Drought in Towns, Georgia

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.

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.