N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Water Resources
N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council Annual Report
July 1,2017-June 30,2018
Introduction
The N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC), created as required by North
Carolina General Statute 143-355.1, coordinates drought monitoring, assessment, and
response activities between State and Federal agencies, public water systems, and
water users. The objective of the DMAC is to provide consistent and accurate
information on drought conditions to these entities, the U.S. Drought Monitor, the
Environmental Management Commission, the Secretary of the N.C. Department of
Environmental Quality, the N.C. Environmental Review Commission, and the public in
order to manage and mitigate the harmful effects of drought. In accordance with
statutory requirements, the council must submit an annual report to the Secretary of the
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, the Governor and the N.C. Environmental
Review Commission by October 1sl of each year.
Drought Overview 2017-2018
Climate Summary - State Climate Office
Temperature and Precipitation
For the 12-month period from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018, North Carolina’s
precipitation was near normal, averaging 48.90 inches, or 0.42 inches below the 1901-
2000 mean annual precipitation. The driest month in this period was November, which
only saw an average of 1 .3 inches across the state, or 1 .72 inches below the 20th-
century mean. For the 1 2-month period, only October 2017, April 2018, and May 2018
saw above-normal precipitation, but these months were marked by amounts more than
an inch above the long-term normal; May 2018, for example, saw 2.6 inches above
normal precipitation.
Average temperatures for the same period were 1 ,4°F warmer than the 1901-2000
period mean, with 9 of the 12 months having temperatures that were above their historic
monthly average. Of note, February 2018 was the warmest February ever recorded in
the state at 9.9°F above normal, and May 2018 ranked as the 3rd-warmest May on
