Drought Information Statement for Southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida Valid November 20, 2025 Issued By: National Weather Service Jacksonville, FL Contact Information: Jason.Hess@noaa.gov & Kelly.Godsey@noaa.gov This product will be updated November 26, 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/jax/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Severe to extreme drought continues to expand across Southeast Georgia & upper Suwannee River Basin. No rain over the last week exacerbated the ongoing drought. Coastal areas, especially in Northeast Florida, are still generally wet, but over the last month are beginning to dry out. 1 U.S. Drought Monitor Link to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor for southeast GA and North FL Image Caption: U.S. Drought Monitor valid Nov 18, 2025 Severe to extreme drought expanding across Southeast Georgia & portions of Northeast Florida along the Suwannee River. Drought monitor valid 7 am ET, Tuesday, 11/18/2025 Drought Intensity & Extent D3 (Extreme Drought): Southeastern Georgia & upper Suwannee River in Northeast Florida. D2 (Severe Drought): Across portions of Southeastern Georgia & interior Northeast Florida near the Suwannee & Santa Fe Rivers. D1 (Moderate Drought): Across coastal Southeast Georgia and in Florida along the US-301 corridor. D0 (Abnormally Dry): Southeastern Marion County northward into Clay County in Florida. THIS SLIDE IS REQUIRED Geography Availability: United States WFO: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/data/png/current/current_wfoabq_text.png Where it says “wfoabq” change the last 3 letters to the desired CWA in terms of “wfoxxx” (excluding SJU, PPG, or GUM, only regional data available) State: Replace where it says “wfoabq” change to the state’s abbreviation Regional: Replace where it says “wfoabq” change to either of the following… Caribbean → current_caribbean_text Pacific Islands→current_usapi_text Ex; southeast → current_southeast_text Ex; midwest → current_midwest_text Ex; high plains → current_high_planes_text Ex; south → current_south_text pdf National (including HI, AK, and PR): https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/data/png/20220823/20220823_usdm.png USAPI and Virgin Islands: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/data/png/20220823/20220823_usdm_pg2.png Recent Change in Drought Intensity Link to the latest 1-week change map for southeast GA and North FL One Week Drought Monitor Class Change: Drought Worsened: across portions of Northeast Florida along the Suwannee and Santa Fe Rivers. Worsening also down the Interstate 75 corridor into Alachua and Marion Counties. Drought Improved: None. No Change: Across most areas. Image Caption: U.S. Drought Monitor 1-week change map valid Nov 18, 2025 Note: some OCONUS offices (i.e. Guam and Pago Pago) may not have access to change maps. You can hide this slide, and discuss recent drought changes on slide 1 if you wish. Feel free to use other timescales if they tell a better story, or hide this slide if there’s no notable changes in your region. 4 weeks is a good default if you’re producing this product ~once per month as required by the directive. 1-Week Monitor Class Change (replace CHS with your WFO ID): https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/data/chng/png/current/current_wfoCHS_chng_1W.png Comparison of current drought monitor with drought monitor from 4 weeks ago for a desired WFO station: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/data/chng/png/current/current_wfoCHS_chng_4W.png Changing date: Replace where it says “current” twice with the date in terms of “YYYYMMDD” Ex; July 5th, 2022 → 20220705 Precipitation Image Captions: Left - 30-Day Percent of Normal Precipitation for the Southeast US Right - 90-Day Percent of Normal Precipitation for the Southeast US Data Courtesy NWS Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor System. Data over the past 30 and 90 days ending Nov 18, 2025 Last 30 Days Last 60 Days Rainfall Percent Rainfall Percent Jasper 0.31” 11.9% 1.22” 19.2% Live Oak 0.28” 10.9% 2.09” 32.2% Ichetucknee St Pk. 0.05” 2.2% 2.84” 46.2% Fanning Springs 0.20” 8.6% 2.62” 42.0% Baxley 0.57” 21.5% 1.27” 21.2% Alma 1.42” 57.9% 2.27” 40.4% Waycross 0.81” 31.1% 1.71” 27.2% Olustee 0.15” 14.4% 1.92” 33.8% Ocala 0.42” 16.8% 2.77” 41.2% Ocklawaha 2.26” 95.2% 4.72” 73.7% Nahunta 0.69” 25.3% 1.33” 19.3% Woodbine 0.58” 20.6% 2.94” 39.7% Jacksonville 0.93” 34.3% 4.27” 54.6% Note: Precipitation after 7 AM EST/6 AM CST Tuesday is incorporated in next week’s Drought Monitor Data Updated through Nov 18, 2025 Data Courtesy: NWS Observations University of Florida - Florida Automated Weather Network University of Georgia Weather Network Suwannee River Water Management District THIS SLIDE IS REQUIRED. The time frame used and precipitation source can be different, but you must include this slide. If longer-term drought is dominating in your region, you can use longer-timescale imagery to support that message. All data can be found at https://hprcc.unl.edu/maps.php?maps=ACISClimateMaps If you prefer a higher resolution precip source such as AHPS (https://water.weather.gov/precip/), that’s also okay but will have to be added manually each time. If little to no imagery is available for your area (i.e. USAPI) you may consider a data table. Some USAPI precipitation imagery available here:https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/drought/202303#regional-usapi and here: https://niwa.co.nz/climate/island-climate-update Pacific Island Climate Update for ENSO: Monthly Reports, find the link to the latest PDF on this site: https://niwa.co.nz/climate/island-climate-update and consider linking to it here if it’s not too out of date MSWEP: https://www.gloh2o.org/mswep/ may be another option. Other options: Precipitation Station Data from USGS: Stations in each State: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/al/nwis/current/?type=precip&group_key=NONE To change state, alter link where it says “/al/” and change to desired state’s abbreviation. Homepage: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis Precipitation Reports for Basins from WCC Availability: SNOTEL and COOP stations for each state in the west including Alaska. State: https://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/support/water/SummaryReports/AZ/BPrecip_8_2022.pdf Where it says “AZ” change to desired state abbreviation to other states such as AK, CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA, and WY. Replace where it says “Precip_8_2022” and change the “8” to the desired month of year and “2022” to the year wanted. Homepage: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/wcc/home/snowClimateMonitoring/snowpack/basinDataReports/ Temperature An unusually early season freeze across the interior resulted in low temperatures for the past month being much below normal. Above normal high temperatures over the last few days are will lead to further drying of soil conditions with no rain on the horizon. Image Captions: Left - 7-Day Departure from Normal High Temperatures for the Southeast US Right - 30-Day Departure from Normal High Temperature for the Southeast US Data ending Nov 18, 2025 Last 30 Days Average High (Departure) Average Low (Departure) Jacksonville 76.4° (0.4°) 48.8° (-5.7°) Craig Field 75.1° (-0.3°) 52.2° (-4.8°) Ocala 79.0° (-0.8°) 53.2° (-3.3°) Gainesville 78.2° (+1.0°) 50.3° (-3.4°) Alma 73.7° (-1.1°) 44.5° (-5.3°) Abnormal warmth or coolness can play a role in the rate of evaporation and thus accelerate or slow drought development and spread. If you feel this is currently playing a role, you can include this slide, otherwise leave it skipped. Summary of Impacts Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter Hydrologic Impacts Interior Northeast Florida River Basins: Below normal flows (includes Black Creek, St Marys, Suwannee & Santa Fe Rivers). Some locations have 14 day average stream flows in the 10th percentile of flow for this time of year. Southeast Georgia: Near normal stream flows. Much of the Altamaha River benefits from upstream releases. Local reports indicate holding ponds are much below normal and some wells are dropping steadily across the interior. Agricultural Impacts NE Florida: Interior harvesting continues. Some decrease in crop yields & supplemental cattle/horse feeding. SE Georgia: Supplemental feeding & difficult crop harvesting due to recent dry conditions across interior. Fire Hazard Impacts Keetch-Byram Drought Index values: Inland SE Georgia: 550-650; Inland NE Florida: 550-650; Coast: 200-450. Counties report increasing grass or brush fires over the last couple of weeks. Alachua, Gilchrist, and Union Counties in Florida have issued burn bans. Mitigation Actions Please refer to your municipality and/or water provider for mitigation information. THIS SLIDE IS REQUIRED Briefly summarize known impacts and mitigation actions here for each of the categories. If there are no known impacts, you may state that. If you’d like to include more information and images by sector, feel free to utilize any of the following four slides you wish, but they are NOT required. You may also link in the slide to your state’s USDM State Impact page: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/DmData/StateImpacts.aspx Also can optionally include any mitigation actions being taken, i.e. local water use restrictions. If none known, perhaps refer users to their local municipalities for more info. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Streamflows across the Altamaha River remain at normal levels for this time of year due to routed upstream flows. Below to much below normal flows are present throughout the Suwannee Basin, including the Santa Fe River. The St Marys River & Black Creek much below normal flow for this time of year Over the near term, non-tidal river levels expected to continue decreasing with the lack of widespread heavy rainfall. Image Caption: USGS 28 day average streamflow map valid Nov 19, 2025 You may consider the following (scroll down for options): For western states, snow water information A table with current reservoir & lake levels/storage Groundwater info Soil moisture (can also be included in agricultural impacts section) Streamflow data from USGS https://waterwatch.usgs.gov/ - USE THE HUC MAPS PLEASE! This can be set to auto-update for a single timescale (7 day avg streamflow is often a good option, all you’d need to do is change the ‘tx’ at the end of the link in the app to your state ID in lower case) HYDROLOGICAL STATUS (Be sure to mention the source of the impact that’s being cited) Streamflow USGS: https://waterwatch.usgs.gov/?m=real&r=nj Geography Availability: United States State: https://waterwatch.usgs.gov/?m=real&r=nj Use drop down menu to change state on website (excluding Pacific Islands) Pacific Islands: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/gu/nwis/rt Water-Resources Region Date Real-Time (To access any of the time series below, hover cursor over “Current Streamflow” on the left side of the website. Other time scales not available for Pacific Islands) Yesterday 7-Day 14-Day 28-Day Month Homepage: https://waterwatch.usgs.gov/index.php?id=ww Soil Moisture Drought.gov: https://www.drought.gov/topics/soil-moisture Geography Availability: CONUS National Date Daily Homepage: https://www.drought.gov/ Groundwater USGS: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/current/?type=gw&group_key=state_cd Geography: Availability: United States Use drop-down menu called “Geographic Area” to access area desired. Date Real-Time Homepage: https://www.usgs.gov/ Reservoir and Lake Levels USGS: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/current/?type=lake&group_key=state_cd Geography Availability: United States Stations separated by state Date Real-Time Homepage: https://www.usgs.gov/ WCC Reservoir Storage: Geography Availability: SNOTEL and COOP stations for each state in the west including Alaska. State: https://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/support/water/SummaryReports/AZ/BRes_8_2022.pdf? Where it says “AZ” change to desired state abbreviation to other states such as AK, CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA, and WY. Date: Monthly Replace where it says “Precip_8_2022” and change the “8” to the desired month of year and “2022” to the year wanted. Homepage: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/wcc/home/snowClimateMonitoring/snowpack/basinDataReports/ SnowPack WCC Geography Availability: SNOTEL and COOP stations for each state in the west including Alaska. State: https://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/support/water/SummaryReports/AZ/BSnow_6_2022.pdf? Where it says “AZ” change to desired state abbreviation to other states such as AK, CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA, and WY. Date Monthly Replace where it says “Precip_8_2022” and change the “8” to the desired month of year and “2022” to the year wanted Homepage https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/wcc/home/snowClimateMonitoring/snowpack/basinDataReports/ Agricultural Impacts Dry Soils across interior southeast Georgia & northeast Florida. With low relative humidities and no rainfall expected over the next week to ten days, further soil drying will occur. Supplementary feeding of livestock is ongoing and the planting of winter cover crop has been delayed in many places. Image Captions: Left: 0-200 cm Relative Soil Moisture from NASA SPoRT valid Nov 20, 2025 Right: 0-200 cm Relative Soil Moisture 1-week Change from NASA SPoRT valid through Nov 20, 2025 2025 Crop Reports Florida | Georgia NOTE: These images do not auto update. They will need to be updated manually! If you have notable images of agricultural impacts and permission to share them, they can be included on this slide. Consider linking to crop and weather reports or other resources. National resources: NASS crop progress reports: https://agindrought.unl.edu/Other.aspx Percentage of various crops affected by drought: https://agindrought.unl.edu/Home.aspx table: https://agindrought.unl.edu/Table.aspx?2 Regional resource for the midwest: https://mrcc.purdue.edu/U2U/ Fire Hazard Impacts Keetch-Byram Drought Index values at or above 600 for portions of Southeast Georgia & Northeast Florida. Burn bans in effect in Union, Alachua, and Gilchrist Counties. An increase in brush and grass fires have been reported by several counties. The Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook for November calls for above normal wildfire activity across the area Image Captions: Left - Keetch-Byram Drought Index valid November 20, 2025 (Florida Forest Service) Right - Significant Wildland Fire Potential for November 2025 (National Interagency Coordination Center) Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center. 7-Day Significant Fire Potential Outlook from the Southern Area Coordination Center If using this slide: Please limit to 2 total images per slide. NICC outlook maps are set to auto-update. New maps are produced on the first weekday of each month (see direct links below) Can also include Burn Ban info here If your area or state has other parameters available (i.e KBDI, ERC, etc) you can add these as well. 1-Month: https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/predictive/outlooks/month1_outlook.png 2-Month: https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/predictive/outlooks/month2_outlook.png 3-Month:https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/predictive/outlooks/month3_outlook.png 4-Month: https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/predictive/outlooks/month4_outlook.png Homepage: https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive-services/outlooks Seven Day Precipitation Forecast Little or no rainfall over the next 7 days across the region. While this is the drier portion of the year, missing any rainfall over a 7 day period results in a worsening of drought conditions. Rainfall chances will begin to increase toward the end of November or into early December. Image Caption: Weather Prediction Center 7-day precipitation forecast valid Wednesday, November 20, 2025 through November 27, 2025 Use a polygon to highlight your region if using this WPC QPF map. Rapid Onset Drought Outlook Links to the latest Climate Prediction Center 8 to 14 day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook. There is some risk of Rapid Onset Drought in our southeast Alabama counties due to Image Caption: Days 8 to 14 U.S. Hazards Outlook Valid September 12-18. Hide this slide if no Rapid Onset Drought is expected in your region. You can reference the CPC week 2 temperature and precipitation outlooks for your area to support the message but please keep this slide to just the one image. Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Precipitation Outlook. Valid Dec 2025 through Feb 2026 Long-Range Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Next 3 months favor above normal temperatures & below normal precipitation. Lower rain amounts tied to current La Nina. In the winter months, rainfall is often below normal as storm systems tend to track farther north of the region. Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center Monthly Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center Monthly Precipitation Outlook. Valid October 2023 Dec Jan Feb Average Temp Rain Temp Rain Temp Rain Jacksonville 57.6° 2.80” 54.9° 2.99” 57.5° 2.86” Craig Field 79.9° 6.28” 82.2° 6.14” 58.0° 2.42” Ocala 60.3° 2.68” 58.1° 3.38” 61.0° 2.94” Gainesville 57.3° 2.88” 54.8° 3.29” 58.4° 2.67” Alma 53.2° 3.03” 51.0° 3.72” 54.4° 3.37” Optional Slide to set up/support outlook slide 14. Choose one timescale with the most relevant drought message (monthly or seasonal) and move the corresponding outlook images/captions onto the slide. Move the other images off slide, but do not delete! Make sure you edit the caption box to match the image. There are multiple versions of the Monthly outlooks here because it is issued once on the 3rd thursday of each month and then updated on the final day of each month. Monthly Discussion: https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/long_range/fxus07.html Seasonal Discussion: https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/long_range/fxus05.html USAPI: Can consider including imagery from NMME, C3S, BOM and NIWA if appropriate and useful, but can use this on slide 13 to support drought outlook message since there’s no official CPC outlook for your region. Image Caption: Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook Released MM DD, YYYY valid for MM-MM YYYY Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Drought is expected to persist through the winter. With persistent La Nina through the winter, below normal precipitation and persistent drought conditions are expected & will likely further worsen/expand. Image Caption: Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook Released November 20, 2025 valid for November 20, 2025 through February 28, 2026 Links to the latest: Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook THIS SLIDE IS REQUIRED Both the Monthly and the Seasonal Drought Outlook images will auto-populate, but please only include one on the slide, moving the other off to the right. Use whichever image tells the best story for your area of interest. Be sure to use the correct caption box and edit the released and valid dates as well. You can and should reference the temperature and precipitation outlooks to support the message, but please keep this slide to 1 image. Discussions: https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/mdo_summary.php https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/sdo_summary.php For USAPI, can consider using NMME imagery for temperature and/or precipitation to help message potential drought improvement/degradation/amelioration.