Drought

  • The Southeast Farm Press posted a story today about the negative impacts of the exceptional Southeast drought on the timber industry in Alabama (although the comments are generally true for the rest of the Southeast as well).  It points out that the drought and fires will have take a severe toll on forests this year…

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  • NOAA released their latest set of outlook maps this week.  They continue to go with conditions that are consistent with La Niña for the next few months. In December, drier than normal conditions are expected to continue, while temperatures could be near, above or below normal.  For the winter, spring and summer temperatures continue to…

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  • The wind shifted direction today and Athens had less smoke than earlier this week, although you could see the smoky cloud band to the northeast.  Other areas were getting the smoke instead.  Here in Athens we will have a reprieve for a day or so as the winds turn to come from the south ahead…

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  • UPDATE: Georgia EPD has just declared a Level 2 Drought Response Level in selected counties in Georgia.  See below for more details. The latest Drought Monitor shows worsening conditions across most of the Southeast but especially in Georgia.  The Drought Monitor authors told me that since November 11 they have gotten 61 comments on the…

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  • Several of my Facebook friends posted this MODIS satellite image of the smoke in northern Georgia today.  Spectacular and troubling!  All of the smoke from several fires is blending to create significant haze across the area.  The smoke has caused problems with visibility on highways and respiratory issues for people with asthma and other lung…

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  • Clint Thompson of the University of Georgia wrote an article last week discussing Georgia’s current drought and the outlook for this winter and next year.  It quotes heavily from me but also provides insight from other UGA extension specialists and agents.  Here is the article as printed in Growing Georgia today.

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  • At dinner tonight my husband asked me how the current drought compared to 2007.  So here’s a little look at the similarities and differences between the two droughts. In some respects the two droughts look very similar.  At this time of year in early November, both of them showed a spatial pattern that covered the…

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