Water is life for us all. It connects our ecosystem and without it, green turns brown. And, what once looked vibrant turned dull longer than expected. This is a shift seen across much of the Sunshine State as South Florida endured one of its driest periods in decades.
2026 began with a rainfall deficit and for many at home, the difference may have been subtle.
The South Florida Water Management District works year‑round to keep daily impacts to a minimum, but that doesn’t mean drought goes unnoticed. Its effects show up beyond our backyards, it’s felt in tourism, in agriculture and in the wildlife that depends on this delicate balance.
The state’s drought has presented significant challenges. Even though we’ve seen more rain in April, it’s still too soon to know how quickly we’ll fully recover. That’s why having enough space to store water during the rainy season becomes essential.
The state is now working with the federal government on a project designed to help mitigate this problem in the future.
Impact on Tourism Industry
A drought is having a financial impact on South Florida airboat businesses in the Everglades.
NBC6’s special Tracking Drought
The First Alert Weather team explores how the record-breaking drought impacts everything in South Florida from the environment to the economy.