BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Weeks of dry, hot weather have plunged the Deep South further into a drought that's affecting more than 11 million people and threatening crops across the region, a new assessment showed Thursday.
The latest report from U.S. Drought Monitor showed arid conditions worsening across a five-state area from Louisiana to South Carolina.
Conditions are particularly bad in Alabama and Georgia, where nearly the entire state is too dry. Areas around the suburbs of Birmingham and Atlanta are also hard hit.
Drought conditions extend into northern Florida and the southern Great Lakes region. Much of Texas and the Southwest also are too dry.
Some areas have gone weeks without substantial rain. Farmers say the dry weather is hurting their crops, and Alabama has declared a statewide fire alert because of extremely dry weather.
WHAT ARE THE DROUGHT AREAS?
Abnormal: Topsoil moisture decreases and planting is delayed; fire risk is elevatedModerate: Agriculture ponds dry up, farmers are hauling water and hazy yield is low; more insects and voles are observed but mosquito numbers are down, disease spreads in trout and fish hatcheries close; leaves fall early; conditions are very dusty; fire danger increases and burn bans are implemented; water demand is highSevere: Corn is severely stressed, producers are importing hay and selling livestock; air quality is poor, burn bans are implemented and active wildfires are reported; aquatic species die off; streams and creeks are extremely low or dry and well levels are lowering; and voluntary water conversation is requested and water quality is poorExtreme: Water supply is inadequate for wildfireExceptional: Large wildfires are reportedSource: U.S. Drought Monitor
THREE-DAY FORECAST
Friday: High of 92; low of 72Saturday: High of 93; low of 71Sunday: High of 94; low of 70Source: WRCB-TV Channel 3
Portions of North Georgia are under severe drought conditions while most of the northwest part of the falls in the abnormal to moderate drought range. And areas of Meigs County, Bradley County, Hamilton County and Sequatchie County are under a severe drought with the rest of the area under a moderate drought.
About 30 miles south of Birmingham in Montevallo, sprinklers ran full tilt at a roughly 200-acre commercial nursery, Green Valley Farms, that is near the most parched area in the South.
A few miles away, April Hebert watched her 1-year-old son Collins toss rocks into a partially dried-up pond at a park in Helena. Brown leaves that are normally still green this time of year covered the ground under trees.
"It's terrible," she said of the drought. "I'm afraid we're going to go straight from summer to winter without a fall."
The Agriculture Department said pastures, hayfields and soybean crops are drying up because of the drought, and some farmers have been feeding hay to livestock because of a lack of grass. Most crops are still in good or fair condition despite the lack of rain, the agency said.
While lake levels are falling, no mandatory water restrictions are in place.
The National Weather Service said most places in Georgia and Alabama received below-normal rainfall in August, and temperatures for the month were as much as 3 degrees above average in Georgia.
Despite the officials start to fall, the Chattanooga area is expected to see record temps this week and into next week, with some days reaching 94 and little to no rain in the forecast, according to WRCB-TV Channel 3.