Drought, Elbert
- When
- January 1, 12:00 AM EST to January 31, 11:59 PM EST
- Where
- Elbert forecast zone
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 34.117, -82.840 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought in Georgia, January 1 to 31, 2008
January saw a return to dry weather across the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia. Most observing stations across the region reported a rainfall deficit of 1 to 2 inches during the month, resulting in another month of exceptional drought conditions across most of the area.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 6
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
What happened
The episode as NWS GSP wrote it up.
January saw a return to dry weather across the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia. Most observing stations across the region reported a rainfall deficit of 1 to 2 inches during the month, resulting in another month of exceptional drought conditions across most of the area. Water levels on area lakes remained within a foot or two of record low stages. However, rivers and streams remained somewhat recharged from the December rains, with streamflow on most waterways running 25 to 75 percent of normal.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 31, 9:36 PM EST, 2 hours 24 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Dec 31, 9:36 PM EST, 2 hours 24 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
936 PM EST MON DEC 31 2007
.SYNOPSIS...
A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL CROSS OUR REGION TONIGHT. BEHIND THE
FRONT...SHARPLY COLDER AIR WILL SETTLE IN ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH
THURSDAY AND SIGNIFICANT MOUNTAIN SNOW WILL FALL ALONG THE TENNESSEE
BORDER. AS STRONG HIGH PRESSURE MOVES OFF THE ATLANTIC COAST NEXT
WEEKEND...TEMPERATURES WILL RISE A FEW DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM TUESDAY MORNING/...
LEADING EDGE OF THE ARCTIC FRONT HAS MADE IT/S WAY TO NASHVILLE
ATTM...AND IT WL ENTER THE NC MTNS AROUND 0900 UTC. WHILE THERE IS A
NARROW BAND OF MID LEVEL CLOUDS AND SOME PCPN JUST AHEAD OF THE
FRONT...I DON/T SEE ANY REASON TO CHANGE THE DAY SHIFTS POPS OR PCPN
TYPE. ABOUT THE ONLY CHANGE I DID MAKE WAS TO UP WIND GUSTS TO 25
KTS OR MORE ACROSS THE NC/SC/GA MTN ZONES AS THE SHARP PRESSURE
RISES BEHIND THE FRONT SHOULD MIX DOWN A FEW GUSTS IN THE EARLY
MORNING HOURS.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 AM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
AS OF 230 PM MONDAY...WE STILL APPEAR TO BE ON TRACK FOR A
SIGNIFICANT NORTHWEST FLOW SNOWFALL EVENT. OVERALL...THE 12Z NAM AND
GFS ARE QUITE SIMILAR IN THE SYNOPTIC SETUP AND EVOLUTION FOR THE
EVENT BUT GENERALLY FOLLOWED THE GFS AS IT WAS MORE AGGRESSIVE WITH
QPF. FRONT IS EAST OF THE AREA BY 12Z TUESDAY WITH COLD AIR
BEGINNING TO MOVE INTO THE CWFA. CHANNELED VORT ENERGY PUSHES ACROSS
THE CAROLINAS TUESDAY EVENING WITH UPPER TROUGH AND ATTENDING VORT
MAX DIVING INTO THE MEAN TROUGH. H85 TEMPS PLUNGE TO AROUND -17C
WEDNESDAY MORNING AS THE UPPER SHORTWAVE TROUGH SITS OVER THE CWFA.
TUESDAY...SNOW SHOWER CHANCES REALLY BEGIN TO INCREASE TUESDAY
AFTERNOON AS COLD AIR...DEEPER MOISTURE...AND STRONG NW WINDS BEGIN
TO IMPINGE ON THE NC MOUNTAINS. TOP OF THE MOIST LAYER REACHES INTO
THE DENDRITIC CRYSTAL GROWTH LAYER AND ALL CONDITIONS WILL BE PRESENT
FOR GOOD SNOW SHOWER COVERAGE TUESDAY AFTERNOON. PLAN VIEW GFS CAPE
SHOWS AN AREA ALONG THE TN BORDER OF AROUND 25 J/KG WHICH WOULD
SUPPORT SOME BURSTS OF HEAVY SNOW WITHIN THE SNOW SHOWERS.
TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING...THIS IS THE PERIOD WHEN I
WOULD EXPECT THE HEAVIEST SNOW. BEST SURGE OF MOISTURE OCCURS IN
THIS TIME FRAME AS WELL AS THE COLDEST AIR. AGAIN...PLAN VIEW GFS
SHOWS INSTABILITY IN THE 25-50 J/KG RANGE SUPPORTING CONVECTIVE
NATURE OF SNOW SHOWERS AND MORE BURSTS OF HEAVY SNOW. SOUNDINGS
TAKEN ALONG THE NC/TN BORDER ALSO SHOW THE INSTABILITY...AS WELL AS
MOISTURE REACHING TO AROUND -24C WITH NEARLY TOTAL SATURATION UP TO
AROUND H75 LEVEL. THE GFS IS NOT ALL THAT IMPRESSIVE WITH QPF AT THIS
TIME BUT A LOT OF THAT COULD BE DUE TO MODEL RESOLUTION.
ALSO...UPPER TROUGH AND VORT MAX MAKES ITS CLOSEST APPROACH DURING
THIS TIME PERIOD. EXPECT ABOUT A 12 HR TIME PERIOD OF HEAVIEST SNOW
WITH HIGHEST SNOWFALL RATES LATE TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING.
WEDNESDAY...MOISTURE BEGINS TO DECREASE IN DEPTH AFTER 12Z WEDNESDAY
ALTHOUGH LIGHT SNOW SHOWER ACTIVITY SHOULD CONTINUE INTO EARLY
THURSDAY. NO INSTABILITY TO SPEAK OF IN THE GFS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
ONWARD AND SNOWFALL INTENSITY SHOULD CONTINUE TO DECREASE. H85 TEMPS
WARM A BIT TO AROUND -15C BY THURSDAY MORNING AND LOW LEVEL MOISTURE
RETREATS TO THE NORTHEAST. COULD BE A STRAY SNOW SHOWER OR TWO
ACROSS NORTHERN NC FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT AS THE UPPER TROUGH
PROGRESSES EASTWARD. WILL HANDLE THIS WITH A CHANCE/SLIGHT CHANCE
POP BUT NO ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED IN THESE AREAS.
OVERALL...4 TO 7 INCHES OF SNOW IS LIKELY ACROSS MUCH OF THE NC
MOUNTAINS. COULD BE SOME LOCALIZED AMOUNTS OF AROUND A
FOOT...ESPECIALLY IN THE FAVORED UPSLOPE AREAS IN THE HIGHER
ELEVATIONS. AS FAR AS WATCH/WARNINGS GO WILL UPGRADE NORTHERN
JACKSON AND BUNCOMBE TO WARNING WITH ONLY ADVISORY CRITERIA EXPECTED
IN THE OTHER CURRENT WATCH ZONES. COULD SEE STRONG GRADIENT ACROSS
BUNCOMBE WITH HIGHEST TOTALS IN THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE COUNTY.
&&
.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
AS OF 200 PM MONDAY...MODELS ARE IN REMARKABLE AGREEMENT ON
PROGESSION OF DEEP LOW INTO THE ATLANTIC AND FLATTENING OF
PATTERN OVER MOST OF THE COUNTRY BY LATE IN THE WEEK. SEVERAL
SMALL ISSUES IN THE FORECAST BUT MOST OF SENSIBLE WEATHER
OUT OF THE AREA BY THE START OF EXTENDED PERIOD. FIRST CONCERN
WILL BE THE SHOCK ON THURSDAY MORNING AS PEOPLE WAKE UP TO CHILL
FACTORS BELOW ZERO IN THE MOUNTAINS TO TEENS THROUGH THE PIEDMONT.
WARMING. TEMP FORECAST IS A LITTLE CONSERVATIVE SINCE FETCH WOULD
INDICATE EVEN COLDER TEMPERATURES BELOW GFS MOS.
NEXT PRECIP EVENT NOT LIKELY UNTIL NEXT MONDAY AS DEVELOPING
RIDGE MOVES OFFSHORE AND GULF OPENS UP. DURING TIME PERIOD
ONLY A CHANCE OF SHOWER OVER ORAGRAPHICALLY PREFERRED AREAS
AHEAD OF NEXT FRONT TRACKING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
&&
.AVIATION /03Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING FROM THE MIDWEST TO THE GREAT LAKES
OVERNIGHT WILL SEND A COLD FRONT ACROSS THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS
LATE TONIGHT. THE BEST MOISTURE AND LIFT WILL REMAIN NORTH OF THE
TERMINAL LOCATIONS...WITH THE BEST POTENTIAL FOR VFR CEILINGS FROM
KAVL TO KHKY. SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE ARRIVAL
OF THE COLD AIR LATE TONIGHT IN THE WESTERN MOUNTAINS...BUT
CONFIDENCE IS TOO LOW TO FORECAST ANY SNOW OCCURRENCE AT KAVL
THROUGH 18Z TUES. WINDS WILL COME UP SHARPLY WITH POST FRONTAL COLD
ADVECTION 12Z WEST TO 15Z EAST WITH GUSTS IMPROVING DURING THE
MORNING HOURS.
AVIATION OUTLOOK...NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE
AREA...AND MOUNTAIN SNOW SHOWERS WILL GROW IN COVERAGE AND
INTENSITY...THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT. KAVL WILL HAVE A REASONABLE
CHANCE AT MVFR RESTRICTIONS DURING THE BEST PERIOD OF NW FLOW
SNOWFALL TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY...BUT THE BEST SNOW
CHANCES WILL REMAIN NORTH AND WEST OF THE AIRPORT. DRY HIGH PRESSURE
WILL THEN BUILD INTO THE AREA WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY.
&&
.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...NONE.
NC...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 12 PM TUESDAY TO 6 PM EST
WEDNESDAY FOR NCZ062-063-501-503-505.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 12 PM TUESDAY TO 6 PM EST WEDNESDAY
FOR NCZ033-048>053-058-059.
SC...NONE.
&&
SYNOPSIS...DEO
NEAR TERM...MCAVOY
SHORT TERM...BSH
LONG TERM...VAD
AVIATION...HG/MCAVOYHazardous weather outlook, Dec 31, 4:13 PM EST, 7 hours 47 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 413 PM EST MON DEC 31 2007 GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ035>037-056-057-064-065-068>072-082- 502-504-506>510-SCZ001>014-019-012115- RABUN-HABERSHAM-STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-ALEXANDER-IREDELL- DAVIE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON-CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON- MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION NC-GREATER CALDWELL-GREATER BURKE- EASTERN MCDOWELL-RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-GREATER RUTHERFORD- POLK MOUNTAINS-EASTERN POLK-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS- GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS- GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-CHEROKEE-YORK-ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE- LAURENS-UNION SC-CHESTER-GREENWOOD- 413 PM EST MON DEC 31 2007 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. NCZ033-048>053-058-059-012115- AVERY-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-GRAHAM- NORTHERN JACKSON- 413 PM EST MON DEC 31 2007 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM TUESDAY TO 6 PM EST WEDNESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER STORM WARNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. NCZ062-063-501-503-505-012115- MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-BURKE MOUNTAINS- MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS- 413 PM EST MON DEC 31 2007 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM TUESDAY TO 6 PM EST WEDNESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
6 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Drought, Franklin
- When
- January 1, 12:00 AM EST to January 31, 11:59 PM EST
- Where
- Franklin forecast zone
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 34.375, -83.229 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought, Habersham
- When
- January 1, 12:00 AM EST to January 31, 11:59 PM EST
- Where
- Habersham forecast zone
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 34.631, -83.531 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought, Hart
- When
- January 1, 12:00 AM EST to January 31, 11:59 PM EST
- Where
- Hart forecast zone
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 34.351, -82.964 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought, Rabun
- When
- January 1, 12:00 AM EST to January 31, 11:59 PM EST
- Where
- Rabun forecast zone
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 34.882, -83.402 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought, Stephens
- When
- January 1, 12:00 AM EST to January 31, 11:59 PM EST
- Where
- Stephens forecast zone
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 34.554, -83.293 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
What these are
- Drought
- A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Avalanche and High Wind in Washington, January 1, 2008
- Winter Storm in Indiana, January 1 to 2, 2008
- Winter Storm in Indiana, January 1 to 2, 2008
- Winter Storm in Ohio, January 1 to 2, 2008
- Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, January 1 to 2, 2008
- Winter Storm in Vermont, January 1 to 2, 2008
- High Wind in California, January 1, 2008
- Drought in Alabama, January 1 to 31, 2008
- Winter Storm in New York, January 1 to 2, 2008
- Drought in North Carolina, January 1 to 31, 2008
- Winter Weather in Vermont, January 1 to 2, 2008
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in New York, January 1 to 2, 2008
More
Every storm in Georgia in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, January 2008
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 76257, 76258, 76259, 76260, 76261, 76262.