Georgia drought conditions
27% of Georgia is in drought on the Drought Monitor map of Sep 15, 2026, up 3.6 points from the week before. The worst is severe drought, across 2.3% of the state. 85 of 159 counties have some drought.
Map valid Sep 15, 2026, released Thursday, Sep 17, 2026. The next map is due Thursday, Sep 24, 2026.
- In drought
- 27%
- Worst category
- D2 Severe drought
- Abnormally dry or worse
- 93.5%
- Counties with drought
- 85 of 159
This week’s map
The Drought Monitor for Georgia, valid Sep 15, 2026. County lines are drawn in; the categories are the same as the national map.

- D0 Abnormally dry
- D1 Moderate drought
- D2 Severe drought
- D3 Extreme drought
- D4 Exceptional drought
Open the live map with the Drought Monitor
Map courtesy of the US Drought Monitor, NDMC-UNL, with USDA and NOAA. Original at droughtmonitor.unl.edu
This week's map, by category
Percent of Georgia in each category or worse, the Drought Monitor's own way of counting. In exactly one category this week: D0 66.5%, D1 24.8%, D2 2.3%, D3 0%, D4 0%; none 6.5%.
| Category | This weekSep 15 | Last weekSep 8 | 3 months agoJun 16 | A year agoSep 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D0 to D4 Abnormally dry or worse | 93.5% | 90.2% | 99.8% | 77.2% |
| D1 to D4 Moderate or worse | 27% | 23.4% | 79.8% | 13.7% |
| D2 to D4 Severe or worse | 2.3% | 0.7% | 25.3% | 0% |
| D3 to D4 Extreme or worse | 0% | 0% | 2.7% | 0% |
| D4 Exceptional drought | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| None | 6.5% | 9.8% | 0.2% | 22.8% |
The past year
Percent of Georgia in each category, week by week. Each color includes the worse categories drawn over it.
- D0 Abnormally dry
- D1 Moderate drought
- D2 Severe drought
- D3 Extreme drought
- D4 Exceptional drought
Every week in the chart
| Map | D0+ | D1+ | D2+ | D3+ | D4+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 15, 2026 | 93.5% | 27% | 2.3% | 0% | 0% |
| Sep 8, 2026 | 90.2% | 23.4% | 0.7% | 0% | 0% |
| Sep 1, 2026 | 79.1% | 26.8% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Aug 25, 2026 | 79.3% | 25.9% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Aug 18, 2026 | 73.8% | 16.3% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Aug 11, 2026 | 72.5% | 16.5% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Aug 4, 2026 | 80.8% | 19% | 0.8% | 0% | 0% |
| Jul 28, 2026 | 81.7% | 21% | 1.1% | 0% | 0% |
| Jul 21, 2026 | 82.4% | 24.9% | 4.2% | 0% | 0% |
| Jul 14, 2026 | 85.6% | 33% | 6.1% | 0% | 0% |
| Jul 7, 2026 | 86.2% | 36.3% | 6.1% | 0% | 0% |
| Jun 30, 2026 | 86.2% | 34.5% | 5.7% | 0% | 0% |
| Jun 23, 2026 | 86.3% | 34.4% | 5.4% | 0% | 0% |
| Jun 16, 2026 | 99.8% | 79.8% | 25.3% | 2.7% | 0% |
| Jun 9, 2026 | 99.8% | 89.5% | 44.7% | 6.6% | 0% |
| Jun 2, 2026 | 100% | 95.3% | 57.6% | 24.1% | 0.2% |
| May 26, 2026 | 100% | 99.9% | 95.2% | 56.5% | 22.2% |
| May 19, 2026 | 100% | 100% | 98.6% | 78.7% | 28.5% |
| May 12, 2026 | 100% | 100% | 99.4% | 79.2% | 30.5% |
| May 5, 2026 | 100% | 100% | 100% | 80.7% | 33.3% |
| Apr 28, 2026 | 100% | 100% | 100% | 80.7% | 33.3% |
| Apr 21, 2026 | 100% | 100% | 98.1% | 71% | 27.3% |
| Apr 14, 2026 | 100% | 98.1% | 89.7% | 69.1% | 22.4% |
| Apr 7, 2026 | 100% | 97.9% | 88.3% | 68.1% | 18.8% |
| Mar 31, 2026 | 100% | 97.1% | 86.8% | 62.6% | 13.6% |
| Mar 24, 2026 | 100% | 96.2% | 80% | 42.5% | 7.7% |
| Mar 17, 2026 | 100% | 96.4% | 80.6% | 38% | 2% |
| Mar 10, 2026 | 100% | 97.2% | 81.7% | 38% | 0% |
| Mar 3, 2026 | 100% | 97.8% | 81.7% | 37.3% | 0% |
| Feb 24, 2026 | 100% | 100% | 85.9% | 33.2% | 0% |
| Feb 17, 2026 | 100% | 100% | 87.4% | 31.2% | 0% |
| Feb 10, 2026 | 100% | 99% | 76.3% | 24.3% | 0% |
| Feb 3, 2026 | 100% | 93% | 68.8% | 12.7% | 0% |
| Jan 27, 2026 | 100% | 92.7% | 68.8% | 9.7% | 0% |
| Jan 20, 2026 | 100% | 93.3% | 65.9% | 9% | 0% |
| Jan 13, 2026 | 100% | 92.9% | 64.3% | 2.3% | 0% |
| Jan 6, 2026 | 100% | 100% | 38% | 1.2% | 0% |
| Dec 30, 2025 | 100% | 99.6% | 27.3% | 1.2% | 0% |
| Dec 23, 2025 | 100% | 89.6% | 22.1% | 1.2% | 0% |
| Dec 16, 2025 | 100% | 84% | 21% | 1.2% | 0% |
| Dec 9, 2025 | 90.5% | 82% | 59% | 11.4% | 0% |
| Dec 2, 2025 | 89.6% | 82% | 60.3% | 19.6% | 4.2% |
| Nov 25, 2025 | 89.8% | 82.1% | 53.5% | 20.1% | 4.2% |
| Nov 18, 2025 | 89.8% | 81.5% | 46.6% | 17.4% | 2.2% |
| Nov 11, 2025 | 89.8% | 77.8% | 37.5% | 16.5% | 0% |
| Nov 4, 2025 | 88.4% | 79.1% | 34.1% | 16.6% | 0% |
| Oct 28, 2025 | 91.5% | 79.7% | 31.9% | 12.7% | 0% |
| Oct 21, 2025 | 97% | 85.1% | 29.1% | 9.3% | 0% |
| Oct 14, 2025 | 96.5% | 64.9% | 24.7% | 4.8% | 0% |
| Oct 7, 2025 | 97.3% | 58.7% | 18.3% | 1.3% | 0% |
| Sep 30, 2025 | 98.2% | 52.8% | 11.3% | 0% | 0% |
| Sep 23, 2025 | 95.2% | 27.1% | 3.1% | 0% | 0% |
| Sep 16, 2025 | 77.2% | 13.7% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Since 2000
Every weekly map of Georgia since January 2000.
- D0 Abnormally dry
- D1 Moderate drought
- D2 Severe drought
- D3 Extreme drought
- D4 Exceptional drought
Year by year
| Year | Worst category | Most in drought | Week of | Weeks with drought |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | D4 Exceptional drought | 100% | Jan 6 | 37 of 37 |
| 2025 | D4 Exceptional drought | 99.6% | Dec 30 | 35 of 52 |
| 2024 | D3 Extreme drought | 49.4% | Jul 2 | 34 of 53 |
| 2023 | D4 Exceptional drought | 48.5% | Nov 21 | 33 of 52 |
| 2022 | D2 Severe drought | 54.9% | Jun 28 | 37 of 52 |
| 2021 | D1 Moderate drought | 7.1% | Dec 7 | 2 of 52 |
| 2020 | D1 Moderate drought | 2.8% | Aug 4 | 9 of 52 |
| 2019 | D3 Extreme drought | 98% | Oct 15 | 40 of 53 |
| 2018 | D2 Severe drought | 56.9% | Apr 10 | 31 of 52 |
| 2017 | D3 Extreme drought | 73.5% | Jan 3 | 33 of 52 |
| 2016 | D4 Exceptional drought | 89.3% | Dec 6 | 36 of 52 |
| 2015 | D2 Severe drought | 34.3% | Aug 4 | 28 of 52 |
| 2014 | D2 Severe drought | 25% | Sep 2 | 22 of 52 |
| 2013 | D4 Exceptional drought | 91.2% | Jan 15 | 18 of 53 |
| 2012 | D4 Exceptional drought | 90.6% | Dec 25 | 52 of 52 |
| 2011 | D4 Exceptional drought | 100% | Aug 30 | 52 of 52 |
| 2010 | D3 Extreme drought | 90.1% | Nov 30 | 23 of 52 |
| 2009 | D3 Extreme drought | 76.5% | Feb 24 | 19 of 52 |
| 2008 | D4 Exceptional drought | 91.7% | Aug 12 | 53 of 53 |
| 2007 | D4 Exceptional drought | 100% | May 22 | 52 of 52 |
| 2006 | D3 Extreme drought | 93% | Aug 22 | 38 of 52 |
| 2005 | D1 Moderate drought | 0.9% | Nov 8 | 1 of 52 |
| 2004 | D2 Severe drought | 82.5% | May 25 | 11 of 52 |
| 2003 | D1 Moderate drought | 0.6% | Feb 18 | 4 of 52 |
| 2002 | D4 Exceptional drought | 98% | Jul 9 | 52 of 53 |
| 2001 | D3 Extreme drought | 99.9% | Feb 20 | 46 of 52 |
| 2000 | D4 Exceptional drought | 100% | Jan 4 | 52 of 52 |
Drought history since 2000
Some part of Georgia was in drought on 61% of the weekly maps since Jan 4, 2000, and exceptional drought (D4) last reached the state the week of Jun 2, 2026.
- Weeks with some drought
- 850 of 1,394 (61%)
- Worst category reached
- D4 Exceptional drought, last the week of Jun 2, 2026
- Most widespread
- 100% in drought, week of May 19, 2026
- Longest spell
- 161 weeks, Apr 11, 2006 to May 5, 2009
- Current spell
- 53 weeks, since Sep 16, 2025
Counties
Every county in Georgia: the worst category on this week's map, the share of it in drought, and CPC's monthly outlook at its center. Each page has the county's record since 2000.
| County | Worst category | In drought | Change | Monthly outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appling County | D1 Moderate drought | 71.9% | 0 | Drought removal likely |
| Atkinson County | D1 Moderate drought | 7.3% | 0 | Drought removal likely |
| Bacon County | D1 Moderate drought | 87.4% | 0 | Drought removal likely |
| Baker County | D1 Moderate drought | 33.3% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Baldwin County | D1 Moderate drought | 85.3% | +85.3 | No drought expected |
| Banks County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Barrow County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Bartow County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Ben Hill County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Berrien County | D1 Moderate drought | 23.2% | 0 | Drought removal likely |
| Bibb County | D1 Moderate drought | 73.3% | +22.6 | No drought expected |
| Bleckley County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Brantley County | D1 Moderate drought | 68.3% | 0 | Drought removal likely |
| Brooks County | D1 Moderate drought | 74.4% | 0 | Drought removal likely |
| Bryan County | D1 Moderate drought | 10% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Bulloch County | D1 Moderate drought | 16.2% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Burke County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Butts County | D1 Moderate drought | 84.3% | 0 | Drought persists |
| Calhoun County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Camden County | D1 Moderate drought | 0.1% | 0 | Drought removal likely |
| Candler County | None | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Carroll County | D1 Moderate drought | 7.5% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Catoosa County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Charlton County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | Drought removal likely |
| Chatham County | D1 Moderate drought | 24.2% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Chattahoochee County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Chattooga County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Cherokee County | D1 Moderate drought | 40.8% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Clarke County | D2 Severe drought | 78.5% | 0 | Drought persists |
| Clay County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Clayton County | D1 Moderate drought | 26.7% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Clinch County | D1 Moderate drought | 3.9% | 0 | Drought removal likely |
| Cobb County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Coffee County | D1 Moderate drought | 9.5% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Colquitt County | D1 Moderate drought | 15.5% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Columbia County | D1 Moderate drought | 22.1% | +22.1 | No drought expected |
| Cook County | D1 Moderate drought | 56% | 0 | Drought removal likely |
| Coweta County | D1 Moderate drought | 80.5% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Crawford County | D1 Moderate drought | 49.5% | +35.8 | No drought expected |
| Crisp County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Dade County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Dawson County | D1 Moderate drought | 67.6% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Decatur County | D1 Moderate drought | 36.1% | 0 | No drought expected |
| DeKalb County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Dodge County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Dooly County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Dougherty County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Douglas County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Early County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Echols County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | Drought removal likely |
| Effingham County | D1 Moderate drought | 99.7% | 0 | Drought persists |
| Elbert County | D2 Severe drought | 100% | 0 | Drought persists |
| Emanuel County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Evans County | D1 Moderate drought | 9.4% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Fannin County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Fayette County | D1 Moderate drought | 73.2% | 0 | Drought persists |
| Floyd County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Forsyth County | D1 Moderate drought | 6.7% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Franklin County | D2 Severe drought | 29.1% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Fulton County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Gilmer County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Glascock County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Glynn County | D1 Moderate drought | 0.4% | 0 | Drought removal likely |
| Gordon County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Grady County | D1 Moderate drought | 67.8% | 0 | Drought removal likely |
| Greene County | D2 Severe drought | 30.3% | +21.6 | No drought expected |
| Gwinnett County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Habersham County | D1 Moderate drought | 17.8% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Hall County | D1 Moderate drought | 35.6% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Hancock County | D1 Moderate drought | 17% | +17.0 | No drought expected |
| Haralson County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Harris County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Hart County | D2 Severe drought | 100% | 0 | Drought persists |
| Heard County | D2 Severe drought | 96.9% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Henry County | D1 Moderate drought | 36.1% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Houston County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Irwin County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Jackson County | D1 Moderate drought | 1.6% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Jasper County | D1 Moderate drought | 99.9% | +9.5 | Drought persists |
| Jeff Davis County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Jefferson County | D1 Moderate drought | 11.8% | +11.8 | No drought expected |
| Jenkins County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Johnson County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Jones County | D1 Moderate drought | 43.6% | +25.0 | No drought expected |
| Lamar County | D1 Moderate drought | 100% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Lanier County | D1 Moderate drought | 84% | 0 | Drought removal likely |
| Laurens County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Lee County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Liberty County | D1 Moderate drought | 22.2% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Lincoln County | D1 Moderate drought | 98.6% | +43.3 | No drought expected |
| Long County | D1 Moderate drought | 82.6% | 0 | Drought removal likely |
| Lowndes County | D1 Moderate drought | 29.1% | 0 | Drought removal likely |
| Lumpkin County | D1 Moderate drought | 13% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Macon County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Madison County | D2 Severe drought | 89.6% | 0 | Drought persists |
| Marion County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| McDuffie County | D1 Moderate drought | 42.2% | +41.0 | No drought expected |
| McIntosh County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | Drought removal likely |
| Meriwether County | D1 Moderate drought | 73% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Miller County | D1 Moderate drought | 20.2% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Mitchell County | D1 Moderate drought | 80.4% | 0 | Drought removal likely |
| Monroe County | D1 Moderate drought | 100% | 0 | Drought persists |
| Montgomery County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Morgan County | D2 Severe drought | 87.2% | +35.9 | No drought expected |
| Murray County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Muscogee County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Newton County | D1 Moderate drought | 20.9% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Oconee County | D2 Severe drought | 55.5% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Oglethorpe County | D2 Severe drought | 100% | +9.6 | Drought persists |
| Paulding County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Peach County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Pickens County | D1 Moderate drought | 32.7% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Pierce County | D1 Moderate drought | 99.9% | 0 | Drought removal likely |
| Pike County | D1 Moderate drought | 100% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Polk County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Pulaski County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Putnam County | D1 Moderate drought | 65% | +65.0 | No drought expected |
| Quitman County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Rabun County | D1 Moderate drought | 81.7% | 0 | Drought persists |
| Randolph County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Richmond County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Rockdale County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Schley County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Screven County | D1 Moderate drought | 53.5% | 0 | Drought persists |
| Seminole County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Spalding County | D1 Moderate drought | 100% | 0 | Drought persists |
| Stephens County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Stewart County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Sumter County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Talbot County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Taliaferro County | D1 Moderate drought | 70.3% | +69.5 | No drought expected |
| Tattnall County | D1 Moderate drought | 69.4% | 0 | Drought removal likely |
| Taylor County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Telfair County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Terrell County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Thomas County | D1 Moderate drought | 65.3% | 0 | Drought removal likely |
| Tift County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Toombs County | D1 Moderate drought | 4.5% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Towns County | D1 Moderate drought | 2.7% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Treutlen County | None | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Troup County | D1 Moderate drought | 74.9% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Turner County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Twiggs County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Union County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Upson County | D1 Moderate drought | 61.2% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Walker County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Walton County | D1 Moderate drought | 2.9% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Ware County | D1 Moderate drought | 51.8% | 0 | Drought removal likely |
| Warren County | D1 Moderate drought | 5.3% | +4.3 | No drought expected |
| Washington County | D1 Moderate drought | 58.1% | +58.1 | No drought expected |
| Wayne County | D1 Moderate drought | 67.3% | 0 | Drought removal likely |
| Webster County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Wheeler County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| White County | D1 Moderate drought | 20.8% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Whitfield County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Wilcox County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
| Wilkes County | D2 Severe drought | 100% | +15.4 | No drought expected |
| Wilkinson County | D1 Moderate drought | 7.3% | +7.3 | No drought expected |
| Worth County | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 | No drought expected |
Outlook
The Climate Prediction Center's monthly drought outlook for Sep 2026, read at the center of each county. Its seasonal outlook runs through December 31; each county page has both.
- No_Drought123 counties
- Drought removal likely23 counties
- Drought persists13 counties
What drought has meant in Georgia
The National Drought Mitigation Center's examples of impacts observed in Georgia at each level of drought.
D0 Abnormally dry
- Fire risk is elevated
- Topsoil moisture decreases; planting is delayed
D1 Moderate drought
- Crops are vulnerable; soil moisture is low
- Gardens and lawns require more water
- Stream and pond levels are lower; water temperatures increase
- Tree stress begins
D2 Severe drought
- Crops are stressed; hay yield is low; producers feed cattle early; planting is delayed; soil is hard; conditions are dustier than usual
- Drought mitigation; water conservation education
- Small streams dry up; rivers are very low
- Tree mortality begins
D3 Extreme drought
- Agriculture suffers economic loss
- Ground is cracking
- Landscaping business is negatively affected; agriculture suffers economic loss
- Majority of hay/grazing is lost
- Outdoor burn bans are implemented
- Rivers and livestock ponds are dry; wells are drying up; mandatory water conservation is implemented
- Trees have early leaf drop
D4 Exceptional drought
- Agriculture economy is severely impacted
- Fire risk is high; fire activity increases
- Hydroelectric power generation is significantly reduced
- Tree mortality is high; army worm outbreaks occur
Drawn from the Drought Impact Reporter and local observers.
This week in the Southeast
The Drought Monitor authors' narrative for the map of Sep 15, 2026, released Sep 17, 2026.
Central Virginia had moderate rainfall this past week, leading to some drought improvement. Most of the Carolinas into Georgia were warm and dry, however, resulting the regional degradation of drought conditions. Florida was generally wet and had drought improvement in small areas in the north, center, and south parts of the state. Meanwhile, Alabama continued to experience above normal temperatures and limited rainfall in the central to north, leading to large areas with drought degradation. There remain some areas of extreme drought in northern North Carolina, coastal South and North Carolina, and small areas in Florida.
Looking ahead
Over the next five days leading up to next Tuesday, above normal rainfall is forecast in south Florida as well as a large area in southern Wisconsin and Minnesota into eastern Iowa and northern Illinois. The latter area of forecasted rainfall continues to the east through central Michigan, the southern Great Lakes, Pennsylvania, New York, and much of central and southern New England. Other locations with rainfall in the forecast this week are in the Appalachian Mountains, the western Great Plains, and the Four Corners states. Unfortunately, most of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are forecast to receive little rainfall. Dry conditions are also forecast in California, Nevada, and Washington. Much above normal temperatures are forecast to continue this week in the central and southern U.S.
The 6- to 10-day outlook (September 22-26, 2026) favors above normal temperatures continuing over nearly all of the continental United States. Areas most likely to be above normal are again the south into the southeast, plus the far north. Hawaii is also likely to be above normal. For precipitation, the Eastern Seaboard is likely to have above normal rainfall as is the Southwest. The central U.S. into the upper Midwest is likely to have below normal rainfall. Hawaii and Alaska are both likely to have above normal rain during this period.
Written by Lindsay Johnson, National Drought Mitigation Center; David Mocko, SSAI, NASA/GSFC. The national narrative.
What this means
The five categories the Drought Monitor draws, and how the map is made.
- D0 Abnormally dry
- Going into or coming out of drought.
- D1 Moderate drought
- Some damage to crops and pastures; water shortages developing.
- D2 Severe drought
- Crop or pasture losses likely; water restrictions imposed.
- D3 Extreme drought
- Major crop and pasture losses; widespread water shortages.
- D4 Exceptional drought
- Exceptional and widespread losses; water emergencies.
The US Drought Monitor is drawn every week by authors at the National Drought Mitigation Center, USDA and NOAA, who weigh rainfall, soil moisture, streamflow, groundwater, vegetation health and reports from local observers. Each map shows conditions through Tuesday morning and is released on Thursday. It shows where drought is and how bad it is; it does not forecast it. CPC's outlooks do that.
Sources
Statistics and narrative from the US Drought Monitor, courtesy of the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, with USDA and NOAA. Outlooks from the NOAA Climate Prediction Center. Impacts from NDMC's State Impacts tool.