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It's hot and dry!
"If the drought intensifies, temperatures across the mountains could reach into the middle to upper 90s while the piedmont bakes in the low 100s," Stooksbury stated. "Across the coastal plains, temperatures in the 104 to 106 range may not be out of the question." Drought conditions have already spread into south-central and southwest Georgia, and much of southeast and coastal Georgia is now abnormally dry for early June. And the dry, hot conditions are taking their toll on Southwest Georgia's crops. "We're not used to seeing 100-degree temperatures this early," stated Early County Extension director Brian Cresswell. "We (the farmers) can handle the heat or the dry conditions, but both of them are making it tough on the crops." After improvements in drought conditions across north Georgia during the cool season, conditions are expected to worsen over the next several months. Georgians can expect hot, dry weather to cause very rapid soil moisture loss over the next week. This loss in soil moisture will also drop stream flows and groundwater levels. Ninety day rainfall across the southern half of the state has been generally less than 70 percent of normal with pockets in south-central and southwest receiving less than 50 percent of normal rain. Stream flows across most of the state are currently just above the previous record-low flows for early June. Many of the current stream-flow records across the state were set in 1988 and 2007. Farm ponds, especially ponds not fed by springs, are starting to show the lack of rain. Many ponds didn't receive adequate recharge during the winter and entered the summer already low. low.Extreme drought conditions exist in at least five northeast Georgia counties. This means that multiple drought indicators are at levels expected about once in 50 years. The extreme north Georgia counties are classified as being in severe drought, meaning that multiple drought indicators are at levels expected about once in 20 years. Moderate drought is now found in a number of middle Georgia counties. Moderate drought occurs when multiple drought indicators are at levels expected about once in 10 years. Widespread drought conditions are expected across south Georgia within the next couple of weeks. Abnormally dry means that several drought indicators are at levels expected about once in five years. For the next several months, Georgia's best chance for widespread drought relief will be tropical disturbances. However, the tropics usually don't become active until late summer. June and July are critical. Without major rain events the soils will continue to become drier leading to lower stream flows, groundwater levels and reservoir and pond levels.
For current Georgia drought information, go to the Web site www.georgiadrought. org. Weather information is available at the University of Georgia automated weather station network Web site www. georgiaweather.net.
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