Last Updated on April 2, 2026 11:34 am
In the latest drought update for North Carolina, conditions have worsened significantly across the state, with Extreme Drought more than doubling to 15 counties and Severe Drought expanding to 79 counties.
In the High Country, Watauga, Ashe, Avery, Alleghany, and Caldwell counties are all now in Severe Drought (D2) status — with Alleghany and Caldwell worsening from Moderate Drought last week. Wilkes County also remains in D2.
The biggest change this week is in the western mountains, where eight counties jumped from Severe to Extreme Drought (D3), including Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, and Swain. Mecklenburg and Rowan counties in the Charlotte metro also moved to D3.
The weekly update, put out by the North Carolina Drought Management Council, shows a significant and widespread drought situation across North Carolina, with all 100 counties experiencing some level of drought.
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.
D3 – Extreme Drought
- Anson
- Cabarrus
- Cherokee
- Clay
- Edgecombe
- Graham
- Halifax
- Jackson
- Macon
- Mecklenburg
- Nash
- Rowan
- Stanly
- Swain
- Union
Total: 15
D2 – Severe Drought
- Alamance
- Alexander
- Alleghany
- Ashe
- Avery
- Beaufort
- Bertie
- Bladen
- Brunswick
- Buncombe
- Burke
- Caldwell
- Carteret
- Caswell
- Catawba
- Chatham
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Craven
- Cumberland
- Dare
- Davidson
- Davie
- Duplin
- Durham
- Forsyth
- Franklin
- Gaston
- Granville
- Greene
- Guilford
- Harnett
- Haywood
- Henderson
- Hertford
- Hoke
- Hyde
- Iredell
- Johnston
- Jones
- Lee
- Lenoir
- Lincoln
- Madison
- Martin
- McDowell
- Mitchell
- Montgomery
- Moore
- New Hanover
- Northampton
- Onslow
- Orange
- Pamlico
- Pender
- Person
- Pitt
- Polk
- Randolph
- Richmond
- Robeson
- Rockingham
- Rutherford
- Sampson
- Scotland
- Stokes
- Surry
- Transylvania
- Tyrrell
- Vance
- Wake
- Warren
- Washington
- Watauga
- Wayne
- Wilkes
- Wilson
- Yadkin
- Yancey
Total: 79
D1 – Moderate Drought
- Camden
- Chowan
- Currituck
- Gates
- Pasquotank
- Perquimans
Total: 6
Residents are strongly encouraged to continue water conservation efforts and stay informed about local drought conditions.
