The state of Georgia has been in a drought for several weeks, with the conditions for it having been building since last year. The drought has not only impacted local farming, it also played a major contributing factor in the Brantley County wildfire.
Thankfully, recent rainfall has provided some much needed relief and respite. The bout of wet weather also helped contribute to the containment of the Brantley fire. But how much has the weather improved conditions in the county?
Austin Bagby, Agriculture and Natural Resource agent for the University of Georgia Waycross extension, previously spoke with the Waycross Journal- Herald about the drought at its peak. In a follow-up interview following the rain, Bagby said the rain has stabilized conditions in the county, the drought is hardly over.
“According to UGA weather station, in the month of May we have received 2.79 inches of rain,” Bagby said. “For it (drought) to end, most of the state would need over a foot of rain over the next month.”
He continued, explaining, “Droughts are usually ended by either tropical storms or by a very wet weather pattern like a stationary front or by El Niño. It is not likely to happen soon.”
The shifting La Niña/El Niño weather pattern is attributed to the drought conditions.
“La Niña pushed the jet stream the north, leaving the Southeast warmer and drier than usual for the winter as a whole,” Bagby said. “There were some cold outbreaks including several freezes, but they usually only lasted a few days, and the overall average temperature was warmer than normal.”
With La Niña now gone, the state is currently experiencing neutral conditions. According to Bagby, a transition to El Niño is expected by early summer, with a 25% chance of an exceptionally strong El Niño by next winter.
He did caution, however, that “predictions in spring are not very reliable.”
As for how the shift has helped farmers, it has provided short-term relief for crops.
“After months of severe drought and dryness, farmers are finally able to get some moisture to get seed in ground, help improve germination and give some relief to stressed corn and pastures for short term relief,” Bagby said.
Additionally, Ware County Fire and Rescue announced via social media last week that county-wide burn permits can also be applied for online. Permits are only for burning natural vegetative materials, and are only good for the day they are issued. Man-made materials like lumber, tires or garbage are not allowed.
“We need consistent rainfall through the summer due to the exceptional drought we are in,” Bagby concluded. “Farmers are already starting the season behind due to the drought; we need to pray for more rain to help with conditions as we are still in an extreme drought.”
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