Area’s drought appears to be worsening

By Joe McAdory

Published: August 6, 2007

Remember in late May and early June when it didn’t rain a drop for 20-something days? Well, we may have had a few raindrops here and there in the last few days, but other than that it’s been bone dry. A five-minute rain shower doesn’t help when its 95 degrees outside and whatever rain falls to the group is evaporated within minutes.

How bad has it been lately? The total recorded rainfall by the Lee County Emergency Management Agency this month is 0.16 inches. Through Sunday, the rain official rain gauge of the Lee County EMA has not recorded more than a tenth of an inch for 25 consecutive days. August is generally the area’s dry month, so it appears we’re moving into the worst of the drought. If you want to check out the area’s official weather stats, head to the EMA’s Web site at http://www.leecoema-al.org/

What’s going to happen to the landscape of East Central Alabama if this arid trend continues? Seen any cactus lately?