More Than Smoke: Wildfires Destroy Georgia Homes

Springtime across the Southeast is typically filled with rain, storms and severe weather. However, this year is different. Instead, a worsening drought is top of mind and this is very concerning as we inch closer to summer.

As expected, the drought has expanded and worsened across the Southeast. Regionally, the areas covered by severe and extreme drought have expanded by about 10% in each category. That may seem like a small change, but it's significant given that nearly 100% of the region is already in a drought.

Current Drought Monitor — Updated April 23, 2026

Last Week's Drought Monitor

How Bad Is It And Why?

Long story short, it’s bad. Every part of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Alabama is experiencing drought conditions. Arkansas and Florida are both 99% in drought. In fact, Florida is experiencing the worst drought in 25 years, writes senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman.

(WATCH: Fires Spread Across Southeast In Midst Of Widespread Drought)

The U.S. was under the influence of a La Niña pattern this past winter. This type of pattern typically results in a warmer and drier winter in the Southeast, and that is exactly what happened. And now this has transitioned to a dry spring. Many cities, including Atlanta, Savannah, Tallahassee, Charleston, Charlotte, Raleigh, Richmond, Memphis, Nashville and Montgomery, are currently experiencing one of their top 10 driest spring seasons to date, according to the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

But the drought didn't just develop overnight. The Southeast has been dealing with drought conditions since last fall.

Drought.gov reports, "Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina have experienced record dry conditions for September 2025-March 2026, with records dating back to 1895. September–March was the second driest for Alabama, third driest for Florida, ninth driest for Tennessee, and 10th driest for Virginia."

Any Relief On The Way?

If we have any good news to report, it’s that a pattern change will bring a little bit of rain to the parched Southeast over the next seven days. I say a little bit because the areas experiencing the worst drought (Florida, Georgia) may see only a half inch or less. The slightly higher totals of 1-3 inches forecast for parts of the Tennessee and Mississippi Valleys will certainly help the ongoing drought, but won't be a drought buster by any means. Arkansas may get lucky — models are hinting that parts of the state may see up to 5 inches.

Current Drought Outlook — Any Improvements?

The short answer: Nope. The current outlook shows the drought worsening as we head into the summer months, especially in places like Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh, Montgomery and Richmond.

According to NOAA, much of the Southeast would need 15 to 25 inches of rain over a three-month period to eliminate the drought completely.

What This Means For You

The summer could end up hotter than average in an already hot part of the country. The fire danger will also likely increase due to dry fuels, hot weather and low relative humidity. And gusty winds can fan the flames easily. If you are vacationing in one of these drought-stricken regions and are not familiar with wildfires, please have a plan in place in case you need to evacuate.

Soil moisture across the Southeast is also very low, which affects the agriculture industry. Low water levels have led to some water restrictions, particularly in parts of Florida, drought.gov reports. Stay with weather.com for the latest updates.

Tiffany Savona is a digital meteorologist for weather.com. She has 15+ years of experience tracking storms as a broadcast meteorologist across the country.