Drought

Florida's summer of 2026 was dominated by persistent heat waves and rainfall deficits, especially across South Florida.

Fires that burned about 24,000 acres in Everglades National Park were mostly brought under control on Wednesday, but scientists are keeping an eye on effects from a prolonged drought that could impact Florida Bay, wading birds and the Everglades muck.

Much of Central Florida is in an "extreme" water shortage, as declared by regional water management districts.

Research on HOAs has found that these private, quasi-governmental organizations are an often overlooked but influential force in environmental policy.

While parts of Central and North Florida have seen heavy rainfall, many areas remain well below normal after two months of the rainy season.

A strengthening El Niño over the Pacific Ocean may be already influencing Florida's weather, with long-range outlooks indicating a return to below-average rainfall.

Lake Okeechobee's water level is hovering between 11 feet and a few inches less. While that's more than two feet below its historical average for this time of year, it will take another two feet, and then some, for this drought to cause Lake O to break its low-water mark.

Drought conditions are improving across many areas in Florida, but temperatures are about to soar, and chances of storms become more limited this weekend. Also, Saharan dust could be making the skies hazy.

Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson on Tuesday urged caution with fireworks and asked people to follow local burn regulations.

So when is the rain coming? No major storms are currently forecast.

The exceptional drought has been cut in half! But not all rain has been accounted for in this drought report.

With drought spreading across north Florida, water levels are quickly falling, exposing creek beds and shorelines where many of these once submerged relics now sit.