Drought Worsens in County

Severe drought conditions return to Rabun County.

According to the latest statistics from the United States Drought Monitor, Rabun County is currently classified as being in a severe drought, with areas to the north, east, and south being classified as in a moderate drought.

The severe drought conditions do extend to the west.

Brad Rippey, a meteorologist with the United States Department of Agriculture, says that the drought is getting worse across the country, especially in the Southeast and the state of Georgia.

“The biggest change is that some of the greatest increases have been across the Southeast,” said Rippey. “Pastures have really browned out. We now see more than half the pastures in Georgia rated very poor to poor. That’s a sharp increase from just a few weeks ago.

Currently, 97% of the state of Georgia is classified as being in either dry or drought conditions.