Spring drought impacts farmers in the Southeast; 22% of GA is now in "exceptional drought"

by Jeff Ishee

What a difference 90 days can make! Comparing mid-January to mid-April shows a dramatic difference in drought conditions around the southeastern United States. The latest report from the US Drought Monitor indicated the worst areas are in northern Florida, southern Georgia, southeastern Alabama, as well as the western regions of the Carolinas.

The US Drought Monitor report posted on April 16 states:

" Continued dryness across the region led to widespread degradation in drought conditions. Nearly the entire state of Alabama experienced a one-category worsening, with extreme drought spreading across the southeast and severe drought affecting much of the state.

In Georgia, exceptional drought expanded eastward, while extreme drought in northern areas shifted slightly south. Across the Carolinas, severe drought spread across much of eastern South Carolina, with extreme drought expanding in the far southeast. Extreme drought also expanded along the North Carolina–South Carolina border and in western and northeastern North Carolina. Florida received enough rainfall to prevent degradation this week, despite below-normal precipitation in some areas. Improvements were observed along the Atlantic coast and in parts of central Florida."

As of April 14th, 22% of GA was in "exceptional" drought, while 20% of Florida was in "exceptional drought.

Three-month comparison shows dramatic expansion of drought areas in the southeastern United States. Image credit - US Drought Monitor