CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 11/21/01

Days Without Rain Near Local Records

Athens, Ga. – The number of consecutive days with little or no rainfall is reaching record levels in Georgia. Preliminary analysis by the Office of the State Climatologists indicates that Columbus has broken its record of days with 0.01 inches or less of rain.

Athens could break its record on Friday, and Atlanta could break its within a week. All analyses were done for 1948 through 2001.

Wildfire potential is the most immediate concern. Dry soils, dry leaves and other plant material, low humidity and wind all add up to an increase in wildfire potential across the entire state.

Stream Flows Still Dropping

Stream flows continue to drop statewide. In north Georgia, record daily low flows are reported on the upper Chattahoochee, Chattooga, Chestatee, Broad, upper Flint and upper Oconee Rivers.

In south Georgia, record daily low flows are reported on the Altamaha, lower Flint, Ohoopee, lower Oconee and Ocmulgee Rivers.

The Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service rates soil moisture as short to very short in 96 percent of the state's soils. Winter wheat is particularly hard-hit, with 54 percent of the state's crop rated poor to very poor.

On the positive side, dry weather has allowed for good progress in harvesting summer crops.

City Water Tables

Preliminary analysis of consecutive days of rain less than or equal to the amount indicated for 1948 through 2001. The "amount" column is the rainfall in inches equal to or less than the value reported. The "current" column is the number of consecutive days (ending at noon Nov. 20, 2001) receiving the indicated amount or less. The "record" column is the record number of consecutive days receiving the indicated amount or less. And the "date" column gives the period when the record was set.
ATHENS
Up to:
0.00 inches
0.01
0.10
0.50
Current
36 days
36
36
57
Record
39 days
39
40
180
Dates
10/4/61-11/11/61
10/4/61-11/11/61
10/4/61-11/12/61
4/12/88-7/20/88
ATLANTA
Up to:
0.00 inches
0.01
0.10
0.50
Current
26 days
26
26
37
Record
32 days
42
49
104
Dates
9/30/63-10/31/63
9/16/54-10/27/54
9/15/61-11/2/61
7/29/55-11/9/55
AUGUSTA
Up to:
0.00 inches
0.01
0.10
0.50
Current
17 days
17
36
57
Record
35 days
35
73
120
Dates
10/1/53-11/4/53
10/1/53-11/4/53
10/1/98-12/12/98
9/4/98-1/1/99
COLUMBUS
Up to:
0.00 inches
0.01
0.10
0.50
Current
0 days
0
37
37
Record
36 days
37
69
108
Dates
10/15/2001-11/19/2001
10/15/2001-11/19/2001
9/15/61-11/22/61
8/11/78-11/26/78
MACON
Up to:
0.00 inches
0.01
0.10
0.50
Current
0 days
0
56
56
Record
44 days
44
69
100
Dates
10/14/78-11/26/78
10/14/78-11/26/78
9/15/61-11/22/61
8/2/84-11/9/84
SAVANNAH
Up to:
0.00 inches
0.01
0.10
0.50
Current
5 days
5
17
57
Record
41 days
41
64
150
Dates
9/25/2000-11/4/2000
9/25/2000-11/4/2000
10/9/98-12/11/98
11/8/88-4/3/89

Pam Knox is the director of the UGA Weather Network and serves as an agricultural climatologist with the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences.

David Emory Stooksbury is associate professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Experts/Sources:
David E. Stooksbury, Ph.D.
Pam Knox
The holiday season can be a time of anticipation and joy, but balancing multiple commitments and personalities across families and friends can be a source of stress for hosts and visitors alike. Like preparing parts of the meal ahead of time to spend more of the holiday with guests, taking time ahead of the day to set expectations can go a long way to ensuring enjoyable gatherings, said Ted Futris, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension specialist and professor of human development and family science in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. CAES News
Manage holiday stress with kindness, boundaries 11/21/24 Maria M. Lameiras
The holiday season can be a time of anticipation and joy, but balancing multiple commitments and personalities across families and friends can be a source of stress for hosts and visitors alike. Much like preparing parts of the meal ahead of time allows you to spend more of the holiday with guests, setting expectations ahead of the celebration can go a long way to ensuring enjoyable gatherings, said Ted Futris, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension specialist and professor of human development and family science.
Conner Hall CAES News
CAES welcomes 2024 cohort of Rural Scholars 11/20/24 Maria M. Lameiras
The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences welcomed its fourth cohort of students chosen for the CAES Rural Scholars Program this fall just weeks after celebrating the program's first graduation. Georgia Orman, one of four inaugural Rural Scholars in CAES, graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education. The new scholars for 2024, all from Georgia, are Ela Ash of Ocilla, Lauren E. Coley of Cochran, Amelia Housley of Canon, and London O’Steen of Ambrose.
Women play a vital role in rural American farming, but much of that work is "invisible," like raising children or household chores, according to a new UGA study. (Getty Images) CAES News
The women and stress behind rural farming in America 11/19/24 Leigh Hataway
Recent research from the University of Georgia suggests the unique stresses from farm life may be taking a toll on one of the pillars of the families that make your dinners possible: the women who keep farming families running. “If we don’t control our food sources, we don’t control our health and safety,” said Anna Scheyett, lead author of the study and a professor in UGA’s School of Social Work. “It’s a matter of national security that farmers survive in the United States. And one of the big factors in helping farms survive is women.”
Mergoum at Creature Comforts CAES News
That's the spirit! 11/18/24 Maria M. Lameiras, Claire Sanders Kinnard
Wheat breeders spend years meticulously crossing varieties to coax the best traits out of each species, carefully propagating plant varieties that are healthier, heartier and better suited for the environments where they are grown. Professional brewmasters are equally painstaking when choosing the components that will give their beers a specific flavor profile.
Contest-winning concept becomes viable business for alumnus who developed solar-powered, self-propelled chicken coop as a student. CAES News
Poultry in motion 11/14/24 Sean Montgomery
Chris Ayers emerged from his orange and black rough-terrain vehicle with an ear-to-ear grin. “This is Chiktopia,” he said, sweeping his arm wide to indicate the back half of a 3,600-square-foot warehouse on his family’s farm in Ball Ground, Georgia. “This is where I manufacture and assemble the chicken coops. Everything is done entirely from over here.”
UGA Grand Farm Site Plan web CAES News
UGA Grand Farm wins stage two of 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund competition 11/13/24 Jordan Powers
Startups in the agricultural technology sector face significant barriers on the path to establishment, including access to training and capital. These barriers are heightened for underrepresented entrepreneurs seeking to start new companies. The University of Georgia Grand Farm, part of a historic partnership between the University of Georgia and Fargo, North Dakota-based Grand Farm, aims to change that.