Drought Improves in Southeast Georgia, Worsens in Northwest
The just-released weekly drought report from the National Weather Service confirms what the Georgia State Climatologist said earlier in the week: that Gwinnett County is now in an extreme drought, as are Hall, Habersham, and Rabun counties, and most of the area that didn’t get any rain from tropical storm Barry. Here’s this week’s map:
The drought situation statewide improved week over week, with 4% of the state moving from moderate drought to extremely dry conditions, and 14% improving from extreme to severe. To our west, however, drought conditions worsened from extreme to exceptional for the area around Huntsville, Alabama – the first time this has been seen this year, and putting 22% of the state in the worst drought category.
As someone mentioned to me yesterday, what we need is a good tropical storm to hit the Gulf Coast so the rain gets to the western part of the state. Actually, the pattern change that has brought thundershowers to the area over the last few days is likely to continue for the next week or so, and that will bring rain to some areas, although on a hit or miss basis.
Breaking 90 Degrees
Fir the first time this year, the thermometer hit the 90 degree mark on Wednesday here, hitting 91.4 degrees shortly before 3 PM. The first 90 degree temperatures of the year were also recorded in Atlanta, Athens, and Gainesville. Yesterday was also the coolest morning of the month so far with a low of 61. Yesterday’s low humidity and dry air allowed the 30 degree swing in temperature, something more common in Spring, but less so in the summer.
Last year, we saw 90 on May 28th, and in 2005, on June 14th.
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