By Clint Thompson
The April 30 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor paints a grim view of the drought conditions being experienced across the Southeast.
Almost all of Georgia is observing either extreme drought or exceptional drought. Nearly all of South Alabama is seeing extreme drought conditions, while the northern and southwestern parts of Florida are observing either extreme drought conditions or exceptional drought conditions.
Exceptional drought is the worst drought designation. It starts in the Florida Panhandle in Bay and Washington counties, expands eastward to Alachua, Bradford and Nassau counties and into Georgia, starting in the southwest corner of the state in Seminole and Early counties, stretching northeastward to Bulloch, Screven and Effingham counties on the Atlantic coast.
Georgia
Extreme drought in Georgia stretches to the northeast part of the state, covering most of the region. A small collection of counties in the area, including Madison, Banks, Franklin, Hart and Elbert counties, are observing exceptional drought as well.
Florida
Extreme drought in Florida covers the remaining counties in North Florida and stretches down the west coast into southern Florida, down to Collier, Monroe, Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
Alabama
South Alabama’s extreme drought conditions start in Houston and Henry counties in the southeast part of the state; stretching westward to Mobile and Washington counties; and northward to Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Bibb, Shelton and Chilton counties in the central part of the state. Most of North Alabama is observing severe drought, though portions of Dekalb and Jackson counties in Northeast Alabama are experiencing extreme drought.
The southern half of Houston County is also observing exceptional drought.