By Clint Thompson
The Feb. 12 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor shows extreme drought conditions expanding in South Georgia and North Florida and in parts of Alabama.
Florida
Extreme conditions in North Florida stretch from Washington and Jackson counties in the Panhandle, eastward to Duvall, Saint Johns and Flagler counties and as far south as Citrus and Sumter counties. Extreme drought is also observed along the west coast in Florida, starting in Hillsborough and Polk counties, stretching southward to Charlotte and Glades counties.
The remaining counties in the Panhandle, along with most in central and southern Florida, are experiencing severe drought conditions.
Georgia
Georgia’s driest conditions are concentrated to the southernmost part of the state, starting in Seminole County located along the Georgia-Alabama state line. Extreme drought expands eastward to Ware and Charlton counties, and northeastward to Bryan and Chatham counties. Severe drought encompasses the remaining counties in South Georgia and central Georgia. Extreme drought is also located in two other areas; one in the western part of the state, in Chattahoochee, Muscogee, Harris, Talbot, Upson, Crawford and Monroe counties. The other is in the northeast part of the state, in Walton, Barrow, Oconee, Clarke, Jackson, Madison, Oglethorpe, Wilkes, Elbert and Hart counties.
Severe drought and moderate drought cover most of the remaining counties in northern Georgia.
Alabama
Alabama’s extreme conditions are observed in a couple of areas. One is located in the southern part of the state in Covington, Escambia, Conecuh, Monroe and Butler counties. The other area is in the eastern part of the state in Bullock, Macon, Russell, Lee and Tallapoosa counties.
Severe drought encompasses most of Southeast Alabama, starting in Houston and Geneva counties; stretching westward to Monroe and Wilcox counties; and northward to Elmore, Tallapoosa and Chambers counties.
Abnormally dry conditions cover most of central and northern Alabama.