| |
|
Drought Information For Central Alabama
Issued June 7th, 2018
|
|
Drought Conditions End in Central Alabama
|
|
Synopsis...
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor indicates that Moderate Drought conditions no longer exist in Central Alabama. Abnormally Dry conditions are still found in Etowah, southern Cherokee, Calhoun and extreme western Cleburne counties.
The Drought Monitor classifies drought within one of these five categories:
D0...Abnormally Dry
D1...Moderate Drought
D2...Severe Drought
D3...Extreme Drought
D4...Exceptional Drought
|
 |
|
Climate Summary...
Rainfall totals during the past two weeks were beneficial across Central Alabama with many areas receiving from three to five inches with localized higher amounts. This brought significant improvement to the dry conditions found across Central Alabama and has ended the Moderate Drought conditions that existed two weeks ago.
|
|
Some precipitation amounts for Central Alabama from January 1st through June 6th: (For up to the most recent climate report...click on the city.):
|
|
|
Average precipitation expected from January 1st through June 6th:
|
|
Birmingham
|
24.82 |
+4.18
|
|
Montgomery
|
24.13 |
-1.74
|
|
Anniston
|
23.71 |
-1.21 |
|
Tuscaloosa
|
24.30 |
+4.22
|
| Calera |
24.92 |
+5.85
|
| Troy |
23.75 |
-8.02
|
|
 |
 |
Soil moisture values are running near normal across Central Alabama for the time of year. Periodic rainfall will be needed to keep soil moisture values near or above their normal levels.
|
|
Agricultural Impacts...
There are not any known widespread agricultural problems at this time due to the current drought conditions. Information from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicates that recent rain has been beneficial for crops with pastures in generally good shape. The wet conditions of the past two weeks has hampered planting to some degree. In general, most cattle, pastures and crops are reported to be in fair or better condition.
|
|
|
|
|
Fire Danger Impacts...
The fire danger risk has remained fairly steady across Central Alabama with Keetch-Byram Drought Indices (KBDI) currently running most between 100 and 400 with localized areas below 100. Values above 500 indicate a severe fire danger.
The Alabama Forestry Commission reports that nearly eighty wild fires have occurred during the past thirty days. Despite the fact that there are currently no burn bans issued by the Alabama Forestry Commission, non-agricultural burns are not allowed from the month of May through the month of October for the following Central Alabama counties: Etowah, Jefferson, Montgomery, Russell, Shelby and Talladega. The State Forester continues to urge people that are doing any outside burning to follow safety precautions such as not leaving any fire unattended and having the proper equipment and personnel to control the fire.
|
|
Hydrologic Summary and Outlook...
The latest USGS stream gauge data indicates that stream flows have mostly returned to near or above normal levels due to recent rainfall. Periodic rainfall will be needed for stream flows to remain at near or above normal levels as we continue into the summer season.
Most of the major reservoir pool levels remain near their normal summer pool levels. Listed below are current levels for some of the major reservoirs across Central Alabama and those from May 24th.
|
| Reservoir |
Level for 06/07/18 |
Level for 05/24/18 |
|
|
Weiss
Neely Henry
Logan Martin
Lay
Mitchell
Jordan
R.L. Harris
Martin
Smith
Bankhead
Holt
|
563.8
507.9
464.8
395.7
311.9
251.7
792.9
489.5
509.8
254.8
186.7
|
563.7
507.8
464.9
395.6
311.7
251.5
792.9
489.4
509.8
254.8
186.4
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Social Impacts...
Most reservoir levels are near their normal summer pool levels. There are no known mandatory water restrictions currently in effect. However, normal water conservation methods are encouraged to be followed in the event that the drought conditions persist or worsen during the next few weeks.
|
 |
Precipitation & Temperature Outlook...
A weak cold front will push into the area today and continue south out of Central Alabama by Friday. There will be enough moisture available for possibly some isolated shower and thunderstorm development today and Friday. By this weekend an upper level low pressure system in the northern Gulf of Mexico will begin to lift slowly northward and bring a gradual increase of moisture to the area. This will result in a pattern of scattered mostly diurnal showers and thunderstorms over the weekend and into the first half of next week. Cumulative rainfall totals through next Wednesday are forecast to generally average around an inch or so.
The Two Week Outlook...from June 12th through June 20th...calls for normal temperatures and above normal precipitation.
The Longer-Range Outlook for the remainder of June through August is for above normal temperatures and above normal precipitation.
The latest Seasonal Drought Outlook through August indicates that drought conditions are not expected in Central Alabama.
|
|
Update Statement...
This will be the last Drought Statement issued for Central Alabama until significant drought returns to the area.
|
|
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on YouTube
BMX RSS Feed