This week’s Drought Monitor shows an expansion of drought conditions across the Southeast, including the addition of a number of scattered areas of extreme (D3) drought in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Florida. Drought expanded in all of the Southeastern states and Alabama and Georgia are now 100% covered by abnormally dry conditions or worse. With another week of record-setting high temperatures and little rain, next week’s DM is expected to show even worse conditions, and that is what I am hearing in emails and phone calls from producers and extension agents as well. Fortunately, some of us can expect to see cooler conditions and even a chance of rain this weekend with a front moving through the area, although I don’t expect any widespread relief.
One bright spot is that severe (D2) drought has been removed from Puerto Rico’s southern coast and only moderate (D1) drought remains.
