After experiencing precipitation deficits of 17.6 inches and 22.75 inches in 2008 and 2007, respectively, the county is near normal rainfall this year, based on observations for the National Weather Service in Tryon. The dry weather pattern continued through the last half of the winter season with just 3.93 inches of precipitation in January, followed by 1.72 inches in February. But March brought 7.99 inches of rainfall, and the wet weather pattern has continued through the first half of April. Currently, the North Carolina drought map shows 14 counties at the &dquo;moderate&dquo; drought level and 32 counties as &dquo;abnormally dry.&dquo; The other 44 counties in the state are not experiencing drought or dry conditions. The driest areas in the state remain in Western North Carolina. Polk County is on the eastern edge of the moderate drought area, according to the latest drought map. Much of Upstate South Carolina, including Spartanburg and Greenville counties, also has seen improvement in recent weeks and also was lowered to &dquo;abnormally dry&dquo; after being at &uot;severe&uot; drought or higher for an extended period previously.