Drought in Putnam, Georgia

The combination of late-summer heat and lack of precipitation resulted in the development of a flash drought over north and central Georgia. Warm daytime high temperatures (record-setting at times) and striking short-term rainfall deficits heightened evapotranspiration rates and soil moisture loss.

Initially the D2 Severe Drought conditions were only over portion of the south Atlanta metropolitan area, but it quickly expanded to include a large portion of north Georgia. Drought conditions worsened through the end of the month, with D3 Extreme Drought developing over just a few short weeks. The percentage of the NWS Atlanta forecast area in D2 Severe Drought or higher jumped from just 2.2 percent on September 10 to 33.9 percent by the 30th.

Rainfall for the month of September ranged from 0.01 to 1.5 inches, with pockets of up to 3 inches. These amounts were 0 to 50 percent of normal. A large area south of the I-20 corridor and along and east of the I-75 corridor received only 0.01 to 0.50 inches, or 0 to 25 percent of normal.

The dry and hot conditions continued into October, exacerbating the drought conditions further.