After more than six weeks of temperatures in the 90s and low
100s with very little
rain, many Georgians are asking, “How dry is it?”
The Aug.
21 statewide
Drought Severity Index
value was -2.7. This means that the state as a whole is
classified as being in moderate
drought. A statewide PDSI value of -3 would classify Georgia as
being in severe drought.
Across the state, drought conditions range from mild to
severe.
A historical perspective adds more meaning to the PDSI. The
statewide value of -2.7 is
at the 2nd percentile for the third week in August.
This means that in 98 out of 100 years, the statewide PDSI
value for the third week in
August would be higher, or less dry. In short, Georgia is
having one of the worst August
droughts on record.
The PDSI is a long-term drought indicator and responds
slowly to recent weather.
Statewide PDSI values are available back to 1895.
August 1998 through July 1999 was the 12th driest statewide
August-through-July since
1895. July 1999 was the 24th driest since 1895.
How Hot Is It?
Another common question among Georgians is “How hot is
it?” In July,
statewide average temperature was above normal. But it was only
the 60th warmest statewide
July since 1895.
The statewide average for May through July was actually
below normal. The period ranked
as only the 25th warmest May-through-July since 1895. However,
because of a very warm
winter, the average statewide for August 1998 through July 1999
was the 98th warmest since
1895.
Stream Flow Rates a
Concern
The drought is having different impacts across the state. As
of Aug. 23, the flow in
many rivers and creeks was in the bottom 10th percentile.
Low flow rates and water table levels are becoming a concern
statewide. Outdoor
watering bans are common across the state.
Short-term
Relief
Scattered rain Aug. 23-24 brought short-term relief to many
parts of the state. But
this rain won’t break the drought. Most of the state needs more
than half a foot of rain
to end the drought. Northeast Georgia needs more than a
foot.
As of Aug. 21, the PDSI classifies northeast, west central,
southwest and southeast
Georgia as being in severe drought.
North central, central, east central and south central
Georgia are in moderate drought.
Northwest Georgia is in mild drought.
Soil Moisture
Short
The Georgia
Agricultural Statistics Service
reports that moisture is short to very short in 81 percent of
the state’s soils. This is
unchanged from a week earlier. The 81 percent compares to 28
percent last year and 41
percent for the five-year average.
GASS reports that more than 50 percent of the state’s
pastures are poor to very poor.
Some farmers are doing supplemental feeding and culling herds.
The hot weather has
stressed dairy cattle.
The
Moisture Index is a
measure of soil moisture available for use by crops.
The Aug. 21 CMI indicates that southwest Georgia is
extremely dry, with dryland crops
in danger of being ruined. West central Georgia is severely
dry, with potential yields
severely cut.
Excessively dry soils reduce yield prospects in northwest
and northeast Georgia. And
abnormally dry soils are hurting yield prospects in central,
east central and southeast
Georgia.
The CMI indicates that soil moisture is short in north
central and south central
Georgia.
Drought Links
PDSI and CMI values and rankings are calculated by
Center of the
Administration.
You can get updates on drought conditions in Georgia and
across the Southeast at the
of Georgia drought Web
site. Or call your county Extension
Service agent.
Get updated weather data at the Georgia
Automated Environmental Monitoring Web site.
