Drought numbers hit new low nationwide but state still feeling effects.
There’s good news to report on the drought front from the U.S. Drought Monitor: US #Drought Monitor 4 25 17: Drought (D1-4) down to 6.11% of Lower48, the least amount since USDM stats started in 2000 pic.twitter.com/Dl00fXR6A0 — Drought Center (@DroughtCenter) April 27, 2017 While more of the U.S. moves toward easing drought conditions, it’s still drier than it should be across parts of Alabama.
According to this week’s Drought Monitor Report, abnormally dry conditions are hanging in there for nearly 87 percent of the state.
The driest spots in the state are in Walker, Tuscaloosa, Fayette and a sliver of Jefferson counties.
More of the state is drought-free than last week, however, 13.28 percent this week compared with 6.85 percent last week.
According to the National Weather Service north Alabama got about an inch of rain and most of central Alabama got less than an inch over the weekend.
Rain from storms on Wednesday and Thursday of this week — and anticipated storms on Sunday — will be factored into next week’s report.
The weather service said 1 to 1.25 inches of rain per week is the typical average.
The seasonal outlook from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center shows drought conditions lingering through July for parts of the state and likely redeveloping across a good part of the rest of Alabama.
The only part of the state to escape drought worries could be southwest Alabama, according to the CPC.