Drought Monitor Update – Thursday, August 22, 2024

Last Updated on August 22, 2024 12:44 pm

In the latest drought update for North Carolina conditions continue to be much improved across the state but the High Country continues to be classified in drought status.

A majority of Watauga, Ashe, and Avery continue in abnormally dry status this week.

The weekly update, put out by the North Carolina Drought Management Council, shows zero counties in the Extreme Drought status, zero counties in the Severe Drought category, 0 counties in Moderate Drought, and 16 in Abnormally Dry status which is down from 48 three weeks ago.

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.

D0 – Abnormally Dry

• Ashe
• Avery
• Burke
• Caldwell
• Cherokee
• Clay
• Graham
• Haywood
• Henderson
• Jackson
• Macon
• McDowell
• Swain
• Transylvania
• Watauga
• Wilkes

Total: 16