The North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council says Polk County is 8.99 inches below its average rainfall for 2026. According to the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council, Polk County is nearly nine inches below its average rainfall for 2026, making it the county’s 11th driest year since recordkeeping began in 1894. Most of the county remains classified as being in Severe Drought, while the remainder is in Moderate Drought. If those totals materialize, they could provide short-term relief, but they would still leave Polk County well below normal rainfall for the year. Drought conditions are expected to persist until the county receives sustained, above-average precipitation over an extended period.