Drought — Pike, Georgia

2025-10-07 to 2025-10-31 · Pike, Georgia

Event narrative

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.

Wider weather episode

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.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1298554. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.