Drought Monitor Update — Thursday May 28, 2026

Last Updated on May 28, 2026 12:56 pm

North Carolina's drought has shown its first significant improvement in months, with Exceptional Drought (D4) disappearing entirely and Extreme Drought dropping from 67 counties to 44.

In the High Country, Watauga County dropped from Exceptional Drought (D4) back to Extreme Drought (D3) — one week after reaching the highest classification on the drought scale. Caldwell and Wilkes counties also dropped from D4 to D3. Alleghany County improved from D3 to Severe Drought (D2). Ashe and Avery counties remain in Extreme Drought (D3).

More than 20 counties statewide improved from Extreme Drought to Severe Drought this week, including major population centers like Buncombe (Asheville), Mecklenburg (Charlotte), and Cumberland (Fayetteville). Recent rainfall has provided some relief, though all 100 counties remain in some level of drought.

The weekly update, put out by the North Carolina Drought Management Council, shows 44 counties in Extreme Drought (D3), 54 in Severe Drought (D2), and 2 in 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