By: Bill Kinsland- Weather Reporter
(Cleveland)- Drought conditions in White County continue to get worse. Last week’s Drought Map showed that White County was in an “ABNORMALLY DRY” condition (D-ZERO). The latest map released Thursday(10-19)shows most of the county is now in a “MODERATE DROUGHT” condition(D-1).
These maps reflect our area’s continuing decline in rainfall totals over the past three months. August rainfall totaled 4.85 inches which was 1.56 inches below normal. September rainfall totaled 3.16 inches which was 1.91 inches below normal.
The dry trend has continued into the month of October with a total-to-date of 0.83 of ab inch which is
2.49 inches below our normal total of 3.32 inches.
The decline in rainfall has impacted water levels in our streams, lakes, and ground-water sources too.
As of 7 AM Thursday (10/19), the following levels were reported:
-LAKE LANIER AT BUFORD DAM: 1064.59 ft MSL, down 6.41 ft below normal of 1071 ft MSL.
-CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER AT HELEN: 0.31 ft, down 0.69 ft below normal of 1.00 ft.
-CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER AT DUNCAN BRIDGE: 1.39 ft, down 0.94 ft below normal of 2.33 ft.
-UNICOI WELL GROUND-WATER LEVEL: -6.05 ft, down 1.73 ft below normal of -4.32 ft.
The need for rain is quite evident with the latest data for the area.
There does not appear to be a lot of relief on the horizon, although the National Weather Service at Peachtree City says White County has about a 70-percent chance of some showers and thunderstorms Thursday night and Friday with one-tenth-inch to one-quarter-inch totals possible. However, the next 6 days after that are expected to be sunny and clear.
