2006–2008 Southeastern United States drought

From 2006 to 2008, the Southeastern United States experienced a drought. It was caused by an unusually strong Bermuda High pressure and by the timing of La Niña, which causes dry conditions across the Southern United States. 2007 was particularly dry across the region, with rivers and lakes dropping to record-low levels.^[1]

The drought was set in motion by the weather phenomenon La Niña, which developed in 2005. La Niña caused dry weather across much of the Southeast, causing a dry winter from late 2005 to early 2006.^[2] On top of that, the Bermuda High, also known as the Azores High, a hot and dry air mass over the Atlantic, formed unusually far west, and blocked storms from entering the region, a pattern that wouldn't break until 2008.^[3] The dryness continued into 2006; however, this dryness was mild in comparison to 2007 and did not have a massive impact.^[4] Following that, 2007 was very dry across the Southeast, which received record-low rainfall during the year. Mississippi and Georgia, which usually have very wet spring seasons, each had their driest spring on record.^[5] The following summer was scorching hot and dry, with record-breaking wildfires across the region. August 2007 was the warmest August and second-hottest month of any month across the region; Knoxville, Tennessee saw a daily maximum temperature above 100 °F (38 °C) on 16 days that month. High temperatures were still in the 90s °F (32+ °C) as late as the end of October.^[6] The drought peaked in October, with over 70% of the Southeast in D4 or the worst category of drought, known as exceptional. 2007 was the region's second-driest year as a whole. North Carolina had its driest calendar year ever; several towns nearly ran out of water.^[7]

Recovery

The Bermuda High retreated out into the Atlantic, and heavy winter rains during 2007–2008 helped alleviate the drought. A wet 2008 further improved the drought across most of the region; however, parts of Western North Carolina remained in drought until 2009.^[8]

On October 15, 2007, North Carolina Governor Michael F. Easley called for residents to only use water for essential purposes, saying that he may need to call for a state of emergency if conservation efforts fell short.^[9] By October 23, water systems in 17 North Carolina cities were about 100 days from running out of water.^[10]

On October 20, 2007, when Atlanta had about 90 days of water left, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue declared a state of emergency in 85 counties in the northern part of the state and requested that President George W. Bush declare it a major disaster area so that the United States Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) could stop diverting water from Lake Lanier downstream to the Chattahoochee River, which led to Alabama as well as to Florida, where the water was needed to preserve species of endangered mussels and fish.^[11][12][13] Perdue criticized the continued diversion of water from Lake Lanier, saying, "I don't believe that was the regional intent of the Endangered Species Act, that water would be diverted away from potential human use in order to protect endangered species."^[14]

In Raleigh, North Carolina, car washing (outside of permitted facilities) and filling new swimming pools were banned.^[13]

It is estimated that the drought caused an economic loss of $1.3 billion over the region, and water shortages caused the first importing of water in 100 years. Crops failed across the region, causing catastrophic impacts.^[15]

• 2007 North America South and Eastern heatwave
• 2008 Atlanta tornado outbreak
• 2010–2013 Southern United States and Mexico drought
• 2012–2013 North American drought
• Climate of the United States
• Droughts in the United States
• Hurricane Katrina
• National Integrated Drought Information System
• Tornado outbreak of February 28 – March 2, 2007