Area of Concern: Heat & Drought. An exceptional stretch of heat, rising temperatures, and the most significant droughts in decades are affecting North Carolina. Estimated number of more days with heat index above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in 2053, shown on a map of North Carolina. History of billion-dollar droughts since 1980 and an extreme dry start to 2026, with a map of drought areas as of January 29, 2026. Hardest hit areas: projected increase in extreme heat days by 2050 for Fayetteville, Lumberton, Laurinburg, Goldsboro, Greenville, Raleigh, Charlotte, and Wilmington. A public health crisis: heat-related illnesses and emergency visits, heat-exposed workers, and heightened risk for rural and low-income communities. At risk of wildfires: fires and acreage burned over time, and a map of wildfire risk by county for 2025. Solutions: reduce wildfire risk through better forest management, protect public health from smoke, and prepare communities for fast-moving fires.
Area of Concern: Heat & Drought. An exceptional stretch of heat, rising temperatures, and the most significant droughts in decades are affecting North Carolina. Estimated number of more days with heat index above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in 2053, on a map of North Carolina. History of billion-dollar droughts since 1980 and an extreme dry start to 2026, with a map of drought areas as of January 29, 2026. Hardest hit areas: projected increase in extreme heat days by 2050 across North Carolina cities. A public health crisis: heat-related illnesses and emergency visits, heat-exposed workers, and heightened risk for rural and low-income communities. At risk of wildfires: fires and acreage burned over time, and a map of wildfire risk by county for 2025. Solutions: reduce wildfire risk through better forest management, protect public health from smoke, and prepare communities for fast-moving fires.