NORTH CAROLINA — Little to no rain is expected across North Carolina over the next seven days, allowing the drought to worsen across the state. The hardest hit areas of central North Carolina are expected to stay dry, adding more stress to water supplies, lawns, and crops. The only real moisture will fall in the highest elevations of the mountains along the Tennessee border late Thursday into Friday, where it will come down as snow.
Central and Eastern North Carolina Stay Mostly Dry
The European model’s total precipitation forecast through November 20 shows very little rain across central and eastern North Carolina. Most of the Piedmont, Sandhills, and Coastal Plain are expected to see only a few hundredths of an inch, with many areas staying completely dry.
This includes Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro, Charlotte, Fayetteville, and Greenville. Coastal areas near Wilmington and the Outer Banks show only light totals around 0.1 to 0.2 inch.
Mountain Snow Along the Tennessee Border Late Thursday
The only meaningful moisture is expected in the highest elevations of the North Carolina mountains along the Tennessee line. Precipitation in these areas will fall as snow late Thursday into Friday as colder air moves in.
Model totals in the highest terrain range from about 0.3 to 0.7 inch of liquid, which would translate into snow at the higher peaks. Communities at lower elevations, including Asheville, are expected to see little precipitation.
Drought Continues to Strain Raleigh’s Water Supply
The ongoing dry stretch comes as Falls Lake, Raleigh’s main drinking water source, has been running about 8 feet below normal. With no significant rain in sight, lake levels are likely to keep falling or hold near current lows…