The recent weather pattern of nearly daily thunderstorm activity helped put a dent in the drought across the Catawba River Basin.
After dealing with a dry June and two sun-baked weeks in July, the past 10 days have offered daily afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms to a large portion of North Carolina. The result is a decrease in severity of the drought as compared to the first half of the month.
From McDowell County eastward to Iredell County, a widespread 1-2-inch rainfall total has accumulated over the past 10 days with some areas picking up significantly higher amounts. Those rains have not erased drought concerns but lowered the severity in the region, according to U.S. Drought Monitor report last Thursday.
Updated Drought Monitor as of July 25.
“We are certainly making progress across the area with the drought and the hope is to continue making strides over the next few days,†said Doug Outlaw, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg.
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Looking at specific data documented on the National Weather Service , the Hickory area has been the biggest recipient of rain. Since July 15, 4.53 inches of rain has fallen at Hickory Regional Airport. The recent rains moved the monthly total to 4.71 inches, allowing the month to end above normal. The largest 24-hour rain total was 1.22 inches on July 24.
Burke and McDowell counties made up some ground over the past two weeks as well.
The Â鶹´«Ã½ COOP Station located at Broughton Hospital has received 5.59 inches of rain this month while Marion has received 3.86 inches. Statesville has also seen its fair share of the rain. As of late Monday afternoon the COOP station on the northeast side of Statesville had received 6.07 inches, which is around 2 inches above the normal amount for July.
Rain-producing thunderstorms have been frequent over the past two weeks across the Catawba Valley region.
Data from the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network  shows 14-day rainfall amounts of more than 7 inches across southern Catawba County and southeast Burke County with 2-4 inches in McDowell County during the same timeframe.
Monday National Weather Service forecasts show heightened rain chances through Tuesday and then dropping down to 30% or less for the mid-to-late-week timeframe. With the decrease in rain will come a return of above normal temperatures for the second half of this week, something that could negate some of the recent gains made in the drought.
“As we get hotter later in the week and dry out, the evaporation rates will increase,†Outlaw said. “That’s not particularly good as you can dry out the surface again.â€
Forecasted temperatures in the lower 90s are anticipated for Wednesday with mid-90s possible for Thursday and Friday, according to the National Weather Service forecasts.
