Drought in Ashe, North Carolina

Exceptional Drought conditions expanded into Ashe county through May after the previous several months of February, March, and April recorded precipitation totals of 6.00-8.00 inches, which ended up being 25 to 50 percent of normal for that period. These dry conditions combined with the dry fall conditions leading up to below average rainfall in November, December, and January, contributed to a rapid decrease in groundwater and soil moisture in this region, where observed values for each had fallen to at or below the 10th percentile for groundwater, and 2nd percentile for soil moisture in the first 0-100 cm based off the NASA SPoRT LIS data estimated on the 1st of May. Streamflows similarly decreased across the area. This included the New River, which was observed to be below the 10th percentile per the USGS WaterWatch website and, in some cases, were near record-low flows.

Extreme Drought conditions remained across north central North Carolina, and Exceptional Drought conditions expanded into northwest North Carolina in early and late May after the previous several months of February, March, and April recorded precipitation totals of 6.00-8.00 inches, with locally lower totals of 4.00-6.00 inches. This ended up being 50 to 75 percent of normal for that period, with locally lower percentiles in the 25 to 50 percent of normal. These continued dry conditions combined with the dry fall and early winter conditions leading up to below average rainfall in November, December, January, February, March, and April contributed to a continued decline in groundwater and soil moisture in this region, where observed values for each had fallen to at or below the 10th percentile for groundwater, and 2nd percentile for soil moisture in the first 0-100 cm based off the NASA SPoRT LIS data estimated on the 1st of May. Streamflows similarly decreased across the area. This included the Yadkin, New, and Dan River basins, which were all observed to be around the 10th percentile per the USGS WaterWatch website and, in some cases, were near record-low flows.