ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Extreme drought now covers 98% of the area in western North Carolina and the South Carolina Upstate. That is a 12.5% increase this week, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday.
This increase includes the welcome 0.50″ to 1″ rain we got Tuesday morning.
A month ago, 42% of our area was under extreme drought. Three weeks ago, that number jumped to 59%, and last week, 86% of our area was under extreme drought conditions. That has been a 57% increase since March 31.
Extreme drought numbers over the last month in western North Carolina and the Upstate. (WLOS)
The state of North Carolina saw an increase of 17% for areas under extreme drought over the last week. Extreme drought now covers 55% of North Carolina, while 96% of the state is in severe drought. Over the last month, North Carolina saw a 45% increase in the area in extreme drought.
South Carolina also saw a whopping 39% increase in areas under extreme drought since last week. Extreme drought now covers 79% of the state. This is up 59% since March 31.
There is another layer of more serious drought, and for the first time this week, we are seeing 4% of our area upgraded to ‘Exceptional Drought’. This area includes parts of Franklin, Hart and Elbert Counties in Georgia.
This week’s update from the U.S. Drought Monitor. (WLOS)
We have a chance for light rain showers Friday night through the first half of Saturday, but it will not be much for our mountains to measure. The next rain chance is not until mid- to late next week.
We need multiple multi-inch rainfall events to begin to reverse our drought. On this last day of April, we are behind 13.71″ of rain going back to Sept. 1, 2025. We have seen a rainfall deficit for eight consecutive months.
Statewide burn bans remain in effect for both North and South Carolina.