90% of Georgia is experiencing dry conditions or drought

Rains in the forecast this week may dampen some vacation plans, but it's also bringing desperately needed moisture to drought-stricken Georgia where dry spells are becoming more common.

Why it matters: Ample amounts of sustained rain keep crops growing, streams flowing, cows grazing, and your porch plants happy.

• But the double punch of low precipitation and daytime blistering temperatures fueled by climate change is straining Mother Nature, Georgia state climatologist Bill Murphey tells Axios.

Context: Roughly 40% of Georgia, including metro Atlanta, is currently experiencing drought conditions, according to NOAA. Parts of Fulton, Douglas, Cobb, and Paulding counties and northwest Georgia are seeing severe drought.

• During a severe drought, Murphey says, cattle producers will often report that they're feeding herds with their winter hay reserves; corn and other crops will show signs of stress; and soil moisture will drop.

Zoom in: Georgia's most recent dry stretches, including this one, are considered "rapid onset" or "flash" droughts because they come on fast and intense rather than develop over several seasons.

• Rainfall levels in metro Atlanta and Macon are actually above normal for the year but the dry summer has taken a toll, Murphey says. Macon just lived through its driest June in recorded history.
• "If you bring on that intense daytime heat, plus the lack of rainfall, that's what makes what we call rapid onset drought," he says.

State of play: The Atlantic hurricane season began in June, and recent rain storms in metro Atlanta and South Georgia have helped alleviate some drought conditions, Murphey adds.

Threat level: Metro Atlanta will need to see roughly five to seven inches of sustained steady rains until the end of July to come out of the current drought, according to Murphey's ballpark estimate.

• For northwest Georgia, that's closer to eight to 10 inches before the end of the month.

By the numbers: A 1-inch rainstorm would dump 2.3 billion gallons on Atlanta, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, the equivalent of 115,000 average-sized swimming pools.

The intrigue: In places like Atlanta, often in proximity to a hurricane but outside its path, hurricanes and tropical storms can occasionally spin off dry air instead of bringing much-needed rain, Murphey says. That can create a pocket of arid conditions that actually exacerbate a drought.

• Recent examples include Hurricane Dorian and Humberto in October 2019, and Ian in September 2022, Murphey says.

Pro tip: Turn on your sprinkler early in the morning or in the evening to prevent water from evaporating.

• Spread mulch to help plants retain water and when possible, soak the roots, particularly on new stalls.