Unsurprisingly the drought has deepened and spread across Georgia and the rest of the Southeastern United States over the past week as the mostly rain-free heat wave has continued with relentless dry air. The estimated population in the Southeast impacted by drought has risen to 18.6 million.
Topsoil moisture in Georgia rated poor to very poor is up 15 points in just a week to 88%.
The drought is expected to worsen with just sparse coverage of rain the next 7 days. Some lucky spot could get over one inch of rain but most of us will be lucky to get a tenth to quarter of an inch if any at all.
99.3% of the state is in some level of drier than normal condition (7.1 million residents), 23% in severe drought.
EVAPORATIVE DEMAND INDEX (ATMOSPHERE-SOIL-PLANT “THIRST”):
FORECAST 7-DAY ACCUMULATED RAINFALL AVERAGE ESTIMATE:
Our high temperatures are running 12-16 degrees above-normal for this time of year. The normal or average high is now 79.
This could easily move into the warmest September on record for Atlanta (currently 2nd place) and we may tie or break the all time record number of days with a high of 90 or above in a year. The current record is 90 set in 2011. As of Thursday we stand at 83 for 2019.
If this keeps up we will end up having had half 15/30 of September days with record breaking or tying temperatures!
I am sure glad the solar cycle is in a low phase and not a high sunspot phase.
Seems like instead of pumpkin spice drinks we need pumpkin colada :)
NOAA EXTENDED DROUGHT OUTLOOK:
For relief head to the northern Rockies for record snow and blizzard conditions:
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