By Clint Thompson
A summer with persistent rains is turning dry across some areas in the Southeast, according to the July 24 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor.
South Florida remains the area most impacted by prolonged dry conditions. Extreme drought is observed in the western part of Miami-Dade County. Severe drought is also seen in Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. The west coast mostly has abnormally dry conditions, starting as far north as Citrus and Sumter counties and stretching as far south as Charlotte and Lee counties.
The northern portions of counties in the Florida Panhandle are experiencing abnormally dry conditions as well. It starts as far west as Walton and Holmes counties and stretches as far east as Suwanee and Columbia counties.
Southwest Georgia is experiencing abnormally dry conditions, starting in the corner of the state with Seminole, Decatur, Grady and Thomas counties and stretching northward to Quitman, Randolph and Stewart counties. There are also various patches of abnormally dry conditions spread over North Georgia.
Southeast Alabama has abnormally dry and moderately dry conditions. Moderate conditions are reported in parts of Geneva, Houston, Dale and Henry counties. The remaining parts of those counties, along with Barbour County are abnormally dry. Clarke and Monroe counties in the western part of the state are mostly abnormally dry.