Hit the Showers! Dry Season in Florida Taking Early Exit?
What a difference a year makes. At this same time in 2020, parts of Florida were still dealing with drought-like conditions and wildfires, elements normally associated with the tail end of a rigorous dry season. This year, some might be wondering where the dry season went.
While April is usually one of Florida’s drier months, above-average rainfall last month across Florida’s St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) benefited water levels in the Floridan aquifer.
Several highlights from SJRWMD’s latest hydrological report include:
- Districtwide, April rainfall averaged 5.1 inches, which is nearly 2.5 inches above the long-term average for the month.
- April rainfall was above average across the District — and in some areas, well above average, including parts of south Putnam and Marion counties that received more than 9 inches of rain
- Countywide totals ranged from 3.7 inches in Duval County to more than 6 inches for Flagler, Putnam, and Marion counties.
- Districtwide, the cumulative total for the past 12 months was near or above the long-term average, at 54.25 inches.
- Countywide totals for the past 12 months range from 51.1 inches in Lake County to 58.9 inches in Volusia County.
Precipitation levels not typical of a normal Florida dry season. Graphic courtesy of St. Johns River Water Management District
Average rainfall amounts should continue a steady climb as Florida’s wet season starts to build in from south to north.
South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) officials tweeted out recently: “While we continue to see signs in #SouthFlorida that the start of the wet season is close, the arrival of a front later in the week in may delay the official start until next week.”
Since then, a powerful high pressure system set up over the Southeast, creating windy and dry conditions. Several brush fires ignited in the North-Central part of the state as a result. Extreme heat is being predicted for the coming week, along with rain chances next to nil. Maybe the dry season has something left to say after all.
SFWMD’s latest Environmental Conditions Report can be viewed at sfwmd.gov.
The Atlantic Hurricane season also is just around the corner, officially beginning on June 1. Early forecast models show another above-average campaign is likely.