ACF DEWS Webinar Recap
April 21, 2020
A Summary of Drought Conditions from the:

 Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) River Basin Drought Assessment Webinar
The ACF Basin contains D0, D1, and D2 according to the most current U.S. Drought Monitor  (as of 4/14/2020).  

Our next briefing will be Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 1 pm ET. 
The recorded webinar can be found here .
Current Drought Status
Approximately 1.38% of the ACF Basin is in D2 (Severe Drought), 7.07 of the ACF Basin is in D1 (Moderate Drought), and 9.23% is in D0 (Abnormally Dry) according to the most current U.S. Drought Monitor (as of 4/14/2020).
82.32% of the ACF Basin is free of dry or drought conditions.
Year-to-Date Percent Precipitation
Nearly the entire northern 2/3 of GA has seen 150%+ of normal rainfall so far this year. Only the far southern border counties are below normal.
7-Day Rainfall Departures From Normal
A large swath of 3”-8” fell across much of central GA on Sunday, only adding to the wetness. Nearly the entire state saw >1” amounts, except for the FL border counties.
Real-time Streamflow
Streamflow in the ACF basin are currently in the high to below normal range.

Flint River Near Albany
28-Day Average Streamflows
28-day average streamflow for the Chattahoochee River are currently in the above normal range.

28-day average streamflow for the Flint River are currently in the normal range.

28-day average streamflow for the Apalachicola River are currently in the normal range.
(for more info:  http://waterwatch.usgs.gov )
Real-Time Groundwater Conditions
Real-time groundwater levels across the ACF basin range from high to below normal, with the majority of stations in the normal range. ( http://waterwatch.usgs.gov )
1-Month Mean Daily Streamflow Forecast
The 1-month mean daily streamflow forecast predicts above normal flow conditions. The 3-month mean daily streamflow forecast also predicts above normal flows throughout the ACF basin.
ACF Reservoir Conditions
(as of 4/20/2020) 

Inflows into all USACE ACF Basin projects are all above normal levels. Lanier, W.F. George, and West Point are all operating above the guide curve. The ACF Basin Composite Conservation and Flood Storage is in Zone 1 is expected to remain in Zone 1 over the next few weeks.
Drought Assessment Webinar Summary
 
ACF Basin Precipitation and Climate Conditions and Outlooks

  • Very active severe weather season in the Southeast, another round likely on Thurs. 

  • Flood warnings on the Flint and Apalachicola Rivers, hydrologic outlooks warns of more widespread flooding possible

  • Year-to-date rainfall 150 – 200% above normal for central and northern GA and AL

  • Moderate and severe drought now affecting a majority of Florida

  • March temperatures 5-9 degrees above normal in Florida, only fractions of an inch of rain.

  • 7-day forecast of multiple inches of rain over the same saturated areas, some relief possible for Florida

  • Week 2 and beyond outlooks favor a drier pattern for the Southeast

  • Neutral conditions in the Pacific, forecast to continue through summer. Forecast for summer transition are highly uncertain.

  • CPC seasonal forecast (Apr. - June) favors higher chances for warm temperature and above normal rainfall across the southern US

  • Drought to improve with the Florida rainy season, ACF likely to remain drought-free

Alabama Drought Status

  • Rainfall amounts have varied significantly across the state – northern areas have seen plentiful amounts; the southernmost parts of the state have received much less

  • More rain is forecast in the next 5 -7 days

  • No reported drought or water availability issues

  • OWR continues to monitor conditions


Real-Time Streamflow & Forecasts

  • Real-time streamflow in the ACF basin are currently in the high to below normal range.

  • No portions of the ACF Basin are currently ranked as below normal flow for the 7-day average streamflow.

  • 28-day average streamflow for the Chattahoochee River are currently in the above normal range.

  • 28-day average streamflow for the Flint River are currently in the normal range.

  • Real-time groundwater levels across the ACF basin range from high to below normal, with the majority of stations in the normal range.

  • 1 Month Streamflow forecast - Above Normal

  • 3 Month Streamflow forecast - Above Normal


ACF Basin Reservoir Conditions

  • Inflows into the projects are above normal.

  • Lanier, WF George, and West Point are operating above guide curve.

  • Expect projects to approach guide curve over the next few weeks as summer refilling begins/continues.

  • The ACF system conservation storage is in Zone 1 and is forecasted to stay in Zone 1 for the next few weeks.


Upcoming NIDIS Events

May 12, 10-10:45 ET - Southeast Climate Webinar

ACF Drought Dashboard Virtual Listening Sessions

  • April 29, 10-12 ET - FULL




Sign up for 1 of the 4 sessions. Limited to 40 people per session.
Contact: Kristin Rowles at krowles@h2opolicycenter.org


Acknowledgments 
 
Speakers

David Zierden, FSU
Tom Littelpage, ADECA OWR
Paul Ankcorn, USGS
Jeff Dobur, SERFC
Troy Ephriam, USACE-Mobile District
Meredith Muth, NOAA NIDIS

Additional Information Provided by:

Victor Murphy, NOAA NWS

Summary prepared by:

Rachel McGuire, Auburn University 

Resources

General Drought Information:

Drought Impact Reporter:

Southeast Climate Perspectives Map

General Climate and El Niño Information:
  
Streamflow Monitoring & Forecasting

Groundwater Monitoring
 
The Complete Set of Briefing Slides From the ACF River Basin Drought Webinar:

Additional Information From the Southeast River Forecast Center:
To join the ACF mailing list or for webinar-related questions,
please contact: 

Rachel McGuire 
334 844 1163