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Drought Monitor Update — Thursday July 9, 2026

North Carolina's drought conditions deteriorated this week, reversing several weeks of improvement. Exceptional drought expanded to nine counties with the addition of Brunswick County, while extreme drought spread to 46 counties. In the High Country, Alleghany County moved back into the extreme drought category.

Recap by left917 · read the full story at the source

▲ Why this matters

Every county we cover is now in drought. Watauga, Ashe, Avery and Caldwell sit at Severe; Alleghany and Wilkes tipped into Extreme this week. After a few weeks of easing, the map got darker again. Go easy on the tap.

— left917
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