Why the Southeast is burning – extreme drought is only part of the reason
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The Bottom Line
Extreme drought and high-pressure systems are causing dozens of wildfires in Florida and Georgia.
How This Affects You
If you live in affected areas of Florida or Georgia, you face risks of home destruction, evacuation, and poor air quality due to wildfires.
AI Summary
Dozens of wildfires are burning in Florida and Georgia, fueled by an exceptional drought across large parts of the southeastern U.S. One fire in Brantley County, Georgia, destroyed over 50 homes by April 23, 2026, with about 1,000 other homes at risk. Another fire near the Georgia-Florida border burned almost 30,000 acres and was only 10% contained, triggering air quality alerts in Atlanta. The region has been in a drought since July 2025, receiving less than a quarter of its normal precipitation from mid-March to mid-April 2026. This dryness is attributed to a persistent high-pressure system over the Southeast, which prevents cloud and precipitation formation.
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Southern US wildfires force residents to flee: ‘I don’t know if I have a house standing or not’
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