Lack of rainfall in recent weeks has left much of Georgia under dry conditions, including the northeast part of the state.
The latest map released by the U.S. Drought Monitor lists Hall, Forsyth, Barrow, Jackson, Banks, Habersham, Stephens and Rabun counties under "moderate drought" conditions. Moderate drought is also being recorded in parts of Gwinnett, Dawson, Lumpkin, White and Towns counties, with parts of those counties also falling under a lower level intensity labeled "abnormally dry."
The water level in Lake Lanier has also been dropping amid the dry conditions. After hitting a two-year high of 1,071.98 feet in early May, the lake has gradually dropped by a foot and a half since that time. The lake's current level of 1,070.50 is now a half-foot below full summer pool.
Some parts of Georgia, including an area just west of Atlanta and the Macon area, are seeing conditions reaching the "severe drought" status.
WDUN Meteorologist Laura Huckabee says there is a strong chance of rain and thunderstorms Friday.
