news-record.com

RALEIGH (AP) — The heat may have subsided in North Carolina, but the drought is still around.

Less than a week after several cities set record highs, temperatures in the state have fallen to more seasonable levels.

But the U.S. drought monitor shows the number of counties experiencing drought more than doubled this week to 39. Four northeastern counties — Halifax, Hertford, Northampton and Warren — are experiencing severe drought, the second-worst of the four-category drought ranking system.

Moderate drought spread to Wake, Durham and Buncombe counties, along with counties bordering Tennessee, South Carolina and Virginia.

The drought map doesn't take into account rain from the past few days, which will be reflected next week.

Alamance, Rockingham and most of Guilford and Forsyth counties are considered abnormally dry, the least serious of drought categories.

Nearly all of Davidson and Randolph counties are not experiencing drought conditions.

To see the state's drought map, visit ncdrought.org.