Abnormally dry weather creeps back into Wilson County

Feb 18, 2009      The Wilson Daily Times

Stephanie Creech

Feb. 18, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Rain might be falling today, but the drops have been scarce enough this year that Wilson and surrounding counties are experiencing abnormally dry conditions, based on information released by the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

In fact, all 100 counties in the state are experiencing either drought conditions or abnormally dry conditions. The most severe drought conditions are in the western part of the state. Abnormally dry conditions mean drought could return if adequate rainfall doesn't occur in the region.

"We're encouraging all citizens of North Carolina to conserve water," said Woody Yonts, chairman of the N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council.

Yonts said "drought conditions could start creeping eastward across the state if these long-term outlooks don't change."

Projections from the National Climate Prediction Center indicate unseasonably dry weather is expected to continue for the next several months.

Water levels at Buckhorn Reservoir, the city of Wilson's main water source, are holding steady. Currently, water level at the lake is 3 inches above what is considered full. The weather station at Wilson Community College indicates we've had 12 days of no measurable rain thus far this month. The highest rainfall recorded this year by the college's station was 0.93 inches Jan. 6.

Walter Earle, Wilson County Cooperative Extension Service director, said right now the soil moisture levels in our area are adequate, and, thus far, this year's wheat crop hasn't been adversely affected because the wheat hasn't reached its main growth spurt yet, Earle said.

Information provided by the N.C. Department of Agriculture shows this year's wheat crop was in "fair to good condition" as of the end of January.

"Normally what winter does is build up water in ponds," Earle said. "We continue to need to build up those reserves in irrigation ponds and those kinds of things."

While rain has made itself scarce, Wilson and surrounding counties have had several inches of snow to fall. A January storm left behind just over 5 inches of snow while a February storm left just over 2 inches of snow on the ground. Snow does add moisture to the soil because very little of it is lost due to run-off.

"All of it goes into the soil," Earle said.

In February 2008, Wilson County had five days of recorded rainfall with totals ranging from a high of 2.90 inches along U.S. 117 to a low of 1.80 inches at New Hope. The data is based on rain gauge readings taken by the Wilson County Soil and Water Conservation Office at the county's garbage convenience centers.

Last January, Wilson County had three days of recorded rainfall with totals ranging from a high of 2 inches in Saratoga to less than an inch in the Rock Ridge and Stantonsburg areas.

creech@wilsontimes.com -- 265-7822

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N.C. Drought Advisory Conditions

Counties experiencing abnormally dry conditions: Wilson, Edgecombe, Greene, Johnston, Nash, Pitt, Wayne

Total: 61 statewide

Counties experiencing severe drought

Total: 10 statewide

Counties experiencing moderate drought

Total: 29 statewide

Source: N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council; conditions as of Feb. 10

Newstex ID: KRTB-0359-31947073

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