Moderate drought expands in western North Carolina

PRESS RELEASE (03-28-2025)

NC DEPT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

RALEIGH – The North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council expanded the moderate drought classification to include 70 counties in the latest advisory released Thursday. 

The DMAC classified all or parts of 70 counties as experiencing moderate drought (D1 classification), while parts of Onslow County were classified as experiencing severe drought (D2). DMAC classified another 27 counties as abnormally dry. 

“North Carolina saw another week of below or well below average rainfall,” said Klaus Albertin, chair of the DMAC. “Impacts from the slow-growing, but widespread, drought had been limited due to lower water demands in winter, but are starting to be felt. Low humidity, high winds and dry vegetation have contributed to increased wildfire activity and impacts to agriculture.” 

Due to increased fire risk, the N.C. Forest Service has issued a ban on all open burning and has canceled all burning permits statewide effective 8 a.m. Friday, March 21, until further notice.   

DMAC is a collaboration of drought experts from various government agencies in North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina, and organized by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR). Members of DMAC meet weekly and submit their drought condition recommendations to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Drought Mitigation Center for updates to the U.S. Drought Monitor, a map of the nation’s drought conditions. DMAC’s drought map is updated weekly on Thursdays, based on conditions through the previous Tuesday.  

To view North Carolina’s drought map, visit www.ncdrought.org.To learn more, visit https://www.ncdrought.org/education. 

D1 Moderate Drought

• Adhere to local water use restrictions.
• Participate, as appropriate, in regional and local coordination for the management of water resources.
• Stay informed on drought conditions and advisories at ncdrought.org.
• Project water needs and available water supply for a ninety day period from the issuance of this advisory.
• Assess your vulnerability to the drought conditions and adjust water usage to prolong available supply.
• Inspect water delivery system components (e.g. irrigation lines, fixtures, processing equipment, water system lines, etc.), repair leaks and ensure that existing equipment is operating as efficiently as possible.
• Minimize nonessential uses of water.
• Implement available public awareness and educational outreach programs emphasizing the need to conserve water.