Most of Columbus and all of Bladen County are now considered to be in severe drought conditions after several days of spotty but heavy rains across the area.
Only a small section of Columbus and Brunswick counties at the state line are still considered in extreme drought, according to the State Drought Monitor released Thursday. Last week’s monitor showed a small portion of Columbus in an exceptional drought – sometimes called “generational” conditions – with extreme conditions from Fair Bluff to Dulah and the Green Swamp.
The entire area is still far behind normal rainfall for the year, on top of ending 2025 in a deficit. Some corn, soybean and grain crops in the county have been adversely affected, as has pasturage and hay production.
The N.C. Forest Service officially declared the Quarry Road Fire contained after last week’s heavy rains. The Over Lyon Road Fire in Bladen County is 85 percent contained at 14 acres, according to the NCFS, and is no longer considered a threat to buildings or property.
No burn bans are in effect for Columbus or Bladen, but officials urge extreme caution with any outdoor burning until the entire region gets more significant rainfall. Most area rivers, marshes and swamps are currently dry.
Continued extremely high temperatures will increase the wildfire risk across the area for the coming week. Be sure to catch Christopher Cawley’s daily weather forecast elsewhere on the CCN homepage, and follow him on Facebook for more updates.
