Last Updated on May 21, 2026 11:15 am

Watauga County has reached Exceptional Drought (D4) — the highest classification on the U.S. Drought Monitor — for the first time this year. Caldwell and Wilkes counties also moved to D4 this week, along with Alexander and Burke.

Exceptional Drought is defined by widespread crop and pasture losses, exceptional and widespread water shortages, and emergency water supply measures. It is the most severe drought classification issued by the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Ashe, Avery, and Alleghany counties remain in Extreme Drought (D3). All six High Country counties are now at D3 or higher.

Statewide, 66 counties remain in Extreme Drought (D3) and Moderate Drought (D1) has nearly disappeared — only Gates County remains at that level, down from six counties last week.

The weekly update, put out by the North Carolina Drought Management Council, shows all 100 counties experiencing some level of drought.

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.

D4 – Exceptional Drought

  • Alexander

  • Burke

  • Caldwell

  • Watauga

  • Wilkes

Total: 5

D3 – Extreme Drought

  • Alamance

  • Alleghany

  • Anson

  • Ashe

  • Avery

  • Bladen

  • Brunswick

  • Buncombe

  • Cabarrus

  • Caswell

  • Catawba

  • Chatham

  • Cherokee

  • Clay

  • Cleveland

  • Columbus

  • Cumberland

  • Davidson

  • Davie

  • Durham

  • Edgecombe

  • Forsyth

  • Franklin

  • Graham

  • Granville

  • Guilford

  • Halifax

  • Harnett

  • Haywood

  • Henderson

  • Hoke

  • Iredell

  • Jackson

  • Johnston

  • 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

  • Wilson

  • Yadkin

  • Yancey

Total: 66

D2 – Severe Drought

  • Beaufort

  • Bertie

  • Camden

  • Carteret

  • Chowan

  • Craven

  • Currituck

  • Dare

  • Duplin

  • Gaston

  • Greene

  • Hertford

  • Hyde

  • Jones

  • Lenoir

  • Martin

  • New Hanover

  • Onslow

  • Pamlico

  • Pasquotank

  • Pender

  • Perquimans

  • Pitt

  • Robeson

  • Sampson

  • Tyrrell

  • Washington

  • Wayne

Total: 28

D1 – Moderate Drought

  • Gates

Total: 1

Residents are strongly encouraged to continue water conservation efforts and stay informed about local drought conditions.

The post Drought Monitor Update — Thursday May 21, 2026 appeared first on WataugaOnline.com.

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