Drought Intensifies in Southeast
Any benefit from the more or less normal rainfall seen in Georgia in July has now evaporated, and the latest drought monitor shows 70 Georgia counties as being in an exceptional drought, seen only every 100 years. Another 40 Georgia counties are in extreme drought conditions, expected to be seen only once every 50 years.
The percentage of Georgia land area in exceptional drought conditions rose from 26.9 to 39.1 in the last week, as record-breaking temperatures and lack of any sort of rain has taken its toll. River flows are also down, with the Chattooga in north Georgia at one of its lowest levels in 67 years of recordkeeping.
The image to the right shows the estimated drought conditions in the eastern half of the United States one month ago, on July 24th, compared to this week. While recent storms in the midwest have reduced drought conditions there, the persistent high pressure ridge over the southeast that arrived at the beginning of August has intensified the drought.
The good news is that the ridge is breaking down, and the fall weather patterns already affecting the northern states are also beginning to affect the south. While Thursday’s high temperature of 98 at the Atlanta airport broke the previous record of 97, set in 1983, a wave of thunderstorms in the early evening brought relief to at least some parts of north Georgia.
There’s a chance of storms each day for the next week, and the chance of rain is likely to increase as we move into the Labor Day weekend. However, with the equivalent of 1/4 to 1/3 of an inch of soil moisture being lost per day due to plant use and evaporation, it’s going to take some tropical weather to make a big difference in the drought levels. Although the tropics are going to be quiet for the next few days, the strongest part of the tropical season will continue for the next six weeks or so.
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