Current Conditions
as of July 9, 2024 at 8am ET
- D0 - Abnormally Dry
- D1 - Moderate Drought
- D2 - Severe Drought
- D3 - Extreme Drought
- D4 - Exceptional Drought
Drought Classifications
The Current Drought Explainer was released on July 11, 2024.
North Carolina Drought Advisory
The North Carolina Drought Advisory issued by the Drought Management Advisory Council has been updated to reflect drought conditions on July 9, 2024 indicated on the weekly U.S. Drought Monitor of North Carolina.
Until further notice, the NC DMAC strongly urges the implementation of the following drought response actions - in addition to previous advisories - for all water users located in or dependent on water resources from the areas of the state experiencing the following drought conditions:
D3
- All water users are advised to follow their Water Shortage Response Plan (WSRP), the requirements for which are outlined in 15A NCAC 02E .0607. An effective WSRP should adhere to the water use reduction measures set forth in 15A NCAC 02E .0613 that went into effect on March 19, 2007. Per 15A NCAC 02E .0612, water users without a written plan are advised to follow the applicable default water use reduction measures outlined in 15A NCAC 02E .0613 during extreme drought designations.
- Stay informed on drought conditions and advisories at ncdrought.org.
- Participate in regional and local coordination for the management of water resources.
- Reduce socially and economically important water uses to ensure the availability of water for critical needs (e.g. firefighting, health and safety, etc.).
- Revisit and/or explore, if not already accomplished, alternative water sources and reuse options.
D2
- Implement Water Shortage Response Plans, if not already enacted.
- Stay informed on drought conditions and advisories at ncdrought.org.
- Participate, as appropriate, in regional and local coordination for the management of water resources.
- Reexamine water delivery systems to minimize water loss and maximize water use efficiency.
- Eliminate nonessential uses of water.
- Evaluate the feasibility of incorporating water reuse, reclamation and/or recycling into daily operations.
- Seek to reduce water usage by, at least, the same percentage as the percent differential between normal seasonal water supply availability and the actual water supply availability resulting from current drought conditions.
- Increase public awareness and educational outreach programs emphasizing the need to conserve water.
D1
- Adhere to local water use restrictions.
- Participate, as appropriate, in regional and local coordination for the management of water resources.
- Stay informed on drought conditions and advisories at ncdrought.org.
- Project water needs and available water supply for a ninety day period from the issuance of this advisory.
- Assess your vulnerability to the drought conditions and adjust water usage to prolong available supply.
- Inspect water delivery system components (e.g. irrigation lines, fixtures, processing equipment, water system lines, etc.), repair leaks and ensure that existing equipment is operating as efficiently as possible.
- Minimize nonessential uses of water.
- Implement available public awareness and educational outreach programs emphasizing the need to conserve water.
D0
- Review and be prepared to implement your Water Shortage Response Plans at the appropriate time.
- Participate, as appropriate, in regional and local coordination for the management of water resources.
- Stay informed on drought conditions and advisories at ncdrought.org.
County Drought Classification
If the US Drought Monitor of NC shows more than one drought designation in a county, the drought intensity classification for each county published by the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council is the highest drought designation that applies to at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the land area of a county.
Example Impacts by USDM Category
Category | Examples of historically observed impacts | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D0 |
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D1 |
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D2 |
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D3 |
| ||||||
D4 |
|
D3
- Columbus
Total: 1
D2
- Alexander
- Beaufort
- Bertie
- Bladen
- Caldwell
- Catawba
- Craven
- Davie
- Forsyth
- Greene
- Iredell
- Lenoir
- Martin
- Pamlico
- Pender
- Pitt
- Robeson
- Stokes
- Surry
- Wayne
- Wilkes
- Yadkin
Total: 22
D1
- Alamance
- Alleghany
- Anson
- Ashe
- Avery
- Brunswick
- Buncombe
- Burke
- Cabarrus
- Carteret
- Caswell
- Chatham
- Cherokee
- Chowan
- Clay
- Cleveland
- Cumberland
- Dare
- Davidson
- Duplin
- Durham
- Edgecombe
- Franklin
- Gates
- Graham
- Granville
- Guilford
- Halifax
- Harnett
- Haywood
- Henderson
- Hertford
- Hoke
- Hyde
- Jackson
- Johnston
- Jones
- Lee
- Lincoln
- Macon
- Madison
- McDowell
- Mecklenburg
- Mitchell
- Montgomery
- Moore
- Nash
- Northampton
- Onslow
- Orange
- Pasquotank
- Perquimans
- Person
- Polk
- Randolph
- Richmond
- Rockingham
- Rowan
- Rutherford
- Sampson
- Scotland
- Stanly
- Swain
- Tyrrell
- Vance
- Wake
- Warren
- Washington
- Watauga
- Wilson
- Yancey
Total: 71
D0
- Camden
- Currituck
- Gaston
- New Hanover
- Transylvania
- Union
Total: 6