The Mother's Day rain was a welcomed sight for many parts of a thirsty North Georgia. Rainfall amounts were between and inch and 2 inches. For Atlanta that means a surplus for the month of May and knocks the deficit for the year down to under 3 inches. The biggest benefit is the rain fell over the basins of Allatoona and Lanier. Check this out, Allatoona now has a surplus of water as the level is above full summer pool and is at its highest mark in more than a year. Of course, Allatoona's level can fluctuate, but it is certainly at a great mark heading into the summer season.

Lake Lanier is hanging tough with a level that is 6 feet below full pool, 5 feet below average and just below its high water mark for the year set back in April. Lanier is a large lake with a small basin that feeds in to it. Just last week the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers went into their drought mode for the lake, so there will be minimal releases from Buford Dam. What that means is that Lanier will be able to keep more of the water that flows into it.

On this date, Lanier's level is short of the past two mid-Mays and on par with May 2009 when we were coming out of the drought. In May 2008 we were in the midst of the drought with a level that is 7 feet below of today's mark. The concern is that the rest of the week and into the weekend looks dry, so the level by mid-week and beyond is sure to drop. Peace.