Georgia’s Drought Improves After Recent Rain

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 You may be tired of all the rain metro Atlanta has received lately. But officials say it’s helping the state recover from a lengthy drought.  

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, Georgia has moved out of the two worst levels of drought: exceptional and extreme drought. State climatologist Bill Murphey says the rain the state received in the past month or so has helped.

“This was beneficial rainfall as far as that hit parts of central and south Georgia especially,” Murphey says, “And even across parts of Metro Atlanta, we picked up say some 8-10 inch amounts in that 30-day period.”

Murphey says the winter rain recharged stream flows and boosted Lake Lanier’s level. However, he says central areas, like Macon and Augusta,  and the southeastern coast are still in need of more rain.