...
By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Florida is experiencing severe drought conditions as of the most recent data from the U.S. Drought Monitor, with the southern part of the state particularly affected. The U.S. Drought Monitor has classified areas south of Lake Okeechobee under Extreme Drought conditions.
Why It Matters
The intensifying drought in Florida poses significant risks to wildfire potential as a lack of precipitation has extended drought conditions. The National Weather Service's (NWS) Climate Prediction Center's Monthly Drought Outlook indicates that below-normal precipitation is expected to persist across central to southern Florida, suggesting that drought conditions may continue or worsen in the near term.
Read More on U.S.
NWS meteorologist-in-charge Robert Molleda, who works at the Miami office, told Newsweek that dry season in the Sunshine State coincide with wildfire season, meaning drought conditions could contribute to wildfire spread.
What to Know
A timelapse posted by the NWS Miami office on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday shows how drought conditions have changed in Florida since early January. While much of the state was classified as "abnormally dry" to "moderate drought" at the top of the year, as the months progress, sections of the state appear to suffer from drier conditions.
...
"2025 has been quite dry thus far across South Florida with drought gradually overspreading the region over the last several months," NWS Miami wrote alongside the timelapse. "Last week's outlook even introduced D3 Extreme Drought south of Lake [Okeechobee]."
While Florida grapples with drought, other parts of the United States are experiencing varying conditions. The Climate Prediction Center notes that drought is forecast across the western U.S., including the Southwest and portions of the Great Plains. However, improvement is expected in parts of the Midwest and Northeast due to anticipated precipitation.
In Florida, the outlook remains concerning. The NWS "favors below-normal precipitation for Florida and drought is forecast to either persist or develop across the central to southern Florida Peninsula."
Dry conditions are expected this time of year, Molleda told Newsweek, as South Florida's dry season runs from mid-October to mid-May for South Florida.
"Even then, it has been especially dry during this particular dry season, which is why we're in the drought conditions we're in," he said.
What People Are Saying
Molleda told Newsweek: "Friday is our next chance of rain for South Florida, and even then, that's no more than about 20 percent. ... All in all, we're not expecting any short-term relief from drought."
He added: "Rainy season in South Florida starts in the middle of May, so that's when we start to see more regular rainfall across the region."
Earlier this week, NWS Miami posted on X, formerly Twitter, warning of fire danger, which can heighten with drought: "An elevated fire danger will continue for southwestern Florida for the remainder of this afternoon into the early evening hours. Dry vegetation, a relatively dry airmass still in place, and breezy to at times gusty winds may result in enhanced fire behavior."
What Happens Next
The NWS outlook indicates that Florida's drought conditions are likely to persist through April and into May.
In its April 18 Drought Information Statement, the NWS office in Melbourne noted, "The outlook through the remainder of April and into much of May is for drought conditions to generally persist or worsen across east central Florida, as chances slightly lean toward below normal rainfall continuing through this period."
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines