I got a comment from Matt asking how we’re doing with the drought, given the recent rainfall, and rather than answering his question in another comment, I decided to do a new post.

In reality, with 9.79 inches of Atlanta is still behind what would be ‘normal’ rainfall by 2.44 inches as of yesterday, and some of that deficit has been reduced by today’s storms.  However, we are doing better than as of this time last year.  In 2007, Atlanta had recorded only 7.71 inches by March 14th, 2.08 inches less than in 2008.  In Gainesville, which has had 10.74 inches of rain so far, they are ahead by 2.17 inches.  Here in Lawrenceville, I’m only showing .86 inches more rain than this time last year, but keep in mind I don’t have an ‘official’ rain gauge.

Even though actual rainfall varies across the metro area, it’s probably safe to say that we’re two inches ahead of where we were this time last year.  Plus, in 2007, the second half of March ended up being rain-free, so by the end of this month, we are likely to be even further ahead of 2007.

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It’s probably just coincidence that on the day with the most rainfall since last December, Gwinnett County clarified its plans for outdoor watering this spring. While the county has gone along with the state and allowed the filling of swimming pools, it has declined, at least for the moment, to go with the relaxed hand watering rules announced by the governor a few weeks ago.

In mid-December, the county commission passed a water conservation resolution (PDF) that set limits on outdoor watering that were more restrictive than the state’s level four watering restrictions in effect at the time.  The resolution limited the state’s exemption for watering of new or reconditioned landscape to watering on ten of the first 30 days following installation or reconditioning. The resolution also requires that exempted homeowners and businesses post a sign visible from the right of way stating the exempted area, the installation date, the firm doing the installation/reconditioning, and the property owner’s name.

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The rain we’ve had so far this winter has helped to reduce the drought’s impact on Lake Lanier, with the lake level now about a foot above its record low back in mid-December. Our best hope for a major turnaround lies in the likelihood of some significant rainfall from now through the end of March.

February and March typically are some of the wettest months of the year, with an average of 4.7 and 5.4 inches of precipitation respectively.  So far, February is running slightly below normal, but with more than half an inch of rain predicted for Sunday and a storm the weekend of the 22nd that could bring over an inch, we could quickly get to normal.  The Climate Prediction Center is calling for a better than normal chance of rain for the period between the 21st and the 29th.

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Although Georgia’s drought isn’t over yet, Governor Perdue announced some loosening of watering restrictions today that will take effect on April 1st. The changes were made to help the landscaping industry which was facing a very bleak year if the current no watering at all ban remained in place. The changes also resolve the question of what to do about swimming pools this summer. (more…)

Despite a string of several rainy days this month, it looks like January’s rainfall is going to be less than normal, and that isn’t helping the ongoing drought. As of today, the rainfall gauge at Hartsfield Airport stands at 2.24 inches, or 45% of the just over five inches we would expect in a normal January.

Athens is at 43% of normal, and Gainesville is at 34% of normal of what is normally one of the wettest months of the year. With normal rainfall in December, and the colder temperatures causing less evaporation, drought conditions have loosened slightly, as seen in the latest drought map to the right, but there is concern that real problems could arise again next summer.

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