http://droughtreporter.unl.edu/

v 2.4.3.0

Since August 28th we have only received 0.22" of rain, that is 25 days of hot summer weather after being over 4" below normal in July of this year for 2016. Since January 1, 2016 we have only had one month near normal in rainfall and one above. February we were at 3.80" which is normal and May we had a bit over 6" which is about 60% above normal. All of the other seven months have been significantly below normal. July we were 4" below normal and as of September 21st we are now over 7" below normal for 2016 in western Rowan County, North Carolina. Charlotte is showing 22.79" for us but I have recorded more at my site NC-RW-17. Charlotte is 7.84" below normal as of September 20th 50 miles east of us, 60 miles south, the Mountains to our west and the Virginia border to the north have seen much more rain than us . I have kept weather records for Rowan, North Carolina for nearly 50 years and have never seen such a localized drought. just yesterday and today it is raining heavily to our east just 40 miles away. Farmers here that can't irrigate are in bad shape, trees are losing leaves as if it was mid fall, yards are yellowing or dead with the exception of watered areas, most crops were at a decade low level without irrigation, wildlife is seeking what water sources are remaining: the Yadkin River, large ponds (the small ones are all gone or puddles) and individual homes with bird baths and watering devices. I have a picture of two ducks in the swimming pool. We are over 25% below normal for 2016 and with 44" a year about normal, that hurts especially at the warmest part of the year. CoCoRaHS Report from Station #Salisbury 3.4 NW on 9/21/2016