Last Updated on February 26, 2026 11:53 am
In the latest drought update for North Carolina, severe drought conditions continue to grip much of the state, with Extreme Drought now affecting seven counties and Severe Drought covering 80 counties.
In the High Country, Watauga, Ashe, and Avery counties are all in Severe Drought (D2) status.
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
- Cabarrus
- Edgecombe
- Halifax
- Nash
- Northampton
- Stanly
- Union
Total: 7
D2 – Severe Drought
- Alamance
- Alexander
- Anson
- Ashe
- Avery
- Beaufort
- Bertie
- Bladen
- Brunswick
- Buncombe
- Burke
- Caldwell
- Caswell
- Catawba
- Chatham
- Cherokee
- Clay
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Craven
- Cumberland
- Davidson
- Davie
- Duplin
- Durham
- Forsyth
- Franklin
- Gaston
- Graham
- Granville
- Greene
- Guilford
- Harnett
- Haywood
- Henderson
- Hertford
- Hoke
- Iredell
- Jackson
- Johnston
- Jones
- Lee
- Lenoir
- Lincoln
- Macon
- Madison
- Martin
- McDowell
- Mecklenburg
- Mitchell
- Montgomery
- Moore
- New Hanover
- Onslow
- Orange
- Pender
- Person
- Pitt
- Polk
- Randolph
- Richmond
- Robeson
- Rockingham
- Rowan
- Rutherford
- Sampson
- Scotland
- Stokes
- Swain
- Transylvania
- Vance
- Wake
- Warren
- Washington
- Watauga
- Wayne
- Wilkes
- Wilson
- Yadkin
- Yancey
Total: 80
D1 – Moderate Drought
- Alleghany
- Camden
- Carteret
- Chowan
- Currituck
- Dare
- Gates
- Hyde
- Pamlico
- Pasquotank
- Perquimans
- Surry
- Tyrrell
Total: 13
Residents are strongly encouraged to continue water conservation efforts and stay informed about local drought conditions.
