MIDWAY, Fla. (WTXL) -- Weeks of limited to no rainfall are taking a toll on local soil moisture availability, according to the weekly release of drought data from the Drought Mitigation Center.
The Abnormally Dry classification has been stretched eastward to encompass all of our local south Georgia counties, as well as many central and eastern Big Bend locations. "Abnormally Dry" is the lowest, least severe level of drought intensity.
Moderate Drought conditions are declared along the Apalachicola, Flint, and Chattahoochee rivers near the tri-state region. This is a slight extension eastward from last week's coverage area.
The highest ranking in the five-tiered scale, Exceptional Drought, includes areas around Columbus and Atlanta, Ga., and Birmingham, Ala.
Temperatures have remained several degrees above average within the drought zones of the Southeastern U.S., contributing to the broadening of drought conditions.
