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Spring Outlook |
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The winter months of December, January and February were cooler
than normal in most of Georgia, while drier-than-normal
conditions continued to aggravate moisture deficits statewide.
Preliminary results gathered from the National Weather Service’s
cooperative weather observers indicate winter temperatures ranged
from more than 3 degrees below normal south of Macon to slightly
above normal in southeastern Georgia away from the coast.
Northwestern Georgia also had temperatures only slightly below
normal for winter.
Rainfall Low
Precipitation ranged from near 100 percent of normal in
northwestern Georgia to less than 50 percent of normal in south
Georgia. Atlanta had 9.0 inches of rainfall, or 65 percent of
normal.
Other amounts and percentages include Americus with 8.5 inches
(60 percent), Athens 9.2 (70), Augusta 7.6 (65), Columbus 7.4
(51), Macon 6.8 (50), Rome 11.1 (78), Savannah 5.2 (37), Tifton
6.1 inches (45) and Waycross 4.6 (33).
Winter Should Be Wet
Winter is normally the season when groundwater stores and stream
flows are recharging. The present long-term drought, which began
in May 1998, has reduced groundwater levels and stream flows to
near-record low levels. This has prompted continuing concern
about conditions for the coming growing season.
The outlook for spring from the Climate Prediction Center
indicates that typical climatic temperatures can be expected for
March through May. This means an equal likelihood of
below-normal, normal and above-normal temperatures.
An increased chance of below-normal precipitation is forecast for
Georgia this spring, particularly in the southern half. This is
in spite of the significant rains Georgia has had in the first
half of March.
Shift in Global Weather
The recent rains are a sign of a shift in global weather
patterns, which have returned Georgia to a more typical
rain-producing pattern. However, it’s not certain how long this
pattern will continue.
Even with normal rainfall this spring, hydrologic drought would
be expected to continue in many parts of the state.
By the end of April, normal evaporation is greater than normal
precipitation statewide. Most moisture is evaporated back to the
air before it can reach the deeper soils and groundwater.
Kicking Up Dust
Farmers plowing in the fields in early March in central Georgia
were kicking up plumes of dust as they dug beneath the wet
surface soil, in spite of having had more than 5 inches of rain
in some places. Recharge of groundwater will take many months of
above-normal rainfall across the state.
The CPC climate outlook for June through August indicates an
increased likelihood of temperatures above normal. Precipitation
is forecast to have equal chances of below-normal, normal and
above-normal amounts.
These predictions show that the drought is likely to continue and
may worsen during the summer.
