After another week of locally heavy rains, areas including Charlotte, Hickory, and Morganton are officially out of drought and back to the Abnormally Dry (D0) level as impacts continue to ease in parts of the state. #ncwx

The past week brought more showers and more improvements on the drought map, with areas of Severe (D2) and Extreme Drought (D3) continuing to shrink, and water supplies showing signs of recovery. #ncwx

It's the Extreme (Drought) Makeover we've been waiting for, with big reductions in D2 and D3 after last week's rain, especially in the central Piedmont. This map reflects long-term rainfall deficits and ongoing dryness in deeper soil moisture, groundwater, and lake levels. #ncwx

The rain has wrapped up, the totals have been tallied, and it's sinking in that this event is just what we needed to make a dent in the drought. #ncwx Check out the storm summary in our latest blog post: ➡️ climate.ncsu.edu/blog/2026/07...

Recent showers have finally lifted parts of the Piedmont out of Extreme (D3) and Exceptional (D4) Drought. Note that additional rain falling since yesterday will be considered in next week's assessment. #ncwx

Since the rain began yesterday afternoon, our #ECONet stations along the I-40 corridor in the Piedmont have recorded more than two inches, including a 4.7-inch total at the @ncatsuaggies.bsky.social University Farm in Greensboro. #ncwx

Last week's showers and storms made a dent in drought conditions in parts of the state. Many entrenched impacts remain, including low lake levels and ongoing wildfires, and those will take more rain to recover from. #ncwx

Welcome to our newest #ECONet station at Green River Game Land near the Henderson/Polk Co. line! Installed yesterday with help from NWS GSP and NC Wildlife, this station fills a key gap, especially for post-Helene wildfire monitoring. View its data here: products.climate.ncsu.edu/cardinal/sco...

After last week's heat, parts of the state have experienced drought degradation, while the Triangle area has seen some improvements from the more recent heavy rainfall. #ncwx

Last week, half of our office's 48 ECONet stations hit 100°F or greater. That included the first 100-degree days at our Morganton station since it was installed two years ago, and a sizzling holiday peak of 103°F in Durham on July 4. #ncwx

After a wet end to June, coastal areas have improved to Moderate Drought (D1) this week. Elsewhere, most of the state broke even, as recent showers were offset by evaporative losses amid the building heat. #ncwx

This week saw enough rain to avoid further degradations, but improvements were also limited as widespread drought stress continues. #ncwx

With summer heat in full swing and scattered showers at best last week, we've seen an expansion of Extreme (D3) and Exceptional (D4) Drought as intense impacts continue to develop. #ncwx

Amid dry weather and warming temperatures this week, we've seen drought degradation in central and eastern North Carolina, including the emergence of Exceptional Drought (D4) in the northern Piedmont. #ncwx

As more moisture has soaked in and new showers popped up last week, we've seen additional improvements to Severe (D2) and Extreme Drought (D3) conditions across western NC. The northern tier remains extremely dry and in need of more rain. #ncwx

Last weekend's rainfall brought a round of widespread improvements on the latest drought map, including the removal of Exceptional Drought (D4) and a reduction in Extreme Drought (D3). #ncwx

Heading outdoors for the holiday? 🏃‍♂️ Don't wait until you're thirsty to hydrate! Schedule workouts for cooler times of day and take frequent breaks in the shade. #HeatSafety

This week's hot, dry weather brought more expansion of Extreme Drought (D3) in the east and the emergence of Exceptional Drought (D4) in the northwest amid a record dry start to the year there. #ncwx

Be a good neighbor. 🏘️ Check on the elderly, those with underlying health conditions, and outdoor workers during periods of extreme heat. A quick check-in can prevent a heat-related crisis. Learn more about who’s most at risk: heat.gov/who-is-most-... #HeatSafety

Do you know the signs? Heat stroke is a medical emergency. 🚨 If you see confusion, slurred speech, or a temp above 103°F, call 911. #HeatSafety

👍The Good News: Exceptional Drought (D4) is gone after last week's heavy rain in the southern Piedmont. 👎The Bad News: Improvements elsewhere were hard to come by, and we've got a hot, dry week ahead. #ncwx

We're pleased to officially announce our new director and North Carolina's next state climatologist, Dr. Jared Bowden! Jared is a North Carolina native and NC State graduate who has more than 20 years of experience with climate research in the state. 📰: climate.ncsu.edu/blog/2026/05...

More widespread rainfall over the past week helped slow the expansion of drought, but we still saw a slight increase of Extreme Drought (D3) coverage in parts of northwestern and central North Carolina. #ncwx

Heat season is here! Join us next Monday, May 11 from 1 to 3 pm for North Carolina’s 2026 Heat Season Kickoff Meeting. Get a 2026 heat outlook from NWS and learn about tools and resources to support community readiness. ℹ️: www.deq.nc.gov/news/events/...

Rain returned to parts of the state this week, but the Piedmont remained mostly dry and saw an expansion of Extreme Drought (D3) and the emergence of Exceptional Drought (D4) for the first time since March 4, 2008. #ncwx

Extreme Drought (D3) continued to expand this week as streamflow levels bottomed out and water restrictions began to be implemented. #ncwx

For more about this ongoing drought and its impacts, join us for a webinar with state drought experts on Thursday, April 23rd at 11 am. Registration is required but free at the link below. A recording and blog summary will be posted afterwards. ➡️ go.ncsu.edu/drought2026

Drought continued to degrade this week, now reaching Extreme Drought (D3) levels in parts of the southern Mountains, western Piedmont, and northern Coastal Plain. #ncwx

In addition to the implementation of a statewide burn ban, this week saw expanding drought, with Severe Drought (D2) now covering most of the Coastal Plain and Extreme Drought (D3) emerging in the Mountains. #ncwx

This winter served up a few dashes of cold and a heaping helping of snow, but we didn't quite get our fill of precipitation, leading to expanding drought. Our winter recap looks back on the rankings, snow totals, and more from the past season. #ncwx ➡️ climate.ncsu.edu/blog/2026/03...