Last Updated on June 4, 2026 11:05 am
North Carolina's drought continues to ease for the second straight week, with Extreme Drought (D3) dropping to 37 counties — down from a peak of 67 three weeks ago.
In the High Country, Avery and Caldwell counties improved from Extreme Drought (D3) to Severe Drought (D2) this week. Watauga, Ashe, and Wilkes counties remain in Extreme Drought (D3). Alleghany remains in Severe Drought (D2).
Buncombe County — home to Asheville — dropped from Severe Drought (D2) to Moderate Drought (D1), the biggest single-week improvement in the state. Madison County also moved to D1.
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.
D3 – Extreme Drought
- Alamance
- Alexander
- Ashe
- Brunswick
- Cabarrus
- Caswell
- Cherokee
- Clay
- Columbus
- Davidson
- Davie
- Durham
- Edgecombe
- Forsyth
- Franklin
- Graham
- Granville
- Guilford
- Halifax
- Haywood
- Iredell
- Jackson
- Macon
- Nash
- Orange
- Person
- Randolph
- Rockingham
- Rowan
- Stanly
- Swain
- Vance
- Wake
- Warren
- Watauga
- Wilkes
- Yadkin
Total: 37
D2 – Severe Drought
- Alleghany
- Anson
- Avery
- Beaufort
- Bertie
- Bladen
- Burke
- Caldwell
- Camden
- Carteret
- Catawba
- Chatham
- Chowan
- Cleveland
- Craven
- Cumberland
- Currituck
- Dare
- Duplin
- Gaston
- Greene
- Harnett
- Henderson
- Hertford
- Hoke
- Johnston
- 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
- Stokes
- Surry
- Transylvania
- Tyrrell
- Union
- Washington
- Wayne
- Wilson
- Yancey
Total: 59
D1 – Moderate Drought
- Buncombe
- Gates
- Hyde
- Madison
Total: 4
Residents are strongly encouraged to continue water conservation efforts and stay informed about local drought conditions.
