(NORTH CAROLINA NEWS NETWORK) — Weather watchers say the recent Tropical Storm Elsa did help with the water table. State Climatologist Corey Davis says the impact from the soaking rain was widespread. The current state drought map shows about a fourth of the state’s counties — in parts of western, northwestern and west central North Carolina — are in the lowest drought category while the rest of the state is not in a drought classification. Davis also says this summer has not been overly hot, although there is plenty of time for the summer temperatures to increase.