Polk County is now abnormally dry, according to the federal drought map released Tuesday, July 6. Spartanburg County in South Carolina is also in the same abnormally dry category.

The area hasnt seen a month with above average precipitation since January this year, according to observations in Tryon for the National Weather Service.

In January, nearly 8 inches of precipitation was recorded, 7 of that in snow and ice. But since then precipitation each month has been below average, in most months by more than an inch.

The area now has a precipitation deficit for the year of more than 7 inches, which, though nowhere near the deficits seen in 2008, is still causing concern.

June ended with a total of 5.18 inches of rainfall recorded here. While thats better than the previous four months, its still well below normal.

Much of Western North Carolina is also in abnormally dry, according to the N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council, with a few areas falling into the moderate drought category (see the darker gray areas in the map on p. 11). In South Carolina, the abnormally dry area extends&bsp; through the midlands to the southern coast.

Conditions might improve a little next week if the predicted thunderstorm activity actually drops rain in the Thermal Belt. Predictions for thunderstorms over the past several weeks have frequently resulted in little or no precipitation.

No water restrictions have been imposed yet, but state officials urge residents to conserve water whenever possible.