Last Updated on July 30, 2026 9:29 am
North Carolina's drought showed its biggest single-week improvement since the crisis began, with eight counties reaching drought-free status for the first time since March. Extreme Drought (D3) dropped from 32 to just 11 counties, and Moderate Drought (D1) exploded from 7 to 40 counties as conditions rapidly improved across the state.
In the High Country, Alleghany, Avery, and Caldwell counties improved from Severe Drought (D2) to Moderate Drought (D1). Watauga, Ashe, and Wilkes counties remain in Severe Drought (D2).
Only Brunswick County remains in Exceptional Drought (D4), down from two last week. Rockingham County improved to D3.
Eight counties in the northeast and mountains are now completely drought-free: Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Madison, Pasquotank, and Perquimans. It is the first time any North Carolina county has been drought-free since the escalation began in March.
The weekly update, put out by the North Carolina Drought Management Council, shows 92 counties still experiencing some level of drought or abnormally dry conditions — down from all 100 last week.
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
- Macon
- Pender
- Person
- Rockingham
- Transylvania
- Vance
Total: 11
D2 – Severe Drought
- Alamance
- Anson
- Ashe
- Bladen
- Cherokee
- Clay
- Cumberland
- Duplin
- Forsyth
- Graham
- Greene
- Halifax
- Harnett
- Haywood
- Henderson
- Jones
- Lenoir
- Montgomery
- Orange
- Pitt
- Polk
- Richmond
- Robeson
- Sampson
- Scotland
- Stanly
- Stokes
- Surry
- Swain
- Union
- Warren
- Watauga
- Wayne
- Wilkes
- Yadkin
Total: 35
D1 – Moderate Drought
- Alexander
- Alleghany
- Avery
- Beaufort
- Bertie
- Buncombe
- Burke
- Cabarrus
- Caldwell
- Catawba
- Chatham
- Cleveland
- Craven
- Davidson
- Davie
- Durham
- Edgecombe
- Franklin
- Gaston
- Hertford
- Hoke
- Iredell
- Johnston
- Lee
- Lincoln
- Martin
- McDowell
- Mecklenburg
- Mitchell
- Moore
- Nash
- New Hanover
- Northampton
- Onslow
- Pamlico
- Randolph
- Rowan
- Rutherford
- Wake
- Wilson
Total: 40
D0 – Abnormally Dry
- Carteret
- Gates
- Tyrrell
- Washington
- Yancey
Total: 5
Residents are strongly encouraged to continue water conservation efforts and stay informed about local drought conditions.
