Severe drought (D2) began impacting Eastern North Carolina in early June and worsened to extreme drought (D3) by early July for several extreme eastern North Carolina counties. As of mid August and prior to Hurricane Irene, Local Climatological Data Sites New Bern and Cape Hatteras observed fifty-three and seventy-six percent of normal precipitation, respectively. Hurricane Irene brought much needed 7 to 14 inches of precipitation to the region in late August which diminished drought impacts below D0 for all counties except Duplin that remains abnormally dry (D0). Prior to Hurricane Irene, the region had received well below normal precipitation since last winter. As a result of these conditions, the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources banned open burning in Eastern North Carolina through early August but lifted then ban by mid month.

Drought in EASTERN DARE, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-11 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Severe drought (D2) designation continued for Outer Banks Dare County through late August 2011 just prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Outer Banks Dare County.

Drought in DUPLIN, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-11 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Severe drought (D2) designation continued for Duplin County through late August 2011 just prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene at Beulaville (9.61 inches) and Mount Olive (5.68 inches) indicated sufficient precipitation to diminish drought designation for Duplin County to abnormally dry (D0).

Drought in WESTERN DARE, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-11 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Severe drought (D2) designation continued for Mainland Dare County through late August 2011 just prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene at Dare Bomb Range (7.57 inches) indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Mainland Dare County.

Drought in GREENE, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-11 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Severe drought (D2) designation continued for Greene County through mid August 2011 prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Greene County.

Drought in ONSLOW, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-11 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Extreme drought (D3) designation continued for Onslow County through late August 2011 just prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene at Jacksonville (11.70 inches), Maysville (10.68 inches), and Swansboro (9.76 inches) indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Onslow County.

Drought in PAMLICO, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-11 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Severe drought (D2) designation continued for Pamlico County through late August 2011 just prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene at Bayboro (15.74 inches) and Merritt (9.42 inches) indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Onslow County.

Drought in PITT, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-11 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Severe drought (D2) designation continued for Pitt County through mid August 2011 prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene at Grifton (12.69 inches), Greenville (12.32 inches) and Winterville (11.20 inches) indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Pitt County.

Drought in TYRRELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-11 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Severe drought (D2) designation continued for Tyrrell County through late August 2011 just prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Tyrrell County.

Drought in JONES, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-11 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Extreme drought (D3) designation continued for Jones County through mid August 2011 prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Jones County.

Drought in LENOIR, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-11 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Extreme drought (D3) designation continued for Lenoir County through mid August 2011 prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene at Kinston (9.53 inches) indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Lenoir County.

Drought in CARTERET, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-11 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Extreme drought (D3) designation continued for Carteret County through late August 2011 just prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene at Cedar Island (11.95 inches), Croatan Forest (11.13 inches), and Newport (10.41 inches) indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Carteret County.

Drought in WASHINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-11 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Severe drought (D2) designation continued for Washington County through late August 2011 just prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene at Pocosin Lakes (11.20 inches) indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Washington County.

Drought in EASTERN HYDE, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-11 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Severe drought (D2) designation continued for Outer Banks Hyde County through late August 2011 just prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene at Ocracoke (7.37 inches) indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Outer Banks Hyde County.

Drought in CRAVEN, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-11 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Extreme drought (D3) designation continued for Craven County through late August 2011 just prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene at New Bern (14.79 inches), Havelock (12.64 inches), and Trent Woods (10.94 inches) indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Craven County.

Drought in WESTERN HYDE, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-11 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Severe drought (D2) designation continued for Mainland Hyde County through late August 2011 just prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene at Fairfield (7.61 inches) indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Mainland Hyde County.

Drought in BEAUFORT, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-11 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-11 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Severe drought (D2) designation continued for Beaufort County through late August 2011 just prior to Hurricane Irene. Significant rainfall occurred across the county with the passage of Hurricane Irene. Storm total rainfall from Hurricane Irene at Bunyan (15.66 inches), Washington (13.11 inches), and Aurora (13.10 inches) indicated sufficient precipitation to remove drought designation for Beaufort County.