The latest data from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows that Chattooga County, along with Walker, Dade and Catoosa Counties and a portion of Floyd County is experiencing “Extreme Drought”. 

The National Weather Service in Peachtree City, Georgia says that Summerville is almost 7 inches behind normal rainfall for this time of year.  Less than an inch of rain has fallen since the end of August.  The forecast is giving some hope for the last part of this week.  The National Weather Service says there is a 40% chance of rain on Thursday night.  That chance increases to a 70% chance in the afternoon on Friday.

Federal agriculture officials have issued a disaster declaration for four Northwest Georgia counties after at least eight weeks of drought. The U.S. Department of Agriculture included Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade and Walker counties in the disaster area. The declaration allows area farmers impacted by the drought to apply for emergency credit to help them stay afloat financially. The deadline to apply is the end of June next year.