Birmingham – The latest U.S. Drought Monitor survey shows virtually no change to drastic drought conditions in Alabama. The data released today showed many areas in the Southeast could have the driest year on record. Some records date back to 1880.
The report states Tuscaloosa is more than 30 inches below normal rainfall. 49 percent of Alabama remains under D-4 drought conditions - the worst on the scale.
All but 6 percent of the state, its southern most region along the coast, is feeling some stage of drought.
One-third of the Southeast is plagued by D-4 drought and it's getting worse. It includes 49 percent of Georgia, 46 percent of South Carolina, 21 percent of Tennessee and six percent of Virginia. The most dramatic increase was in North Carolina where 66 percent of the state is now under D-4 conditions. That's a 10 percent jump from last week.
The conditions could last, according to the survey, into next summer.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)