Despite some rain, drought continues in the Shoals

Despite almost two inches of rain so far this month, a drought continues to tighten its grip on the Shoals.

Rainfall in the region is more than 10 inches below normal for the year. Since Jan. 1, 2005, rainfall is more than 30 inches below normal.

"We're really dry," said Ted Kavich, chief of the Waterloo Volunteer Fire Department. "If we don't get some extended rain soon, we're really going to be in bad shape.

"A few thunderstorms are not going to solve the problem. We need several days of slow, steady rain."

Normally by late April, the woodlands around northwest Alabama are green and the threat of wildfires has waned. This year, wildfires continue to keep volunteer fire departments and foresters busy.

Rain that is possible today through Thursday could ease the threat of wildfires for a few days. Dry conditions and an increased threat of wildfires is expected to return next week.

"After this week, the chances of rain are not looking very promising for the next couple of weeks, said Andy Kula, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Huntsville.

The Shoals area is in a severe drought. The Huntsville area is in an extreme drought, Kula said.

"We're probably going to have ½ to 1 inch of rain this week with some locally heavy downpours possible, but it's not going to squelch the drought," Kula said.

The dry weather has slowed the growth of pastures and hay fields around the Shoals, said Randall Armstrong, Lauderdale County Coordinator for the Alabama Cooperative extension system.

"The old saying says to make hay when the sun shines. The sun is shinning a lot, but we don't have any hay to cut,"-Armstrong said.

Cotton farmers are also concerned about the dry weather, said Tim Reed, extension coordinator for Franklin-County.

"We're getting into the cotton planting season and a lot of farmers are starting to worry about having enough moisture in the soil to make the seed sprout," Reed said.

Gil Francis, spokesman for the Tennessee Valley Authority, said dry weather has forced the federal utility to reduce electricity production at its hydroelectric dams.

Rainfall in the portion of the Tennessee Valley downstream of Chattanooga, Tenn., is 48 percent of normal, this year, he said.

Dennis Sherer can be reached at 740-5746 or dennis.sherer@timesdaily.com.