By admin 
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Nearly three weeks into August, the month has been exceptionally dry across central North Carolina, with just 0.35 inches of rain so far. That makes this the driest start to August on record.
Read more James Harden agrees to 3-year, $97-million contract to remain with Cavaliers, AP sources say
The lack of rainfall comes just weeks after a major improvement in drought conditions during July, when parts of the region picked up more than a foot of rain. That July rainfall provided much-needed relief, but the return of a dry pattern has caused drought conditions to expand once again.
The latest drought assessment shows an expansion of severe drought across parts of the state, while most of the other drought categories remain relatively unchanged. There has been a slight improvement in the overall amount of drought across North Carolina, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.
The recent weather pattern has favored more frequent showers and thunderstorms across the western half of the state, while central and eastern North Carolina have missed out on much of that rainfall. That uneven distribution is becoming increasingly important as the end of summer approaches.
The areas most in need of additional rainfall are northern North Carolina, particularly near the Virginia border. Extreme drought remains entrenched in parts of this region, and rainfall there is especially important because much of the area sits upstream of the rivers and watersheds that feed reservoirs.
Read more College athletes are now eligible for big time payments. Will nonprofits benefit?
Meaningful rainfall across those northern watersheds would help improve streamflow, recharge water supplies, and move reservoir levels closer to normal.
There is some good news on the horizon. The persistent dry pattern appears to be losing some of its grip, and the overall weather pattern is expected to shift toward one that provides more opportunities for showers and thunderstorms.
That doesn’t mean the drought disappears overnight, and isolated thunderstorms can produce very uneven rainfall, but a return of more frequent rain would at least slow the deterioration and provide an opportunity for drought conditions to improve again.
Read more Carlos Alcaraz is set to return from a wrist injury and defend his US Open title