Drought in North Carolina, June 1 to 30, 2026

Name: Drought in North Carolina, June 1 to 30, 2026
Start: 2026-06-01T00:00
End: 2026-06-30T00:00
Location: North Carolina

June 1 to 30, 2026 · NWS RNK · 9 events in 9 counties and zones

00 inches. This ended up being 50 to 75 percent of normal for that period, with locally lower percentiles in the 10 to 25 percent of normal.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 9 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 9

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS RNK wrote it up.

Extreme Drought conditions worsened across north central North Carolina, and Exceptional Drought conditions improved to Severe Drought in northwest North Carolina in the middle of June after the previous several months of March, April, and May recorded precipitation totals of 6.00-8.00 inches, with locally lower totals of 2.00-4.00 inches, and locally higher totals of 8.00-10.00 inches. This ended up being 50 to 75 percent of normal for that period, with locally lower percentiles in the 10 to 25 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, April, and May 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 16th of June. 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.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Blacksburg, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 31, 7:03 PM EST, 4 hours 57 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

KEY MESSAGE 1: Widely scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are forecast on Tuesday as a cold front and associated upper level disturbance pass across the lower Mid- Atlantic.

Area forecast discussion, May 31, 7:03 PM EST, 4 hours 57 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
803 PM EDT Sun May 31 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Updated the aviation forecast.

Monday has trended drier, but Tuesday still appears to have
widely scattered mountain showers/storms.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
KEY MESSAGE 1: Widely scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms are forecast on Tuesday as a cold front and
associated upper level disturbance pass across the lower Mid-
Atlantic.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...Widely scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms are forecast for Tuesday as a cold front and
associated upper level disturbance pass across the lower Mid-
Atlantic.

Trough will remain over the eastern US through Monday with a
stalled front remaining well south of the forecast area. This
will keep dry conditions in the forecast through tonight. Will
see some moisture increase on Monday across the Carolinas and
could be enough for isolated afternoon mountain showers to
develop during peak heating.

On Tuesday, storms will likely prove more widespread than the
isolated activity triggered on Monday. However, surface high
pressure and pools of dry air may work to inhibit deep storm
development. Given the lack of deep moisture returning to the
area, any rainfall is forecasted to remain brief in duration.
Likewise, any storms that do manage to develop are not expected
to become severe.

Wednesday through Friday will bring dry conditions and mostly
sunny skies, keeping the region pleasant before the next weather
system threatens to bring more rain by next weekend.

Mountain communities will enjoy highs in the 70s through
Monday, followed by a cooler dip into the 60s and low 70s on
Tuesday and Wednesday, before rebounding back into the upper 70s
to lower 80s late in the week. Meanwhile, the foothills and
Piedmont will experience highs mostly in the 70s, though
thermometers will flirt with the 80s both today and Monday.
After a slightly cooler stretch mid-week, a significant warming
trend will arrive by next Friday and Saturday, pushing
temperatures into the upper 80s to lower 90.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Mainly high clouds passing over the forecast area...bases ABV
10kft. There is a secondary layer between 4-8KFT creeping into
the southwest part of the forecast area but conditions still
primarily VFR. Surface winds are expected to remain light
through the overnight...under 10 kts. Any river fog will be
mainly confined to WV and areas to the north, mainly impacting
LWB. BLF/BCB could see some light mist toward morning with tempo
MVFR.

Monday will be another quiet day with VFR at all terminals
through the end of the TAF period as high pressure continues to
push into the area. The biggest change tomorrow will be wind
direction, as southerly wind shifts to the north/northwest
behind a weak frontal passage Monday morning...and then become
northeast Monday afternoon.

Confidence in the above forecast is moderate to high.

EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...

A few stray afternoon showers/storms may occur along the NC/VA line
Monday afternoon and evening, but will be unlikely to directly
affect any terminals. DAN should be just far enough north to
avoid any rain, though it cannot be completely ruled out. VFR
will continue at all terminals into Monday night. Patchy fog
again is possible Monday night, which could cause sub-VFR
conditions, likely confined to BLF/LWB. A better chance of
scattered showers/storms returns on Tuesday, at least for all
terminals except DAN/LYH. Any rain would bring brief sub-VFR.
Beginning Tuesday night, high pressure fully engulfs the area,
keeping quiet and dry conditions in place through the rest of
the week. Due to this, VFR is expected to continue at all
terminals. Patchy fog remains possible each overnight, mostly
confined to the valleys.

&&

.RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VA...None.
NC...None.
WV...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...BMG/RCS
AVIATION...PM/JCB

Hazardous weather outlook, May 31, 1:31 PM EST, 10 hours 29 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
231 PM EDT Sun May 31 2026

NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-
WVZ042>044-507-508-011845-
Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Watauga-Wilkes-
Yadkin-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Grayson-
Carroll-Floyd-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-
Patrick-Franklin-Bedford-Amherst-Henry-Pittsylvania-Campbell-
Appomattox-Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte-Mercer-Summers-Monroe-
Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier-
231 PM EDT Sun May 31 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina,
northwest North Carolina, central Virginia, south central Virginia,
southwest Virginia, west central Virginia and southeast West
Virginia.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Alleghany

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Alleghany forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 36.491, -81.127 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Drought conditions improved to Severe Drought conditions in Alleghany county through the month of June after the previous several months of March, April, May, and most of June recorded precipitation totals of 8.00-10.00 inches, which ended up being 50 to 75 percent of normal for that period. These dry conditions combined with the dry fall conditions leading up to below average rainfall in November, December, January, and February contributed to a rapid decrease in groundwater and soil moisture in this region, where observed values for each had slightly increased to or remained at or below the 10th percentile for groundwater, and 10th percentile for soil moisture in the first 0-100 cm based off the NASA SPoRT LIS data estimated on the 30th of June. Streamflows increased slightly 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.

Drought, Ashe

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Ashe forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 36.434, -81.500 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Exceptional Drought conditions improved to Severe Drought conditions in Ashe county through the end of June after the previous several months of March, April, and May recorded precipitation totals of 10.00-15.00 inches, which ended up being 50 to 75 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 10th to 20th percentile for soil moisture in the first 0-100 cm based off the NASA SPoRT LIS data estimated on the 30th of June. 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.

Drought, Caswell

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Caswell forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 36.393, -79.334 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Drought conditions worsened to Exceptional Drought across Caswell county through the end of June after the previous several months of March, April, and May recorded precipitation totals of 4.00-6.00 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 30th of June. Streamflows similarly decreased across the area. This included the Dan River, which was observed to be below the 10th percentile per the USGS WaterWatch website and, in some cases, were near record-low flows.

Drought, Rockingham

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Rockingham forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 36.396, -79.775 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Drought conditions worsened to Exceptional Drought across Rockingham county through late June after the previous several months of March, April, and May recorded precipitation totals of 4.00-6.00 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, and Februarycontributed 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 30th of June. Streamflows similarly decreased across the area. This included the Dan River, which was observed to be below the 10th percentile per the USGS WaterWatch website and, in some cases, were near record-low flows.

Drought, Stokes

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Stokes forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 36.402, -80.240 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Drought conditions remained across Stokes county through late June after the previous several months of March, April, and May recorded precipitation totals of 8.00-10.00 inches, which ended up being 50 to 75 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, and February 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 20th to 30th percentile for soil moisture in the first 0-100 cm based off the NASA SPoRT LIS data estimated on the 30th of June. Streamflows similarly decreased across the area. This included the Dan River, which was observed to be below the 10th percentile per the USGS WaterWatch website and, in some cases, were near record-low flows.

Drought, Surry

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Surry forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 36.415, -80.687 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Drought conditions improved to Severe Drought Conditions across Surry county through late June after several rounds of heavy rainfall. Drought conditions lingered however, because the previous several months of March, April, and May recorded precipitation totals of 8.00-10.00 inches, which ended up being 50 to 75 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 20th to 30th percentile for soil moisture in the first 0-100 cm based off the NASA SPoRT LIS data estimated on the 30th of June. Streamflows similarly decreased across the area. This included the Dan River, which was observed to be below the 10th percentile per the USGS WaterWatch website and, in some cases, were near record-low flows.

Drought, Watauga

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Watauga forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 36.231, -81.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Drought conditions improved to Severe Drought Conditions across Watauga county through late June after several heavier rainfall events occurred in June. Drought conditions lingered however, after the previous several months of March, April, and May recorded precipitation totals of 8.00-10.00 inches, which ended up being 50 to 75 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 10th to 20th percentile for soil moisture in the first 0-100 cm based off the NASA SPoRT LIS data estimated on the 30th of June. Streamflows similarly decreased across the area. This included the Watauga River, which was observed to be below the 10th percentile per the USGS WaterWatch website and, in some cases, were near record-low flows.

Drought, Wilkes

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Wilkes forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 36.206, -81.163 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Exceptional Drought conditions improved to Extreme Drought conditions across Wilkes county through early to late June after several rainfall events. Drought conditions lingered however, after the previous several months of March, April, and May recorded precipitation totals of 8.00-10.00 inches, which ended up being 50 to 75 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 5th to 20th percentile for soil moisture in the first 0-100 cm based off the NASA SPoRT LIS data estimated on the 30th of June. Streamflows similarly decreased across the area. This included the Yadkin River, which was observed to be in the 10th to 25th percentile per the USGS WaterWatch website and, in some cases, were near record-low flows.

Drought, Yadkin

When: June 1, 12:00 AM EST to June 30, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Yadkin forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 36.161, -80.665 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Drought conditions continued across Yadkin county through late June after the previous several months of March, April, and May recorded precipitation totals of 6.00-8.00 inches, which ended up being 50 to 75 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, and February 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 to 5th percentile for soil moisture in the first 0-100 cm based off the NASA SPoRT LIS data estimated on the 30th of June. Streamflows similarly decreased across the area. This included the Yadkin River, which was observed to be below the 10th percentile per the USGS WaterWatch website and, in some cases, were near record-low flows.

What these are

Drought: A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in North Carolina in 2026 Every state in 2026 This day in weather history Warnings in North Carolina, June 2026

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1353716, 1355598, 1355614, 1355621, 1355623, 1355624, 1355644, 1355655, 1355666.