El Niño Helps Alleviate Dry Conditions Across SE

Clint ThompsonAlabama, Drought, Florida, Georgia

The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Map courtesy of NDMC.

By Clint Thompson

The El Niño weather pattern this winter has helped alleviate most of the dry conditions across the Southeast (SE).

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, abnormally dry conditions are mostly present in areas across North Alabama and North Georgia. Abnormal and moderate conditions are also observed along the west coast of Florida.

Dry conditions stretch as far south as Blount and Saint Clair counties in Alabama and stretch to the northernmost counties in the state, including Jackson, Madison, Limestone and Lauderdale counties. A small area in Monroe and Wilcox counties in the southern part of the state is also abnormally dry.

The northernmost counties in Georgia remain abnormally dry. These include parts of Chattooga, Dade, Walker, Catoosa, Whitfield, Murray, Gilmer, Fannin, Union and Towns counties. The rest of the state has sufficient moisture.

The dry conditions in Florida start as far north as Pasco and Pinellas counties and stretch as far south as Sarasota County.