Georgia is Exceptional Drought Free
For the first time since July, 2007, none of Georgia is experiencing exceptional drought conditions. The most recent Georgia drought monitor shows that 46% of the state is drought free, and that parts of southern Fulton, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties have improved to the severe drought category, a step up from the extreme drought conditions seen further north.
Including the 1.15 inches of rain that fell yesterday at the Atlanta airport, we are above normal for March precipitation, and only down 1.79 inches for the year. Last year at this time, only 7.89 inches of rain had fallen in Atlanta, so we’re way ahead of last year. Lake Lanier is responding as well, rising about a third of a foot from the rain yesterday.
The drought outlook continues to call for improvement in the parts of Alabama and Georgia that were hardest hit last year, and some improvement for the remainder of North Georgia, South Carolina and North Caroliina. This outlook parallels the latest monthly precipitation outlook for April:
While much of the southern United States is expected to be dry in April, north Georgia can expect equal chances of above or below normal precipitation. The only portions of the country expected to have above normal rainfall is the Pacific Northwest and upper Midwest. The longer-range three month outlook from April through June calls for equal chances of above or below normal rain for the entire country, except for the southern desert regions in New Mexico, Arizona and the Four Corners region in the southwest. While we’re still under the influence of La Nina, sea surface temperatures have warmed somewhat over the last month or so. Some models continue to predict the continuation of La Nina through the summer, but the latest outlook shows her diminishing influence.
Temperatures, both for April and the remainder of the spring are expected to be warmer than normal in the south and eastern parts of the country.
The April outlook, shown above, has a better than 40% chance of above normal temperatures for the month throughout the old South. The three month outlook continues the trend, with a one third chance of above normal temperatures.
Before we get to April, though, we need to finish March. Both the 6-10 day at 8-14 day outlooks are calling for a cold spell in the east, with normal rainfall. While our friends in the northeast might have another chance of seeing snow this year, it isn’t going to be anywhere near that cold here, but we could see overnight temperatures in the 30s when we would normally expect lows in the mid 40s. Similarly highs might only be in the low 60s, when the normal high for late March is 69.
As things warm up, remember that the last freeze date in Georgia is typically around April 1st. Some folks start planting spring flowers on Easter, but with this year’s exceptionally early holiday and the possibility of colder weather to come, it might be better to wait a few weeks.
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