Precipitation also fell in other parts of the country including the northern Plains, Northeast, and much of the West.
Southeast This week in the Southeast, the heavy rain swath in the central United States brought moderate to heavy rain amounts to parts of Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Virginia, with parts of western Tennessee receiving over 5 inches of rain.
In central Georgia, moderate drought expanded as short-term rainfall deficits continued to build and warmer than normal temperatures helped to dry out soil.
Urban areas of southern California already in severe drought have continued to experience largely dry conditions; conditions remain at status quo because of the recent rain and lack of widespread water supply issues.
High Plains Some light to moderate precipitation fell in central and eastern Nebraska and the eastern Dakotas, while heavier precipitation fell in southeast Kansas during the series of major rain/snow events in the central and southern United States.
A small part of the moderate drought in central South Dakota improved to abnormal dryness.
South Heavy rainfall across the southern region resulted in significant improvements to drought in the mid-South.
Looking Ahead Over the next week, a few more storm systems are forecast to affect the central, southern, or eastern parts of the continental United States.
Conditions in the West will likely stay generally cooler than normal, while temperature swings are more likely east of the Rocky Mountains as the next few storm systems and associated fronts move across the country.
Author(s): Deborah Bathke, National Drought Mitigation Center Dryness Categories D0 Abnormally Dry—used for areas showing dryness but not yet in drought, or for areas recovering from drought.