Mandatory Declaration as Drought Still Persists In Gastonia

Gastonia, NC (WNN) - Despite the onslaught of rain over the past few days amid North Carolina's highest drought conditions since 2007, the city of Gastonia is still declaring a Stage 2 (Mandatory) Drought Declaration as of May 1, 2026.

More rain is needed to lift water use restrictions across the area. Lake and pond levels are dropping faster than they can be replenished. The Piedmont area alone has been experiencing significant drought since August 2025. This is due to the heat island effect generated by urban areas.

The Forecast

What's needed is a consistent pattern of rain showers in the forecast for about a month, or about 28 days, for a major improvement to occur.

Projected Percipitation Forecast for May 7-14 2026