ORLANDO, Fla. — Rainstorms across Central Florida this week are offering some relief from Florida’s extreme drought conditions, but meteorologists warn that the rain might not be enough to wash away the drought-fueled risks of wildfires.
What You Need To Know
Despite the rain, extreme drought conditions remain in effect across most of Central Florida
Meteorologists say the region needs 13 inches of rain in the next month and 24 inches in next three months to reach normal rainfall levels
Florida Forest Service officials say crews are using prescribed burns to try to reduce the risk of wildfires
Meteorologists say the region needs 13 inches of rain in the next month and 24 inches of rain over the next three months to get back to normal rainfall amounts in the area.
Firefighters and emergency preparedness experts warn that the risk of wildfires is still high, and people need to remain vigilant.
Tuesday’s rain in Central Florida was welcome in a region parched by drought, but the rain is not bringing as much drought relief as some people might think.
At the Florida Forest Service in Orlando, officials are monitoring drought conditions and active wildfires all across Florida. Cliff Frazier said that this year Central Florida is seeing some of the driest conditions since 2017.
“We are asking the public to still use extreme caution out there, because we’re still in a drought situation,” he said.
Rainfall amounts for Orlando and for Daytona Beach are both more than four inches below normal now.
Frazier says everyone needs careful with fires in the coming weeks.
“If there’s smoke, there’s flame. So, make sure any flame is extinguished and do not leave it unattended,” he said.
Alan Harris is the Emergency Manager for the Seminole County Government. He says the drought isn’t the only wildfire risk the area faces now.
“The deep freezes that we had over the winter killed a lot of foliage, and it’s on the ground, and it’s fuel for wildfires,” Harris said.
Harris added that Central Florida residents who live near areas where a wildfire could break out should create buffer zones around their homes.
“So any limbs that are over the homes, brush that’s up against the home, cut that back, make the space defensible,” he said.
Harris adds Seminole County does not have a burn ban in place now, but with the very dry conditions, they are close to meeting the conditions for one. Right now, Brevard, Lake, Orange and Osceola Counties have burn bans in effect.
Frazier said that Florida does more prescribed burns than any other state. He says they do a lot of them to reduce risk, but they were not doing any Tuesday because the wind gusts were too high.