Georgia, 2025

Drought in Georgia, October 7 to 31, 2025

October 7 to 31, 2025 · NWS FFC · 15 events in 14 counties and zones

The lack of tropical season precipitation and the persistent dry conditions produced short-term drought conditions over west central Georgia in late September 2025, and expanded D2 Severe Drought conditions into the Metro Atlanta area by early October. By the end of October, a small area of D3 Extreme Drought had developed.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 15 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
15

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.

The lack of tropical season precipitation and the persistent dry conditions produced short-term drought conditions over west central Georgia in late September 2025, and expanded D2 Severe Drought conditions into the Metro Atlanta area by early October. By the end of October, a small area of D3 Extreme Drought had developed.

In total, October yielded 0.75 to 3 inches of rain of rain over the state, with the highest amounts over north Georgia. South of a line from LaGrange, to Monticello, to Elberton, rainfall amounts were generally under 2 inches, or 25 to 50 percent of normal. In the Metro Atlanta area, rainfall amounts were generally 2 to 3 inches, or 50 to 80 percent of normal, but the combination of low late summer rainfall and warm temperatures exacerbated the dry conditions.

Condition Monitoring Observer Reports and Drought Impacts Reporter received reports through the month indicating delayed harvesting or planting of seasonal crops, and poor grazing conditions. The Crop Progress and Condition graphs showed the largest impact to cotton, pasture and range conditions across the state. Farmers also relayed reports of drying water sources.

At the beginning of October, 0.91 percent of the NWS Atlanta area was in D2 Severe Drought conditions. By the end of the month, this had expanded to be 16.7 percent, with an additional 2.55 percent in D3 Extreme Drought. D3 Extreme Drought included portions of Fulton, Clayton, Fayette, Coweta, Henry, Spalding, Meriwether and Pike counties in October.

The drought persisted and expanded over north and central Georgia through October and continued into November.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

15 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Carroll

When
October 7, 12:00 AM EST to October 31, 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)

According to the Drought Monitor, D2 Severe Drought conditions were introduced to far eastern Carroll County on October 7, 2025. The D2 Severe Drought continued into November.

Drought, Cobb

When
October 7, 12:00 AM EST to October 31, 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)

According to the Drought Monitor, D2 Severe Drought conditions were introduced to portions of southern Cobb County on October 7, 2025. The D2 Severe Drought expanded to include a larger portion of the county by the end of the month and continued into November.

Drought, De Kalb

When
October 7, 12:00 AM EST to October 31, 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)

According to the Drought Monitor, D2 Severe Drought conditions were introduced to portions of western DeKalb County on October 7, 2025. The D2 Severe Drought expanded to include the entire county by the end of the month and persisted into November.

Drought, North Fulton

When
October 7, 12:00 AM EST to October 31, 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)

According to the Drought Monitor, D2 Severe Drought conditions were introduced to north Fulton County on October 7, 2025. The D2 Severe Drought expanded to include a larger portion of the county by the end of the month and persisted into November.

Drought, Talbot

When
October 7, 12:00 AM EST to October 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Talbot forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.700, -84.533 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

According to the Drought Monitor, D2 Severe Drought conditions were introduced to northwest Talbot County on October 7, 2025. The D2 Severe Drought expanded to include the entire county by the end of the month and persisted into November.

Drought, Upson

When
October 7, 12:00 AM EST to October 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Upson forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.881, -84.299 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

According to the Drought Monitor, D2 Severe Drought conditions were introduced to western Upson County on October 7, 2025. The D2 Severe Drought expanded to include the western half of the county by the end of the month and persisted into November.

Drought, Clayton

When
October 7, 12:00 AM EST to October 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Clayton forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
33.542, -84.358 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

According to the Drought Monitor, D2 Severe Drought conditions were introduced to Clayton County on October 7, 2025. The D2 Severe Drought area expanded to include a larger portion of the county through the month. An area of D3 Extreme Drought was introduced on October 23, 2025, and these conditions persisted into November.

Drought, Clayton

When
October 7, 12:00 AM EST to October 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Clayton forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
33.542, -84.358 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

According to the Drought Monitor, D2 Severe Drought conditions were introduced to Coweta County on October 7, 2025. An area of D3 Extreme Drought was introduced to eastern Coweta County on October 23, 2025, and these conditions persisted into November.

Drought, Douglas

When
October 7, 12:00 AM EST to October 31, 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)

According to the Drought Monitor, D2 Severe Drought conditions were introduced to Douglas County on October 7, 2025. A small area of D3 Extreme Drought was introduced to southeastern Douglas County on October 23, 2025, and these conditions persisted into November.

Drought, Fayette

When
October 7, 12:00 AM EST to October 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Fayette forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
33.414, -84.494 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

According to the Drought Monitor, D2 Severe Drought conditions were introduced to Fayette County on October 7, 2025. The entire county was upgraded to D3 Extreme Drought on October 23, 2025, and these conditions persisted into November.

Drought, Henry

When
October 7, 12:00 AM EST to October 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Henry forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
33.453, -84.154 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

According to the Drought Monitor, D2 Severe Drought conditions were introduced to Henry County on October 7, 2025. The D2 Severe Drought expanded to include a larger portion of the county through October, and a small sliver of D3 Extreme Drought was introduced to far western Henry County on October 23, 2025. These conditions persisted into November.

Drought, Pike

When
October 7, 12:00 AM EST to October 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Pike forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
33.092, -84.389 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

According to the Drought Monitor, D2 Severe Drought conditions were introduced to Pike County on October 7, 2025. The D2 Severe Drought expanded to include the entire county through October, and D3 Extreme Drought was introduced to northwestern Pike County on October 23, 2025. These conditions persisted into November.

Drought, Meriwether

When
October 7, 12:00 AM EST to October 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Meriwether forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
33.041, -84.688 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

According to the Drought Monitor, D2 Severe Drought conditions were introduced to Meriwether County on October 7, 2025. The D2 Severe Drought expanded to include a larger portion of the county through October, and D3 Extreme Drought was introduced to northeastern Meriwether County on October 23, 2025. These conditions persisted into November.

Drought, South Fulton

When
October 7, 12:00 AM EST to October 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where
South Fulton forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
33.790, -84.467 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

According to the Drought Monitor, D2 Severe Drought conditions were introduced to south Fulton County on October 7, 2025. The D2 Severe Drought expanded to include a larger portion Fulton County through October, and D3 Extreme Drought was introduced to south Fulton County on October 23, 2025. These conditions persisted into November.

Drought, Spalding

When
October 7, 12:00 AM EST to October 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Spalding forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
33.261, -84.284 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

According to the Drought Monitor, D2 Severe Drought conditions were introduced to western Spalding County on October 7, 2025. The D2 Severe Drought expanded to include a larger portion of the county through October, and D3 Extreme Drought was introduced far western Spalding County on October 23, 2025. These conditions persisted into November.

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

More

Every storm in Georgia in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, October 2025

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1298543, 1298544, 1298545, 1298546, 1298547, 1298548, 1298549, 1298550, 1298551, 1298552, 1298553, 1298554, 1298555, 1298556, 1298557.