Drought Information Statement for North and Central Georgia Valid October 30, 2025 Issued By: NWS Atlanta / Peachtree City, GA Contact Information: sr-ffc.webmaster@noaa.gov This product will be updated November 13, 2025 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. EXTREME DROUGHT CONDITIONS HAVE DEVELOPED IN GEORGIA Extreme Drought conditions now include southwest Metro Atlanta. Recent cool, wet conditions have slowed the expansion of drought conditions. Without additional, meaningful rainfall, drought expansion will continue in the coming weeks. 1 U.S. Drought Monitor Link to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor for Georgia Drought intensity and extent for north and central Georgia: D4 (Exceptional Drought): None. D3 (Extreme Drought): Clayton, Coweta, Fayette, Fulton, Henry, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding D2 (Severe Drought): Carroll, Chattahoochee, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Emanuel, Gwinnett, Harris, Heard, Jefferson, Johnson, Marion, Muscogee, Rockdale, Stewart, Talbot, Taylor, Troup, Upson D1 (Moderate Drought): Baldwin, Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Bleckley, Butts, Catoosa, Cherokee, Crawford, Crisp, Dade, Dodge, Dooly, Fannin, Floyd, Forsyth, Gilmer, Glascock, Greene, Hancock, Haralson, Houston, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Laurens, Macon, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Murray, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Paulding, Peach, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, Schley, Sumter, Taliaferro, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Twiggs, Walker, Walton, Warren, Washington, Webster, Wheeler, Whitfield, Wilcox, Wilkes, Wilkinson D0: (Abnormally Dry): Banks, Chattooga, Clarke, Gordon, Hall, Jackson, Madison, Pickens Recent Change in Drought Intensity Link to the latest 2-week change map for U.S. Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change Drought Worsened: Baldwin, Bibb, Bleckley, Butts, Carroll, Chattahoochee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Crawford, Dade, DeKalb, Dooly, Douglas, Emanuel, Fannin, Fayette, Fulton, Gilmer, Glascock, Greene, Gwinnett, Hancock, Harris, Heard, Henry, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Lamar, Laurens, Lumpkin, Macon, Marion, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Murray, Muscogee, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Peach, Pike, Putnam, Rockdale, Schley, Spalding, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taliaferro, Taylor, Troup, Twiggs, Upson, Walker, Walton, Warren, Washington, Webster, Wilkes, Wilkinson No Change: Barrow, Bartow, Catoosa, Clarke, Crisp, Haralson, Jackson, Madison, Montgomery, Paulding, Polk, Pulaski, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Wheeler, Whitfield, Wilcox Drought Improved: Banks, Chattooga, Cherokee, Dawson, Fannin, Floyd, Forsyth, Gilmer, Gordon, Hall, Lumpkin, Pickens, White Precipitation - Past 30 Days Over the last 30 days, rainfall over north and central Georgia generally ranged from 0.5 to 5 inches, and received over mainly one event. Far north Georgia received the highest amounts, with accumulations of 3 to 5 inches, or 100 to 125 percent of normal. South of the fall line, rainfall amounts were typically 0.5 to 2 inches, or 25 to 75 percent of normal. Elsewhere, amounts of 3 to 5 inches were common, or 80 to 125 percent of normal. 30-day rainfall totals (compared to normal): Atlanta (ATL): 2.66” (82%) Fulton County (FTY): 2.84” (80%) Peachtree-DeKalb (PDK): 2.89” (87%) Peachtree City (FFC): 2.39” (72%) Macon (MCN): 1.43” (55%) Columbus (CSG): 1.71” (63%) Temperatures - Past 30 Days Over the last 30 days (left image), temperatures over north and central Georgia were above average. Western Georgia saw average temperatures 3-6 degrees above normal. Over east central Georgia, temperatures were 0-3 degrees above normal. More recently, over the last 7 days (right image), average temperatures were largely 1-3 degrees above normal, except along a stretch from western Georgia through Metro Atlanta, where temperatures were 3 to 6 degrees above normal. Summary of Impacts Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter Hydrologic Impacts Overall, 7-day streamflow averages span from below normal to above normal due to the recent rainfall received. Among the mainstem rivers, the Coosa and Altamaha River basins have the lowest 7-day streamflow averages. Agricultural Impacts Soil Moistures are on the rise this week given the cooler and wetter pattern. Reports still indicate drying water sources, delayed harvesting or planting of seasonal crops, and poor grazing conditions. The Crop Progress & Condition graphs show the largest impact to cotton, pasture and range conditions. Fire Hazard Impacts Wildfire risk continues to be high, even despite the recent rainfall. The outlook is for above normal wildland fire activity through November. Leaf and yard waste burning is being discouraged across north Georgia due to the dry conditions. 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. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Main Takeaways Despite recent rainfall, 7-day average streamflows remain below normal in the Coosa and Altamaha River Basins. While portions of the Tennessee, Tallapoosa, Chattahoochee, Flint, Ocmulgee, Savannah, and Ogeechee River Basins fall into the normal range, these 7-day average streamflows are largely within the lower end of normal. Above normal streamflows are present in the Oconee River Basin due to recent heavy rainfall in that area. Lake and Reservoir levels largely remain slightly below target for the fall drawdown period, with forecasts on track. Image Caption: USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map valid October 30, 2025. Agricultural Impacts Soils remain quite dry across the area. Recent rainfall resulted in moistening of the near-surface soil layer, but was not sufficient to improve conditions well below ground. Over the last week, positive improvement is present in the 1-week difference image, right. Image Captions: Left: 0-200cm Relative Soil Moisture from NASA SPoRT valid October 30, 2025 Right: 0-200 cm Relative Soil Moisture 2-week Change from NASA SPoRT valid through October 30, 2025 Fire Hazard Impacts Keetch Byram Drought Index values (from late September) are above 400 across much of Georgia, and are as high as 600+ in portions of western Georgia. At this time, above normal wildland fire potential is expected for November 2025, as indicated in the Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook (far right). The Wildfire Potential Outlook for next week indicates little or no risk, though multiple counties are discouraging burning of leaf and yard waste. Image Captions: Above: Significant Wildland Fire Potential Monthly Outlook for November 2025 Left: Keetch Byram Drought Index for September 30, 2025. Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center. Seven-Day Precipitation Forecast The 7-day outlook (through 7am Fri, November 7): Cool and damp conditions will improve over the coming days, with sunny skies, near-normal high temperatures and chilly morning lows. Low rain chances are expected over the next 7 days. Rainfall amounts will average under 0.50 inches. Rapid Onset Drought Outlook Links to the latest Climate Prediction Center 8 to 14 day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook. No rapid onset drought is expected for any area in the Southeast U.S. For the next 8 to 14 days, above normal temperatures and above normal precipitation are expected for Georgia. Image Caption: Days 8 to 14 U.S. Hazards Outlook Valid October 27-November 2, 2023 Long-Range Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage For November: There is an equal chance of above or below normal temperatures for north and central Georgia (right). Below-normal precipitation is expected to continue in November (far right). Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Drought is expected to persist or expand in coverage over north and central Georgia through January. Drought Information Statements will be updated every two weeks while D2 Severe Drought (or worse) continues in north and central Georgia.