By Clint Thompson
The recent rainfall experienced across the Southeast has done little to alleviate the drought-like conditions being observed in Florida, Georgia and Alabama.
Florida
According to the May 21 edition of the U.S. Drought Monitor, exceptional drought conditions still persist across much of North Florida and Southeast Georgia. The driest conditions in North Florida start in Bay, Gulf and Calhoun counties and expand eastward to parts of Nassau, Union, Alachua and Levy counties.
Extreme drought in the Florida Panhandle is located in Walton, Holmes, Washington and Jackson counties and also in the northeastern part of the state. It starts in Nassau and Duval counties and stretches down the west coast to the southernmost counties like Monroe and Miami-Dade counties. Moderate and severe drought cover the remaining areas in the state.
Georgia
Exceptional drought in Georgia starts in the southwest corner of the state in the eastern half of Decatur County. The conditions stretch eastward to the border, ranging from Camden County to Chatham County. Exceptional drought stretches as far north as Emanuel, Candler, Bulloch and Screven counties.
The areas that are not covered in exceptional drought in South Georgia are observing extreme drought, which stretches up the western area to North Georgia. The rest of the state is mostly observing severe drought conditions.
Alabama
Extreme drought conditions have lessened in Alabama, though the driest area remains in the southeastern part of the state. Extreme drought is located in parts or all of Henry, Dale, Barbour, Russell, Bullock, Pike, Montgomery, Crenshaw, Butler, Lowndes, Conecuh, Monroe, Wilcox and Dallas counties. Severe drought covers the remaining area in South Alabama and also up the eastern border along the Alabama-Georgia state line.
Moderate drought is observed in most of North Alabama.