Three-fourths of NC is in a moderate to severe drought

Nearly 75% of North Carolina is facing a moderate to severe drought , despite recent rainfall, as high summer temperatures linger with little relief.

Why it matters: Dryness is entrenching the soil and leading to widespread crop losses in 10 North Carolina counties currently facing severe drought, according to the latest data released by the state's Drought Management Advisory Council.

• Most of those worst-hit areas are east of I-95, in a stretch from Wayne to Bertie counties and all around the Pamlico River.

Driving the news: Congressman Don Davis is calling for an emergency drought declaration, as much of his district is in the eastern part of the state.

• "One in five jobs in North Carolina are dependent on agriculture," said former U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge of the USDA's Farm Service Agency, who joined Davis this week to inspect farm and tobacco crops in Rocky Mount and Edgecombe County.
• "Little to no rain in over a month in some places is a recipe for disaster for farmers. For those of us who live in town, we see the effects, but for our farmers, they feel them."

Flashback: It's happened quickly. Less than a month ago, only 10 counties were classified as "abnormally dry," which is the lowest drought level, according to the council.

• But June was the driest month on record for a handful of places scattered across North Carolina.

Zoom in: Wake, Durham and Orange counties are currently in a moderate drought. The Drought Management Advisory Council recommends limiting nonessential uses of water.