From U.S. Drought Monitor: Drought Conditions Improve Across Central Alabama

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor indicates significant improvement in the drought conditions across Central Alabama following rainfall during the past week. 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.

Rainfall was heavy during the past week. Rainfall from the first through the third of this month averaged one to three inches over the northern half of Central Alabama, while southern sections averaged between three and six inches, with localized totals to over nine inches. This rainfall produced significant improvement in drought conditions across the area.

Some precipitation amounts (inches) for Central Alabama January 1st through January 4th:

• Birmingham 2.40
• Montgomery 6.07
• Anniston 3.44
• Tuscaloosa 3.31
• Calera 3.33
• Troy 9.27

Normal precipitation expected (inches) and departure from normal (inches) January 1st through January 4th:

• Birmingham 0.55 (+1.85)
• Montgomery 0.51 (+5.37)
• Anniston 0.48 (+2.96)
• Tuscaloosa 0.59 (+2.72)
• Calera 0.58 (+2.75)
• Troy 0.64 (+8.63)

Agricultural Impacts
The last united states department of agriculture (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While the statewide burn ban has been rescinded, there remains concern that many pine trees could still die due to the drought that has plagued the state.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 normal or above normal across much of Central Alabama. Periodic rainfall will need to occur to maintain stream flows.

Most major reservoir pool levels have remained fairly steady near their normal winter levels during the past few weeks; but a few have recently risen following the heavy rainfall this week. Listed below are current levels for some of the major reservoirs across Central Alabama and those from December 29th:

Reservoir          01/05/16   12/29/16
Weiss                 558.2          558.3
Neely Henry       506.8          507.1
Logan Martin      459.8          460.1
Lay                     395.7          395.9
Mitchell               311.7          311.7
Jordan                251.6          251.6
R.l.Harris            784.9          784.9
Martin                 484.7          482.5
Smith                  498.1          497.5
Bankhead           254.9          254.7
Holt                     186.6          186.9

Social Impacts
Pools have been near their normal winter levels at most major reservoirs during the past few weeks, although a few have risen following the recent rainfall. 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.

Category: Alabama's Weather