Sunday, October 30, 2016

Relentless heat, dryness to aggravate Southeast drought

By Brian Thompson, Meteorologist
October 30,2016; 9:55PM,EDT
 
 
No rain is in sight for most of the Southeast through the opening days of November, thanks to a persistent warm and dry pattern.
The ongoing stretch of warmth and dryness in the region will spell bad news for the worsening drought.
Cities such as Pensacola, Florida, as well as Birmingham and Mobile, Alabama, are likely to end up with no measurable precipitation during the month of October.
The dry weather has been accompanied by record-breaking warmth, which will continue for much of this week.
Atlanta will likely set a new record for the warmest September through the October period, on the heels of the city's second warmest summer.

"The abnormal warmth contributes to more moisture evaporating out of the soil. When the moisture does not get replenished, it's like a vicious cycle," AccuWeather Meteorologist Mike Doll said.
Birmingham, Alabama, has not received measurable rainfall since Sept. 18.
The city will only have received 0.68 of an inch of rain for the months of September and October, combined. That is just 9 percent of what Birmingham typically receives over the two-month span.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, over 73 percent of Alabama is experiencing severe to exceptional drought conditions.
Mississippi has not fared much better. Both Jackson and Tupelo have recorded just 12 percent of what each city receives in September and October.
Drought areas across the state are affecting over 2.9 million people, U.S. Drought Monitor data reveals.
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This persistent dry weather is not predicted to end anytime soon.
"Unfortunately, the jet stream pattern this week will continue to guide storm systems and moisture north of the Southeast region," Doll said.
With rainfall deficits growing deeper, several storm systems producing heavy rain will be necessary to put a significant dent in the building drought.
According to Doll, a pattern like this is not expected to materialize over the next couple of weeks.

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