Over 98% of Alabama is considered to be in some form of drought according to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s Thursday morning update:
US Drought Monitor
Today’s drought status does not take into account the heavy rain in a few East Alabama counties from earlier this week, but even the heaviest storms from yesterday really have not done much to alleviate drought conditions and rainfall deficits in Alabama.
As of this morning, Birmingham’s deficit for the year is 3.84 inches; we have only recorded 0.34 inches since June 1st (about 82% below the 30-year average).
Tuscaloosa’s deficit is 7.27″ on the year; only 0.21″ of rain has fallen in T-town since June 1st (about 89% below average).
In Anniston, the deficit is 5.62″ on the year; Anniston’s airport has recorded 0.39″ in June (about 80% below average).
The map above clearly shows the worst “drought” conditions are in southeastern Alabama. Droughts are either hydrologic (affecting the water supply), agricultural (affecting livestock and crops), or a combination of the two. It has been determined that northern Alabama’s “drought” conditions are not that bad yet because we still have good lake and stream levels in the major waterways; however, if some rain does not start showing up soon, and the heat does not back down, it will not take long before most of Central Alabama is in the more severe drought categories.
Will it be as bad as the drought of 2007? It’s hard to say for sure because a lot of factors played into the summer of 2007’s situation. That was actually a multi-year drought that peaked in severity during that long, hot summer. Rainfall had consistently been well-below average since the middle of 2005, so everything just came to a head in 2007’s dry season.
It may not get as bad relative to lake/river levels and loss of groundwater, but some serious agricultural problems could get worse later in the summer if we do not get some cooler, wetter weather in the next few weeks. There is a chance that some tropical moisture could get involved in the weather pattern over the South toward the end of next week or next weekend, but at this point, it is only a chance (and some hopeful/wishful thinking).
-Jason
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