WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — The latest U.S. Drought Monitor, released Thursday, shows little change in drought conditions across Florida this week, with one notable exception in parts of South Florida.
Most of the state’s drought map remained unchanged from last week’s update, reflecting a balance between recent wet-season rainfall and the lingering effects of a long-term lack of rainfall.
The biggest change occurred in eastern Miami-Dade and Broward counties, where an expansion of extreme drought, or D3, was introduced. Despite scattered rounds of summer thunderstorms, rainfall has remained inconsistent across portions of the region, allowing drought conditions to worsen slightly.
South Florida drought monitor largely unchanged, worsens slightly inland. (WPEC)
Elsewhere across South Florida, drought categories held steady. While many communities have received periods of heavy rain during the wet season, the rainfall has been uneven, with some neighborhoods picking up several inches while others have seen far less.
South Florida drought monitor largely unchanged, worsens slightly inland. (WPEC)
The unchanged drought map also reflects the region’s ongoing hydrologic drought — a long-term shortage of water affecting lakes, groundwater and wetlands. Even after weeks of scattered thunderstorms, water resources take much longer to recover than surface conditions.
With more of Florida’s rainy season still ahead, additional rounds of widespread rainfall will be needed to improve groundwater levels, replenish wetlands and reverse the impacts of the long-term drought.