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The northwest portion of Escambia County, Ala. is under an extreme drought, according to the National Weather Service.

The NWS released the drought monitor on Thursday.

According to the NWS, northwest Escambia County is under an extreme drought. Most of the western portion of the county is under a severe drought status, and the eastern portion is experiencing a moderate drought. There is a sliver of moderate drought on the southwest portion of the county.

According to the NWS, the accumulated rainfall in Atmore from Aug. 1 to Sept. 20, 2023 was 1.93 inches. or 7.3 inches below normal.

The sustained dryness and increase in temperatures has several impacts, including hydrologic impacts for local streams and rivers; agricultural impacts for crop conditioning providing a lack of livestock feed. Supplemental feeding is required to maintain livestock condition; fire hazard impacts for the risk of wildfires over southeast Mississippi and southwest Alabama; societal impacts, increasing air-borne allergens; and water conservation impacts.

According to the NWS, rainfall over the next week is going to be in short supply.