According to the Drought Monitor released this morning, drought has expanded and gotten worse in most of the region with a couple of small patches like the area just southwest of Savannah, which experienced several inches in a day before the data cutoff earlier this week. Severe (D2) drought was added to both North and South Carolina and extreme (D3) drought expanded in Alabama and was added to part of southwestern Georgia. Florida saw an expansion of drought along the northern border. Puerto Rico did not change its status this week. With dry conditions across a lot of the region this week and the cool temperatures for the next few days giving way to warmer temperatures later in the week plus a continuation of the same conditions in Week 2, we cannot expect much relief in the short term. Many farmers appreciate the dry conditions for harvest but it is tough for those trying to finish off their peanuts and pecans or plant winter forage with little moisture in the soil.
