All of NC is facing dry conditions, drought for the first time in 15 years

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 .

The big picture: This is just the second time in 24 years the state has seen such a rapid deterioration of drought conditions, the Department of Environmental Quality said .

• 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."
• Whiteville, which is in Columbus, has seen just 1.07 inches of rain in the past month, making it the driest 30-day period in 24 years .

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.

• Last week Davis made a public call for an emergency declaration , but the situation has worsened since then, he said.
• 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.