Archived Outdoors

Extreme drought leaves North Carolina

Updated drought maps are released every Thursday. U.S. Drought Monitor of North Carolina map Updated drought maps are released every Thursday. U.S. Drought Monitor of North Carolina map

Drought conditions are the best they’ve been in a month, according to the latest map from the Drought Management Advisory Council, with recent rains wiping out the extreme drought conditions that had affected 13 western counties. 

Currently, 24 counties are in severe drought, 39 are in moderate drought and 33 are abnormally dry, with the driest conditions in the western counties. Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Henderson and Transylvania counties all fall under the severe drought designation. The map, released Dec. 14 based on data gathered as of 8 a.m. Dec. 12, is the first since Nov. 14 that doesn’t have any counties in extreme drought.

Heavy rains over the weekend Dec. 9-11 were largely responsible, with many places receiving 2-3 inches of precipitation. According to the National Weather Service, over those three days Cullowhee got 2.19 inches, Franklin 2.43 inches, Oconaluftee 2.12 inches and Waynesville 2 inches.

While significantly more rain is needed to restore groundwater, soil moisture and reservoir levels in the western region, above-average rainfall is expected to arrive this winter with the coming El Niño weather pattern.

Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.