A version of the following article appeared in the May 1, 2026, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C.
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Drought deepens: Mandatory water-usage restrictions could come as soon as today
◼️ Washing cars, watering lawns could face cutbacks
◼️ The drought is upgraded to ‘exceptional’ in parts of Charlotte region
by Ashley Fahey
Most of Mecklenburg County remains in an extreme drought, with some parts of the region even this week entering into “exceptional” drought conditions, the worst rating from the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Portions of Mecklenburg, Union, Cabarrus and Stanly counties were newly classified on Thursday as being in an exceptional drought.
And although the Charlotte market has received some rain in recent days, it hasn't been enough to relieve the drought conditions or status.
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