Unusually dry weather is having an impact across North Carolina. Much of the eastern part of the state is in a drought.
According to the North Carolina Climate Office, the Piedmont is getting decent rainfall at least once a week.
But there are dry patches along the Tennessee border, where and forced evacuations near Maggie Valley last week.
"Everyone just needs to be vigilant, especially when it comes to open burnings, until conditions improve and we get some soaking rains moving across more of the state," NC Forest Service spokesman Philip Jackson
The U.S. Drought Monitor says a swath of Eastern North Carolina from Tarboro to Southport is in 鈥渟evere drought.鈥�
Farmers are having to look outside the state for hay to feed livestock, and lake and stream levels are running low, The rest of the region is considered 鈥渁bnormally dry鈥� or in 鈥渕oderate drought.鈥�
Forecasters say there is an equal chance of dry conditions persisting, or rainfall returning to normal over the next two months.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says temperatures across the Southeast will be above normal.
