CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The updated United States drought monitor came out on Thursday, and the results are grim for the Carolinas. Right now, 87% of North Carolina and 73% of South Carolina are under drier than normal conditions.
But the biggest change has been our drought status. It has been upgraded to severe drought or a D2. This isn’t just a small spot, either. It encompasses 17% of North Carolina and 12% of South Carolina. This includes all of Mecklenburg County.
What does this mean in terms of impacts or local threats? When impacted by a “severe drought”, historically observed changes have been:
- Dryland crop yields are low
- Wildfires are difficult to extinguish
- Swimming areas and boat ramps begin to close
- Voluntary and mandatory water use restrictions are implemented
- People are asked to refrain from nonessential water use
Less water to drink and bathe with also means less water to fight wildfires. A burn ban is currently in place for the state of North Carolina. This includes all open burning, such as using a fire pit, campfires, fireworks, etc. You can still cook outdoors, but caution is advised.
WCNC Charlotte spoke with Cabe Speary, a fire environment forester with the North Carolina Forest Service, about what precautions they recommend to keep you, your family, and your home safe.
Here are some of the tips:
- Limb up trees a few feet off the ground and make sure they don’t touch the grass in case it catches fire
- Don’t store firewood near your house or under your deck
- Make sure lawnmowers and other farm equipments are free of debris, such as leaves, pine needles, hay. This debris should also be away from mufflers or any hot part of the equipment
- Make sure ashes from your fireplace are out before you dump them and don’t do it in the woods
Speary said 98% of the fires in North Carolina are human-caused, with the rest being from lightning, which is rare this time of year. Oftentimes, these causes aren’t intentional, which is why they’re advising extreme caution.
The example Speary used is about a person pulling over their car to answer a phone call.
“People trying to do the right thing," Speary said. "Get a phone call, gotta take it, pull over to the side of the road to take it. ... But they leave their car running, talk on the phone, drive away. Meanwhile, their catalytic converter lit the grass on fire.”
And don’t forget, if you see anything suspicious or someone violating the burn ban -- call 911. A fire may not impact you or your home, but it can hurt your neighbor or your community.
Contact Brittany Van Voorhees at bvanvoorhe@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.