Last Updated on May 14, 2026 4:19 pm
North Carolina's drought held largely steady this week — the first time in two months conditions have not worsened. Exceptional Drought (D4) has disappeared from the map, with Union County dropping back to Extreme Drought (D3). However, 67 counties remain in Extreme Drought, with no improvement elsewhere.
In the High Country, all six counties remain in Extreme Drought (D3): Watauga, Ashe, Avery, Alleghany, Caldwell, and Wilkes.
The weekly update, put out by the North Carolina Drought Management Council, shows all 100 counties experiencing some level of drought, with only six counties in the far northeast remaining at Moderate Drought (D1).
Drought categories are based on streamflow, groundwater levels, the amount of water stored in reservoirs, soil moisture, the time of year, and other relevant factors for assessing the extent and severity of dry conditions.
D3 – Extreme Drought
Alamance
Alexander
Alleghany
Anson
Ashe
Avery
Brunswick
Buncombe
Burke
Cabarrus
Caldwell
Caswell
Catawba
Chatham
Cherokee
Clay
Cleveland
Columbus
Cumberland
Davidson
Davie
Durham
Edgecombe
Forsyth
Franklin
Graham
Granville
Guilford
Halifax
Haywood
Henderson
Hoke
Iredell
Jackson
Lee
Lincoln
Macon
Madison
McDowell
Mecklenburg
Mitchell
Montgomery
Moore
Nash
Northampton
Orange
Person
Polk
Randolph
Richmond
Rockingham
Rowan
Rutherford
Scotland
Stanly
Stokes
Surry
Swain
Transylvania
Union
Vance
Wake
Warren
Watauga
Wilkes
Yadkin
Yancey
Total: 67
D2 – Severe Drought
Beaufort
Bertie
Bladen
Carteret
Craven
Dare
Duplin
Gaston
Greene
Harnett
Hertford
Hyde
Johnston
Jones
Lenoir
Martin
New Hanover
Onslow
Pamlico
Pender
Pitt
Robeson
Sampson
Tyrrell
Washington
Wayne
Wilson
Total: 27
D1 – Moderate Drought
Camden
Chowan
Currituck
Gates
Pasquotank
Perquimans
Total: 6
Residents are strongly encouraged to continue water conservation efforts and stay informed about local drought conditions.
The post Drought Monitor Update — Thursday May 14, 2026 appeared first on WataugaOnline.com.