Drought remains prevalent across the Southeast region, according to the Dec. 31 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Moderate drought encompasses most of Alabama and Georgia and all of North Florida and into the southern part of the state. Some areas are experiencing worse conditions.
Georgia
Extreme conditions are observed in South Georgia, in parts of Decatur, Grady, Thomas and Brooks counties; and in North Florida, in all or parts of Jackson, Calhoun, Liberty, Gadsden, Leon, Wakulla and Jefferson counties. Extreme conditions are also seen in west Alabama in parts of Choctaw, Marengo, Hale and Greene counties.
Severe conditions in South Georgia start in Seminole and Miller counties in the southwest corner of the state and expand northeastward to Tattnall, Long and Liberty counties. Severe conditions in west Georgia include all or parts of Harris, Muscogee, Chattahoochee, Marion, Talbot, Meriwether, Upson, Taylor, Schley, Macon, Peach and Crawford counties; while they are also observed in North Georgia, including Dade, Walker, Catoosa, Whitfield, Murray, Gordon, Gilmer, Fannin and Union counties.
Florida
Severe conditions are also observed in parts of North Florida, expanding beyond the extreme drought area. This includes Gulf, Franklin, Madison, Hamilton, Columbia, Baker, Union, Bradford, Gilchrist, Alachua, Suwanee, Lafayette and Dixie counties; and expands down the west coast, including Levy, Marion, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee, Hardee, Highlands, Sarasota, DeSoto and Charlotte counties.
Alabama
Severe drought in Alabama is centered in two areas; one expanding beyond the extreme drought area in the western part of the state. It includes Hale, Bibb, Perry, Dallas, Wilcox, Marengo, Clarke, Choctaw Sumter and Greene counties. Severe drought in east Alabama includes all or part of Lowndes, Crenshaw, Montgomery, Bullock, Macon, Russell and Lee counties. Abnormal drought is seen along the Gulf Coast in Mobile, Baldwin, Washington and in parts of Clarke, Monroe, Conecuh and Escambia counties.