Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Axios Raleigh
All of NC is facing dry conditions, drought for the first time in 15 years
By Lucille Sherman,
2024-07-11
For the first time in 15 years, the entire state of North Carolina is either "abnormally dry" or in a drought .
Threat level: Drought conditions continue to worsen across North Carolina this week, with nearly 90% of the state now facing moderate, severe or extreme drought, the latest data released Thursday shows .
Why it matters: More rain is on the way, but in some places, it will be too late. The state is already seeing widespread crop losses, with 40% of corn crops in "very poor" condition as of earlier this week.
"Unfortunately, damage to many crops may already be done," state Drought Management Advisory Council chair Klaus Albertin said in a statement .
In late June, more than 50% of the state was increased to a more severe status in just one week.
Zoom in: Columbus County along the South Carolina border is facing the most severe drought classification, "extreme drought."
One farmer told WECT that, in all his years of farming, he had not seen conditions like this.
"The corn crop to date is pretty much history," the farmer told the station. "It will take years to recover from the financial impact that this drought is causing."
Flashback: Congressman Don Davis, seeking federal assistance for his eastern North Carolina district, sent a letter earlier this week asking the USDA to designate his district as a disaster area due to the drought.
Davis' district produces and sells more than $2.989 billion of agricultural products annually, he said, though the "economic impact of this drought is not limited to the farming sector."
"It also affects local businesses that rely on the agricultural industry, creating a ripple effect felt throughout many rural communities," he said.
What's next: Rain is on the way, with 1.5 to 4 inches expected across the eastern part of the state through the end of this week.
Yes, but: Rain in the last week slowed the rapid drying, Albertin said, but wasn't enough to improve the conditions in some places.
The bottom line: We need rain, and a lot of it, especially in places where crops can still be salvaged.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Comments / 0