National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

Drought Information for Central Alabama
Updated February 15th, 2013

Drought Conditions Improve in Eastern Sections of Central Alabama

Synopsis...

Drought conditions have improved in East-central and Southeast Alabama.  The latest U.S. Drought Monitor now indicates that moderate to severe drought is found to the right of a line from Tennille to Tuskegee to Eclectic to Graham.   Remaining areas are indicated to be near normal or abnormally dry.  

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...

In general above normal rainfall occurred during the first half of February.  So far this month...rainfall is averaging from 2 to 3 inches in the northern sections...to 8 to 10 inches in the southern counties.

Hydrologic Impacts...

Soil moistures are running above normal for this time of the year across all of Central Alabama.

Agricultural Impacts...

The latest  USDA reports indicated that the harvesting of corn...cotton...peanuts and soybeans has been completed.  Pastures are reported to be going into the winter months in fair to good condition in Coosa...Elmore and Tallapoosa Counties. Recent rainfall has helped winter forages in other areas of Central Alabama.

The latest reports from the USDA (from Nov. 26, 2012):

Fire Danger Impacts...

The fire danger risk across Central Alabama has improved during the past two weeks...due largely to the recent rainfall.  Keetch-Byram Drought Indices (KBDI) generally range below 50 across Central Alabama.   Values above 500 indicate a Severe Fire Danger.

The Alabama Forestry Commission currently reports that there is no Fire Alert or Drought Emergency issued.  However, the State Forester is still urging everyone to use all necessary safety precautions when doing any type of outdoor burning.

Hydrologic Summary and Outlook...

Stream flows reported by USGS gages are currently running near or above normal across much of the area following the recent rainfall.

In general most major reservoirs are near their winter pool levels although some have risen a little following the recent rainfall.  Listed below are current levels for some of the major reservoirs across Central Aabama and levels from December 3rd:

Social Impacts...

Most area reservoir levels are at or near their winter pool levels...although some have risen a little following the recent rainfall.  Currently there is not a widespread threat of municipal water shortages.   

Precipitation & Temperature Outlook...

A cold front will move across the area tonight...bringing mostly dry conditions through the weekend with only some scattered light precipitation expected tonight and Saturday.  The next significant chance for rain is expected for Monday night into Tuesday as another cold front spreads rain and thunderstorms back across the area.  Rainfall through Tuesday is expected to average from near or a little above an inch in the northwest counties...to between half an inch and an inch over the southeast. 

The two week outlook...from February 20th through February 28th...calls for near to above normal temperatures and above normal precipitation chances.

The longer-range outlook for March through May is for above normal temperatures and below normal chances of precipitation.

The latest seasonal drought outlook through April indicates that in general drought conditions are expected to persist in areas currently experiencing them...with some improvement possible.

Update Statement...

The next statement will be issued around March 14th, or sooner if conditions warrant.