By Clint Thompson
The July 9 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor shows minor change to the drought conditions being observed across the Southeast.
Florida
The driest area in Florida remains in the northern area of the state. Extreme drought is still being experienced in the area, starting as far west as Franklin and Wakulla counties, stretching eastward to Duval, Clay and Putnam counties and southward to Levy County. The conditions stretch down the west coast, from Hernando to Charlotte counties. Extreme drought is also observed in parts of Hendry, Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
Abnormal drought, moderate drought and severe drought conditions cover most of the remaining parts of Florida.
Georgia
Georgia is still experiencing dry conditions in the southern and northern areas of the state. Moderate drought in South Georgia starts in the southern halves of Grady and Thomas counties, expands eastward to Charlton, Camden and Glynn counties, and northeastward to Bulloch and Screven counties. Abnormal drought in South Georgia starts in Decatur and Seminole counties and expands northeastward to Jenkins and Burke counties.
Severe drought in North Georgia starts in Forsyth and Hall counties, expands to the northeast part of the state to Habersham and Rabun counties and to the northern halves of Murray and Whitfield counties. Abnormal drought expands as far south as Harris, Talbot, Upson, Crawford and Bibb counties.
Alabama
Most of Alabama has sufficient moisture as evidence by the lack of drought conditions throughout most of the state. Moderate drought in Northwest Alabama is located in parts of Franklin, Colbert, Lauderdale and Lawrence counties. Abnormal drought expands in the area to Limestone and Morgan counties. Abnormal drought is also observed in the northeast part of the state in Jackson, Dekalb, Cherokee and Etowah counties and in Cleburne and Randolph counties along the Alabama-Georgia state line.
Parts of two counties in Southeast Alabama, Houston and Henry, are experiencing abnormally dry conditions.