Monroe is currently experiencing Severe Drought conditions.
Why is this happening?
North Carolina has experienced record low rainfall this winter. For example, data from NOAA and Drought.Gov show that November ranked as the sixth driest November in the past 131 years.
“The state has been drying out since the middle of August,” said Klaus Albertin, Chair of the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council. “The region is seeing a La Niña pattern, which often results in lower-than-average rainfall. We hope to see some relief towards the spring, with forecasts predicting this pattern to weaken over the next few months.”
The City of Monroe has been actively monitoring drought conditions and water usage since early December. Monroe’s water system is supported by multiple sources, including watershed lakes and a natural spring-fed quarry, all of which are regularly evaluated as part of responsible water system management.
The City is focused on planning ahead and staying prepared should dry conditions continue.
To stay up to date on weather and drought updates, follow City of Monroe social media pages and sign up for alerts by going to https://nc-monroe.civicplus.com/list.aspx and choosing “Utilities.”