The latest Drought Monitor, released today, shows that recent rain has decreased the amount of drought in Virginia but everywhere else in the region saw worsening conditions with the expansion of extreme drought in several states. Florida is now completely in drought, with 67% of the state in extreme (D3) drought. It has been missed by most of the rain from systems we have experienced moving through the region in the last few weeks. With the rain that northern GA and AL are getting today along with the mass of storms that is expected to move through southern Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina over the two days, we may see improvements in the Drought Monitor map next week in the areas that received the precipitation. Areas to the north like North Carolina may see drought conditions continue to get worse since they will be bypassed by the current rain event. Florida will also receive some rain except for the southernmost portions of the state, so conditions will probably not get worse, at least for now. Puerto Rico’s small area of abnormally dry conditions is still present with no change from last week’s map.
