13, 2022 8:47 am
Abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions continue across the High Country at the midpoint of April. Avery and Watauga remains abnormally dry according to the April 13 report from the North Carolina Drought Advisory. Ashe County is still in moderate drought status, which has been the case since late February.
19 counties are in the abnormally dry classification, 35 in moderate drought, 7 in severe drought, 0 in extreme drought and exceptional drought.
For the contiguous 48 states, the U.S. Drought Monitor showed 8.17 percent of the area in moderate drought or worse, compared with 9.83 percent a week earlier.
Drought now affects 51,574,008 people, compared with 58,294,004 a week earlier.
For all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, the U.S. Drought Monitor showed 6.88 percent of the area in moderate drought or worse, compared with 8.26 percent a week earlier.
Drought now affects 51,695,084 people, compared with 58,370,191 a week earlier.
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 April 11, 2017 from the North Carolina Drought Management Council and USDA
