US drought

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

Every countyLive radarGeorgia alertsGeorgia forecasts

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.

US Drought Monitor map of Georgia for Sep 15, 2026, shaded D0 abnormally dry through D4 exceptional drought
  • 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%.

CategoryThis weekSep 15Last weekSep 83 months agoJun 16A year agoSep 16
D0 to D4 Abnormally dry or worse93.5%90.2%99.8%77.2%
D1 to D4 Moderate or worse27%23.4%79.8%13.7%
D2 to D4 Severe or worse2.3%0.7%25.3%0%
D3 to D4 Extreme or worse0%0%2.7%0%
D4 Exceptional drought0%0%0%0%
None6.5%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.

Percent of Georgia in drought categories from Sep 16, 2025 to Sep 15, 2026. On the latest map, 27% is in drought (D1 or worse) and 93.5% is abnormally dry or worse.0%25%50%75%100%OctNovDec2026FebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep
  • D0 Abnormally dry
  • D1 Moderate drought
  • D2 Severe drought
  • D3 Extreme drought
  • D4 Exceptional drought
Every week in the chart
MapD0+D1+D2+D3+D4+
Sep 15, 202693.5%27%2.3%0%0%
Sep 8, 202690.2%23.4%0.7%0%0%
Sep 1, 202679.1%26.8%0%0%0%
Aug 25, 202679.3%25.9%0%0%0%
Aug 18, 202673.8%16.3%0%0%0%
Aug 11, 202672.5%16.5%0%0%0%
Aug 4, 202680.8%19%0.8%0%0%
Jul 28, 202681.7%21%1.1%0%0%
Jul 21, 202682.4%24.9%4.2%0%0%
Jul 14, 202685.6%33%6.1%0%0%
Jul 7, 202686.2%36.3%6.1%0%0%
Jun 30, 202686.2%34.5%5.7%0%0%
Jun 23, 202686.3%34.4%5.4%0%0%
Jun 16, 202699.8%79.8%25.3%2.7%0%
Jun 9, 202699.8%89.5%44.7%6.6%0%
Jun 2, 2026100%95.3%57.6%24.1%0.2%
May 26, 2026100%99.9%95.2%56.5%22.2%
May 19, 2026100%100%98.6%78.7%28.5%
May 12, 2026100%100%99.4%79.2%30.5%
May 5, 2026100%100%100%80.7%33.3%
Apr 28, 2026100%100%100%80.7%33.3%
Apr 21, 2026100%100%98.1%71%27.3%
Apr 14, 2026100%98.1%89.7%69.1%22.4%
Apr 7, 2026100%97.9%88.3%68.1%18.8%
Mar 31, 2026100%97.1%86.8%62.6%13.6%
Mar 24, 2026100%96.2%80%42.5%7.7%
Mar 17, 2026100%96.4%80.6%38%2%
Mar 10, 2026100%97.2%81.7%38%0%
Mar 3, 2026100%97.8%81.7%37.3%0%
Feb 24, 2026100%100%85.9%33.2%0%
Feb 17, 2026100%100%87.4%31.2%0%
Feb 10, 2026100%99%76.3%24.3%0%
Feb 3, 2026100%93%68.8%12.7%0%
Jan 27, 2026100%92.7%68.8%9.7%0%
Jan 20, 2026100%93.3%65.9%9%0%
Jan 13, 2026100%92.9%64.3%2.3%0%
Jan 6, 2026100%100%38%1.2%0%
Dec 30, 2025100%99.6%27.3%1.2%0%
Dec 23, 2025100%89.6%22.1%1.2%0%
Dec 16, 2025100%84%21%1.2%0%
Dec 9, 202590.5%82%59%11.4%0%
Dec 2, 202589.6%82%60.3%19.6%4.2%
Nov 25, 202589.8%82.1%53.5%20.1%4.2%
Nov 18, 202589.8%81.5%46.6%17.4%2.2%
Nov 11, 202589.8%77.8%37.5%16.5%0%
Nov 4, 202588.4%79.1%34.1%16.6%0%
Oct 28, 202591.5%79.7%31.9%12.7%0%
Oct 21, 202597%85.1%29.1%9.3%0%
Oct 14, 202596.5%64.9%24.7%4.8%0%
Oct 7, 202597.3%58.7%18.3%1.3%0%
Sep 30, 202598.2%52.8%11.3%0%0%
Sep 23, 202595.2%27.1%3.1%0%0%
Sep 16, 202577.2%13.7%0%0%0%

Since 2000

Every weekly map of Georgia since January 2000.

Percent of Georgia in drought categories from Jan 4, 2000 to Sep 15, 2026. On the latest map, 27% is in drought (D1 or worse) and 93.5% is abnormally dry or worse.0%25%50%75%100%200420082012201620202024
  • D0 Abnormally dry
  • D1 Moderate drought
  • D2 Severe drought
  • D3 Extreme drought
  • D4 Exceptional drought
Year by year
YearWorst categoryMost in droughtWeek ofWeeks with drought
2026D4 Exceptional drought100%Jan 637 of 37
2025D4 Exceptional drought99.6%Dec 3035 of 52
2024D3 Extreme drought49.4%Jul 234 of 53
2023D4 Exceptional drought48.5%Nov 2133 of 52
2022D2 Severe drought54.9%Jun 2837 of 52
2021D1 Moderate drought7.1%Dec 72 of 52
2020D1 Moderate drought2.8%Aug 49 of 52
2019D3 Extreme drought98%Oct 1540 of 53
2018D2 Severe drought56.9%Apr 1031 of 52
2017D3 Extreme drought73.5%Jan 333 of 52
2016D4 Exceptional drought89.3%Dec 636 of 52
2015D2 Severe drought34.3%Aug 428 of 52
2014D2 Severe drought25%Sep 222 of 52
2013D4 Exceptional drought91.2%Jan 1518 of 53
2012D4 Exceptional drought90.6%Dec 2552 of 52
2011D4 Exceptional drought100%Aug 3052 of 52
2010D3 Extreme drought90.1%Nov 3023 of 52
2009D3 Extreme drought76.5%Feb 2419 of 52
2008D4 Exceptional drought91.7%Aug 1253 of 53
2007D4 Exceptional drought100%May 2252 of 52
2006D3 Extreme drought93%Aug 2238 of 52
2005D1 Moderate drought0.9%Nov 81 of 52
2004D2 Severe drought82.5%May 2511 of 52
2003D1 Moderate drought0.6%Feb 184 of 52
2002D4 Exceptional drought98%Jul 952 of 53
2001D3 Extreme drought99.9%Feb 2046 of 52
2000D4 Exceptional drought100%Jan 452 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.

CountyWorst categoryIn droughtChangeMonthly outlook
Appling CountyD1 Moderate drought71.9%0Drought removal likely
Atkinson CountyD1 Moderate drought7.3%0Drought removal likely
Bacon CountyD1 Moderate drought87.4%0Drought removal likely
Baker CountyD1 Moderate drought33.3%0No drought expected
Baldwin CountyD1 Moderate drought85.3%+85.3No drought expected
Banks CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Barrow CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Bartow CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Ben Hill CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Berrien CountyD1 Moderate drought23.2%0Drought removal likely
Bibb CountyD1 Moderate drought73.3%+22.6No drought expected
Bleckley CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Brantley CountyD1 Moderate drought68.3%0Drought removal likely
Brooks CountyD1 Moderate drought74.4%0Drought removal likely
Bryan CountyD1 Moderate drought10%0No drought expected
Bulloch CountyD1 Moderate drought16.2%0No drought expected
Burke CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Butts CountyD1 Moderate drought84.3%0Drought persists
Calhoun CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Camden CountyD1 Moderate drought0.1%0Drought removal likely
Candler CountyNone0%0No drought expected
Carroll CountyD1 Moderate drought7.5%0No drought expected
Catoosa CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Charlton CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0Drought removal likely
Chatham CountyD1 Moderate drought24.2%0No drought expected
Chattahoochee CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Chattooga CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Cherokee CountyD1 Moderate drought40.8%0No drought expected
Clarke CountyD2 Severe drought78.5%0Drought persists
Clay CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Clayton CountyD1 Moderate drought26.7%0No drought expected
Clinch CountyD1 Moderate drought3.9%0Drought removal likely
Cobb CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Coffee CountyD1 Moderate drought9.5%0No drought expected
Colquitt CountyD1 Moderate drought15.5%0No drought expected
Columbia CountyD1 Moderate drought22.1%+22.1No drought expected
Cook CountyD1 Moderate drought56%0Drought removal likely
Coweta CountyD1 Moderate drought80.5%0No drought expected
Crawford CountyD1 Moderate drought49.5%+35.8No drought expected
Crisp CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Dade CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Dawson CountyD1 Moderate drought67.6%0No drought expected
Decatur CountyD1 Moderate drought36.1%0No drought expected
DeKalb CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Dodge CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Dooly CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Dougherty CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Douglas CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Early CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Echols CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0Drought removal likely
Effingham CountyD1 Moderate drought99.7%0Drought persists
Elbert CountyD2 Severe drought100%0Drought persists
Emanuel CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Evans CountyD1 Moderate drought9.4%0No drought expected
Fannin CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Fayette CountyD1 Moderate drought73.2%0Drought persists
Floyd CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Forsyth CountyD1 Moderate drought6.7%0No drought expected
Franklin CountyD2 Severe drought29.1%0No drought expected
Fulton CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Gilmer CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Glascock CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Glynn CountyD1 Moderate drought0.4%0Drought removal likely
Gordon CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Grady CountyD1 Moderate drought67.8%0Drought removal likely
Greene CountyD2 Severe drought30.3%+21.6No drought expected
Gwinnett CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Habersham CountyD1 Moderate drought17.8%0No drought expected
Hall CountyD1 Moderate drought35.6%0No drought expected
Hancock CountyD1 Moderate drought17%+17.0No drought expected
Haralson CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Harris CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Hart CountyD2 Severe drought100%0Drought persists
Heard CountyD2 Severe drought96.9%0No drought expected
Henry CountyD1 Moderate drought36.1%0No drought expected
Houston CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Irwin CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Jackson CountyD1 Moderate drought1.6%0No drought expected
Jasper CountyD1 Moderate drought99.9%+9.5Drought persists
Jeff Davis CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Jefferson CountyD1 Moderate drought11.8%+11.8No drought expected
Jenkins CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Johnson CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Jones CountyD1 Moderate drought43.6%+25.0No drought expected
Lamar CountyD1 Moderate drought100%0No drought expected
Lanier CountyD1 Moderate drought84%0Drought removal likely
Laurens CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Lee CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Liberty CountyD1 Moderate drought22.2%0No drought expected
Lincoln CountyD1 Moderate drought98.6%+43.3No drought expected
Long CountyD1 Moderate drought82.6%0Drought removal likely
Lowndes CountyD1 Moderate drought29.1%0Drought removal likely
Lumpkin CountyD1 Moderate drought13%0No drought expected
Macon CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Madison CountyD2 Severe drought89.6%0Drought persists
Marion CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
McDuffie CountyD1 Moderate drought42.2%+41.0No drought expected
McIntosh CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0Drought removal likely
Meriwether CountyD1 Moderate drought73%0No drought expected
Miller CountyD1 Moderate drought20.2%0No drought expected
Mitchell CountyD1 Moderate drought80.4%0Drought removal likely
Monroe CountyD1 Moderate drought100%0Drought persists
Montgomery CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Morgan CountyD2 Severe drought87.2%+35.9No drought expected
Murray CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Muscogee CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Newton CountyD1 Moderate drought20.9%0No drought expected
Oconee CountyD2 Severe drought55.5%0No drought expected
Oglethorpe CountyD2 Severe drought100%+9.6Drought persists
Paulding CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Peach CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Pickens CountyD1 Moderate drought32.7%0No drought expected
Pierce CountyD1 Moderate drought99.9%0Drought removal likely
Pike CountyD1 Moderate drought100%0No drought expected
Polk CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Pulaski CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Putnam CountyD1 Moderate drought65%+65.0No drought expected
Quitman CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Rabun CountyD1 Moderate drought81.7%0Drought persists
Randolph CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Richmond CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Rockdale CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Schley CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Screven CountyD1 Moderate drought53.5%0Drought persists
Seminole CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Spalding CountyD1 Moderate drought100%0Drought persists
Stephens CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Stewart CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Sumter CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Talbot CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Taliaferro CountyD1 Moderate drought70.3%+69.5No drought expected
Tattnall CountyD1 Moderate drought69.4%0Drought removal likely
Taylor CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Telfair CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Terrell CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Thomas CountyD1 Moderate drought65.3%0Drought removal likely
Tift CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Toombs CountyD1 Moderate drought4.5%0No drought expected
Towns CountyD1 Moderate drought2.7%0No drought expected
Treutlen CountyNone0%0No drought expected
Troup CountyD1 Moderate drought74.9%0No drought expected
Turner CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Twiggs CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Union CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Upson CountyD1 Moderate drought61.2%0No drought expected
Walker CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Walton CountyD1 Moderate drought2.9%0No drought expected
Ware CountyD1 Moderate drought51.8%0Drought removal likely
Warren CountyD1 Moderate drought5.3%+4.3No drought expected
Washington CountyD1 Moderate drought58.1%+58.1No drought expected
Wayne CountyD1 Moderate drought67.3%0Drought removal likely
Webster CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Wheeler CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
White CountyD1 Moderate drought20.8%0No drought expected
Whitfield CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Wilcox CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Wilkes CountyD2 Severe drought100%+15.4No drought expected
Wilkinson CountyD1 Moderate drought7.3%+7.3No drought expected
Worth CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No 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.