The lack of rainfall over the past week led to drought conditions worsening and expanding across areas of the Southeast, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor update.
An extreme drought is observed in multiple areas across Alabama. One area is in the southwest part of the state in parts of Mobile, Baldwin, Washington, Clarke, Monrore, Conecuh and Escambia counties. North Alabama is either moderately dry or extremely dry. The worst conditions are located in parts of Lauderdale, Colbert and Franklin counties in Northwest Alabama, and parts of Jackson, Dekalb, Cherokee, Marshall, Madison and Morgan counties in Northeast Alabama.
An extreme drought is seen in a few counties in Northwest Georgia, including Chattooga, Walker, Dade and Catoosa counties. A severe drought is observed in surrounding counties like Whitfield, Fannin, Gilmer and Pickens counties, and also in Seminole and Decatur counties in Southwest Georgia. Most of the northern and southwestern parts of the state are either abnormally dry or moderately dry.
The Florida Panhandle remains in a severe drought, expanding from Escambia County eastward to parts of Jackson County. Abnormally dry conditions stretch to Liberty and Gadsden counties in North Florida. An extreme drought remains in the southwest part of the state, including Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota counties.
The Drought Monitor update provides producers with the latest information about drought conditions where they live, enabling producers to best respond and react to a drought as it develops or lingers.