With high temperatures in the 90s for the past eight days (and counting), and no significant rainfall in about three weeks, it’s understandable that drought conditions in North Georgia are worsening. The Gwinnett Daily Post’s banner headline this morning said, “Official: Drought getting worse.”

And, indeed the latest drought monitor for Georgia shows an area of extreme drought in the northeast corner of the state enlarging to the west, including portions of Gwinnett county, and virtually all of the Lake Lanier drainage basin. As of Tuesday, 8.9% of Georgia was in extreme drought, compared to 2.3% last week. 61% of the state is classified as being in a moderate drought. However, as the comparison below shows, we’re still better off than we were at this time last year. On June 12, 2007, 47% of Georgia was in extreme drought and 96.1% was in at least a moderate drought.

The upper level high pressure system that brought the excessive heat and kept rainfall away has moved off the Georgia coast. This has allowed thundershowers to develop, which we’ve seen for the last few nights. Until last evening, they managed to avoid Gwinnett, however around midnight, .57 inches of rain fell at my house—the first significant rain I’ve recorded since May 23rd. The hit or miss nature of these storms is evident in the rainfall totals for yesterday. Atlanta received only .03 inches, Athens only .05 inches and Cartersville .08. However Gainesville recorded .54 inches, Charlie Brown airport .59, and Peachtree DeKalb appeared to have led the metro in rain with .74 inches of precipitation.

Nature responded appropriately, and the view from my window is much greener than it was at this time yesterday. However, the dry soil will quickly absorb all the water. Fortunately, more storms are predicted through the weekend. What we really need is some of the water that has inundated the rivers in Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, which has caused hundred-year-old records to fall.

The temperature here in Lawrenceville topped 90 degrees for the first time in 2008 today, with a maximum of 91.4 degrees at 2PM.  In Atlanta, today’s high was only 89.  But in any case, they’ll have another chance tomorrow and indeed for the next week or so, as we are under the influence of an upper level high pressure system that will keep the warmer than normal temperatures around, and probably keep the rain away as well.

All in all, temperatures are running about 6 degrees above normal for early June.  And, this is about the usual time we see 90 degrees — last year we topped 90 on June 6th, in 2006 on May 24th, and in 2005 on June 14th.

Longtime blog reader Morgan Kemp reminds us of the ongoing drought by posting some comments by Georgia climatologist David Stooksbury made at this time last year, when the drought’s effects were really setting in. Actually, we’re doing a bit better this year through May.  While most of Georgia had less than normal rainfall for the month, Atlanta is only 4 inches short of normal for the year, and Athens has had 6.4 inches less than what would be expected.  Through the end of May, Atlanta recorded 18.65 inches of precipitation for 2008, compared to 11.73 inches for the same period in 2007.

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The weather forecast for June and the summer months of  Jone, July and August have been released by the Climate Prediction Center, and for North Georgia the outlook isn’t too bad.  For June, we have an equal chance of above or below normal temperatures and precipitation. For the rest of the country, there should be above normal temperatures in the desert southwest, and below normal temperatures in the midwest.  Expect above normal rainfall in the upper Mississipi valley, and drier than normal conditions in the northwestern US.

The summer weather outlook through the end of August calls for below normal temperatures in a band from Iowa southeast to Florida, including all of Georgia.  The forecast calls for warmer than normal temperatures in New England and the Southwest.  Look for below normal rainfall in the Pacific Northwest, and above normal rainfall in upper New England, the lower Mississippi valley and Florida. The rest of the country should see near normal precipitation.

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As of today, Gwinnett County further relaxed its previous watering restrictions, which were modified on the first of April.  The county’s restrictions now match the state’s restrictions.

The big change is that you can now water newly installed landscaping (whether you install it or a professional installs it) for 10 weeks following installation 3 days per week, following the odd-even watering day rule.  Homeowners with an even address can water on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, while odd numbered addresses can water on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.  No watering is permitted in Friday. You will also need to register with the Urban Agriculture Council and take a short online course on proper watering procedures.  The printable certificate you receive after passing the course must be posted outside your home.

The previous restrictions allowing filling of pools and hand-watering of any plants for 25 minutes on the odd-even schedule remain in place.

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It looks like we could have a record cold temperature this evening/Wednesday morning.  The current record low for April 30th is 40 degrees set back in 1969.  Forecasters are calling for a low of 36 in Lawrenceville, but only 42 for Hartsfield Airport, so it’s going to be close.  The Weather Service has issued a frost advisory for most of the state north of Macon.

The cold air is caused by Canadian high pressure sweeping into the area following last weekend’s rain.  Usually these cold blasts end around the first of April because developing high pressure off the Atlantic Coast (the proverbial Bermuda High) strengthens enough to counteract the approach of the cold front from the north.  Between this round and the cold weather back in the middle of the month, we’re likely to end April with below normal temperatures for the month.  You can be glad you’re not in Chicago or as far south as West Virginia, which have had a late season snowfall.

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