ASHEVILLE – Plentiful rain over the past few weeks has pulled Western North Carolina out of drought.

A drought monitoring report issued this week shows none of the mountain region’s counties are dry or in drought.

According to newspaper reports, 66 counties in the state’s central and eastern parts remained in moderate drought or abnormally dry last week.

In early December, 81 of North Carolina’s 100 counties were listed either in moderate drought or abnormally dry.

National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Horne said an abundance of rain over the past two months has restored some water supplies and dampened chances of wildfires.