WABE: Drought appears in locations from Bama line across Metro

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Parts of Georgia at risk for fast-developing drought

Molly Samuel | WABE

September 18th, 2025

 

Warm, dry weather is putting parts of west Georgia stretching across metro Atlanta at risk of a flash drought. (John Bazemore/AP)

It’s been a few weeks since a big, soaking rain fell across Atlanta. Lawns and gardens might be starting to look a little crispy. And though there’s a chance for isolated thunderstorms off and on, there’s really not much in the way of rain in the forecast for the next several days.

The warm, dry weather is putting much of Alabama, and parts of west Georgia stretching across metro Atlanta at risk of what’s called a flash drought, when drought conditions develop rapidly, according to the National Weather Service.

 

As of Thursday, it had been 27 days since Atlanta last experienced more than 0.1 inch of rain, according to the local National Weather Service office. With the next better than 20% chance of rain not forecast until Tuesday, Atlanta could find itself with a 30-plus-day streak of days without significant rainfall.

 

According to the latest update from the U.S. Drought Monitor, more than three-quarters of Georgia is experiencing at least some level of abnormally dry conditions right now. The lawn and garden moisture index shows most of Georgia in the red.

If it gets really, seriously dry, an official declaration of drought would come from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. That can trigger some water use restrictions. But year-round in Georgia, drought or not, there are always outdoor watering rules in place, limiting watering to before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.

 

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