Despite Monday night's thunderstorms throughout Wilkes County, local officials are reminding citizens that Washington is still under Level 4 outdoor watering restrictions that only allow watering every other day from midnight to 10 a.m.

The storm brought close to an inch of rain and caused power outages in Tignall and at least two traffic accidents, but it hasn't made a real dent in the drought.

"The little bit of rain we've had hasn't made a difference," City Administrator Mike Eskew said at last week's city council meeting. "We and Wilkes County are still in extreme drought conditions and strict outdoor water-use rules still apply. Hand watering will be allowed for 25 minutes per day on an odd-even schedule between midnight and 10 a.m."

Odd numbered addresses in Washington can water on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Even numbered addresses can water Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Hand watering is defined as one person with one garden hose.

With extreme drought conditions now stretching across the northern third of Georgia and a forecast for a dry summer, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) recently announced that Level Four outdoor watering restrictions will remain in place for EPD permitted utilities and local governments in 55 counties, including Wilkes.

"Winter rain and rising lake levels bring us hope, but citizens should not be fooled into thinking the drought is over," said EPD Director Carol A. Couch. "We are in better shape than last fall, but we need to continue to manage our water supply to get us through the long hot summer."