Drought-like conditions are expanding and worsening in areas across the Southeast, according to the Sept. 24 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Alabama
Severe drought conditions are observed in parts of Alabama, starting in Escambia County in South Alabama, stretching northward to Greene, Hale, Tuscaloosa, Bibb and Chilton counties near the central part of the state. Moderate conditions include Mobile and Baldwin counties in the Gulf, expanding eastward to Geneva and Dale counties and northward to Lamar, Marion and Fayette counties along the western border.
Abnormal drought conditions are seen in Southeast Alabama and in parts of North Alabama. A small section of Northeast Alabama is drought free. It has sufficient moisture.
Georgia
Abnormally dry conditions cover most of Georgia, though various parts of the state are observing severe drought. The driest part of Georgia is located in the northeast. Parts or all of Morgan, Greene, Oglethorpe, Oconee, Clarke, Madison, Wilkes, Elbert, Franklin and Hart counties are observing severe drought conditions. Parts or all of Washington, Hancock, Baldwin, Jones, Putnam and Jasper counties in the central part of the state are experiencing severe drought as are Troup, Heard and Coweta counties in West Georgia.
Multiple areas in South Georgia and North Georgia are observing moderate drought conditions.
Florida
Extreme drought is present in a couple of areas in Florida with the driest area located near the central part of the state. All or parts of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Hardee, DeSoto and Highlands counties are extremely dry. A small area that includes parts of Suwannee, Gilchrist, Alachua and Columbia counties in North Florida is extremely dry as well.
Severe drought in central Florida expands to Polk, Sarasota and Charlotte counties and is also present in Monroe, Miami-Dade, Collier and Broward counties in South Florida. Severe drought is also observed in a couple of a counties in North Florida, including Marion, Putnam, Clay, Bradford and Alachua counties. Most of the remaining areas are observing moderate drought and abnormally dry conditions.