September was hot and dry in Georgia, with many locations setting daytime temperature records. Several locations had the hottest April-through-September period on record.
Rainfall across the state was very spotty. Severe drought returned to southeast Georgia, which missed the rainfall.
Temperatures were warmer than normal everywhere in Georgia. In Atlanta, the monthly average temperature was 78 degrees F (4.7 degrees above normal), in Athens 75.8 degrees (3.2 degrees above normal), Columbus 80.7 degrees (4.5 degrees above normal), Macon 77.4 degrees (2.9 degrees above normal), Savannah 79.4 degrees (2.5 degree above normal), Brunswick 80.7 degrees (2.6 degrees above normal), Alma 78.9 degrees (1.6 degrees above normal), Valdosta 80 degrees (3.3 degrees above normal) and Augusta 76.7 degrees (2.9 degrees above normal). Sweltering conditions set many new daytime temperature records. Atlanta set new records Sept. 11 with 96 degrees, breaking the old record of 95 degrees set on that date in 2002, and again Sept. 25 with 93 degrees, breaking the old record of 92 degrees set on that date in 1993.
Columbus broke daily highs Sept. 11 (99 degrees), Sept. 12 (98 degrees), Sept. 18 (98 degrees), Sept. 19 (97 degrees), Sept. 20 (98 degrees) and Sept. 21 (98 degrees), breaking records from the 1990s and 2002 by 1 to 3 degrees.
Brunswick also set daytime high records Sept. 9 (98 degrees), Sept. 10 (97 degrees), Sept. 11 (98 degrees) and Sept. 20 (97 degrees). Daytime high temperature records were tied at many other locations across the state.
Several airport locations recorded their warmest April through September ever, including Savannah, Athens and Columbus. Columbus had its warmest and Atlanta had its second warmest September ever due to the very warm daytime temperatures. Atlanta reported the second highest number of days above 90 degrees after the notorious summer of 1980. (The old second-place record was 84 days above 90 degrees set in the summer of 1954.)
Many areas experienced extended dry spells punctuated by a few heavy rainfalls. Generally, the central part of the state was the wettest with above-average rainfall. Border regions were well below normal, particularly the southeastern coast.
The highest monthly total from National Weather Service reporting stations was 7.32 inches in Valdosta (3.52 inches above normal). The lowest was in Brunswick at 1.47 inches (4.77 inches below normal). Athens received 5.35 inches (1.82 inches above normal), Alma 3.31 inches (.03 inch below normal), Atlanta 1.60 inches (2.49 inches below normal), Columbus 3.17 inches (.10 inches above normal), Macon 5.45 inches (1.82 inches above normal), Savannah 3.01 inches (2.07 inches below normal) and Augusta 1.89 inches (1.70 inches below normal).
Columbus got 1.85 inches of rain Sept. 26, breaking the old record of 1.55 inches for that date in 1953.
The highest single-day rainfall from Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network stations was 6.33 inches reported in Lexington, Oglethorpe County, Sept. 27. An observer in Taylor County received 6.07 inches on that date. The highest monthly rainfall total from the network was 9.57 inches at the Lexington site, followed by 9.06 inches in Oglethorpe County and 9.04 inches in Lowndes County.
Scattered wind damage hit somewhere in Georgia on three days during the month. Moderate-sized hail was reported at several locations in northern Georgia Sept. 27, including golf ball-sized hail in Fulton County. No tornadoes were reported.
The dry conditions affected the development of peanuts across Georgia in non-irrigated fields, leading producers to harvest early. Pastures were severely affected by the lack of rain.
By Pam Knox
University of Georgia
-----
Community News You Can Use
Click to read MORE news:
www.GeorgiaFrontPage.com
Twitter: @gafrontpage & @TheGATable @HookedonHistory
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
Twitter: @artsacrossga, @softnblue, @RimbomboAAG
www.FayetteFrontPage.com
Twitter: @FayetteFP
Showing posts with label rainfall. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rainfall. Show all posts
Monday, October 11, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Drought conditions expand into west, south Georgia
Mild to moderate drought conditions have expanded over the past month to include much of west and south Georgia. With temperatures remaining above normal and rainfall below normal, soils continue to dry across the entire state.
Daytime high temperatures through the middle of September have generally been in the 90s across the piedmont and coastal plain. Rainfall for the past month has been between 50 percent and 70 percent of normal for most of the state. The exceptions are northeast Georgia and the lower Savannah River valley, where rainfall has been slightly above normal. Over the past two weeks, rainfall has been less than half of normal across the entire state.
Mild to moderate drought conditions exist in counties south and west of Haralson, Paulding, Douglas, Carroll, Harris, Troup, Muscogee, Chattahoochee, Marion, Schley, Sumter, Crisp, Wilcox, Telfair, Jeff Davis, Appling, Wayne and McIntosh counties, inclusive.
Mild drought conditions also exist in Lincoln, Wilkes and Elbert counties. The remainder of the state is classified as abnormally dry.
Currently, lack of soil moisture is the major drought impact. Across the southern half of the coastal plain, soil moisture is running at the fifth percentile. That means that 95 out of 100 years we would expect the soils to be wetter than they currently are in this region.
Dry soil, mixed blessing
The soil dryness has been a mixed blessing for farmers. For crops that are mature, this has made harvesting easier. The exception is peanuts. Producers are irrigating fields so that peanuts can be dug, or harvested from the ground. Many crops have not reached maturity and still need some moisture.
Streams are dropping across the state. In southwest Georgia, stream flows are near the 10th percentile. At that percentile we expect more water in the streams 90 out of 100 years. In south-central Georgia, the Little River near Adel and the Withlacoochee River near Quitman are at record low flows for the middle of September.
Across northwest Georgia, stream flows are also near the 10th percentile. Conditions across northeast Georgia are marginally better with stream flows generally around the 20th percentile, which means the streams would have more water flow 80 out of 100 years.
Wildfire risk
As the dryness worsens over the next few weeks, wildfire danger will increase. Currently, wildfire danger across the state is rated from high to extreme. Anyone involved in outside activities needs to be very cautious. Because of the dryness, any fire, regardless of how small, can quickly get out of control. Contact the Georgia Forestry Commission for specific details concerning wildfire risk and outdoor burn permits and requirements.
Dryness across the state is expected to increase over the next several weeks unless Georgia receives beneficial rains from one or more tropical disturbances, such as a tropical storm or hurricane.
Through the winter, the dryness may increase. The ocean-atmosphere system has switched to a La Niña pattern. The La Niña pattern is associated with dry, warm winters across much of the Southeast. This means that we may have minimal recharge of the hydrologic system this winter. This increases the probability of widespread and significant drought for next year. It is too early to tell exactly how the La Niña pattern will impact Georgia, but we need to be aware of the possible short-term tropical impacts and the long-term drought impacts.
Up-to-date information on dry conditions across Georgia can be found at www.georgiadrought.org. Updated weather conditions can be found at www.georgiaweather.net.
By David E. Stooksbury
University of Georgia
-----
Community News You Can Use
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter: @GAFrontPage
Daytime high temperatures through the middle of September have generally been in the 90s across the piedmont and coastal plain. Rainfall for the past month has been between 50 percent and 70 percent of normal for most of the state. The exceptions are northeast Georgia and the lower Savannah River valley, where rainfall has been slightly above normal. Over the past two weeks, rainfall has been less than half of normal across the entire state.
Mild to moderate drought conditions exist in counties south and west of Haralson, Paulding, Douglas, Carroll, Harris, Troup, Muscogee, Chattahoochee, Marion, Schley, Sumter, Crisp, Wilcox, Telfair, Jeff Davis, Appling, Wayne and McIntosh counties, inclusive.
Mild drought conditions also exist in Lincoln, Wilkes and Elbert counties. The remainder of the state is classified as abnormally dry.
Currently, lack of soil moisture is the major drought impact. Across the southern half of the coastal plain, soil moisture is running at the fifth percentile. That means that 95 out of 100 years we would expect the soils to be wetter than they currently are in this region.
Dry soil, mixed blessing
The soil dryness has been a mixed blessing for farmers. For crops that are mature, this has made harvesting easier. The exception is peanuts. Producers are irrigating fields so that peanuts can be dug, or harvested from the ground. Many crops have not reached maturity and still need some moisture.
Streams are dropping across the state. In southwest Georgia, stream flows are near the 10th percentile. At that percentile we expect more water in the streams 90 out of 100 years. In south-central Georgia, the Little River near Adel and the Withlacoochee River near Quitman are at record low flows for the middle of September.
Across northwest Georgia, stream flows are also near the 10th percentile. Conditions across northeast Georgia are marginally better with stream flows generally around the 20th percentile, which means the streams would have more water flow 80 out of 100 years.
Wildfire risk
As the dryness worsens over the next few weeks, wildfire danger will increase. Currently, wildfire danger across the state is rated from high to extreme. Anyone involved in outside activities needs to be very cautious. Because of the dryness, any fire, regardless of how small, can quickly get out of control. Contact the Georgia Forestry Commission for specific details concerning wildfire risk and outdoor burn permits and requirements.
Dryness across the state is expected to increase over the next several weeks unless Georgia receives beneficial rains from one or more tropical disturbances, such as a tropical storm or hurricane.
Through the winter, the dryness may increase. The ocean-atmosphere system has switched to a La Niña pattern. The La Niña pattern is associated with dry, warm winters across much of the Southeast. This means that we may have minimal recharge of the hydrologic system this winter. This increases the probability of widespread and significant drought for next year. It is too early to tell exactly how the La Niña pattern will impact Georgia, but we need to be aware of the possible short-term tropical impacts and the long-term drought impacts.
Up-to-date information on dry conditions across Georgia can be found at www.georgiadrought.org. Updated weather conditions can be found at www.georgiaweather.net.
By David E. Stooksbury
University of Georgia
-----
Community News You Can Use
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter: @GAFrontPage
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Georgia summer sets record
Georgia summers are notoriously hot. But this one has been a record-setter, with August capping a string of months with temperatures significantly above average.
For June, July and August, several airport locations recorded their warmest summer in history, including Savannah, Athens, Columbus and Alma. Other locations, like Atlanta, Macon, Augusta and Brunswick, recorded their second or third hottest summer ever. Nighttime minimum temperatures were especially high, contributing to the warm and muggy feel.
Temperatures were warmer than normal everywhere in Georgia in August. In Atlanta, the monthly average temperature was 82.8 degrees F (3.9 degrees above normal), in Athens 82.2 degrees (3.8 degrees above normal), Columbus 85.4 degrees (4.1 degrees above normal), Macon 83.8 degrees (3.8 degrees above normal), Savannah 84.2 degrees (3.4 degrees above normal), Brunswick 84.1 degrees (2.8 degrees above normal), Alma 83.8 degrees (2.7 degrees above normal), Valdosta 84.1 degrees (4.3 degrees above normal), and Augusta 82.3 degrees (3 degrees above normal).
Despite the unrelenting heat, there were no daily temperature records broken in August, although several record high temperatures and high minimum temperatures were tied. Rainfall across the state was highly variable. Some areas received more than 200 percent of normal and other areas received less than 50 percent of normal rain.
The highest monthly total from National Weather Service reporting stations was 7.62 inches in Athens (3.84 inches above normal). The lowest was Columbus at 2.45 inches (1.33 inches below normal). Valdosta received 3.48 inches (1.95 inches below normal), Alma 2.72 inches (2.78 inches below normal), Brunswick 4.94 inches (1.22 inches below normal), Atlanta 3.32 inches (.35 inch below normal), Macon 3.57 inches (.22 inch below normal), Savannah 5.30 inches (1.90 inches below normal), and Augusta 2.04 inches (2.44 inches below normal).
Record daily rainfall was set Aug. 21 in Brunswick, where 1.15 inches fell, breaking the old record of 1.04 inches set in 2009. Savannah also set a daily rainfall record of 3.21 inches Aug. 22, breaking the old record of 2.78 inches set in 1929.
The highest single-day rainfall from Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network stations was 4.69 inches at Tybee Island Aug. 17. An observer in White County received 4.22 inches Aug. 22. The highest monthly rainfall total in August was 16.82 inches near Midway in Liberty County, followed by 14.55 inches from an observer near Sylvania in Screven County.
Scattered wind damage hit somewhere in Georgia on nine days during the month. Small hail was reported near Atlanta Aug. 28. No tornadoes were reported in August.
Weather conditions fueled the development of armyworms, which some agricultural agents listed as the worst they had seen in 25 years. They devastated pastures and hayfields in locations across the state.
By Pam Knox
University of Georgia
-----
Community News You Can Use
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter: @GAFrontPage
For June, July and August, several airport locations recorded their warmest summer in history, including Savannah, Athens, Columbus and Alma. Other locations, like Atlanta, Macon, Augusta and Brunswick, recorded their second or third hottest summer ever. Nighttime minimum temperatures were especially high, contributing to the warm and muggy feel.
Temperatures were warmer than normal everywhere in Georgia in August. In Atlanta, the monthly average temperature was 82.8 degrees F (3.9 degrees above normal), in Athens 82.2 degrees (3.8 degrees above normal), Columbus 85.4 degrees (4.1 degrees above normal), Macon 83.8 degrees (3.8 degrees above normal), Savannah 84.2 degrees (3.4 degrees above normal), Brunswick 84.1 degrees (2.8 degrees above normal), Alma 83.8 degrees (2.7 degrees above normal), Valdosta 84.1 degrees (4.3 degrees above normal), and Augusta 82.3 degrees (3 degrees above normal).
Despite the unrelenting heat, there were no daily temperature records broken in August, although several record high temperatures and high minimum temperatures were tied. Rainfall across the state was highly variable. Some areas received more than 200 percent of normal and other areas received less than 50 percent of normal rain.
The highest monthly total from National Weather Service reporting stations was 7.62 inches in Athens (3.84 inches above normal). The lowest was Columbus at 2.45 inches (1.33 inches below normal). Valdosta received 3.48 inches (1.95 inches below normal), Alma 2.72 inches (2.78 inches below normal), Brunswick 4.94 inches (1.22 inches below normal), Atlanta 3.32 inches (.35 inch below normal), Macon 3.57 inches (.22 inch below normal), Savannah 5.30 inches (1.90 inches below normal), and Augusta 2.04 inches (2.44 inches below normal).
Record daily rainfall was set Aug. 21 in Brunswick, where 1.15 inches fell, breaking the old record of 1.04 inches set in 2009. Savannah also set a daily rainfall record of 3.21 inches Aug. 22, breaking the old record of 2.78 inches set in 1929.
The highest single-day rainfall from Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network stations was 4.69 inches at Tybee Island Aug. 17. An observer in White County received 4.22 inches Aug. 22. The highest monthly rainfall total in August was 16.82 inches near Midway in Liberty County, followed by 14.55 inches from an observer near Sylvania in Screven County.
Scattered wind damage hit somewhere in Georgia on nine days during the month. Small hail was reported near Atlanta Aug. 28. No tornadoes were reported in August.
Weather conditions fueled the development of armyworms, which some agricultural agents listed as the worst they had seen in 25 years. They devastated pastures and hayfields in locations across the state.
By Pam Knox
University of Georgia
-----
Community News You Can Use
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter: @GAFrontPage
Friday, August 6, 2010
Georgia sets record high and low temps in July
Anyone who dared a toe outdoors in July knew that the heat started in June turned up in July, which was an extreme weather month. Above-normal temperatures ruled with some record highs being broken. Some record lows were set, too.
In Atlanta, the monthly average temperature was 82.3 degrees F (2.3 degrees above normal), in Athens 83 degrees (3.2 degrees above normal), Columbus 85 degrees (3 degrees above normal), Macon 83.4 degrees (2.3 degrees above normal), Savannah 83.9 degrees (1.8 degrees above normal), Brunswick 84 degrees (1.6 degrees above normal), Alma 83.3 degrees (1.3 degrees above normal), Valdosta 84.2 degrees (1.8 degrees above normal) and Augusta 83.6 degrees (2.8 degrees above normal).
Record daily highs were set in several cities. Athens reached 103 degrees July 26, breaking its record of 101 degrees set on that date in 1925. Columbus broke its record July 26 with 99 degrees, breaking 98 degrees set on that date in 1993. Savannah broke record July 26 with 102 degrees, surpassing 101 degrees set in 1940. Brunswick hit 99 degrees July 30, breaking its 98-degree record set on that date in 1961. Several other record highs were tied.
The May-July period was the warmest ever for Atlanta, Athens and Savannah and the second warmest ever for Columbus.
Several record daily low temperatures were also set early in the month. Savannah with 62 degrees July 3 broke its record of 64 degrees set in 1965. Augusta broke record lows three days in a row with 59 degrees July 3, 59 degrees July 4 and 60 degrees July 5. Alma set a record low July 3 with 62 degrees, breaking its record of 63 degrees set in 1975.
Most of the state received below-normal rainfall. However, a few isolated areas received rainfall that was significantly above normal, including areas in Coweta, Liberty and McIntosh counties.
The highest monthly total from National Weather Service reporting stations was 6.97 inches in Macon (2.65 inches above normal). The lowest was Athens at 1.40 inches (3.01 inches below normal).
Valdosta received 4.56 inches (1.87 inches below normal), Alma 2.51 inches (3.50 inches below normal), Brunswick 3.62 inches (1.19 inches below normal), Atlanta 4.37 inches (.75 inch below normal), Columbus 2.16 inches (2.88 inches below normal), Savannah 2.18 inches (3.86 inches below normal) and Augusta 5.86 inches (1.79 inches above normal).
A record daily rainfall was set in Brunswick, where 2.25 inches fell July 11, breaking the old record of 1.57 inches set in 1993.
The highest single-day rainfall from Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network stations was 6.30 inches in Coweta County in west-central Georgia July 13. An observer in Franklin County received 6.28 inches July 2. The highest monthly rainfall total from the network was 12.25 inches in McIntosh County, followed by 9.33 inches from an observer in Coweta County.
Severe weather hit somewhere in Georgia on 17 days during the month. The vast majority of these reports were for high winds, including a report of a 76-mph wind at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta July 28. A few reports of small hail were made. No tornadoes were observed.
Due to the almost daily occurrence of pop-up thunderstorms, there were many reports of lightning-caused damage across the state. July 27 alone, Gwinnett County firefighters reported more than 120 incidents, resulting in 14 house fires, 12 apartment fires and one business fire. One estimate indicated more than 1,000 lightning strikes in just 15 minutes in the Atlanta area on that date.
Two teens’ deaths were blamed on lightning that hit the tree they were standing underneath July 13 in Cobb County. Three heat-related deaths were reported, two in Bleckley County and one in Twiggs County.
The heat continued to stress crops and animals, particularly in areas that are not irrigated. Reductions in yield are starting to be reported in several crops.
By Pam Knox
University of Georgia
-----
Community News You Can Use
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter: @GAFrontPage
In Atlanta, the monthly average temperature was 82.3 degrees F (2.3 degrees above normal), in Athens 83 degrees (3.2 degrees above normal), Columbus 85 degrees (3 degrees above normal), Macon 83.4 degrees (2.3 degrees above normal), Savannah 83.9 degrees (1.8 degrees above normal), Brunswick 84 degrees (1.6 degrees above normal), Alma 83.3 degrees (1.3 degrees above normal), Valdosta 84.2 degrees (1.8 degrees above normal) and Augusta 83.6 degrees (2.8 degrees above normal).
Record daily highs were set in several cities. Athens reached 103 degrees July 26, breaking its record of 101 degrees set on that date in 1925. Columbus broke its record July 26 with 99 degrees, breaking 98 degrees set on that date in 1993. Savannah broke record July 26 with 102 degrees, surpassing 101 degrees set in 1940. Brunswick hit 99 degrees July 30, breaking its 98-degree record set on that date in 1961. Several other record highs were tied.
The May-July period was the warmest ever for Atlanta, Athens and Savannah and the second warmest ever for Columbus.
Several record daily low temperatures were also set early in the month. Savannah with 62 degrees July 3 broke its record of 64 degrees set in 1965. Augusta broke record lows three days in a row with 59 degrees July 3, 59 degrees July 4 and 60 degrees July 5. Alma set a record low July 3 with 62 degrees, breaking its record of 63 degrees set in 1975.
Most of the state received below-normal rainfall. However, a few isolated areas received rainfall that was significantly above normal, including areas in Coweta, Liberty and McIntosh counties.
The highest monthly total from National Weather Service reporting stations was 6.97 inches in Macon (2.65 inches above normal). The lowest was Athens at 1.40 inches (3.01 inches below normal).
Valdosta received 4.56 inches (1.87 inches below normal), Alma 2.51 inches (3.50 inches below normal), Brunswick 3.62 inches (1.19 inches below normal), Atlanta 4.37 inches (.75 inch below normal), Columbus 2.16 inches (2.88 inches below normal), Savannah 2.18 inches (3.86 inches below normal) and Augusta 5.86 inches (1.79 inches above normal).
A record daily rainfall was set in Brunswick, where 2.25 inches fell July 11, breaking the old record of 1.57 inches set in 1993.
The highest single-day rainfall from Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network stations was 6.30 inches in Coweta County in west-central Georgia July 13. An observer in Franklin County received 6.28 inches July 2. The highest monthly rainfall total from the network was 12.25 inches in McIntosh County, followed by 9.33 inches from an observer in Coweta County.
Severe weather hit somewhere in Georgia on 17 days during the month. The vast majority of these reports were for high winds, including a report of a 76-mph wind at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta July 28. A few reports of small hail were made. No tornadoes were observed.
Due to the almost daily occurrence of pop-up thunderstorms, there were many reports of lightning-caused damage across the state. July 27 alone, Gwinnett County firefighters reported more than 120 incidents, resulting in 14 house fires, 12 apartment fires and one business fire. One estimate indicated more than 1,000 lightning strikes in just 15 minutes in the Atlanta area on that date.
Two teens’ deaths were blamed on lightning that hit the tree they were standing underneath July 13 in Cobb County. Three heat-related deaths were reported, two in Bleckley County and one in Twiggs County.
The heat continued to stress crops and animals, particularly in areas that are not irrigated. Reductions in yield are starting to be reported in several crops.
By Pam Knox
University of Georgia
-----
Community News You Can Use
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter: @GAFrontPage
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Watery conditions lead to mold, mildew problems
With floodwaters receding from Georgia homes and roadways following recent record rainfall, mold and mildew may seem like secondary threats to the many who find their properties damper than usual. But in a few weeks, that dank smell will alert people that they have a problem.
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension coordinator Susan Culpepper is getting ahead of the storm, so to speak, by providing her area with information now about mold and mildew cleanup. Much of Douglas County, where she works, and Paulding County, where she lives, have been under water for days.
“Once people regroup, once they can see or smell the mold or mildew,” they’re going to want information, she said. “We’re going to try to head off some of that by getting information out right now.”
It’s not just floodwaters that cause mold and mildew problems, says Pamela Turner, a UGA Extension housing specialist with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences.
“The humidity is already making everything grow,” she said. “The dead leaves on my plants are growing fuzzy mold.”
People in any area that has received a large amount of rain should be on the lookout for fungus problems, particularly its musty, earthy smell. It often appears as a discoloration, stain or fuzzy growth.
“Mold will live anywhere where there’s food,” she said. “You can find it growing on windows, and it’s not the glass, it’s the dirt on the window. It just needs a little food, moisture and a place to grow.”
To keep mold and mildew growth at a minimum, run the air conditioner and keep the windows shut, which may be impossible for Georgians currently without electricity, she said. Air conditioning, fans or dehumidifiers will remove some of the moisture and keep the indoor humidity below 60 percent.
Turn on the bathroom exhaust fan when taking a shower and the kitchen fan when cooking. Most mold and mildew problems start in bathrooms or kitchens, especially if there’s a leaky faucet or pipe.
“The other place you might find mold is in a closet on your shoes or clothing. People usually leave their closet doors shut,” Turner said. “And closets are often jam-packed full of stuff, and there’s no air circulation. ... I’ve seen little gray fuzz on handbags and shoes.”
To solve this problem, she suggests leaving closet doors open or switching to louvered doors, which allow air to circulate.
Keep an eye on crawl spaces. If water sits too long under a house, the chance for mold problems increases.
For homes, basements or garages that have been flooded, the problem isn’t just water damaging the floors. “The water is going to be wicked up into your wallboard and insulation,” she said.
Turner has a few tips to get rid of mold:
1. Wear long sleeves, long pants, close-toed shoes, gloves, a mask and a hat when cleaning up large quantities of mold. Wash these clothes as soon as you’re done cleaning. Don’t wash them with other clothes.
2. Use a mild detergent mixed with water to wash mold off hard surfaces.
3. Or, use a solution of either mild bleach and water or borax and water. With both, mix one-half cup of bleach or borax with 1 gallon of water. She prefers borax because it inhibits mold growth and is a little better on the environment.
Put the solution in a bottle and spray the infected area lightly before wiping clean. “You don’t want to saturate the wall,” she said. “More is not better. More is just more.”
4. Wash fabrics infected with mildew in the washing machine. If fabrics can handle it, use the hot water cycle.
5. Tear out carpet and padding that have been in flood water. It’s almost impossible to get mold and mildew out of soft flooring materials. You will probably have to replace them.
6. Hire a certified mold removal specialist in extreme cases, especially if water has saturated the walls and insulation. This is especially important for people with respiratory problems, immune deficiencies or other illnesses.
For more information on mold and mildew, visit www.fcs.uga.edu/ext/pubs/housing.php?category=Indoor%20Air. For more on what to do before and after a flood, visit www.caes.uga.edu/topics/disasters/flood/articles/beforeafter/index.html.
By Stephanie Schupska
University of Georgia
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.artsacrossgeorgia.com
Arts Across Georgia
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension coordinator Susan Culpepper is getting ahead of the storm, so to speak, by providing her area with information now about mold and mildew cleanup. Much of Douglas County, where she works, and Paulding County, where she lives, have been under water for days.
“Once people regroup, once they can see or smell the mold or mildew,” they’re going to want information, she said. “We’re going to try to head off some of that by getting information out right now.”
It’s not just floodwaters that cause mold and mildew problems, says Pamela Turner, a UGA Extension housing specialist with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences.
“The humidity is already making everything grow,” she said. “The dead leaves on my plants are growing fuzzy mold.”
People in any area that has received a large amount of rain should be on the lookout for fungus problems, particularly its musty, earthy smell. It often appears as a discoloration, stain or fuzzy growth.
“Mold will live anywhere where there’s food,” she said. “You can find it growing on windows, and it’s not the glass, it’s the dirt on the window. It just needs a little food, moisture and a place to grow.”
To keep mold and mildew growth at a minimum, run the air conditioner and keep the windows shut, which may be impossible for Georgians currently without electricity, she said. Air conditioning, fans or dehumidifiers will remove some of the moisture and keep the indoor humidity below 60 percent.
Turn on the bathroom exhaust fan when taking a shower and the kitchen fan when cooking. Most mold and mildew problems start in bathrooms or kitchens, especially if there’s a leaky faucet or pipe.
“The other place you might find mold is in a closet on your shoes or clothing. People usually leave their closet doors shut,” Turner said. “And closets are often jam-packed full of stuff, and there’s no air circulation. ... I’ve seen little gray fuzz on handbags and shoes.”
To solve this problem, she suggests leaving closet doors open or switching to louvered doors, which allow air to circulate.
Keep an eye on crawl spaces. If water sits too long under a house, the chance for mold problems increases.
For homes, basements or garages that have been flooded, the problem isn’t just water damaging the floors. “The water is going to be wicked up into your wallboard and insulation,” she said.
Turner has a few tips to get rid of mold:
1. Wear long sleeves, long pants, close-toed shoes, gloves, a mask and a hat when cleaning up large quantities of mold. Wash these clothes as soon as you’re done cleaning. Don’t wash them with other clothes.
2. Use a mild detergent mixed with water to wash mold off hard surfaces.
3. Or, use a solution of either mild bleach and water or borax and water. With both, mix one-half cup of bleach or borax with 1 gallon of water. She prefers borax because it inhibits mold growth and is a little better on the environment.
Put the solution in a bottle and spray the infected area lightly before wiping clean. “You don’t want to saturate the wall,” she said. “More is not better. More is just more.”
4. Wash fabrics infected with mildew in the washing machine. If fabrics can handle it, use the hot water cycle.
5. Tear out carpet and padding that have been in flood water. It’s almost impossible to get mold and mildew out of soft flooring materials. You will probably have to replace them.
6. Hire a certified mold removal specialist in extreme cases, especially if water has saturated the walls and insulation. This is especially important for people with respiratory problems, immune deficiencies or other illnesses.
For more information on mold and mildew, visit www.fcs.uga.edu/ext/pubs/housing.php?category=Indoor%20Air. For more on what to do before and after a flood, visit www.caes.uga.edu/topics/disasters/flood/articles/beforeafter/index.html.
By Stephanie Schupska
University of Georgia
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.artsacrossgeorgia.com
Arts Across Georgia
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
