CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 05/06/99

Drought Not Just for Summer, UGA Scientist Says

When you hear the word "drought," you probably think of the dog days of summer and dry weather conditions. Well, it's May, and Georgia is in a drought.

"Usually, we aren't concerned about drought conditions in May, but that's the situation we're in this year," said David Stooksbury, state climatologist and professor of engineering at the University of Georgia. "A drought isn't just a summer condition. It can happen any time of year, as we are seeing now."

Drought Explained

Stooksbury said weather researchers don't determine drought conditions based just on how much it has rained. "We use the Palmer Drought Severity Index, which is a measure that takes into account temperature, precipitation, soil conditions and antecedent soil moisture," he said.

"The major concern now," he said, "is that the soil moisture reserve is virtually depleted, particularly in the southern third of the state."

The soil moisture was high last spring. "Last year, the soil moisture reserve was there. And crops and trees could tap into it when the weather turned dry during the early summer," Stooksbury said.

Last spring's soil moisture reserve was depleted during the summer, though, causing agricultural losses in the millions of dollars. The soil moisture wasn't recharged last winter, as it normally is. "This year's crops won't have a reserve to tap into," he said.

GEORGIA'S CLIMATE ZONES help scientists determine when an area is in a drought. Each zone has a distinct weather pattern, including rainfall amounts, temperature ranges and prevailing winds.

Long-term Dry Conditions

Stooksbury said the state's drought conditions have developed over the past 12 months. "Droughts don't develop like an afternoon thunderstorm," he said. "It takes months."

"It was dry in Georgia this winter before people started thinking about it being dry," he said. "It's important to realize that a few days of rain aren't going to get us out of a drought. It didn't happen overnight. It's not going to disappear overnight."

Climate Regions

Georgia is divided into nine climate regions: northeast, north central, northwest, east central, central, west central, southeast, south central and southwest.

According to the Palmer Drought Index, the entire state is in a drought. "We're seeing moderate to severe drought conditions across the state," Stooksbury said.

Sharon Omahen is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Experts/Sources:
David E. Stooksbury, Ph.D.
SLF2 CAES News
Spotting trouble: How Georgians can help combat spotted lanternfly 12/24/24 Emily Cabrera
Native to several Asian countries, the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) was first detected in the United States in 2014 in Pennsylvania, likely arriving via imported goods. Since its arrival, the pest has spread to 15 states in the Eastern U.S., now including Georgia. While they do not bite or sting humans or animals, University of Georgia experts stress that early detection, prevention strategies and timely interventions are crucial to minimizing the spread and impact of this pest on a variety of plants.
Top research stories of 2024 CAES News
Top UGA research stories of 2024 12/23/24 Olivia Randall
As the new year approaches, it’s time to reflect on 2024, a year full of exciting research achievements at the University of Georgia. UGA researchers have made their marks examining crucial topics like the health of water resources and urban infrastructure in the face of climate change, the causes of higher suicide rates among young Black men, and an alarming trend in rates of Type 2 diabetes, among other groundbreaking work. Let’s take a closer look at 12 of the most impactful stories of the past year.
After a hearty climb, Connect Abroad Italy students pose in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. (Photo by Angel Bhardwaj) CAES News
UGA ranks as leading doctoral institution for study abroad 12/20/24 Angel Bhardwaj
The University of Georgia remains among the top 10 U.S. universities for study abroad participation, according to the 2024 Open Doors Report released by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the U.S. Department of State. UGA boasts the highest study abroad participation to enrollment ratio of the top 7 ranked doctoral institutions, earning the No. 7 spot in overall participation and No. 3 in short-term study abroad programs.
HurricaneHeleneGreenhouseDamageCropped CAES News
UGA Extension supports resilience in Georgia farm communities after Hurricane Helene 12/19/24 Emily Cabrera
Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it, bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support.
From left, CAES Associate Professor Abigail Borron and Fulbright Romanian-American Foundation Scholars Mihai Suteu, Daniyar Memedemin, Alina Zaharia, Andreea Ona and Daniel Chiciudean stand in front of an image of the Romanian flag projected onto a barn at UGArden. CAES News
Fulbright Scholars unite with UGA Extension to envision ag outreach model in Romania 12/18/24 Maria M. Lameiras
Arriving on the Athens campus of the University of Georgia in August 2023, five Romanian scholars experienced the same anticipation, excitement and apprehension as many first-year students.  Chosen as Fulbright Romanian-American Foundation Scholars, each serves on the faculty at one of three Romanian universities, specializing in fields from economics and engineering to plant breeding and biotechnology. The five scholars comprised the first cohort of the Romanian Extension Education Development Program, an ambitious three-year pilot effort to facilitate planning and implementation of extension services in Romania. 
Janiver in sunflower field AI web CAES News
A larger-than-life legacy: CAES student’s contagious enthusiasm inspired others 12/17/24 Jordan Powers
When Miriam Edelkind-Vealey applied for a summer role at a University of Georgia pollinator biodiversity lab in 2020, the junior undergrad didn’t quite know what to expect. After being told she got the position, Edelkind-Vealy didn’t hear anything for a few weeks. It was only then that she learned a collaborator on the project, second-year master’s degree student Amy Joy Janvier, had passed away.