The North Georgia drought continues to worsen.
More than 17 percent of the state, including parts of Cobb and Cherokee counties, was in an “exceptional” drought, the worst classification, as of Thursday, according to Channel 2 Action News.
The dry conditions have led to burning bans and quickly spreading wildfires throughout North Georgia.
Fires have burned through more than 10,330 acres in the North Georgia mountains and also torched land in Tennessee, North Carolina and Alabama.
The wide-reaching fires, coupled with northwest breezes, led to a smoky haze that lingered over parts of metro Atlanta most of the week. It caused a code orange smog alert and sent local students and Falcons players indoors.
The Air Quality Index was at 128 in metro Atlanta on Friday afternoon, falling into an “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” category that urges those with lung disease or asthma to reduce time outdoors.
The good news: Smoke was expected to clear some Saturday, Channel 2 reported.
But the next chance of rain is a slim 20 percent chance Sunday night into Monday.
Water levels at Lake Lanier, Atlanta’s source of drinking water, dropped from 1,062 feet to 1061.75 feet over the past week. The full pool level is 1,071 feet.
Rainfall last seven days: 0
Rainfall this month: 0
Rainfall deficit for the year: 10.23
Rainfall deficit since Sept. 1: 5.52
Values in inches as of end of day Thursday
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