By Clint Thompson
Two straight weekends of rainfall, highlighted by last week’s Hurricane Isaias, have alleviated some of the drought being observed across the Southeast, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Georgia
Much of South Georgia is drought free, extending from Seminole and Early counties in the southwest corner of the state northeastward to Jenkins, Burke and Richmond counties.
The driest part of Georgia remains in the central to northern areas of the state. Severe drought starts in Bibb, Crawford and Monroe counties, stretching northeastward to Madison, Elbert, Franklin and Hart counties. North Georgia is mostly observing abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions.
Florida
The Florida Panhandle and counties located along the east coast of Florida have sufficient moisture. Severe drought is observed in a couple of areas across the state. It includes a small area in northern Florida in parts of Gilchrist, Alachua, Suwannee, Columbia and Union counties. It also includes an area along the west coast in parts of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Hardee, DeSoto and Highlands counties. One area in South Florida is also observing severe drought, including parts of Monroe, Miami-Dade, Collier and Broward counties.
Alabama
Southeast Alabama has sufficient moisture and is drought free. It stretches from Houston and Henry counties in the southeast corner northward to Saint Clair and Blount counties in northern Alabama. Extreme drought remains in a couple of areas in western Alabama in parts of Wilcox, Dallas and Perry counties; and in Hale, Greene and Tuscaloosa counties. Abnormally dry conditions and moderate drought are mostly observed across the western part of the state.