Last Updated on July 2, 2015 1:00 pm
Data released June 30, 2015 by the United States Drought Monitor shows the High Country still abnormally dry.
Brad Rippey, USDA Meteorologist, notes that during the four weeks ending June 30, statewide drought coverage, which had been zero in North Carolina in early June, increased to 16 percent by June 30.
On the same date, North Carolina led the Southeast with 34 percent of its pastures rated very poor to poor, Rippey also adds.
For the contiguous 48 states, the U.S. Drought Monitor showed 25.88 percent of the area in moderate drought or worse, compared with 25.13 percent a week earlier.
Drought now affects 77,020,884 people, compared with 79,081,886 a week earlier.
For all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, the U.S. Drought Monitor showed 23.25 percent of the area in moderate drought or worse, compared with 21.97 percent a week earlier.
Drought now affects 79,538,651 people, compared with 81,291,250 a week earlier.
