Drought in Georgia

Events

5,192

Deaths

0

Injuries

0

Damage

$817 million

• Drought in Georgia, September 1 to 30, 2007$344 million · 97 eventsDrought conditions continued to worsen through the summer months across north and central Georgia. Many areas of the state were nearing historical drought conditions by the end of the summer.
• Drought in Georgia, June 1 to 30, 2000$307 million · 97 eventsExtremely 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.
• Drought in Georgia, September 1 to 30, 2011$100 million · 88 eventsOn September 8, 2011, much of Georgia was classified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a Primary Natural Disaster Area due to an ongoing drought and excessive heat that has damaged thousands of acres of crops.
• Drought in Georgia, September 1 to 22, 1997$20 million · 94 eventsThe dry spell that existed the last 10 days of August continued through the first three weeks of September, especially over the south half of the state.
• Drought in Georgia, September 1 to 22, 1997$47 million · 25 eventsThe dry spell that existed the last 10 days of August persisted through the first three weeks of September. Little or no rain fell during this period. University of Georgia agricultural experts estimated crop losses at $66.5 million statewide.
• Drought in Georgia, February 1 to 29, 200097 eventsRainfall amounts for the month of February were well below normal for most of north and central Georgia. The driest area was across the central portion of the state from Columbus through Macon into the Louisville, Greensboro and Watkinsville areas.
• Drought in Georgia, May 1 to 31, 200097 eventsThe dry conditions, that had persisted for most of a 2 year period, continued through May over north and central Georgia. Rainfall amounts in central Georgia were only about 25 percent of normal, while 50 to 75 percent of normal amounts fell across the north.
• Drought in Georgia, October 1 to 31, 200097 eventsAfter a couple of months of relief from the prolonged dry conditions of the past 2 to 3 years, very dry conditions returned to north and central Georgia during October. A strong cold front moved through the state on the 6'th, preceded by a line of thunderstorms.
• Drought in Georgia, July 1 to 31, 200097 eventsDrought conditions continued during July over most of WFO Peachtree City's County Warning Area. Rainfall amounts were higher in July than in June.
• Drought in Georgia, October 1 to 31, 200197 eventsA very dry weather pattern, which actually began in mid-August, continued into October. The synoptic pattern was dominated by northwest flow aloft and a series of large Canadian high pressure systems which brought repeated spells of cool, dry weather to Georgia during the month.
• Drought in Georgia, December 1 to 31, 200197 eventsVery dry weather continued throughout December across all of north and central Georgia. December marked the 5th consecutive month of below normal rainfall for many locations, and the third consecutive month of much below normal rainfall for most of north and central Georgia.
• Drought in Georgia, April 1 to 30, 200297 eventsA summerlike weather pattern dominated north Georgia much of the month, resulting in several days of above normal temperatures and a lack of organized precipitation producing systems.
• Drought in Georgia, August 1 to 31, 200297 eventsVery dry conditions persisted across much of north and central Georgia during the month. Rainfall totals of less than one inch were observed at several reporting stations. Athens received only 0.14 inch of rain during the month making it the 2nd driest August on record.
• Drought in Georgia, January 1 to 28, 200397 eventsA large Polar vortex, anchored over the Hudson Bay region of Canada and the northeastern United States, dominated the eastern United States nearly the entire month. As a result, a cold, dry northwest flow prevailed into the southeastern United States throughout the month.
• Drought in Georgia, March 1 to 31, 200497 eventsNorth and Central Georgia endured one of the driest March's on record. With only near to slightly below normal rainfall during January and February, by the end of March, most of the area was classified in a mild drought.
• Drought in Georgia, October 1 to 31, 200797 eventsDrought conditions persisted and actually worsened during September and October. October, climatologically the driest month of the year anyway, fell even short of normal values at most locations in north and central Georgia.
• Drought in Georgia, May 1 to 31, 200797 eventsDrought conditions continued to worsen across the entire state during May. Rainfall deficits across many counties of north and central Georgia continued to grow as well as the number of counties classified in severe and extreme drought conditions.
• Drought in Georgia, November 1 to 30, 200797 eventsDrought conditions continued to worsen across north and central Georgia during November. Rainfall deficits continued to grow, with many locations across the north and central part of the state reporting rainfall deficits of 15 to 20 inches.
• Drought in Georgia, December 1 to 31, 200797 eventsDrought conditions persisted and actually continued to worsen during December. This was especially true during the first half of the month when unseasonably warm, dry weather prevailed across the region thanks to a large upper-level ridge of high pressure.
• Drought in Georgia, November 1 to 30, 201696 eventsThe D4 Exceptional drought conditions rapidly worsened over Georgia through the month of November. By the end of the month, all but two counties in north and central Georgia were in the D2 Severe to D4 Exceptional drought area.
• Drought in Georgia, December 1 to 31, 201695 eventsThe D4 Exceptional drought conditions improved slightly over Georgia through the month of December as a more active atmospheric pattern set up over the region.
• Drought in Georgia, August 1 to 31, 199994 eventsDry conditions in the later part of July continued through most of August in north and central Georgia. Rainfall deficits were generally between 1.5 and 2.5 inches for the month.
• Drought in Georgia, March 1 to 31, 202693 eventsThe short-term drought entered its sixth month in March, as a lack of winter precipitation and unseasonably warm temperatures exacerbated dry conditions statewide. The spring green-up further strained hydrological systems, placing new demands on limited water supplies.
• Drought in Georgia, May 1 to 31, 199990 eventsBelow normal rainfall continued through May. According to the University of Georgia, this was the driest February through May period since the drought of 1925. Most of Georgia was classified as being in a severe drought and on the cusp of an extreme drought.
• Drought in Georgia, October 1 to 31, 201685 eventsThe drought conditions continued to worsen over Georgia through October, with all of north and a majority of central Georgia in D2 Severe to D4 Exceptional drought conditions. By the end of October the Exceptional drought spread to include 33 counties.

Drought everywhereEvery kind of event in Georgia

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.