ATHENS - Extreme drought conditions have returned to most of northeast Georgia - including Hall County - and rivers and streams in most of the area are at record lows for this time of year.
State climatologist David Stooksbury also warned in his drought update Wednesday that dry conditions are rapidly intensifying across the coastal plain - particularly in central and southwest Georgia.
The Chattahoochee River near Cornelia is at 28 percent of normal flow while the Middle Oconee River near Athens is at 26 percent of normal flow. And that means lower inflows to north Georgia reservoirs.
The counties in northeast Georgia now classified again as being in extreme drought are Union, Towns, Rabun, Lumpkin, White, Habersham, Stephens, Hall,
Banks, Franklin, Hart, Jackson, Barrow, Clarke, Madison, Elbert, Oconee,
Olgethorpe and portions of the surrounding counties.
The Army Corps of Engineers said Tuesday Lake Lanier is only receiving 26 percent of its normal inflows this month. The lake is about 14 feet below full, lower than it has ever been at this time of year. (See separate story).
---
On the Net:
http://www.georgiadrought.org
Friday
October 11th, 2024
4:34PM
