Recent heavy rains have brought Polk County officially out of any drought classification for the first time since October 2011, according to the North Carolina Drought Management Council, which monitors drought levels across the state.
Polk County has received 7.45 inches of rain so far in May. Most of that – 4.61 inches – came on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 13. Other significant rainfall in May occurred on May 7, when the area received 1.93 inches of rain.
Polk County received only 4.12 inches of rain during April, according to weather data collected at the Tryon Water Plant. Tryon received 2 inches of rain on April 6 and another 1.11 inches on April 18. All other rain received in April was less than an inch per day.
Between April 10 and May 8, Polk County was classified as in a moderate drought. On May 15, however, the drought monitor showed Polk County was no longer in any drought classification.
Polk was classified as abnormally dry between Dec. 13, 2011 and April 3, 2012, according to the drought monitor. The county was in the moderate drought classification between Oct. 25, 2011 and Dec. 6, 2011.
North Carolina has several areas that are still experiencing a moderate drought or are classified as abnormally dry. The central part of North Carolina is currently experiencing abnormally dry conditions while the coast is experiencing moderate drought conditions.
Greenville and Spartanburg counties in South Carolina are also no longer considered in drought conditions. They were classified as in a moderate drought as recently as April 25. Several other South Carolina counties are still classified as in a severe or moderate drought.
Forecasts for this week include no rain and temperatures are expected to be in the high 70s to mid 80s.