Is your lawn or garden starting to struggle? If so, you aren’t alone though northeast Georgia is better off than most of the state.
The National Weather Service (NWS) says its Lawn and Garden Moisture Index (LGMI) shows the majority of Georgia is running a moisture deficit after several weeks of heat and limited rainfall. And unfortunately, the advisory says, there aren’t any widespread soaking rain events in the forecast that could bring relief.
What is the LGMI? A measure of the capacity of current soil moisture to maintain healthy lawns and gardens.
What do the colors on the accompanying map mean? Red: Deficit of moisture. Potentially harmful to lawns and gardens without supplemental watering. Green: Adequate or suitable moisture, suitable for healthy lawns and gardens.
As we reported last week, drought conditions grew by nearly 20 percent compared to a report seven days earlier. Drought reverses course, gains ground in Ga.
NWS 7-day forecast for Gainesville and vicinity:
Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. East wind around 5 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. East wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 86.
Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 64.
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 89.
Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 65.
Saturday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Saturday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Sunday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.