Drought in Georgia, July 1 to 31, 2000

Drought conditions continued during July over most of WFO Peachtree City's County Warning Area. Rainfall amounts were higher in July than in June. However climatological normals also increased during July, so there was still a substantial shortfall from the monthly normal precipitation. Total rainfall for the month was generally in the 2 to 3 inch range, however spotty areas received between 4 and 6 inches, while other areas received an inch or less for the month. The net effect was too little, too late for farmers across North and Central Georgia. As of the end of July, the U.S. Department of Agriculture placed all of the CWA in the range of severe to exceptional drought. The area with the largest departure from normal precipitation during July was a swath from west central Georgia across the state, generally along and south of a line from Atlanta to Athens, and north of a line from Columbus to Macon to Augusta. No new crop damage or loss estimates were available, but the previous estimates in June seem to represent the entire 2000 growing season. That estimate placed the total for Peachtree City's county warning area at $306.7 million. An increase in precipitation toward the latter part of the month, and forecasts for the continued weakening of La Nina. brought hope that drought conditions that had lasted for over 2 years were beginning to ease. The latest 90 day forecasts called for near normal precipitation over the southeastern U.S.