The North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC) has identified several counties in eastern North Carolina as experiencing severe drought conditions, known as D2. In the latest advisory released on Thursday, Beaufort, Columbus, Craven, Martin, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender, and Washington counties have been identified under this category.
For these counties experiencing D2 conditions, DMAC advises water users to implement Water Shortage Response Plans and participate in regional and local coordination for better management of water resources. They are also encouraged to review their water delivery systems to reduce water loss and increase efficiency, as well as eliminate nonessential water use.
In addition, 50 counties throughout the Piedmont and western regions of North Carolina are dealing with moderate drought conditions, labeled as D1. Another 32 counties are classified as abnormally dry.
Klaus Albertin, the chair of the DMAC, commented on the situation, stating, “The effects of a very dry winter and early spring are starting to be seen. Some areas are seeing a rainfall deficit of 6 to 10 inches since October. Impacts from ongoing drought conditions were limited in winter months but will become more noticeable as we enter the growing season.”
The DMAC is a collaborative group of drought experts from various government agencies in North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina, overseen by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources. The members convene weekly to provide drought condition recommendations, which are then submitted to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the National Drought Mitigation Center for updates on the U.S. Drought Monitor. Updates to DMAC’s drought map are made every Thursday based on conditions from earlier in the week. The map can be viewed at www.ncdrought.org.
For more information, visit https://www.ncdrought.org/education.
