Recent Rain is Lifting Athens, Ga., Out of the Drought

The rain the area has received since the beginning of January is helping to ease dought conditions that have plagued Athens and most of Georgia since last summer, and months before.

The cisterns are full and the rivers are rising. In January, says climatologist Pam Knox of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Athens got 7.36 inches of rain, putting us .6 ahead of the normal amount of 6.76 inches.

"And we're expecting rain later this week, so that should help," Knox said. "Right now, we're a little above normal."

In Central Georgia, dought conditions have lessened, thanks to the rain, moving from Level 4, exceptional drought, to Level 3, extreme drought. The acquifer levels are still low, Knox said, adding that it will take a while for them to recharge.

"Droughts are tricky things," she said. "It's hard to saw when a drought is over."