North Carolina Drought Ends After Week of Heavy Rains

For the first time since May 12, North Carolina is free of drought.

A map issued Oct. 8 by the state Drought Management Advisory Council showed all 100 counties to be clear of any drought advisories.

North Carolina received more than three months of rainfall in just one week, according to the North Carolina State Climate Office.

Before the recent storms, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties were listed in severe drought, while several western counties, including Buncombe, Haywood and Henderson, were in moderate drought. The week before that, nearly all of western North Carolina had been in severe drought.

The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources said widespread, heavy rainfall that measured between 4 inches and 20 inches wiped out any lingering dry conditions. Some areas of the mountains received more than 10 inches of rain while the western Piedmont received between 3 inches and 5 inches, according to the department.

The agency said the eastern Piedmont received between 4 inches and 8 inches of rain, and parts of the southern coastal areas received as much as 20 inches of rain.

The Asheville Citizen-Times reports that since Jan. 1, 34.34 inches of rain have fallen at Asheville Regional Airport, which is now only 1.8 inches below normal. So far in October, the National Weather Service says 3.74 inches of rain has been recorded at the airport. That’s about 3 inches above normal.

Topics North Carolina