ALABAMA DROUGHT REACH
The Alabama Drought Reach (ADR) program is working to improve drought communications and drought impact monitoring in Alabama. It is a collaborative partnership between the Auburn University Water Resources Center, the Alabama Office of the State Climatologist at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. ADR also receives support from the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station and the USGS Water Resources Research Institute.
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Help us create more accurate drought maps of Alabama by reporting drought conditions with CMOR (Condition Monitoring Observer Reports). Your regular reports are vital for our work!
This week's Alabama Drought Update
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Launched in May 2023, ADR’s mission is to improve drought communications and agricultural impact monitoring in Alabama.
Mission:
To improve drought communications and drought agricultural impact monitoring in Alabama.
Vision:
To better document drought’s agricultural impacts in Alabama, resulting in a more infomred scientific and agricultural community.
Program Objectives:
-Develop a systematic approach and monitoring program for drought agricultural impact data collection by Extension and Experiment Station personnel
-Develop and conduct drought training for Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station personnel
-Work alongside the Office of the State Climatologist to provide timely and relevant agricultural impact data
-Increase drought impact literacy among Alabama farmers, landowners, and the general public
For more ADR information please contact Brianne Minton at drought@auburn.edu.
WHO MONITORS DROUGHT IN ALABAMA?
Alabama Office of the State Climatologist
The Alabama Office of the State Climatologist is one of the primary agencies monitoring drought conditions in the state. They analyze various indicators including precipitation, streamflow, soil moisture, and temperature data to provide input for the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM). Additionally, the Climate Office partners with Alabama Drought Reach, a statewide communication program, to develop outreach materials that inform the public about drought conditions and their agricultural impacts.
Office of Water Resources
The Office of Water Resources (OWR) is part of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) serves as the second key drought monitoring agency in Alabama. Working closely with the Alabama Drought Assessment and Planning Team (ADAPT), the OWR receives technical input on drought conditions from the Monitoring and Impact Group (MIG) subcommittee. Using this information alongside weekly USDM maps, the OWR issues and updates drought declarations that guide local watershed managers in making critical water usage decisions during drought periods.
HOW DROUGHT IMPACTS ALABAMA AGRICULTURE
Alabama is no stranger to drought, and it has major impacts on statewide agriculture. Using data from the 2017 U.S. Census, the graphic below illustrates the significant economic impact of agriculture on Alabama’s economy.
Agriculture is one of the largest industries in Alabama, providing jobs for over 600,000 Alabamians and accounting for $70 billion of the state’s economy. Alabama Drought Reach and its partners are working to protect our farmers during times of drought.
DROUGHT RESOURCES
Alabama Drought Declarations
Drought Preparation
Row Crops
Livestock & Forages
- Alabama Hay Directory
- Hay Hauling Permit Fees are Being Waived During Drought
- Drought Preparations in Forages
- Drought Sales of Livestock
- Drought Management for Sheep and Goats
- Late-Planting of Annual Ryegrass in Northern Alabama
Irrigation
Forestry
Home & Garden
Southeast Drought Updates
- Latest Southeast Drought and Climate Update
- Sign up for NIDIS Southeast Drought Early Warning System (DEWS) Emails
WEEKLY GRAPHICS ARCHIVE
PREVIOUS DROUGHT WORK
The AUWRC, in partnership with the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), strives to better inform and prepare Alabama and the Southeast for the many challenges of periodic droughts.
The ACF River Basin Drought and Water Dashboard and ACF Drought StoryMap, collaborative projects with NOAA NIDIS, the AUWRC, and other regional partners, was launched in early 2022 in response to a request from regional stakeholders and improve the ability to view real-time information with interactive, shareable, and easy-to-understand graphics on current and predicted drought conditions.
DROUGHT NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
Monthly Newsletter – May 2024
Weekly Update – June 25, 2024
Monthly Newsletter – June 2024
Weekly Update – July 9, 2024
Weekly Update – July 16, 2024
Weekly Update – July 23, 2024
Weekly Update – July 30, 2024
Monthly Newsletter – July 2024
Weekly Update – August 13, 2024
Weekly Update – August 20, 2024
Weekly Update – August 27, 2024
Monthly Newsletter – August 2024
Weekly Update – September 3, 2024
Weekly Update – September 17, 2024
Weekly Update – October 1, 2024
Monthly Newsletter – September 2024
Weekly Update – October 15, 2024
Weekly Update – October 22, 2024
Weekly Update – October 29, 2024
Monthly Newsletter – October 2024
Weekly Newsletter – November 12, 2024
Weekly Newsletter – November 19, 2024
SIGN UP FOR THE ALABAMA DROUGHT UPDATE
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