NC Drought Situation Worsens Rapidly

Drought conditions have intensified across North Carolina, with all 100 counties now experiencing some level of drought as of April 2026. State and federal data indicate that large portions of the state are facing severe to extreme conditions, leading to depleted water supplies and an increased risk of wildfires.

The situation is particularly acute in the western regions of the state. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, approximately 9.6% of North Carolina is in extreme drought, an increase from roughly 4.7% the previous week. The percentage of the state categorized under severe drought or higher rose from 65.5% to nearly 89.4% within a single week.

Impact on Water Supplies and Infrastructure

Rainfall over the previous six months has been nearly 10 inches below normal in many areas. This deficit has left reservoirs, rivers, and streams at unusually low levels. State officials report that the lack of winter rainfall prevented the typical seasonal recharge of water supplies.

Winter is usually the time when North Carolina’s water supplies get replenished due to good rains and low-water demand, but those good rains did not happen this winter. The rain we’ve had so far has not been enough to make up for the precipitation deficit.

Klaus Albertin, chair of the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council

While the impact remained limited during the winter due to lower demand, officials warn that rising temperatures and increased water use could exacerbate the crisis. Potential consequences include closed boat launches, low reservoir levels, and delays in planting or poor growth for farmers at the start of the growing season.

Environmental Factors and Regional Data

Scientists note that the drought is being intensified by higher temperatures, which accelerate the rate at which vegetation and soil lose moisture. This process worsens conditions even in the absence of significant changes in total rainfall.

Specific regional data highlights the severity of the deficit in the mountains:

• In Asheville, the last rainfall surplus occurred in August 2025.
• Monthly rainfall amounts in Asheville have remained below normal since August 2025.
• Accumulated deficits in Asheville reached more than 11 inches between September 2025 and March 2026.
• Across the broader Southeast, longer-term precipitation deficits range from 8 to 20 inches below normal.

In the Greenville-Spartanburg forecast area, which spans the border of the Carolinas, nearly 42% of the region is in extreme drought, while approximately 97% is in severe drought.

Monitoring and Management

Drought conditions in the state are assessed by the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council (NC DMAC). This body is a collaboration of experts from government agencies in North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina, and is organized by the Division of Water Resources within the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality.

The U.S. Drought Monitor, which informs these assessments, uses five classifications: Abnormally Dry (D0) and four levels of drought (D1–D4). This map is produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the National Drought Mitigation Center. The USDA uses this data to trigger loan eligibility and disaster declarations.

As of April 8, 2026, experts warned that little rain was expected in the following seven to 10 days, further straining water supplies and increasing the risk of wildfires statewide.