Drought Information Statement for North and Central Georgia Valid January 8, 2026 Issued By: National Weather Service Atlanta / Peachtree City, GA Contact Information: sr-ffc.webmaster@noaa.gov This product will be updated January 22, 2026 or sooner if drought conditions change significantly. Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/ffc/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/ffc/drought for additional resources. SEVERE DROUGHT EXPANDS OVER NORTH GEORGIA Over the last two weeks, D2 Severe Drought has spread over north Georgia. Warm and dry conditions continue to impact soils and river levels. Some improvements are possible over the next 1-2 weeks as rainfall impacts the area. 1 U.S. Drought Monitor Link to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor for North and Central Georgia Drought intensity and Extent D4 (Exceptional Drought): None. D3 (Extreme Drought): None. D2 (Severe Drought): Banks, Barrow, Catoosa, Chattahoochee, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Crawford, Dade, Dawson, Fannin, Floyd, Forsyth, Gilmer, Gordon, Gwinnett, Hall, Harris, Houston, Jackson, Lumpkin, Macon, Madison, Marion, Meriwether, Murray, Muscogee, Oglethorpe, Peach, Pickens, Schley, Talbot, Taylor, Towns, Troup, Union, Upson, Walker, White, Whitfield D1 (Moderate Drought): Baldwin, Bartow, Bibb, Bleckley, Butts, Carroll, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Crisp, DeKalb, Dodge, Dooly, Douglas, Emanuel, Fayette, Glascock, Greene, Hancock, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Lamar, Laurens, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Newton, North Fulton, Oconee, Paulding, Pike, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, Rockdale, South Fulton, Spalding, Stewart, Sumter, Taliaferro, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Twiggs, Walton, Warren, Washington, Webster, Wheeler, Wilcox, Wilkes, Wilkinson D0: (Abnormally Dry): None. {{DROUGHT_MONITOR}} Recent Change in Drought Intensity Link to the latest 2-week and 4-week change map for Georgia. Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change Drought Worsened: Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Dade, Dawson, Fannin, Floyd, Forsyth, Fulton, Gilmer, Gordon, Gwinnett, Hall, Harris, Heard, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison, Murray, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Pickens, Polk, Rockdale, Towns, Troup, Union, Walker, Walton, White, Whitfield, Wilkes No Change: Butts, Chattahoochee, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Haralson, Henry, Jasper, Muscogee, Paulding, Putnam, Talbot, Taliaferro Drought Improved: Baldwin, Bibb, Bleckley, Clayton, Coweta, Crawford, Crisp, Dodge, Dooly, Emanuel, Fayette, Glascock, Hancock, Houston, Johnson, Jones, Lamar, Laurens, Macon, Marion, Meriwether, Monroe, Montgomery, Peach, Pike, Pulaski, Schley, Spalding, Stewart, Sumter, Taylor, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Twiggs, Upson, Warren, Washington, Webster, Wheeler, Wilcox, Wilkinson {{DROUGHT_CHANGE_MAP}} Precipitation - Past 30 Days Over the last 30 days, rainfall over Georgia has generally ranged from 0.3 to 3.0 inches (6 to 70 percent of normal). A narrow of heavier rainfall stretched across middle Georgia, receiving 2 to 3 inches (55 to 70 percent of normal), but a large portion of north and northeast Georgia received less than 1 inch (18 percent of normal). Rain has generally occurred over 1-2 days, with large dry periods in between events. Through Thursday, January 8, at 8 AM: Last 30 Days Last 60 Days Rainfall % Normal Rainfall % Normal Rome (KRMG) 0.79" 16% 3.27" 35% Athens (KAHN) 0.39" 9% 2.48" 30% Peachtree-DeKalb (KPDK) 0.71" 16% 3.2" 37% Fulton County (KFTY) 1.08" 25% 3.53" 44% Atlanta (KATL) 1.44" 32% 4.43" 52% Peachtree City (KFFC) 1.61" 35% 4.9" 58% Macon (KMCN) 1.26" 28% 2.93" 36% Columbus (KCSG) 0.68" 14% 3.1" 35% The Additional Rainfall Information product (MISATL) is available online at weather.gov/ffc. {{PRECIPITATION}} Temperature Last 30 Days Average High (Departure) Average Low (Departure) Rome (KRMG) 62.5° (+7.3°) 38.3° (+3.7°) Athens (KAHN) 60.0° (+3.8°) 37.0° (+0.6°) Peachtree-DeKalb (KPDK) 60.3° (+5.5°) 37.4° (+1.3°) Fulton County (KFTY) 59.0° (+3.1°) 35.7° (-0.4°) Atlanta (KATL) 60.2° (+4.4°) 40.2° (+1.7°) Peachtree City (KFFC) 59.2° (+2.3°) 35.4° (+0.6°) Macon (KMCN) 62.9° (+2.1°) 36.4° (-1.4°) Columbus (KCSG) 62.3° (+2.0°) 40.1° (-0.4°) Through January 4*. *Note, the table values are for the period December 5, 2025 - January 4, 2026, matching the latency for the 30-day and 7-day max temperature anomaly images (right). Over the 30 day period ending January 4 (left image), average high temperatures over north and central Georgia were generally 1 to 4 degrees above normal. The table includes the average low temperature trends for the 30 day period, which were largely 0 to 4 degrees above normal for most climate locations. For the 7 days ending January 4 (right image) average high temperatures were generally 3 to 8 degrees above normal, highlighting the recent unseasonably warm conditions over the area. {{TEMPERATURE}} Summary of Impacts Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter Hydrologic Impacts River levels have struggled to recharge following recent rains, signaling a shift to a more hydrologic-type drought rather than just agricultural or meteorological. Most river basins are experiencing Below Normal to Much Below Normal streamflows compared to climatology for this time of year. See slide 7 for additional details. Agricultural Impacts Harvesting has completed, and though some farmers have reported supplemental feeding is needed, cover crops have been planted for grazing. Water sources (e.g., holding ponds) remain low or mostly dry in many areas. The Crop Progress & Condition report is available through November 2025. Fire Hazard Impacts Wildfire risk continues to be high enough that leaf and yard waste burning continues to be discouraged. Some counties have noted an uptick in fire-related emergency calls. See slide 9 for more details. Other Impacts There are no known impacts at this time. Mitigation Actions Please refer to your municipality and/or water provider for mitigation information. Main Takeaways Warm and dry conditions have continued to produce anomalously low flows across the majority of Georgia river basins. Most basins have Much Below Normal to Below Normal streamflows. Some Normal streamflows are present in the Ogeechee River Basin. Lake and Reservoir levels reflect a combination of the winter drawdown period and the persistent dry conditions. The available elevation curves for USACE projects in the NWS Peachtree City area show: *Action zones used in some charts are defined here. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts USACE Lakes Current Action Zone Forecast Action Zone Carters Zone 1 Zone 2 Lanier Zone 2 Zone 3 Allatoona Top of Conservation Zone 3 West Point Top of Conservation Zone 3 Image Caption: USGS 7-day average streamflow HUC map valid January 7, 2026. {{HYDROLOGIC}} Agricultural Impacts Image Captions: Left: 0-200cm Relative Soil Moisture from NASA SPoRT valid January 6, 2026. Right: 0-200 cm Relative Soil Moisture 2-week Change from NASA SPoRT valid January 6, 2026. Though soil moisture has recovered over north Georgia, soils remain quite dry across the central and eastern Georgia (image right). An active weather pattern in the last week provided sufficient rainfall in a narrow band across central Georgia show improvement in soil moisture week to week. (image far right). {{AGRICULTURE}} Fire Hazard Impacts Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center. Keetch Byram Drought Index values over central and south Georgia continue to be n the 400 to 600 range, with values over north Georgia generally under 350. Far northeast Georgia has values of 0 to 200. At this time, above normal wildland fire potential is expected for Georgia for January 2026, as indicated in the Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook (far right). This above normal potential is expected to continue into February and March. Image Captions: Above: Significant Wildland Fire Potential Monthly Outlook for January 2026. Left: Keetch Byram Drought Index for January 7, 2026. The Wildfire Potential Outlook for next week indicates Little or No Risk (level 1 of 3) for Georgia. {{FIRE_WEATHER}} The 7-day outlook (through Thursday, January 15): Over the next seven days, rain is currently forecast for late Friday through early Sunday. Rainfall amounts could be sufficient enough to improve drought conditions over north Georgia. At this time, rainfall amounts of 2.5 to 4 inches are possible over north Georgia, with isolated higher amounts. Generally south and east of I-85, rainfall amounts will be limited to 0.25 to 0.75 inches. Seven Day Precipitation Forecast {{QPF_7_DAY}} Rapid Onset Drought Outlook Links to the latest Climate Prediction Center 8 to 14 day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook. Summarize conditions and impacts here {{OUTLOOK_8_14_DAY}} Long-Range Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage For January: Below normal precipitation is expected over south and central Georgia (right). Above normal temperatures are expected over Georgia (far right). {{OUTLOOK_MONTHLY}} Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Drought is expected to persist into early Spring. Drought Information Statements will be updated every two weeks while D2 Severe Drought (or worse) continues in north and central Georgia. {{OUTLOOK_DROUGHT_SEASONAL}}