Severe drought conditions moving east

Raleigh, N.C. — Although much of the Triangle remains under moderate drought conditions, more severe conditions are advancing from the west.

The latest report by the state Drought Management Advisory Council shows little change from a week ago, but Northampton County is now experiencing severe drought conditions. Severe drought also extends over most of Orange and Person counties and western Chatham County.

Southeastern counties, stretching from Scotland County up through Dare County, are listed as abnormally dry, and the western half of the state is experiencing extreme and exceptional drought conditions, the worst of the five categories tracked by council.

State officials had hoped that Tropical Storm Fay would bring some rain to western North Carolina, but the latest projection for the system carries it over the Gulf states.

Because of the extreme drought conditions, state officials this week notified 55 municipal water systems that they needed to implement measures to cut water consumption under a new state law.