North Carolina climate officials say last month was the driest June on record.
An average of just 1.35 inches of precipitation fell across the state last month, making it the driest since 1895, according to the North Carolina State Climate Office.
The Piedmont and coastal plain were hit hardest, but not all of the mountain region was spared. In Boone, the roughly inch and a half of precipitation was its third driest since 1980.
At one point, Greensboro, Hickory and the Alleghany County community of Laurel Springs went 17 straight days with no measurable rainfall.
Almost the entire state is considered abnormally dry or under drought conditions, according to the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council.
Stokes County is one of 10 counties where the drought was considered severe as of Thursday. At that level, crop yields are generally low and wildfires become difficult to extinguish.
The council also suggests such municipalities implement water shortage response plans.
Officials say the conditions are expected to lead to damage to the state’s corn, tobacco and soybean crops.