NC Drought Map - June 19, 2007 (Charlotte, Durham: airport, installing, metro area)

[mm34b]

http://www.ncwater.org/drought/graphics/weekly_dm/20070619.pdf (broken link)

[cowboy_wilhelm]

This shows that a few afternoon thunderstorms does NOT replenish the lack of rain from the past several months. So don't turn those sprinklers back on.

[CaliBoy]

We've been fortunate that our grass, for the most part, has stayed fairly green here in Durham. No watering. Kewl. Although, we are heavy duty water conservationists and probably use less than the average household (i.e. never letting water run while brushing teeth, shaving, etc, installing high efficiency washers, toilets, etc., etc). Although, I do wonder, since we have both city and well water working, that when the city says to conserve, I'm guessing they simply mean the city water, not our own well water. Hmmm. ???

[Father John]

That is scary. What do they mean by severe drought? Does it vary for your area over ours? Here in AZ, a sever drought means going over 100 days with no rain at all sometimes. It means virtually no snow pack in the mountains in the winter. It means 4 inches of rain a year instead of 7-9 inches (normal).

From what I see, NC averages 5 inches of rain a MONTH (30 year average). Is that way down now?

Thanks for any updates.

[cooperwx]

Precipitation totals for the Asheville Regional Airport through yesterday:

June: 0.79"
May: 0.96" (driest ever on record)
April: 1.77"
March: 4.29"
February: 1.45"
January: 3.35"

TOTAL: 12.61" (10.92" below normal for the year so far)

So of course wetter than a dry year in AZ, but only a bit more than half of normal precipitation.

[mm34b]

I believe drought is determined by local rainfall, stream flow, and other water supply indicators such as monitoring the water level of various test wells in a given county.

In my area of NC, normal rainfall total by this time of the year should be 23.53". However, we've only recorded 12.61", so we are 10.92" below normal. On the current drought map, the Asheville Metro area is classified as a D2-Severe Drought area. I'm 9 miles from the Asheville Regional Airport.

[Father John]

Thanks to you both for the details. That helps a lot.

[Catrick]

That is really interesting. We are in a drought her in S.Fla. also. Although we have been getting a steady stream of rain lately-it isn't raining over the rest of the state. If it isn't raining there, there is no filtering down scenerio. We may be getting the rain but our lakes and rivers are still way below normal.
Therefore, we are below normal too. The grass is green though.

A quick question. Why is North Carolina divided into river basins? And other than different state agencies, what does that mean to average citizen? Just curious.

Thanks.

[cowboy_wilhelm]

Originally Posted by Catrick

A quick question. Why is North Carolina divided into river basins? And other than different state agencies, what does that mean to average citizen? Just curious.

Just as an example, Charlotte, in the Catawba River basin, pumps millions and millions of water from the Catawba every day. A severe drought in the mountains at the head of the Catawba affects stream flow and volume in areas downstream that may not be under as extreme of drought conditions.

[chucklesthehippy]

Something that strikes me, is when we get these afternoon downpour (deluges?), is that water really even sinking into the ground? I see it just running down the street towards the nearest river. i dont think that actually replenishes the aquifer in a meaningful way.
just because the rain gauges show an inch, or whatever, that doesnt neccesarily mean that is what has seeped in, eh?