Drought in Georgia, October 17 to 31, 2023

The combination of warm late-summer temperatures, lack of tropical season precipitation, and persistent dry conditions produced short-term drought conditions over north Georgia. The widening short-term rainfall deficits resulted in expanding flash drought conditions over the far northern Georgia counties through October, with the Drought Monitor's D2 Severe Drought conditions first introduced over northwest Georgia on October 10, and D3 Extreme Drought just two weeks later. By the end of October, D2 Severe Drought conditions had expanded to 11.4% Georgia, and D3 Extreme Drought over 4.6%.

In total, October yielded 0.10 to 5 inches of rain of rain over the state. Over north Georgia, north of a line from Franklin to Atlanta, to Washington, rainfall amounts were 0.10 to 1.5 inches, or 5 to 50 percent of normal. South of this line, rainfall amounts were generally 2 to 5 inches, or 75 to 200 percent of normal. The highest amounts were concentrated along a line from Talbotton, to Milledgeville to Warrenton. The lowest rainfall amounts were observed over Dade and northern Walker counties.

In the November 2 Drought Information Statement issued by the NWS Atlanta office, 30-day rainfall totals were included for some of the driest climate record locations: Rome (RMG) reported 0.50 inches (14% of normal), Atlanta (ATL) reported 1.77 inches (52 percent of normal), Gainesville (GVL) reported 1.47 inches (40 percent of normal), Athens (AHN) reported 1.23 inches (38 percent of normal), and Peachtree-DeKalb (PDK) reported 1.12 inches (34 percent of normal).

By the end of the month, soil moisture was below normal and the National Drought Mitigation Center's Condition Monitoring Observer Reports from farmers reported delayed harvesting or planting of seasonal crops and/or heavy degree of loss with crop yield. There were multiple reports of dry water sources and concern for water availability moving into November. Farmers reported supplemental feeding was required for cattle and livestock. The NWS Atlanta office also received an increased number of requests for weather information for wildfires.

The drought persisted and expanded through November over north Georgia.