Severe Drought Persists in Western North Carolina
Drought conditions in North Carolina have shown some improvement, but challenges remain. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor report released on September 17, 2026, four counties in Western North Carolina—Transylvania, Jackson, Franklin, and Macon—are still categorized under 'severe drought.' Meanwhile, Burke, McDowell, and Rutherford counties are now free of drought conditions. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) attributes the lingering drought to below-average rainfall and unseasonably warm temperatures. Over two-thirds of the state remains in some stage of drought, with parts of Guilford and Rockingham counties experiencing 'exceptional drought,' the most severe classification. Experts are cautiously optimistic about potential improvement as weather patterns shift toward increased rainfall through late September and early October.
