Drought conditions have returned to Georgia, including Hall and several other northeast Georgia counties.<br />
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The U.S. Drought Monitor shows that the affected counties extend from the southern part of metro Atlanta to near Augusta and northward into South Hall. All are showing "abnormally dry" conditions, according to the report, which is the least-severe of all drought categories.<br />
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Other northeast Georgia counties showing drought conditions include most of Jackson and all of Gwinnett, Barrow, Madison and Elbert. (Click on the link below for more about the drought and a map of all of the affected counties in Georgia.)<br />
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Rainfall for the year in Hall County (through Thursday) totaled 20.58 inches, according to readings at Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport in Gainesville. That's about seven inches below normal. By this time last year, the airport had already recorded 44.69 inches in what turned out to be an usually wet year.