There was a big surge this past week in the part of Georgia now considered in a drought.
The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) reported Thursday that drought conditions now cover 52 percent of the state, up from just 15 percent a week ago, and none three months ago. All of Hall County and the rest of north Georgia are included.
Except for portions of Dawson and Lumpkin counties and all or parts of six others, conditions are considered “abnormally dry,” but for those eight a “moderate” drought exists. The drought-free areas are in southeast and southwest Georgia and a few counties in the central part of the state.