Spotty rainfall across North Carolina brought partial relief to some areas over the past week, but severe-to-exceptional drought conditions continue to grip several counties, according to state officials and U.S. Drought Monitor data from Aug. 11-18.
Officials with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality reported that groundwater and reservoir levels remain below normal in affected regions. State authorities are encouraging the public to conserve water as the year-long drought persists.
Rainfall across the Piedmont and coastal regions remained sporadic. While a few localized areas recorded two inches or more of rain, most places received less than average rainfall over the monitoring period.
Western North Carolina recorded heavier and more widespread rainfall, driving measurable improvements. Conditions in Macon, Jackson and Transylvania counties improved from extreme drought to severe drought, which is the third-worst category, officials said.
Drought conditions elsewhere in the state showed little improvement or worsened.
Western Brunswick County remains in exceptional drought, the state's most severe classification. Guilford, Rockingham, Caswell, Person and Granville counties remain in extreme drought, while conditions in Warren and Halifax counties worsened into extreme drought.
Water systems operating in counties classified in exceptional or extreme drought are advised to trigger their Water Shortage Response Plans and enforce water reduction measures. These systems are required to submit weekly reports on their water usage and conservation status through the state's Water Use Reporting website.
Local water utility providers may place limits on outdoor water use, such as lawn watering and car washing. Residents can contact their local water supplier for specific restrictions and water-saving tips, including washing only full loads of laundry.