Last Updated on June 25, 2026 1:19 pm
North Carolina's drought held mostly steady this week, with Exceptional Drought (D4) unchanged at 10 counties and Extreme Drought (D3) dipping slightly from 42 to 40 counties.
Cherokee and Cumberland counties improved from D3 to Severe Drought (D2) this week, the only notable changes statewide.
In the High Country, conditions are unchanged. Watauga, Ashe, and Wilkes counties remain in Extreme Drought (D3). Alleghany, Avery, and Caldwell counties remain in Severe Drought (D2).
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
- Caswell
- Durham
- Franklin
- Granville
- Guilford
- Orange
- Person
- Rockingham
- Wake
Total: 10
D3 – Extreme Drought
- Alexander
- Anson
- Ashe
- Bertie
- Brunswick
- Cabarrus
- Chatham
- Columbus
- Davidson
- Davie
- Edgecombe
- Forsyth
- Graham
- Greene
- Halifax
- Haywood
- Iredell
- Jackson
- Johnston
- Lee
- Lenoir
- Macon
- Martin
- Montgomery
- Nash
- Northampton
- Pitt
- Randolph
- Richmond
- Rowan
- Scotland
- Stanly
- Stokes
- Swain
- Vance
- Warren
- Watauga
- Wilkes
- Wilson
- Yadkin
Total: 40
D2 – Severe Drought
- Alleghany
- Avery
- Beaufort
- Bladen
- Burke
- Caldwell
- Camden
- Carteret
- Catawba
- Cherokee
- Chowan
- Clay
- Cleveland
- Craven
- Cumberland
- Currituck
- Dare
- Duplin
- Gaston
- Gates
- Harnett
- Henderson
- Hertford
- Hoke
- Hyde
- Jones
- Lincoln
- McDowell
- Mecklenburg
- Mitchell
- Moore
- New Hanover
- Onslow
- Pamlico
- Pasquotank
- Pender
- Perquimans
- Polk
- Robeson
- Rutherford
- Sampson
- Surry
- Transylvania
- Tyrrell
- Union
- Washington
- Wayne
- Yancey
Total: 48
D1 – Moderate Drought
- Buncombe
- Madison
Total: 2
Residents are strongly encouraged to continue water conservation efforts and stay informed about local drought conditions.
