Drought conditions are improving across North Carolina thanks to wet weather in the first several days of 2022.
The last two months had been unusually dry for the state.
According to information from the State Climate Office, November 2021 was the driest November since 1931 and the third-driest ever recorded statewide.
Last month was the 15th-driest December on record for the state.
At one point in December, around half the state was experiencing severe drought conditions. It was the first severe drought in North Carolina since 2016.
Rain in late December and the early January storm that brought severe weather and snow to parts of the state have helped to put a sizeable dent in the rainfall deficit since fall.
The latest Drought Monitor released Thursday shows drought improvement over the last week for much of the state.
Now, less than three percent of the state has a severe drought.
The Raleigh area measured over three-and-a-half inches of rain last weekend through Monday that led to flooding around the capital city.
Even with flooding, one big rainfall does not completely wash away a drought.
As it takes weeks and months for a drought to develop, it can take several rainfalls for drought conditions to completely disappear.
The long-range outlook suggests near to slightly above normal precipitation is expected in the state over the next couple of weeks.