Drought Information Statement for Southeast Alabama, Southwest Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend Valid October 9, 2025 Issued By: National Weather Service Tallahassee Contact Information: kelly.godsey@noaa.gov & cameron.young@noaa.gov This product will be updated October 16, 2025. Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/tae/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Extreme drought now across parts of southern Georgia. Severe drought covers much of the Tri-State area. Recent warm temperatures, low humidity, and much below normal rainfall have led to rapid deterioration of drought conditions. While recent rain was beneficial, it did little to improve the ongoing drought. 1 U.S. Drought Monitor Keep in mind that rainfall that fell after 7 AM ET Tuesday is not accounted for in this week’s drought monitor. Drought intensity and Extent D3 (Extreme Drought): parts of Baker, Thomas, Colquitt, Worth, and Tift Counties D2 (Severe Drought): along the I-10 corridor and much of southern Georgia along and east of the Flint River D1 (Moderate Drought): Much of the rest of south Georgia, north Florida, and southeast Alabama D0 (Abnormally Dry): parts of the southeast FL Big Bend and the Dothan metro 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 Significant rapid drying attributed to flash drought has occurred across much of the area over the last month or two. Four-Week Drought Monitor Class Change: 4-Category Degradation: Over parts of South Central Georgia. 3-Category Degradation: inland Florida Panhandle and parts of the inland Florida Big Bend 2-Category Degradation: much of north Florida into southwest Georgia and far southeastern Alabama 1-Category Degradation: elsewhere across southeast Alabama, southwest Georgia, and north Florida Image Caption: U.S. Drought Monitor 4-week change map valid October 7, 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 September 24, 2024 Last 30 Days Last 45 Days Rainfall Percent Rainfall Percent DeFuniak Springs* 0.29” 5.7% 0.89” 11.1% Geneva 3.20” 66.6% 3.50” 47.3% Panama City-ECP 2.32” 48.9% 2.40” 30.7% Dothan 1.95” 62.1% 2.63” 47.1% Marianna 1.10” 28.6% 1.56” 25.6% Apalachicola 1.42” 28.4% 3.71” 44.5% Georgetown** 1.06” 28.6% 2.06” 35.1% Dawson** 0.80” 21.8% 1.45” 24.9% Newton, GA** 1.05” 26.3% 1.28” 20.1% Albany 0.82” 26.1% 1.67” 32.0% Cairo** 0.49” 12.0% 0.65” 10.1% Tallahassee 1.01” 22.2% 3.20” 41.3% Moultrie** 0.94” 23.7% 1.42” 22.5% Monticello* 1.23” 24.9% 1.42” 22.5% Ty Ty** 0.60” 15.2% 2.07” 33.2% Alapaha** 0.80” 19.9% 2.06” 32.2% Valdosta 0.94” 23.0% 6.64” 103.4% Perry*** 4.85” 110.7% 10.48” 136.7% Mayo* 2.05” 43.0% 6.79” 84.3% Note: Precipitation after 7 AM EST/6 AM CST Tuesday is incorporated in next week’s Drought Monitor Rainfall totals through October 6, 2025. Non-NWS Data Courtesy: *University of Florida - Florida Automated Weather Network **University of Georgia Weather Network ***Suwannee River Water Management District Climatology for non-NWS stations is estimated using PRISM data. 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 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 High temperatures have been a couple degrees above average with lows around average for this time of year. The low humidity combined with the warm days in September have contributed to the rapid drying. 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 October 7, 2025 Last 30 Days Average High (Departure) Average Low (Departure) Tallahassee 90.1° (+2.7°) 66.7° (-1.0°) Apalachicola 86.7° (+1.0°) 68.9° (-1.2°) Albany 89.1° (+2.4°) 66.5° (+0.4°) Valdosta 87.7° (+1.3°) 65.7° (+1.0°) Marianna 90.1° (+2.7°) 66.0° (-0.8°) Dothan 89.1° (+2.0°) 65.2° (-0.2°) 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 Streamflows across the area are below to much below normal for this time of year. This includes even our mainstem rivers, such as the Flint, Apalachicola, and Choctawhatchee Rivers Agricultural Impacts Alabama: farmers are reporting the need to supplement feed to cattle with dry pastures Florida: none reported last 7 days Georgia: farmers are reporting drying pastures and difficulty digging peanuts Fire Hazard Impacts Keetch-Byram Drought Index values over 600 for southeast AL, southwest GA, and far western FL Panhandle. Lower KBDI values, though still dry, continue over the Apalachicola National Forest and in the southeast FL Big Bend. Other Impacts The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs Office of Water Resources (ADECA OWR) has declared a Drought Advisory for Drought Region 8, which includes Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry, and Houston Counties. ADECA’s latest Drought Declaration can be found here. 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 from the ACF Basin westward are generally running below normal over the last 28 days However, shorter-term averages show many rivers are below to much below normal in the 7- and 14-day timeframes, including some of our mainstem rivers such as the Choctawhatchee, Apalachicola, Flint, and Ochlockonee Rivers Image Caption: USGS 28 day average streamflow map valid October 8, 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 Soils are quite dry across the forecast area While recent light to moderate showers were welcome, the general trend has been continued drying of soils across the area. Many farmers across southwest Georgia report difficulty digging peanuts for harvest and pastures drying. Image Captions: Left: 0-200 cm Relative Soil Moisture from NASA SPoRT valid October 8, 2025 Right: 0-200 cm Relative Soil Moisture 2-week Change from NASA SPoRT valid through October 8, 2025 2025 Crop Reports Alabama | 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 remain at or above 600 in the Tri-State area The Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook for October calls for near normal fire activity, but becomes above normal across southeast Alabama and southwest Georgia in November. Image Captions: Left - Keetch-Byram Drought Index valid October 8, 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 Some heavier downpours are possible in storms through Friday, but most areas will see less than half an inch of rain over the next 7 days Image Caption: Weather Prediction Center 7-day precipitation forecast valid Wednesday, October 8, 2025 through Tuesday, October 15, 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. 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 October 2025 to December 2025 Long-Range Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage The next 3 months favor above normal temperatures and equal chances for above, near, or below normal precipitation Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center Monthly Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center Monthly Precipitation Outlook. Valid October 2023 October November December Average Temp Rain Temp Rain Temp Rain Tallahassee 70.3° 3.24” 60.2° 3.10” 54.4° 4.24” Apalachicola 71.5° 3.63” 62.1° 3.74” 56.5° 3.59” Albany 68.9° 2.30” 58.7° 2.94” 52.7° 4.35” Valdosta 68.6° 3.71” 59.0° 2.47” 53.2° 3.12” Marianna 69.5° 3.06” 59.6° 3.67” 53.9° 4.81” Dothan 68.9° 2.70” 58.9° 3.91” 53.1° 4.76” 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 likely to persist across the area through the rest of fall into the early winter. Image Caption: Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook Released September 30, 2025 valid for September 30, 2025 to December 31, 2025 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.