N.C. Gov. Mike Easley warned last week that current drought conditions in North Carolina are worse now than this same time a year ago.&bsp; Unless there is significant rainfall the state could face a more serious situation than in 2007. The federal drought map released today shows 14 western counties in exceptional drought, twice the number from last week.&bsp; Ninety-seven of the state&squo;s 100 counties are in some level of drought.

&dquo;It is good that we started conserving a year and a half ago,&dquo; Easley said. &dquo;The drought conditions are worse now than they were last year at this same time.&dquo;

The latest federal drought map indicates there are 56 counties in the western half of the state either at exceptional, extreme or severe drought levels.&bsp; During the same week in 2007, there were 21 counties in extreme or severe drought and none in exceptional, the worst category.&bsp; This week&squo;s drought map and the map for the same week last year are included in this release.

Rainfall in late May and through this month has been below normal which means streams and groundwater conditions are not at the rates to keep reservoirs full.&bsp; In its May North Carolina Weather Review, the National Weather Service warned that the drop in rainfall is a &dquo;red flag&dquo; for the summer season. According to the report: &dquo;If there are long periods without significant rainfall over the interior sections of the state, specifically the major metropolitan areas of Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High Point and Raleigh-Durham, the stream flow will quickly tail off.&bsp; This would greatly limit the recharge into the reservoirs.&bsp; The cities and towns that loosened very strict water restrictions during the spring 2008 may have to think about tightening the restrictions again before July and August.&dquo;&bsp; The report is available online at: www.erh.noaa.gov/rah/ncsummaries.

For more information on the drought and saving water, go to www.SaveWaterNC.org and for more on the Emergency Loan Program, go to http://www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/pws/srf/Pages/el_program.htm.