Last Updated on August 27, 2026 11:03 am
Avery County has become the first High Country county to exit drought entirely, improving from Abnormally Dry (D0) to drought-free status this week. Burke, Mitchell, and Rutherford counties also moved to drought-free, bringing the statewide total to 17 counties with no drought classification — up from 13 last week.
In the High Country, Caldwell County remains in Abnormally Dry (D0). Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, and Wilkes counties remain in Moderate Drought (D1).
Halifax County was the only county to worsen this week, moving from Severe Drought (D2) to Extreme Drought (D3). Extreme Drought (D3) ticked up from 6 to 7 counties. Severe Drought (D2) dropped from 21 to 18.
The weekly update, put out by the North Carolina Drought Management Council, shows 83 counties still experiencing some level of drought or abnormally dry conditions — down from 100 counties six 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.
D3 – Extreme Drought
- Brunswick
- Caswell
- Guilford
- Halifax
- Person
- Rockingham
- Warren
Total: 7
D2 – Severe Drought
- Alamance
- Bladen
- Columbus
- Duplin
- Edgecombe
- Forsyth
- Granville
- Greene
- Lenoir
- Macon
- Nash
- Northampton
- Orange
- Robeson
- Stokes
- Transylvania
- Vance
- Yadkin
Total: 18
D1 – Moderate Drought
- Alexander
- Alleghany
- Anson
- Ashe
- Cabarrus
- Chatham
- Clay
- Craven
- Cumberland
- Davidson
- Davie
- Durham
- Franklin
- Harnett
- Haywood
- Henderson
- Hoke
- Iredell
- Jackson
- Johnston
- Jones
- Lee
- Martin
- Montgomery
- Moore
- Onslow
- Pender
- Pitt
- Randolph
- Richmond
- Sampson
- Scotland
- Stanly
- Surry
- Swain
- Union
- Wake
- Watauga
- Wayne
- Wilkes
- Wilson
Total: 41
D0 – Abnormally Dry
- Beaufort
- Bertie
- Caldwell
- Carteret
- Catawba
- Cherokee
- Cleveland
- Gaston
- Gates
- Graham
- Hertford
- Lincoln
- Mecklenburg
- New Hanover
- Pamlico
- Polk
- Rowan
Total: 17
Residents are strongly encouraged to continue water conservation efforts and stay informed about local drought conditions.
