MIDWAY, Fla. (WTXL) -- A pick-up in winter unsettledness for the Southeast continued to cut down on the severity of the drought, including areas near the Apalachicola, Flint, and Chattahoochee rivers.
Previous Severe and Extreme drought levels between the Flint and Chattahoochee rivers in southwest Georgia are now considered drought-free following several waves of heavy rain, starting in mid-December and continuing through early this week. Estimates of four to ten inches of rain from the western Florida Panhandle northeast through central Georgia have proved beneficial in putting a significant dent in the deficit of rain for the region since the fall season.
Abnormally Dry conditions linger, however for the vast majority of the north Florida/south Georgia region, including Moderate drought categories in the southern stretch of the Apalachicola River and many counties east of the Flint River and north of the state line in south Georgia.
A patch of Severe drought level, as determined by the National Drought Mitigation Center, remains in the interior south-central Georgia area, where rainfall totals have not been as high.
While recent rain in the Southeast has helped eliminate areas of Exceptional drought, it is noted that more rounds of rain are necessary to wipe away all hints of drought in these previously stricken areas.
