RALEIGH — Severe drought expanded to 23 North Carolina counties, up from 18 a week earlier, while exceptional drought grew in the northern Piedmont and Kerr Dam continued reduced hydropower generation.
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality reported Sept. 17 that below-average rainfall and unseasonably warm temperatures intensified conditions during the Sept. 8-15 monitoring period. Exceptional drought expanded in parts of Guilford and Rockingham counties, while drought also spread in the Coastal Plain and worsened in parts of central and western North Carolina.
WUNC reported that one-quarter of the state was in severe drought or worse. The report also cited daily record-low streamflows on the Dan River and Asheville’s driest start to September in 10 years.
Kerr Lake dropped another 6 inches to almost 10 feet below normal, DEQ said. The John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir has reduced hydropower generation since Aug. 29 because of the low lake level. Falls Lake was almost 4 feet below normal while releases were increased to support downstream water quality and supply.
More than half of streamflow gauges across the state were in below-normal or much-below-normal ranges. Daily record lows were recorded at Abbotts Creek in Lexington, Rockfish Creek in Raeford and Little Hope Creek in Charlotte.
Water systems in counties classified in extreme or exceptional drought are advised to follow their water-shortage response plans and use-reduction measures. Those systems must report water use and conservation status weekly. Residents are directed to their local water supplier for any restrictions on lawn watering, car washing or other uses.
North Carolina’s Drought Management Advisory Council reviews environmental, hydrological and agricultural indicators each week and submits recommendations for the U.S. Drought Monitor. The map is updated Thursdays using conditions through the previous Tuesday.
Featured image: Contextual photograph of drought-cracked soil; not a specific North Carolina site. Credit: Yeliz Egi/Pexels.