Recent rains in Central and Eastern North Carolina have failed to pull the region out of drought, while conditions in the parched western part of the state worsened in the past week.

The Triangle remained in moderate drought, the least intense of four categories of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor's weekly report. In total, 48 counties in the central and eastern part of the state are in moderate drought.

The Raleigh area has received 5.8 inches of rainfall this month, more than 3 inches above normal. But the rains have not ended the long-term drought.

The drought intensified over the past week in the southwestern part of the state, including Mecklenburg County and counties to its north and west.

Altogether, 24 counties -- covering about 14 percent of the state's area -- are in exceptional drought, the worst category of drought. Last week, 13 counties, covering about 7 percent of the state, were in exceptional drought.

The drought currently is deeper and more widespread than it was at this time last year.

In July 2007, none of the state was in exceptional drought. Seven counties in the state's mountainous west were in extreme drought, the second worst category. And the area of moderate drought covered 75 counties, including the Triangle.