GREENSBORO, N.C. —
Drought Overview
Abnormally dry conditions persist across the Carolinas due to the lack of rain over the past couple of months. September we actually received an above-normal rainfall amount of 5.38". We've fallen short since October, with 1.84" in deficit from the normal amount of October. In November, so far we haven't had any notable rain. To give you an idea of how dry the Triad is, here's a graph to illustrate the last time we had notable rainfall amounts.
What is the US Drought Monitor?
The US Drought Monitor is updated each Thursday to pinpoint drought intensity across the US. Drought categories take into account conditions related to dryness and how much water is available in streams, lakes, and soils compared to normal amounts for this time of year.
Changes in The Latest Drought Map
The latest US Drought Monitor issued Thursday, November 16th displays worsening drought conditions across NC. The Severe Drought now covers more of the Triads western counties with Extreme Drought conditions expanding into portions of southwestern NC. This is the first time the Extreme Drought has emerged in NC since March 2017. More towns in our western counties have requested voluntary water conservation (Hickory, Morganton, Statesville).
What do the classifications mean?
The US Drought Monitor identifies areas in drought and assigns them a label (D-0 through D-4) to represent intensity.
How bad is it?
Due to abnormally dry conditions, unseasonably warm air, and lower humidity levels, wildfires have been able to spread easier and quicker across the mountains. The largest fire by far is the Collett Ridge fire in Cherokee County. The fire is 5,335 acres in size and is 79% contained thanks to weekend rain and fog. It was caused by lightning. This has largely been allowed to grow naturally because it hasn't been threatening many populated areas or structures.
The Poplar Drive Fire in Henderson County, just south of Asheville, is now 95% contained and is significantly smaller at 434 acres. One home, two cabins, one uninhabitable mobile home, one uninhabitable cabin and two outbuildings were destroyed. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
For more information, head on over to this link.
Burn Bans continue across western NC
Burn bans have expanded across western NC counties. The N.C. Forest Service says it will continue to monitor conditions across the state. If you have any questions regarding a specific county, you can contact their N.C. Forest Service county ranger or their county fire marshal’s office.
Click here for a list of frequently asked questions.
Is Relief In Sight?
A cold front will sweep across the Carolinas on Friday but doesn't bring a good chance for rain. There is a better chance of rain next week. For the latest look at the forecast, head on over to this link.
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