Published: February 12, 2026 at 1:20 PM
South Florida Water Management District delegates meet in Palm Beach Forest rangers say drought raises fire risk
The U.S. Drought Monitor reported on Thursday that there were severe and extreme conditions in Florida.
The dry season started in October, and the drier-than-normal conditions are likely to persist until May.
The South Florida Water Management District met on Thursday in Palm Beach County after issuing a water shortage warning for several counties, including Miami-Dade and Monroe, over the Biscayne Aquifer.
The warning urged voluntary conservation measures. The SFWMD’s next step would be to declare a water shortage and impose restrictions.
With a higher wildfire risk, the Florida Forest Service ordered burn bans in dozens of counties. Broward, Miami-Dade, and Marathon were not included.
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Andrea Torres