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GREENSBORO — One of the most brutal June heat waves in history is fading — somewhat — but the accompanying lack of rainfall has summer set to begin on an uncomfortably dry note.

It's a reminder that, despite a few moderately wet months that took the edge off the lingering drought, things can get nasty again quickly.

No more than a trace of rain has fallen in June, and the span since May 1 has been far drier than normal, according to the National Weather Service.

"It's bone-dry," said Allan Williams, director of the city's water resources department, adding that stream flows are near record lows. "That is a concern."

The good news, though, is that the city is heading into the summer months in a much better position than last year, when the drought led to water restrictions for several months.

Reservoirs last year started dropping in early May, but that didn't happen this year until this week, Williams said.

Also, in a way, the experience of last year's drought helps. Generally speaking, residents have been using less water than in previous years, Williams said.

"When we come out of a drought, people learn they can get by with less," he said.

That, combined with the later start to the dry weather, means any restrictions likely would not come soon.

The city would begin purchasing significant amounts of water from neighboring cities before it enacted restrictions, which, if needed, likely wouldn't come before September, Williams said.

"We're just going to watch and see how it develops," he said. "Until we start dropping, we're going to hold our powder."

In the short run, the Triad could get at least a taste of rain. The National Weather Service is predicting a chance of thunderstorms during the next several days, with highs in the high 80s.

Still, thunderstorms are unlikely to bring the kind of widespread soaking that replenishes reservoirs.

Looking further into the future, the weather service isn't predicting either a drier-than-normal summer or a wet one, and tropical weather systems could ultimately make the difference.

Contact Jason Hardin at 373-7021 or at jason.hardin@news-record.com