Rainfall varied widely across the state in April. Heavy rain fell in the southern half of the state while the northern portion was mainly quite dry, leading to the development of moderate drought in the northeast counties. Temperatures almost everywhere were above normal for the month. Tornadoes were observed on April 1 and 6.
Temperatures at most locations were above normal in April, with the exception of a streak of cooler conditions in southern Georgia where rainfall was high. In Atlanta, the monthly average temperature was 64.1 degrees F (2.1 degrees above normal), in Athens 63.4 degrees (1.7 degrees above normal), Columbus 65.2 (0.6 degrees above normal), Macon 63.8 (0.4 above normal), Savannah 66.9 (1.3 above normal), Brunswick 67.5 (1.0 above normal), Alma 65.9 (0.2 below normal), Augusta 63.8 (1.1 above normal), Albany 66.9 (0.8 above normal), Rome 61.6 (1.8 above normal) and Valdosta 67.9 (2.0 degrees above normal).
Atlanta, Athens, Savannah and Augusta tied their record high temperatures on April 29, matching records going back as far as 1894.
Wet conditions plagued the southern half of Georgia in April, leading to problems for some farmers. In the northern half of the state, below-normal rainfall led to the development of moderate drought in 20 counties in the northeastern part of the state.
The highest monthly total precipitation from National Weather Service reporting stations was 7.63 inches in Macon (4.67 inches above normal) and the lowest was in Rome at 1.90 inches (2.15 inches below normal). Atlanta received 3.15 inches (0.21 below normal), Athens received 2.57 inches (0.58 inches below normal), Columbus received 6.94 inches (3.39 above normal), Augusta 4.42 inches (1.58 above normal), Savannah 2.26 inches (0.81 below normal), Alma 3.32 inches (0.51 above normal), Brunswick 2.65 inches (0.16 above normal), Valdosta 5.82 inches (2.95 above normal), and Albany 6.87 inches (3.23 above normal).
Macon received most of their monthly rainfall in the first 24 hours, when they reported 5.21 inches, smashing the old record of 2.63 inches set in 1982. Augusta and Alma also broke daily records on that date, receiving 3.92 inches and 1.35 inches, respectively, breaking the old records of 2.14 inches set in 1936 and 1.18 inches set in 2005.
The highest single-day rainfall from CoCoRaHS stations was 5.48 inches southwest of Moultrie in Colquitt County on the morning of April 2, followed by 5.37 inches received near Kathleen in Houston County and 5.21 inches 18 miles south of Donalsville in Seminole County. Eight CoCoRaHS stations reported single-day rainfalls of 5 inches or more on that date. The highest monthly total rainfall was 12.18 inches observed north of Macon, followed by 10.17 inches near Tifton in Tift County.
Severe weather was reported on five days during April. Several tornadoes were observed in central and south Georgia on April 1. The National Weather Service office in Peachtree City has a write-up on these storms at https://www.srh.noaa.gov/ffc/?n=morningtorsofapril1,2016. A second round of tornadoes hit the state on April 6. Six people in mobile homes were injured in these storms.
Cool conditions early in the month delayed the growth of watermelon seedlings and caused some yellowing of corn plants. Wet fields in the southern half of the state also delayed planting and caused problems for corn seedlings and other plants in heavy, wet soils. Hay harvest was delayed due to conditions that were not suitable for curing and quality was reduced by those delays. Fungal diseases were also a problem in some crops in the wet areas, including the development of blue mold in greenhouses, which is fairly rare. Warmer weather later in the month helped reduce those problems. Dry conditions in northern Georgia caused delays in planting dryland fields. Fruit producers were worried about frost early in the month but most areas escaped any damage since the coldest conditions were confined to the northeast mountains.
Drought returned to the state late in the month when the National Drought Monitor declared a D1 (moderate) drought in the northeast counties of Georgia.
The outlook for May through July shows a slightly enhanced chance of wetter and warmer than normal conditions. El Nino is continuing to decline and neutral conditions are expected to return shortly. NOAA has posted a La Nina watch for later in the year, which could mean warm and dry conditions in the latter half of the growing season. The Atlantic tropical season is also expected to be more active than usual in the absence of an El Nino, especially if La Nina develops quickly.
For more information please see the “Climate and Agriculture” blog at https://site.extension.uga.edu/climate/ or visit our web page at https://www.gaclimate.org. Please feel free to email your weather and climate impacts on agriculture to share on the blog to pknox@uga.edu.