Drought conditions continue to intensify across Georgia, with new data showing much of the state now experiencing severe to extreme drought levels.

According to the National Weather Service in Atlanta, drought conditions have steadily worsened since last fall. Maps comparing conditions from September 2025 to now show a dramatic expansion of dry conditions, with nearly the entire state now impacted.

As of mid-April, about 90 percent of Georgia is classified in severe to exceptional drought, marking the largest coverage of drought in nearly 20 years.

Rainfall totals have been well below normal in recent months. In some areas, including parts of North Georgia, rainfall has dropped to just a fraction of typical levels, contributing to worsening soil moisture and increasing stress on crops, water supplies, and vegetation.

Locally, these dry conditions are already contributing to elevated fire danger across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia, with officials urging residents to use caution with outdoor burning.

Forecasters say that without meaningful rainfall in the coming weeks, drought conditions are expected to persist and could continue into the summer months.