In previous postings, I have reported the current level of drought as indicated by the US Drought Monitor. During April and May, our region progressively worsened from a "severe drought" to an "extreme drought". Most of our viewing area remains under an "extreme drought" category. But, over most of the Tennessee Valley region in north Alabama, the level of drought has reached to highest (or worst) category of drought...."exceptional". Jackson and DeKalb Counties are included in this area of drought.
A couple of days of rain will certainly be welcome, but it will take a long term pattern of consistent rainfall to turn around the drought. As I have stated before, an active tropical season in the Gulf can serve to break down the persistent, dry ridge of high pressure that has dominated the US Southeast's weather. Landfalling storms sometimes have a hard time getting this far inland, but occasionally can provide us a soaking. But, the "moist" pattern that results can provide a more consistent pattern of rain locally. August and September are the more active months for tropical activity.
In the short term, the 6-10 day outlook does have a large portion of the Southeast in a slightly above normal category for rainfall, but most of that will be to our south.
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