South Florida Precipitation Saturation Cause For Concern
August 8, 2013 
July’s soaking of South Florida capped the wettest start to the wet season since 1968, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) recently reported. District meteorologists also reported the wettest April-through-July period on record in South Florida since 1932.
“South Florida is saturated, leaving very few places to move water as we work to keep the system prepared for the peak of the hurricane season,” said Susan Sylvester, SFWMD chief of the Water Control Operations Bureau. “Our continual challenge with heavy rainfall is balancing flood control for 7.7 million residents while protecting the
region’s wildlife and natural system, including the Everglades.”
Districtwide, 10.36 inches of rain fell in July, representing 147% of average, or 3.33 inches above average. All 16 counties in the District saw above-average rainfall for
the month, with the central portion of South Florida, including Lake Okeechobee, receiving the highest totals.
Early wet season rainfall topped recorded amounts, including:
- Wettest July since 2001
- June since 2005
- Combination of late May through July led to the wettest start to the wet season since 1968, or the wettest in 45 years
- Wettest April-through-July period on record in South Florida since 1932
Watching Water Levels
Following several months of above-average rainfall, water levels are currently at or above scheduled levels in key areas, such as some lakes in the Kissimmee region and
the Everglades Water Conservation Areas. This included 9.15 inches of direct rainfall over Lake Okeechobee and its immediate area, representing 151% of average, or 3.11 inches above average for the month.
The lake stood at 15.86 feet National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) on Aug. 2. That is 2.09 feet higher than its historic average for the date. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages the lake level with input from stakeholders including the District, has been making regulatory releases.
2013 South Florida Wet Season Facts From The National Weather Service
- Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport: 15.49 inches in July, wettest July on record since 1913
- Miami Beach: 18.47 inches, wettest July on record since 1927
- Latest outlooks by the NOAA Climate Prediction Center are that the second half ofthe rainy season may be wetter than normal across South Florida
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