A dry August has allowed Georgia’s long-running drought to become
visible again as pastures, row crops, lawns and gardens suffer
from lack of water.
While above-normal rains in June allowed the state to emerge from
an agricultural drought (a short-term water deficit), Georgia
remained in a hydrological drought, or a negative long-term water
balance. There is little hope of statewide, long-term relief
until winter.
As the hydrological drought persists, Georgia is on the verge of
returning to an agricultural drought, too. The drought that
started in May 1998 had been virtually invisible during June and
July. Above-normal rains in June and timely rains in July had
allowed for lush summer plant growth.
Real Impacts Hidden
But all those green plants were hiding the real impacts of the
drought: low soil-moisture supplies, groundwater levels and lake
levels at Lake Lanier and Lake Hartwell.
Most places across the state have had only about half their
normal August rainfall. Through Aug. 28, the month’s rainfall
deficits in north Georgia include Athens at 2.84 inches, Atlanta
2.61, Blairsville 1.46, Calhoun 1.42, Dallas 1.69, Duluth 0.91,
Dunwoody 1.59, Ellijay 0.56, Gainesville 0.40, Rome 1.81 and
Watkinsville 1.58.
Across middle Georgia, the deficits include Augusta at 2.85
inches, Columbus 1.78, Cordele 2.54, Dearing 1.89, Eatonton 2.29
and Griffin 2.74.
And in south Georgia, August rainfall deficits include Alma at
1.53 inches, Brunswick 1.21, Camilla 0.49, Newton 2.55, Plains
1.17, Savannah 4.32, Statesboro 3.68, Tifton 2.55, Valdosta 2.49
and Vidalia 2.28.
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Soil-Moisture Losses
More important than the rainfall deficits is the actual loss of
moisture from the soils. Soils lose moisture through evaporation
and transpiration (plant water use).
Since Aug. 1 (with soil-moisture losses since July 1 in
parentheses), soil-moisture losses in north Georgia include
Blairsville at 1.91 inches (4.24), Calhoun 2.81 (2.44), Dallas
2.40 (4.30), Duluth 2.02 (0.77), Dunwoody 2.36 (3.66), Ellijay
1.00 (2.93), Gainesville 1.75 (0.31), Rome 2.35 (5.14) and
Watkinsville 3.22 (0.73).
In middle Georgia since Aug. 1 (since July 1), soil-moisture
losses include Cordele at 4.17 inches (8.22 inches), Dearing 2.45
(5.94), Eatonton 3.39 (4.38) and Griffin 4.03 (8.94).
And in south Georgia since Aug. 1 (since July 1) soil-moisture
losses include Alma at 1.12 inches (2.44), Brunswick 0.41 (2.51),
Camilla 1.46 (4.48), Newton 3.63 (6.68), Plains 2.31 (4.94),
Savannah Bamboo Farm 3.66 (5.07), Statesboro 4.34 (2.65), Tifton
3.63 (6.68), Valdosta 1.90 (3.57) and Vidalia 2.89 (4.92).
Relief Not in Sight
There is little hope for long-term relief during the next three
months. September through November is historically Georgia’s
driest period.
Without rainfall from tropical weather, there is little chance
that the state will receive enough widespread beneficial rain to
end both the hydrological drought and the impending agricultural
drought.
A wetter than normal winter is the best hope for Georgia to
emerge from the long-term drought.
