By Clint Thompson
Increased rains this summer have helped alleviate much of the drought being experienced across the Southeast.
According to the June 18 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor, exceptional drought has all but disappeared in North Florida, while there is minimal extreme drought conditions in various parts of Georgia, and much of Alabama is reporting zero drought conditions.
Florida
Exceptional drought conditions in North Florida are only observed in parts of Dixie, Gilchrist, Columbia, Suwannee, Lafayette, Taylor, Wakulla, Liberty, Franklin, Madison and Hamilton counties. Extreme drought in the area still extends from Gulf and Franklin counties eastward to Nassau, Duval, Clay and Putnam counties. Extreme drought is also reported along the west coast, starting in Hernando and Pasco counties, extending southward to Sarasota and Charlotte counties.
Moderate and severe drought conditions are reported throughout most of Florida.
Georgia
The driest part of Georgia remains in the southern part of the state, though the conditions are now mostly severe and not extreme. They start in the southern areas of Grady and Thomas counties in the southwestern part of the state and extend eastward to the coast in Camden, Glynn, McIntosh, Liberty, Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Screven counties. Extreme drought is reported in the southern parts of Lowndes and Echols counties and the eastern areas of Chatham, Effingham and Screven counties.
Extreme drought is also observed in a small area of counties in North Georgia, including all or parts of Gilmer, Fannin, Lumpkin, Union, White and Towns counties.
Alabama
Alabama is observing fewer drought conditions, most noticeably in the southwestern part of the state and throughout most of its northern region. The driest area remains in the southeastern part of the state. Moderate drought is observed in the eastern half of Houston County, extending northward to Henry, Barbour and Russell counties; and westward to Escambia, Conecuh, Monroe, Dallas and Lowndes counties. Moderate drought is also observed in Northwest Alabama in parts of Franklin, Colbert, Lauderdale, Lawrence and Morgan counties; and in two counties along the Alabama-Georgia state line in Randolph and Cleburne counties.
Abnormal drought conditions are seen in western Alabama and in the northeastern part of the state.