By Clint Thompson
Much-needed rainfall during December helped alleviate much of the drought present across the Southeast, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. It is seen especially in Georgia and Florida and part of Alabama.
Florida is mostly drought free, though abnormally dry conditions are still present in Escambia and Santa Rose counties in the Panhandle. Some areas along the west coast are still dry, especially in parts of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota counties where extreme drought is still observed.
All of South Georgia has sufficient moisture. The driest area in the state remains in the northern region. Severe drought is still present in counties like Haralson, Polk, Floyd, Bartow, Chattooga, Dade, Walker, Gordon, Catoosa, Whitfield, Gilmer, Fannin, Union and Towns counties. Those same conditions are still observed in Northeast Georgia, including in Hart, Franklin, Banks, Elbert, Madison and Jackson counties.
Most of central and northern Alabama remain either severely dry or extremely dry. The worst conditions are seen in Northwest Alabama in Franklin, Colbert, Lauderdale, Limestone and Lawrence counties; and in Northeast Alabama, in Shelby, Talladega, Saint Clair, Blount, Marshall, Etowah, Dekalb, Cherokee and Calhoun counties.