It’s safe to say the pendulum has swung the other way when it comes to rainfall across South Florida. This past winter, during what is typically the dry season, the region experienced historic rainfall thanks in large part to a strong El Niño. April rainfall was less than half of average. This is the second consecutive month the area has trended drier than normal. Keep in mind, hurricane season begins in less than a month.
South Florida Water Management District officials reported only 1.19 inches of rain fell during the month, representing 45% of average, or 1.43 inches below average.
Eastern Broward County and Water Conservation Areas 1 and 2 were the driest basins in the area, with 12% and 10% of average rainfall respectively.
The dry conditions were helpful in the ongoing emergency effort to lower water levels in Water Conservation Area 3 in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Water Conservation Area 3 received 1.10 inches of rainfall, representing 38% of average, or 1.80 inches below average.
Other rainfall totals included:
- Lake Okeechobee received 0.87 inches of direct rainfall, representing 39% of average, or 1.36 inches below average.
- East Caloosahatchee received 1.03 inches of rain, representing 39% percent of average, or 1.62 inches below average.
- Martin and St. Lucie counties, along with the Upper Kissimmee Basin, received the most rainfall in the area, but were still below average for the month. Martin and St. Lucie counties received 1.74 inches of rain, representing 64% of average, or 0.99 inches below average. The Upper Kissimmee Basin received 2.24 inches of rain, representing 88% percent of average, or 0.32 inches below average.