Drought Information Statement for North and Central Georgia
Valid January 11, 2024
Issued By: NWS Atlanta / Peachtree City, GA
Contact Information: sr-ffc.webmaster@noaa.gov
This product will be updated on January 25, 2024 or sooner if conditions change significantly. 
Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements.
Please visit https://www.weather.gov/ffc/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 
1

U.S. Drought Monitor
Link to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor for Georgia
Recent rainfall yielded significant improvements in the short-term drought in Georgia.

Drought intensity and extent for north and central GA
Counties listed under most significant drought category.

D4 (Exceptional Drought):  None

D3 (Extreme Drought): None

D2 (Severe Drought): Dade, Walker, Catoosa, Whitfield, Murray, Fannin, Gilmer, Union, Towns, Chattooga, Floyd, Gordon, Pickens, Dawson, Bartow, Cherokee, Polk, Haralson, Carroll, and Madison counties

D1 (Moderate Drought): Lumpkin, White, Forsyth, Hall, Banks, Paulding, Cobb, North Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Barrow, Jackson, Rockdale, Walton, Oconee, Clarke, Oglethorpe, Wilkes, Heard, Coweta, Henry, Newton, and Morgan counties

D0: (Abnormally Dry):  Fayette, Clayton, Spalding, Butts, Jasper, Greene, Meriwether, Pike, Lamar, Harris, Talbot, Muscogee, Chattahoochee, Marion, and Stewart counties
D2 Severe Drought covered 13.24 % of the NWS Atlanta area on January 9 – an improvement from 19.34% coverage on January 2.

Recent Change in Drought Intensity
Link to the latest 2-week change map for Georgia
Two-Week Drought Monitor Class Change for North and Central Georgia

Drought Worsened
No counties in north and central Georgia saw a degradation of conditions

Drought Improved or Remained Steady
Along and north of a line from Americus, to Irwinton, to Augusta, drought conditions largely improved by one category. 


Precipitation - Past 30 Days
Over the last 30 days, rainfall over north and central Georgia generally ranged from 3 to 12 inches. 
Far northeast Georgia received the highest amounts, with accumulations of 9 to 12 inches, or 100 to 200 percent of normal. 
In the greater Columbus area, accumuations only amounted to 2.5 to 5 inches, or 67 to 100 percent of normal.
Elsewhere, amounts of 5 to 8 inches were common, or 100 to 150 percent of normal.
Image Captions: 
Left - Precipitation Amount for Georgia
Right - Percent of Normal Precipitation for Georgia
Data Courtesy High Plains Regional Climate Center. 
Data over the past 30 days ending December 28, 2023
30-day rainfall totals 
   (compared to normal):


Rome (RMG): 6.34” (131%)
Atlanta (ATL): 6.07” (136%)
Gainesville (GVL): 8.84” (180%)
Athens (AHN): 8.84” (198%)
Peachtree-DeKalb (PDK): 5.85” (129%)
Peachtree City (FFC): 6.11” (133%)
Columbus (CSG): 4.16” (90%)

Summary of Impacts
Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter
Hydrologic Impacts 
Overall, 7-day streamflow averages are normal to much above normal over the area – a significant change from the last report. Heavy rainfall over Georgia has produced widespread Minor Flooding on area riverine systems, with ongoing flooding still occurring today.  See next slide for more details.

Agricultural Impacts
Please see the latest Georgia Crop Progress and Condition Report 
Good rainfall amounts continue to keep soil moisture high, abating drought conditions. At last update, farmers were still supplementing livestock to ration hay supplies into spring. Some winter wheat planting was successful with December rainfall, as well as other crop progress.  

Fire Hazard Impacts
Wildfire activity has subsided significantly, with no elevated threats at this time. See slide 9 for more details.

Other Impacts
There are no known impacts at this time

Mitigation Actions
Please refer to your municipality and/or water provider for mitigation information.

Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts
Main Takeaways

In the last week, rainfall over north and central Georgia ranged from 2 to 7 inches, largely from a single rain event on January 9. This rainfall drastically impacted the streamflows, as evident in the 7-day average streamflow image (right). The upper Savannah, Chattahoochee, Flint, Ocmulgee and Oconee are all at Much Above Normal, and the Tallapoosa, Coosa, and Tennessee River basins all Above Normal. 

Normal conditions persist elsewhere in the state.

Lake and Reservoir levels have improved, with many reservoirs near or above seasonal targets. The pool elevation at Lake Lanier rose has risen nearly 3 feet since Tuesday.
Image Caption: USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map valid January 10, 2024.

Agricultural Impacts
The Soil Moisture Ranking Percentile (below) shows generally above normal conditions as of January 10, 2024.
Of the nine crop divisions (right), all but two are Abnormally Wet to Wet. 
Image Captions: 
Left: CPC Calculated Soil Moisture Ranking Percentile (data 1932-2000) valid January 10, 2024.
Above: Crop Moisture Index by Division. Weekly value for period ending January 6, 2024.

Fire Hazard Impacts
Keetch Byram Drought Index values have dropped below 300 statewide.

The Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook for Georgia is normal for January (far right).

Drought-related burn bans have all been lifted with improving drought conditions.

Image Captions:
Above:  Significant Wildland Fire Potential Monthly Outlook for January 2024
Left: Keetch Byram Drought Index for January 10, 2024
Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center.

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast
The 7-day outlook (through 7am Fri, Jan 19):

An active weather pattern continues through the next week, with at least two opportunities for rainfall.
Rainfall associated with Friday’s severe weather potential is limited, with most areas expecting to see less than 0.50 inches of rain.
Another system will bring in rain and the potential for winter precipitation Tuesday. Rainfall amounts would be light (generally 0.25 inches or less). 
In total, 7-day precipitation amounts range from 0.25 inches to 1.25 inches, with the highest totals over north Georgia.

Image Captions: 
Left - Climate Prediction Center Monthly Temperature Outlook. 
Right - Climate Prediction Center Monthly Precipitation Outlook.
Valid MM YYYY

Image Captions: 
Left - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Temperature Outlook. 
Right - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Precipitation Outlook.
Valid MM to MM YYYY

Long-Range Outlooks
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
For the rest of January:

Above normal rainfall is expected statewide.

There is an equal chance of above or below normal temperatures statewide.
Image Captions: 
Left - Climate Prediction Center Monthly Temperature Outlook. 
Right - Climate Prediction Center Monthly Precipitation Outlook.
Valid January 2024, issued December 31, 2023


Image Caption: 
Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook Released MM DD, YYYY valid for MM-MM YYYY
Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
Drought is expected to end over much of the state through the winter months.

A small stretch of north Georgia, generally from Rome, to Ellijay, to Hiawassee, may not see drought completely come to an end, they are expected to see improvements through Winter and into early Spring.

Links to the latest:
Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook 
Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook