Fay’s Rains Ease Drought’s Grip on Alabama

    MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The steady rains from Tropical Storm Fay
have eased the drought that has gripped Alabama for more than two
years.
    The U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday shows that no part of
the state is in the worst two drought categories - extreme and
exceptional. And it shows that the part of the state considered
abnormally dry has gone from nearly 84 percent last week to about
59 percent this week. Last year 100 percent of the state was
abnormally dry or worse.
    The monitor shows that a large part of south and west Alabama
has been completely removed from drought conditions.
    The worst of the drought remains in northeast Alabama, where
parts are ranked severe.