Drought conditions returning in North Georgia as summer ends

After drought conditions appeared to be easing across Northeast Georgia earlier in the summer, they are returning as the season ends.

The U.S. Drought Monitor reported Thursday that the entire region is under at least moderate drought conditions. Some parts are experiencing worse than that.

Fannin and Gilmer counties along with portions of Dawson, Pickens and Towns counties are under severe drought status.

Moderate drought conditions in Georgia stretch as far south as Columbus to the west and Augusta to the east, with abnormally dry conditions extending as far south as Warner Robins and Statesboro.

The far northwest corner of the state in parts of Dade and Walker counties are experiencing extreme drought status, which is the second-most-severe category listed by the drought monitor.

Water levels in Lake Lanier have dropped nearly three full feet since they saw a brief rebound in early August. The lake level as of Saturday morning was 1,067.65 feet according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The full summer pool is 1,071 feet.

WDUN Meteorologist Laura Huckabee says the next chance for rain in the region isn't expected until Tuesday night.

A map of drought conditions in Georgia released by the U.S. Drought Monitor Thursday. White represents normal conditions, with yellow representing abnormally dry, peach representing moderate drought, orange being severe drought and red being extreme drought.

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