Swaths of Tennessee recover from drought following recent rains and snow

Drought conditions improved across Tennessee this month following recent storms.

The situation flipped last week after three to eight inches of rain or snow dropped across the state, according to data from the Tennessee Climate Office. 

For the first time since last June, more than half the state is not in drought. 

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Nashville has not been dry for a few months now, and the city got extra wet this month: More than 8 inches of precipitation fell in just nine days, double the average total precipitation for February, according to National Weather Service data. 

About 40% of the state still has parched soil. The areas that are dry include much of East Tennessee and parts of Middle Tennessee, including Rutherford and Bedford counties. 

There is evidence of long-term drought in the Cumberland Plateau and parts of Middle Tennessee, according to the Tennessee Climate Office.

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Droughts can sometimes go unnoticed by the public, unlike other types of severe weather. But droughts can affect animals, heat waves, electricity and even our underground infrastructure, like water pipes.

Tennessee is becoming more vulnerable to drought as the climate warms, but the state has not released an official drought management plan since 2010.