Drought in Georgia, June 1 to 30, 2000

Extremely dry conditions continued across north and central Georgia through the month of June. These same dry conditions had persisted for most of the last 2 years. All rainfall was from spotty convective activity, with no widespread general rains occurring during the month. Most of the convection was concentrated across the southeast parts of WFO Peachtree City's County Warning Area. The west central and north central portions received only 25 to 50 percent of normal rainfall with northwest and east central portions faring slightly better with 50 to 75 percent of normal. At the major airports in north and central Georgia, Atlanta reported 1.11 inches, Athens 1.98 inches, Macon 2.86 inches, and Columbus only 0.51 inches of rain for the month of June. These amounts were 2.45 inches, 1.95 inches, 0.72 inches, and 3.56 inches below normal, respectively. Yearly rainfall totals for most cooperative observer stations in north and central Georgia were between 10 and 15 inches below normal. The 2 year deficit exceeded 20 inches across much of the same area. The center for Climate Prediction and the U.S. Department of Agriculture classified most of central Georgia in an exceptional drought and most of north Georgia in an extreme drought state. The northern most counties were upgraded from a first stage drought to a severe drought status. Water supplies continued to dwindle in most areas. Streamflows were at or below the lowest 10th percentile of the historical distribution for June at 90 percent of Georgia's observing sites. Twenty-nine percent of Georgia's cotton crop was rated in a poor to very poor condition. University of Georgia cumulative crop damage estimates for the whole state were placed at $689 million dollars, plus another $50 million dollars in increased irrigation costs, for a total estimate of $739 million in losses statewide. Of that total, over $309 million was estimated for the counties in the Peachtree City CWA. Of those counties, Sumter county suffered the most with over $20 million, and Dooly county had almost $16.5 million in losses.