Andrea ends dry conditions across NC
For the first time in three years, North Carolina isn't experiencing any drought or abnormally dry conditions, state officials said Thursday.
Posted — UpdatedThe rainfall from Tropical Storm Andrea helped eliminate lingering abnormally dry conditions in eastern North Carolina, officials said, cautioning that such conditions could return over the summer.
“Recent rains have brought relief to the lingering dry conditions,” said Bob Stea, chairman of the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council. “Streams, groundwater and soil moisture levels have greatly improved and are near longer-term averages."
The last time the U.S. Drought Monitor depicted no drought or abnormally dry conditions in North Carolina was during the week of April 20, 2010.
“North Carolina’s rainfall becomes more difficult to forecast, as well as less reliable, during the summer months,” said Michael Moneypenny, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Raleigh and a member of the Drought Management Advisory Council. “Weather systems are typically weaker, and the bulk of our rainfall comes from scattered shower and thunderstorm activity that pops up during the heat of the day.”
Drought conditions will have to be monitored closely in the coming months, officials said.
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