Chattooga County Enters Moderate Drought
The U.S. Drought Monitor now places all of Chattooga County in the moderate drought category, with neighboring counties also affected.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Current Conditions
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The U.S. Drought Monitor report released Thursday, October 29, classified 100 percent of Chattooga County in moderate drought, based on conditions through October 27. Only a small northwestern portion of the county on Lookout Mountain was in moderate drought in late September.
Why it matters
Dry conditions have expanded across Chattooga County, and Georgia is operating under a statewide Level 1 Drought Response issued by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. Residents across Georgia face outdoor watering restrictions under that response.
The U.S. Drought Monitor, which evaluates rainfall, soil moisture and streamflow, rates all of Chattooga County at moderate drought, up from a small northwestern area in late September. Neighboring Floyd, Gordon and Walker counties are at 98, 79 and 45 percent moderate drought respectively, and it is unclear how long these conditions will last.
The players
U.S. Drought Monitor
A joint federal drought-assessment program that combines rainfall, soil moisture and streamflow data to produce weekly drought classifications across the United States.
Georgia Environmental Protection Division
The state agency responsible for environmental regulation in Georgia, which issued the statewide Level 1 Drought Response.
The details
The Drought Monitor report, updated each Thursday, reflects conditions through October 27. Under the Georgia Environmental Protection Division's Level 1 Drought Response, most outdoor watering is permitted before 10 AM and after 4 PM.
Timeline
Late September: only a small northwestern portion of Chattooga County was in moderate drought.
October 27: date through which conditions were measured.
Thursday, October 29: U.S. Drought Monitor report released.
Wednesday, November 4: rain expected to return to Northwest Georgia.
November 5: next U.S. Drought Monitor report scheduled.
Seasonal Patterns
The expansion of moderate drought across Chattooga and neighboring counties occurs under Georgia's statewide Level 1 Drought Response, which the Georgia Environmental Protection Division issued to address dry conditions across the state. The county-level classifications reflect how far the dry conditions have spread since late September.
Under Georgia's Level 1 Drought Response, most outdoor watering is permitted only before 10 AM and after 4 PM. Residents in Chattooga, Floyd, Gordon and Walker counties should follow these watering windows while the drought classification remains in effect.
The takeaway
Residents should plan outdoor watering around the 10 AM and 4 PM window while drought conditions persist. Watch for the November 5 Drought Monitor update to see whether conditions improve after the expected rain.
What happens next
The next U.S. Drought Monitor report is scheduled for November 5, and rain is expected to return to Northwest Georgia on Wednesday, November 4.
Further reading
For more on how dry conditions are developing across the state, see Current Conditions in Georgia.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chattooga1180.
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