ORLANDO, Fla. – It is official: the recent rainy stretch has made a significant dent to our drought conditions affecting Central Florida.
The latest drought monitor update from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reveals a marked improvement in drought levels across the region.
Almost all areas have been downgraded, with extreme drought criteria eliminated in Marion, Lake, Volusia and Flagler counties. This is a critical development in the fight against brush fire season.
Other counties also experienced significant downgrades, moving from severe to moderate drought levels. Notably, Osceola and Brevard counties have transitioned from moderate drought to abnormally dry.
This improvement is not merely a coincidence. A stretch of rainy weather last week brought record rainfall to many across the Sunshine State. One of the most telling indicators of this change is the Keech-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), which measures soil moisture levels.
Before the rain event, KBDI numbers remained above 500, the official threshold for county-issued burn bans. Following the rain, these numbers dropped significantly, allowing many bans to be lifted — a crucial step toward restoring normalcy.
While this progress is encouraging, the latest forecasts indicate that much hotter and drier weather is expected to set in through next week.
The hope is that the rainy season will commence soon, helping to maintain safe moisture levels in the region. On average, the rainy season begins in late May, although its timing can fluctuate from year to year.
As Central Florida navigates this precarious situation, the community remains hopeful that continued rainfall will sustain these improvements and mitigate the impacts of drought.