All of Stephens Co. Now Back in Extreme Drought

Extreme drought has returned to all of Stephens County.

According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, the second-worst drought level on the monitor has moved all the way back across the entire county.

Last week, only western Stephens County was in extreme drought, while eastern Stephens County was in severe drought.

Statewide, nearly 9 percent of the state, up slightly from last week, is in extreme drought. That area encompasses almost all of far north Georgia.

Overall, the drought conditions statewide are continuing to slowly improve.

This week, the drought monitor shows less than 34 percent of the state in drought or abnormally dry conditions.

That is down from nearly 37 percent of the state a week ago.

That 34 percent of the state is the northern third of the state, where dry and drought conditions continue to persist, with the most northern parts of the state seeing the worst of those drought conditions, according to the Drought Monitor report.