Soil moisture has been recognized as a key variable for assessing the onset and magnitude of both drought and flooding hydro-extremes, but accurately measuring it over a large spatial extent and systematically reporting it have proven to be challenging. In response to this need and with support from NIDIS, the NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research's Weather Program Office funded a new project to enhance the soil moisture monitoring network in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida and to improve the application of soil moisture data to decision making in the region.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Southeast Region for September – November 2020. Dated December 2020.

Well-above-average temperatures were observed across the Southeast, driven primarily by excessively warm daily minimum temperatures. Precipitation was above average across much of the region. Several long-term stations observed their wettest autumn on record.

The ACF DEWS Strategic Plan (Plan) outlines priority tasks and activities across the region to build drought early warning capacity and resilience. It includes a list of current partners, outcomes, and key milestones. This Plan is a “living document” to which additional actions and partners may be added as needed.

This climate conditions and outlook update was originally sent via email to the Southeast DEWS email list.