Drought in Georgia, February 1 to 28, 2017

Name: Drought in Georgia, February 1 to 28, 2017
Start: 2017-02-01T00:00
End: 2017-02-28T23:59
Location: Georgia

February 1 to 28, 2017 · NWS FFC · 38 events in 38 counties and zones

Below normal rainfall through February contributed to an expansion of the extreme drought across north Georgia following an improvement through the month of January. Drought conditions did end, however, across large portions of central Georgia.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 38 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 38

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 FFC wrote it up.

Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches were common across western and north Georgia for the month of February, or 50 to 100 percent of normal. Eastern Georgia received 0.5 to 3 inches of rainfall, or 25 to 75 percent of normal.

By the end of the month, 365-day rainfall deficits across north Georgia ranged from 19 to 23 inches. The headwaters of the Chattahoochee River, upstream from Lake Lanier, reached record low streamflow levels, and Lake Lanier remained 9 feet below seasonal pool into March. Above normal temperatures through the month contributed to early agricultural growth and overall leaf out across the area, resulting in increased stress on the hydrologic system. The D2 Severe Drought area was generally along and north of a line from Carrollton, to Lawrenceville, to Elberton. The D3 Extreme Drought area was north of a line from Summerville, to Dawsonville, to Lavonia.

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 Atlanta, GA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 31, 6:22 PM EST, 5 hours 38 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 31, 6:22 PM EST, 5 hours 38 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
622 PM EST Tue Jan 31 2017

.UPDATE...
Updated for the 00Z Aviation Discussion.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 246 PM EST Tue Jan 31 2017/

SHORT TERM /Tonight through Wednesday Night/...

Expecting a quiet short term with mainly zonal flow aloft. A
frontal boundary will drift into the TN Valley and far north
GA late afternoon Wednesday and Wednesday night as a strong
surface high builds into the central states. Models not showing
much qpf with this front so have kept the pops low chance or
slight chance for the areas north of Atlanta to Athens Wednesday
night. No thunder indicated at this time.

Max temperatures will be warm across the area...however parts of
north GA may be a bit cooler with clouds and a few showers.
Took a couple of degrees off the lows for tonight for most sites
given dry air and mostly clear skies.

41

LONG TERM /Thursday through Tuesday/...

Did not make too many changes to the extended forecast trends with
this model cycle. Medium-range models remain in fairly good agreement
through the period, especially with respect to the larger-scale
features. Upper flow remains fairly flat and fast through early next
week which leads to some timing and strength differences between the
models, but those differences are not as big as they could be. Still
looks like scattered showers into at least north Georgia centered
around Thursday as the weak/diffuse front sags into the region with
better chances (especially across the north) Sunday. Blended model
surface temperatures still borderline for some mixed precipitation
potential in the overnight periods across the higher elevations of
the far north, but confidence is not high for any significant
impacts at this time. Please see the previous Long Term Forecast
Discussion below.

20

Previous LONG TERM Forecast Discussion /Wednesday Night through
Monday/...

Low amplitude troughing with zonal flow aloft will continue through
the remainder of the week. At the surface, high pressure to the
southeast will erode with a weak front approaching from the north by
Thursday evening. This front will take a bit to move through the
area, likely becoming stalled through Friday.  With weak impulses
traversing the boundary, anticipate some light precipitation
Thursday evening through Friday night. The exact location of the
stalled boundary will ultimately dictate what areas see more shower
activity. Given a lack of upper level support, expect low
precipitation totals through this period. High pressure moving in
from the northwest will eventually nudge this boundary south of the
area Saturday. The surface high will shift northeast of the area by
Sunday, becoming dammed against the higher terrain across north/east
Georgia. Meanwhile precipitation will approach as the next system
moves in from the west. Given the cooler temps and drier air locked
within the wedge, there may be mixed precipitation (likely
rain/snow) Sunday morning across this area, more likely amongst the
higher terrain. With a bit more upper level support, anticipate
more moisture associated with this system as it crosses the region
Sunday. High pressure quickly builds into the area Monday.

As the front slowly moves south of the area through the end of the
work-week, temperatures will be a bit tricky to forecast...they are
at the mercy of the frontal placement.  Current thinking-
temperatures will be just above climo Thursday, mid 50s in the north
to around 70 across central GA. By Friday, the front will be
situated nearby along with clouds and precipitation across a portion
of the area, meaning temperatures will be around climo across north
Georgia, upper 40s across the higher elevations to the mid 50s
within metro ATL. Further south, under continued return flow,
anticipate warmer temperatures, still hovering around 70. Saturday,
temperatures will be around climo across the area. By Monday,
anticipate temperatures to rebound into the upper 50s/60s.

26

&&

.AVIATION...
00Z Update...
VFR conditions will continue through the forecast. Clear or FEW250
tonight. Expect FEW-SCT025 with initial lifting...becoming more
of a cu field by 18Z. Skies should go broken Wednesday evening
around 5000 ft. Winds will diminish early this evening with some
places going calm. Westerly winds will become gusty again late
Wednesday morning and afternoon.

//ATL Confidence...00Z Update...
High on all elements

17

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Athens          45  69  48  65 /   0   0   5  20
Atlanta         47  67  49  62 /   0   0  10  20
Blairsville     39  60  42  55 /   0  10  20  20
Cartersville    44  66  46  59 /   0   5  20  20
Columbus        46  70  49  68 /   0   0   0  20
Gainesville     46  65  47  62 /   0   5  10  20
Macon           45  71  48  69 /   0   0   0  20
Rome            43  66  45  58 /   0   5  20  20
Peachtree City  42  68  47  63 /   0   0   5  20
Vidalia         48  72  51  72 /   0   0   0  10

&&

.FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...17
LONG TERM....BDL
AVIATION...17

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 31, 11:30 AM EST, 12 hours 30 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1130 AM EST TUE JAN 31 2017

GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086-
089>098-102>113-010830-
BALDWIN-BANKS-BARROW-BARTOW-BIBB-BLECKLEY-BUTTS-CARROLL-CATOOSA-
CHATTAHOOCHEE-CHATTOOGA-CHEROKEE-CLARKE-CLAYTON-COBB-COWETA-
CRAWFORD-CRISP-DADE-DAWSON-DEKALB-DODGE-DOOLY-DOUGLAS-EMANUEL-
FANNIN-FAYETTE-FLOYD-FORSYTH-GILMER-GLASCOCK-GORDON-GREENE-
GWINNETT-HALL-HANCOCK-HARALSON-HARRIS-HEARD-HENRY-HOUSTON-JACKSON-
JASPER-JEFFERSON-JOHNSON-JONES-LAMAR-LAURENS-LUMPKIN-MACON-
MADISON-MARION-MERIWETHER-MONROE-MONTGOMERY-MORGAN-MURRAY-
MUSCOGEE-NEWTON-NORTH FULTON-OCONEE-OGLETHORPE-PAULDING-PEACH-
PICKENS-PIKE-POLK-PULASKI-PUTNAM-ROCKDALE-SCHLEY-SOUTH FULTON-
SPALDING-STEWART-SUMTER-TALBOT-TALIAFERRO-TAYLOR-TELFAIR-TOOMBS-
TOWNS-TREUTLEN-TROUP-TWIGGS-UNION-UPSON-WALKER-WALTON-WARREN-
WASHINGTON-WEBSTER-WHEELER-WHITE-WHITFIELD-WILCOX-WILKES-
WILKINSON-
1130 AM EST TUE JAN 31 2017

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL
GEORGIA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY...

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED THROUGH TONIGHT.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

38 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Banks

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Banks forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.354, -83.497 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, White

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: White forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.646, -83.747 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Whitfield

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Whitfield forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.806, -84.967 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Walton

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Walton forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 33.782, -83.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Walker

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Walker forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.736, -85.301 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Union

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Union forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.834, -83.991 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Towns

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Towns forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.917, -83.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Polk

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Polk forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.002, -85.188 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Pickens

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Pickens forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.464, -84.466 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Paulding

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Paulding forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 33.921, -84.867 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Oglethorpe

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Oglethorpe forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 33.881, -83.081 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Oconee

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Oconee forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 33.835, -83.437 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, North Fulton

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: North Fulton forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 33.790, -84.467 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Murray

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Murray forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.788, -84.748 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Madison

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Madison forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.128, -83.209 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Lumpkin

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Lumpkin forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.572, -84.003 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Jackson

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.134, -83.566 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Heard

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Heard forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 33.297, -85.128 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Haralson

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Haralson forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 33.794, -85.211 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Hall

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Hall forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.317, -83.820 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Gwinnett

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Gwinnett forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 33.962, -84.024 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Gordon

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Gordon forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.503, -84.876 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Gilmer

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Gilmer forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.691, -84.456 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Forsyth

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Forsyth forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.226, -84.125 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Floyd

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Floyd forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.263, -85.214 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Fannin

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Fannin forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.864, -84.320 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Douglas

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Douglas forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 33.702, -84.768 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, De Kalb

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: De Kalb forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 33.772, -84.226 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Dawson

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Dawson forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.444, -84.171 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Dade

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Dade forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.855, -85.504 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Cobb

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Cobb forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 33.942, -84.577 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Clarke

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Clarke forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 33.951, -83.367 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Chattooga

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Chattooga forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.475, -85.345 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Cherokee

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Cherokee forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.244, -84.476 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Catoosa

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Catoosa forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.904, -85.138 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Carroll

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Carroll forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 33.583, -85.080 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Bartow

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Bartow forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.238, -84.840 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Barrow

When: February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Barrow forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 33.993, -83.713 (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

Every storm in Georgia in 2017 Every state in 2017 This day in weather history Warnings in Georgia, February 2017

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: 677254, 677255, 677256, 677257, 677258, 677259, 677260, 677261, 677262, 677263, 677264, 677265, 677266, 677267, 677268, 677269, 677271, 677273, 677274, 677275, 677276, 677277, 677278, 677279, 677280, 677281, 677282, 677283, 677284, 677285, 677286, 677287, 677288, 677289, 677291, 677292, 677294, 677295.