(WDNews) — Alabama saw modest improvement in drought conditions over the past week, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s latest update released Thursday.
Level 3, or extreme drought, which had gripped parts of southeast Alabama, has been eliminated in that region. However, pockets of extreme drought persist in west Alabama, including portions of Marengo, Choctaw, Greene, Hale and a small part of Sumter County.
The Drought Monitor ranks conditions from D0 (abnormally dry) to D4 (exceptional drought). This week’s report shows mixed results statewide:
-
11.04% of Alabama is drought-free, down from 12.49% last week.
-
88.96% is abnormally dry or in D0 conditions, up from 87.51%.
-
61.17% is experiencing moderate drought (D1), down from 63.50%.
-
14.97% is in severe drought (D2), a significant drop from 26.83%.
-
2.43% remains in extreme drought (D3), down from 6.68%.
-
No areas are in exceptional drought (D4).
Southeast Alabama, though no longer in Level 3 drought, remains under Level 2 (severe) conditions.
Despite the slight improvements, forecasters say relief may be short-lived. The National Weather Service projects minimal rainfall statewide over the next several days, with most areas expecting between no measurable rain and a quarter-inch through Dec. 17.
Long-range outlooks offer little encouragement. The Climate Prediction Center estimates a 33–40% chance of below-average precipitation from Montgomery north to the Tennessee state line between Dec. 18–24. Southern Alabama — from the Montgomery area to the Gulf Coast — faces even higher odds of below-average rainfall, at 40–50%.
The next U.S. Drought Monitor update will be released Dec. 18.
