A small area of D4 exceptional drought was introduced to Georgia in this week’s Drought Monitor in the far northwest part of the state.  This is the first time that anywhere in Georgia has seen exceptional drought since February 5, 2013 (although that was in central Georgia).  Severe drought expanded in Alabama, including a region east and south of Birmingham.  Abnormally dry conditions expanded in western Virginia as well.

If you don’t think the Drought Monitor map is capturing what is happening on your area, then there are two ways you can report drought conditions where you are.  If you are an extension agent who is responsible for reporting the weekly percent of crops planted, harvested, etc. to the USDA Ag Statistics service, there is a place on that form to provide comments that may be published in the Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin.  Otherwise, you can to to the Drought Impact Reporter at https://droughtreporter.unl.edu/map/ and submit a report using the link on the top of the page.  Your comments help the people who put the Drought Monitor together understand what impacts are happening in your area in addition to the climate data sources they already use to categorize the drought around the country.

Unfortunately, very little rain is expected in the heart of the drought area this week and conditions are likely to deteriorate due to continued lack of rainfall and warmer than normal conditions.

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