Last Updated on August 6, 2026 9:27 am
North Carolina's drought continued to improve this week, with Severe Drought (D2) dropping from 35 to 23 counties and the number of drought-free counties growing from 8 to 10.
In the High Country, Watauga and Ashe counties improved from Severe Drought (D2) to Moderate Drought (D1). Five of the six High Country counties are now at D1: Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Avery, and Caldwell. Wilkes County remains the only one at Severe Drought (D2).
Brunswick County remains the only county in Exceptional Drought (D4). Extreme Drought (D3) dipped from 11 to 9 counties. Ten counties are now completely drought-free — up from zero as recently as mid-July.
The weekly update, put out by the North Carolina Drought Management Council, shows 90 counties still experiencing some level of drought or abnormally dry conditions.
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.
D4 – Exceptional Drought
- Brunswick
Total: 1
D3 – Extreme Drought
- Caswell
- Columbus
- Granville
- Guilford
- Jackson
- Person
- Rockingham
- Transylvania
- Vance
Total: 9
D2 – Severe Drought
- Alamance
- Anson
- Bladen
- Cumberland
- Duplin
- Forsyth
- Halifax
- Haywood
- Jones
- Lenoir
- Macon
- Montgomery
- Orange
- Pender
- Robeson
- Sampson
- Stanly
- Stokes
- Swain
- Union
- Warren
- Wilkes
- Yadkin
Total: 23
D1 – Moderate Drought
- Alexander
- Alleghany
- Ashe
- Avery
- Buncombe
- Burke
- Cabarrus
- Caldwell
- Catawba
- Chatham
- Cherokee
- Clay
- Cleveland
- Craven
- Davidson
- Davie
- Durham
- Edgecombe
- Franklin
- Graham
- Greene
- Harnett
- Henderson
- Hoke
- Iredell
- Johnston
- Lee
- Lincoln
- Martin
- McDowell
- Mecklenburg
- Mitchell
- Moore
- Nash
- New Hanover
- Northampton
- Onslow
- Pitt
- Polk
- Randolph
- Richmond
- Rowan
- Rutherford
- Scotland
- Surry
- Wake
- Watauga
- Wayne
- Wilson
Total: 49
D0 – Abnormally Dry
- Beaufort
- Bertie
- Carteret
- Gaston
- Gates
- Hertford
- Pamlico
- Yancey
Total: 8
Residents are strongly encouraged to continue water conservation efforts and stay informed about local drought conditions.
