The Chattooga County Extension Office is urging local agricultural producers to review a USDA Forest Service resource focused on drought conditions and land management strategies.
An active and potentially stormy weather pattern is setting up across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia this week, bringing multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms and the possibility of severe weather.
Daily chances for showers and thunderstorms are expected across north and central Georgia over the next seven days, but forecasters say the rain is not expected to bring much meaningful improvement to ongoing drought conditions.
As wildfires continue to burn in parts of Georgia, local officials in Chattooga County are taking steps to reduce fire danger closer to home.
Chattooga County Commissioner Andy Allen put a countywide burn ban in place last Thursday at noon. The ban includes all outdoor burning and will remain in effect until May 1, 2026, when the Georgia EPD’s annual summer burn ban takes effect.
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s summer open burning ban runs from May 1 through September 30 and includes Chattooga County. The EPD says the ban is aimed at reducing air pollution during the summer ozone season.
The local ban comes as Georgia officials respond to major wildfire activity, especially in South Georgia. Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for 91 counties this week due to ongoing wildfires and extreme drought conditions.
Fire officials are urging residents to avoid outdoor burning, properly dispose of cigarettes, and use caution with anything that could spark a fire.
Chattooga County and much of Northwest Georgia will continue to deal with hazy skies today as wildfire smoke drifts north from South Georgia and North Florida. The smoke may create milky-looking skies and could lead to reduced air quality in some areas, especially where winds remain lighter.
A countywide burn ban is now in effect for Chattooga County as officials respond to worsening drought conditions and an increased risk of wildfires across the region.
According to an executive order signed by Sole Commissioner Andy Allen, the burn ban took effect at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, 2026, and applies to all outdoor burning.
The order comes as drought conditions across Georgia have intensified, with officials reporting extremely dry weather, low humidity, and gusty winds contributing to dangerous fire conditions. State officials have already responded to more than 90 wildfires, and nearly all of Chattooga County is now experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions.
The ban prohibits burning of yard debris, natural vegetation, campfires, and any combustible materials outdoors.
Officials say the action is necessary to protect both life and property as wildfire risks remain high.
The temporary burn ban will remain in place through May 1, 2026, when the state’s annual outdoor burning restrictions are set to begin.
Residents are urged to comply with the ban and avoid any outdoor burning until conditions improve.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, April 23, 2026:
Farmers in Chattooga County and across Northwest Georgia may soon see relief after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated 126 Georgia counties as natural disaster areas due to ongoing drought conditions.
Residents across Chattooga County and the wider Northwest Georgia region can expect several more days of warm, dry weather, increasing the risk for outdoor fires through the end of the workweek.
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.