Last Updated on June 11, 2026 6:41 pm
Exceptional Drought (D4) has returned to North Carolina after a two-week absence — this time in the Triangle region. Alamance, Durham, Granville, and Orange counties have reached the highest classification on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
In the High Country, conditions are unchanged from last week. Watauga, Ashe, and Wilkes counties remain in Extreme Drought (D3). Alleghany, Avery, and Caldwell counties remain in Severe Drought (D2).
Extreme Drought (D3) holds at 37 counties statewide, though the composition shifted as four counties moved up to D4 while Johnston County moved from D2 to D3.
The weekly update, put out by the North Carolina Drought Management Council, shows 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.
D4 – Exceptional Drought
- Alamance
- Durham
- Granville
- Orange
Total: 4
D3 – Extreme Drought
- Alexander
- Ashe
- Brunswick
- Cabarrus
- Caswell
- Chatham
- Cherokee
- Clay
- Columbus
- Davidson
- Davie
- Edgecombe
- Forsyth
- Franklin
- Graham
- Guilford
- Halifax
- Haywood
- Iredell
- Jackson
- Johnston
- Macon
- Nash
- Person
- Randolph
- Rockingham
- Rowan
- Stanly
- Stokes
- Swain
- Vance
- Wake
- Warren
- Watauga
- Wilkes
- Wilson
- Yadkin
Total: 37
D2 – Severe Drought
- Alleghany
- Anson
- Avery
- Beaufort
- Bertie
- Bladen
- Burke
- Caldwell
- Camden
- Carteret
- Catawba
- Chowan
- Cleveland
- Craven
- Cumberland
- Currituck
- Dare
- Duplin
- Gaston
- Greene
- Harnett
- Henderson
- Hertford
- Hoke
- Hyde
- Jones
- Lee
- Lenoir
- Lincoln
- Martin
- McDowell
- Mecklenburg
- Mitchell
- Montgomery
- Moore
- New Hanover
- Northampton
- Onslow
- Pamlico
- Pasquotank
- Pender
- Perquimans
- Pitt
- Polk
- Richmond
- Robeson
- Rutherford
- Sampson
- Scotland
- Surry
- Transylvania
- Tyrrell
- Union
- Washington
- Wayne
- Yancey
Total: 56
D1 – Moderate Drought
- Buncombe
- Gates
- Madison
Total: 3
Residents are strongly encouraged to continue water conservation efforts and stay informed about local drought conditions.
