Abnormally dry conditions are starting to spread more across Georgia and Alabama, while dry areas persist along the west coast of Florida, according to Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor.
A couple of areas in Georgia are abnormally dry. One is located along the Georgia-Alabama state line. It starts as far north as Floyd and Bartow counties and stretches southward to Chattahoochee and Marion counties. Some counties in northeast Georgia are also abnormally dry. These include parts or all of Union, Towns, White, Rabun, Habersham and Stephens counties.
Northwest Alabama remains either abnormally dry or moderately dry. The worst conditions are concentrated in parts of Lawrence, Franklin, Colbert, Lauderdale and Limestone counties. Abnormally dry conditions are also observed along the Alabama-Georgia state line, starting as far north as Cherokee County and stretching southward to Russell and Barbour counties. Parts of Escambia, Conecuh and Monrore counties in South Alabama are abnormally dry as well.
Florida’s dry conditions start in Pasco County and stretch southward to Collier County. Extreme drought is observed in Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties.
Some counties in South Carolina are abnormally dry. These include counties like Oconee, Pickens, Anderson and a small part of Greenville in the western part of the state. Dry areas also include Laurnes, Newberry and parts of Saluda and Lexington counties a little further east; and parts of York, Chester, Lancaster and Chesterfield counties in the northern part of the state.
A few areas in North Carolina are abnormally dry. The driest parts of the state are located in the southern and northeastern areas.