United States and Puerto Rico Author(s):
Pacific Islands and Virgin Islands Author(s):
Estimated Population in Drought Areas:
Hurricane Helene dropped heavy to excessive rains over a large part of this region, dramatically improving or eliminating dryness and drought. Between 20 and 30 inches of rain pounded some of the highest elevations in western North Carolina while at least 10 inches soaked the rest of the North Carolina mountains, the central Blue Ridge in Virginia, a few areas from west-central Georgia into western South Carolina, and the Florida Panhandle near the landfall site. Last week, moderate to severe drought (D1 to D3) was entrenched across western Virginia, the southern Appalachians, central and northern Georgia, much of South Carolina, and most of Alabama. But the intense rains spawned by Helene nearly eradicated dryness and drought. Abnormal dryness (D0) to moderate drought (D1) still affected much of Alabama, which received much less rainfall than areas farther east. In fact, little or no rain fell on the southwestern quarter of the state, where most of the D1 is located. Farther east, abnormal dryness (D0) was restricted to the western fringe of Virginia, extreme northwestern Georgia, and the western Florida Panhandle.
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The National Drought Mitigation Center’s mission is to reduce the effects of drought on people, the environment and the economy by researching the science of drought monitoring and the practice of drought planning. We collaborate with and learn from decision-makers at all levels – individual ranchers, communities, regions, watersheds, tribes, states, countries – across the US and around the world. We organize and present workshops, writeshops and other capacity-building activities, in close cooperation with local partners.
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