By Clint Thompson
Another week, another period of prolonged dry weather across the Southeast. According to the Oct. 16 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor, extreme drought is being observed in West Alabama, Southwest Georgia and North Florida.
Extreme drought in Alabama is seen in all or parts of Marengo, Wilcox, Dallas, Perry, Hale, Greene, Sumter, Pickens, Tuscaloosa and Bibb counties. Severe drought is observed in various parts of the state, including the southern part of the state, in Escambia, Conecuh, Monroe, Butler, Covington, Geneva, Coffee, Pike, Barbour, Dale and Houston counties. Moderate drought encompasses the majority of the state.
Georgia’s extreme drought is seen in Seminole, Decatur, Miller, Baker, Mitchell, Grady, Thomas, Brooks, Colquitt, Worth and Tift counties. Severe drought in the southwest part of the state starts in Early County and extends eastward to Brantley, Wayne and Appling counties. Severe drought is also seen in the western part of the state, starting in Chattahoochee and Marion counties and stretching northward to Douglas and Cobb counties.
North Florida is the driest part of the state. Extreme drought is located in all or parts of Walton, Holmes, Washington, Jackson, Gadsden , Leon, Jefferson and Madison counties. Severe drought is seen as far west in the Panhandle as Santa Rose County and stretches eastward to Columbia County. Abnormally dry conditions are seen along the west coast, starting as far north as Dixie and Levy counties and stretching southward to Collier and Monroe counties.