Area Drought Conditions Worsening

Drought conditions are worsening in Stephens County.

According to the latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor, Stephens County has moved back into “severe drought” status.

That is the third most severe level of drought on the Drought Monitor’s scale.

Stephens County had left “severe drought” at the end of August and for the month of September had been listed as in being in “moderate drought.”

Downtown Toccoa last had measurable rainfall on September 11, when .18 of an inch was measured.

Since September 1, only .76 of an inch of rain has been measured in downtown Toccoa.

For the year to date, 29.32 inches of rain has been measured in downtown Toccoa.

This time a year ago, 46.02 inches of rain had fallen in downtown Toccoa.

Southern Habersham County, most of Franklin County, and all of Banks County join Stephens County in “severe drought.”

Overall, more than 37 percent of the state is in “severe drought,” which is up from under 35 percent a week ago.

The Drought Monitor states that drought conditions continue to be the worst in north Georgia, with parts of extreme northwest Georgia in “exceptional drought,” which is the most severe level of drought on the Drought Monitor.

The forecast does call for a chance of rain today through Saturday, but Hurricane Matthew is not expected to have much impact on the region.