The July 16 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor shows lingering drought conditions in the southern and northern areas of Georgia, sufficient moisture throughout most of Alabama and extreme conditions in North Florida and down the state’s west coast.
Alabama
The driest areas in Alabama are located in the northern parts of the state. Moderate drought is observed in Northwest Alabama in parts of Franklin, Colbert, Lauderdale and Lawrence counties. Abnormally dry conditions extend throughout the rest of the before mentioned counties, along with Limestone and Morgan counties. Abnormally dry conditions also exist in Northeast Alabama in all or parts of Jackson, Dekalb, Etowah and Cherokee counties. Abnormally dry conditions also exist along the Alabama-Georgia state line in parts of Cleburne and Randolph counties and Henry and Houston counties.
Florida
Extreme drought in Florida starts in Franklin and Liberty counties, expands eastward to Duval, Clay and Putnam counties and expands southward down the west coast to Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties. Extreme drought is also observed in southern Florida in parts of Hendry, Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Severe and moderate drought conditions cover most of the remaining areas in Florida.
Georgia
Moderate and abnormal drought conditions are observed in South Georgia. They start in the southwest corner of the state in Decatur, Seminole and Early counties, expand eastward to the coast and cover counties like Camden, Glynn and McIntosh and northward to Laurens, Johnson, Emanuel, Jenkins and Screven counties. Severe drought is located in the eastern areas of Screven, Effingham and Chatham counties.
Severe drought is observed in North Georgia; starting in Catoosa and Whitfield counties, expanding eastward to Towns and Rabun counties and southward to Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Hall and Forsyth counties. Moderate and abnormal drought conditions extend as far south as Harris, Talbot, Upson, Crawford and Bibb counties.