WLOS — The United States Drought Monitor released on Aug. 6 is showing less areas in North Carolina with drought conditions after recent days of rainfall.
Three counties – Buncombe, Madison and Graham – have areas in the latest monitor that show no drought. Buncombe and Graham have sections that are still in the abnormally dry category and moderate drought category. Madison has just the abnormally dry category.
STRENGTHENING EL NIÑO PROMPTS NOAA TO LOWER HURRICANE SEASON FORECAST
Four counties (Jackson, Macon, Transylvania and Haywood) still have areas of extreme drought. The only county in the state that has the highest category of drought (exceptional drought) is Brunswick County, which is on the East Coast.
The monitor shows 52% of the state is in the moderate drought category, and 23% is in severe drought. Just 9% of the state is showing no drought conditions at all.
The next monitor will be released on Aug. 13. It’s expected to have more changes, as western North Carolina experienced several days of rain during that period of when the drought monitor data is recorded.