Tennessee has been in widespread drought since December, and even after a couple of weeks of steady rainfall, about 80% of the state remains in moderate drought, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor.
“We are still seeing long-term issues, mainly related to hydrology,” said Andrew Joyner, Tennessee’s state climatologist. The state has not had enough rain to balance groundwater, lake and stream levels, even if soils have partially replenished.
The current situation could now be considered a long-term drought, which the Drought Monitor defines as lasting “typically more than six months” and affecting hydrology and ecology.
Water supply stress is forecast to worsen in the coming decades due to climate warming caused mainly by burning fossil fuels…