Recent showers and thunderstorms have been an added bonus over the last week after Polk County spent the entire month of June in a moderate drought, according to the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council.

Tryon received only 1.73 inches of rain through last Thursday morning, prior to a night shower, according to the National Weather Service. Normally, Tryon receives 5.38 inches of rain during the month of June. Other months so far this year with little precipitation include the months of January, March and April. February and May are the only months so far this year that have exceeded normal rainfall with 5.61 inches of precipitation in February and 6.34 inches of rain in May, according to the NWS. Normally, February receives 4.86 inches of precipitation and May receives 4.57 inches of rain.

The months of April and June saw the least rainfall of all months so far this year, with only 1.40 inches of rain in April and 1.73 inches as of last Thursday morning, June 30, for the month of June.

April normally sees 4.58 inches of rain and June normally sees 5.38 inches of rain, according to historical data from the NWS.

According to monthly normal rainfall, the area should have had 30.25 inches of precipitation so far this year and it has only received 21.19 inches by the end of June, putting the area 9.06 inches below normal.

The year 2015 ended well above normal rainfall after December saw 14.56 inches of rain, which followed other high months in November with 10.13 inches, October with 9.87 inches and September with 9.35 inches, according to the NWS. Last year ended with a total of 71.96 inches for the year, which is more than 10 inches above normal.

This year so far has not seen near the rainfall as 2015, although last year September-December were where 2015 saw the most rainfall of the year.

Following the well above average 2015, Polk County has been listed consistently in a moderate drought since May 31 this year, was listed abnormally dry on May 24 and in a moderate drought from May 3-May 17 this year, according to N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council, which can be monitored at ncdrought.org. Polk was listed as abnormally dry the entire month of April this year as well.

June this year has seen high temperatures as well. The month of June saw 15 days with temperatures 90 degrees or above with the highest recorded at 96 degrees, according to the NWS. The average high temperature for the month of June was 88.3 degrees with the normal for the month being 83.1 degrees, according to the NWS.

Drought has also effected several other nearby counties, including some that were recently upgraded from moderate to severe drought last week, including portions of Macon, Transylvania, Jackson and Haywood counties.

Severe drought is the second highest level of drought classifications, behind extreme drought.

“The counties in the southwestern mountain area of the state have been experiencing dry conditions for several months due to lower than normal precipitation, which impacts soil moisture levels, stream flows and groundwater levels,” said Rebecca Ward, extension climatologist with the State Climate Office of North Carolina. “If these dry conditions continue, this area may see additional impacts that could affect agriculture.”

Throughout the state last week, 10 other counties were classified as in moderate drought and 22 counties across the state were listed as abnormally dry, the first classification of drought conditions.