Latest Drought Information Statement 1/12/2017

Drought Conditions Persist Across Central Alabama
The Latest U.S. Drought Monitor indicates that drought conditions persist across Central Alabama. Extreme drought conditions persist over an area along and to the right of a line from near Lafayette to Columbiana to Clinton to Pickensville to Kennedy to Manchester. Severe drought covers remaining areas north of a line from Bleecker to Clanton to Coatopa to Geiger. Most remaining areas in Central Alabama are still indicated to be in moderate drought or abnormally dry.

Precipitation totals varied greatly as a winter storm system affected the area late last week. Water equivalent precipitation totals ranged from less than a quarter of an inch over some northern sections of Central Alabama to an inch and a half or more in the southern sections. This precipitation resulted in little change in drought conditions across the area.

Some precipitation amounts (inches) for Central Alabama January 1st through January 11th:

••• Birmingham 2.56
••• Montgomery 7.64
••• Anniston 3.81
••• Tuscaloosa 3.41
••• Calera 3.67
••• Troy 10.80

Normal precipitation expected (inches) and departure from normal (inches) January 1st through January 11th:

••• Birmingham 1.59 (+0.97)
••• Montgomery 1.49 (+6.15)
••• Anniston 1.43 (+2.38)
••• Tuscaloosa 1.76 (+1.65)
••• Calera 1.65 (+2.02)
••• Troy 1.61 (+9.19)

Agricultural Impacts
The last USDA report issued November 28th indicated that agricultural interests had been significantly impacted by the drought with some ponds and streams reported to be drying up. Cattle producers were said to be supplementing livestock with hay, feed supplements and water hauled from elsewhere. Many farmers have been unable to plant winter crops due to the drought. Recently, rainfall has filled many small streams and ponds that had dried up during the height of the drought.

Fire Danger Impacts
The fire danger risk has decreased across much of the state due to recent rainfall. Keetch-Byram drought indices (KBDI) currently range from less than 100 to around 300 across most of Central Alabama. Values above 500 indicate a severe fire danger.

While the statewide burn ban has been rescinded, there remains concern that many pine trees could still die due to the drought that has plagued the state. The state forester continues to urge people that are doing any outside burning to follow safety precautions such as not leaving any fire unattended and having the proper equipment and personnel to control the fire.

Hydrologic Summary And Outlook
USGS stream gauge data indicates that stream flows have returned to below or much below normal across much of Central Alabama for this time of year. Periodic rainfall will need to occur for stream flows to return to normal or better levels.

Most major reservoir pool levels have remained fairly steady or returned to near their normal winter levels during the past week. Listed below are current levels for some of the major reservoirs across Central Alabama and those from January 5th:

Weiss: …………. 558.6 current (558.2 01/05/17)
Neely Henry: ….. 506.7 current (506.8 01/05/17)
Logan Martin: … 459.9 current (459.8 01/05/17)
Lay: ……………. 396.0 current (395.7 01/05/17)
Mitchell: ……….. 312.0 current (311.7 01/05/17)
Jordan: ………… 251.6 current (251.6 01/05/17)
R.L. Harris: …… 784.9 current (784.9 01/05/17)
Martin: ………… 483.0 current (484.7 01/05/17)
Smith: …………. 498.2 current (498.1 01/05/17)
Bankhead: ……. 255.0 current (254.9 01/05/17)
Holt: …………… 186.9 current (186.6 01/05/17)

Social Impacts
Pools have been near their normal winter levels at most major reservoirs during the past few weeks. Voluntary and mandatory water restrictions have been implemented by some water boards across Central Alabama and are still in effect in some areas, while many other areas have implemented voluntary water restrictions.

Precipitation and Temperature Outlook
Mostly dry conditions are forecast across Central Alabama today through the weekend and into the first part of next week as upper level ridging establishes itself across the area. However, the next storm system is forecast to approach the area by Tuesday and Wednesday of next week and will bring the next chance for significant rainfall to the area. Cumulative rainfall totals through next Wednesday are expected to average around an inch.

The two week outlook, from January 17th through January 25th, calls for above normal temperatures and above normal precipitation. The longer-range outlook for the remainder of January through March is for above normal temperatures and near normal to below normal precipitation. The latest seasonal drought outlook through march indicates that drought conditions are expected to persist across most of Central Alabama.

Information from the latest drought statement prepared by the NWS Birmingham.

Tags: drought

Category: Alabama's Weather