Drought Conditions Now Extreme in Stephens Co.

Extreme drought is returning to Stephens County.

That is according to the latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor that came out Thursday.

In the past week, almost all of Stephens County, Habersham County, Rabun County, and Banks County, along with the northern half of Franklin County all went from severe to extreme drought.

Extreme drought is the second most severe category on the Drought Monitor and that category engulfs most of north Georgia this week.

Stephens County has only had about 1.5 inches of rain in the past two months.

More than 29 percent of the state is in extreme drought and the far northwestern part of Georgia is actually in exceptional drought, which is the most severe classification on the Drought Monitor.

Currently, 66 percent of the state is experiencing either abnormally dry or drought conditions, up from just under 62 percent a week ago.

Only southern and southeastern Georgia is currently not experiencing any kind of drought, and drought conditions are worst in north Georgia.