The drought that started in May 1998 has worsened during the
normal winter recharge period. Georgia depends on winter rains to
replenish soil moisture, groundwater, rivers, streams and
reservoirs. There is little hope for recovery until winter
2002-2003.
At the end of climatological winter, December through February,
Georgia hasn’t had the needed rain to recharge these systems. The
drought has added to wildfire concerns as the state’s peak
wildfire period begins.
Soils Dry
Winter rainfall statewide has been very low. Only the northwest
Georgia corner is near normal. Three-month rainfall in north
Georgia include Athens at 62 percent of normal and Atlanta at 72
percent.
In middle Georgia, Augusta is at 50 percent of normal, Columbus
57 percent and Macon 55. South Georgia had Savannah at 47 percent
and Tifton at 46.
Daily soil moisture levels are critically low across most of the
state. Dry soils across the piedmont are at a level expected only
once in 20 years for this time of year, according to the federal
Climate Prediction Center.
Soils across the northern coastal plain are at once-in-10-year
levels. And southern coastal plain soils are at once-in-five-year
levels.
In the mountain counties, soil levels range from once in 20 years
in Rabun County to once in four years in Dade. As with rainfall,
the soils in Georgia’s northwest corner are in better shape than
in other areas.
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Explanation |
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25th – 74th Percentile |
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10th – 24th Percentile |
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< 10th Percentile |
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Record Low for Day |
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Not Recorded |
Streams Low
Stream flows are at or near record daily low flows statewide
except the northwest corner, where flows are still very low.
South of an Atlanta-to-Athens line, more than 80 percent of the
minimally managed streams (those without large reservoirs) are
setting daily low flow records.
In the mountains, the Chattahoochee River near Cornelia is at a
daily record low. Low flows are reported on the Chattoga and
Tallulah Rivers near Clayton, the Chestatee River near Dahlonega,
the Etowah River near Canton, the Coosawattee River near Ellijay,
the Oostanaula River near Resaca and Rome and the Coosa River
near Rome.
In the piedmont, record daily records are being set on Peachtree
Creek at Atlanta, Flint River near Griffin and Culloden, Upatoi
Creek near Columbus, Ocmulgee River near Macon, Oconee River near
Athens, Broad River near Bell and Little River near
Washington.
In the coastal plain, record daily low stream flows are on the
Flint River at Montezuma, Albany and Newton, Ichawaynochaway
Creek at Milford, Spring Creek at Iron City, Ochlockonee River
near Thomasville, Satilla River near Waycross, Oconee River near
Dublin, Ocumulgee River at Lumber City, Ohoopee River near
Reidsville, Altamaha River near Baxley and at Doctortown and the
Ogeechee River near Eden.
Wildfire Risk High
Major reservoirs across north and central Georgia remain well
below late-February normal pool. Reservoirs at least 5 feet below
normal pool include Hartwell at 9 feet low, Clarks Hill at 8 and
Lanier at 6.
Recent dry weather, low humidity and winds have heightened
wildfire concerns. Most wildfires are caused by careless burning
of debris such as leaves and household garbage.
Georgia has about six weeks left to recharge topsoil moisture.
March is historically Georgia’s wettest month. It will have to be
very wet to recharge the topsoil moisture.
Hopes Dim
Even if a soggy March recharges the topsoil moisture, there will
no reserve to carry plants through any extended hot, dry weather.
It’s doubtful that groundwater, streams and reservoirs can be
recharged before the high water-use months.
There’s little hope that Georgia will be able to pull out of this
drought before fall. With an El Niño event developing in the
equatorial Pacific Ocean, there’s some hope of long-term recovery
during the winter of 2002-2003.
- Updated drought information can be found at www.georgiadrought.org
and wwww.georgiaweather.net
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