Move over, California: Florida has the worst drought

Dry conditions hurt typically rainy state

When it comes to weather, Florida is usually known for humidity and hurricanes. But now, drought is making news in the Sunshine State.

Sixty- six percent of the state is now in a drought, the highest percentage of any U. S. state, ac- cording to the U. S. Drought Monitor. Parts of the state north of Lake Okeechobee are now enduring “extreme” drought, the second- worst level.

If the drought persists — which is expected — this could mean major crop and pasture losses, as well as widespread water shortages and restrictions, the Drought Monitor said. Burn bans have already been issued across the state.

The drought has escalated dramatically since early February, when none of the state was in a drought.

Across the country, Florida’s drought is the exception: Less than 5% of the U. S. is now in a drought, the lowest percentage in at least the past 17 years. Only Florida and a portion of northern Georgia are seeing extreme drought.

Not surprisingly, the drought is due to an ongoing lack of rainfall.

“Drier- than- normal conditions have persisted for several months” in Florida, the Nation- al Weather Service said. Many Florida cities have seen far less rain than usual this year. Tampa has only seen about 5 inches, compared to an average of about 10 inches.

Many other cities, including Jacksonville, Daytona, Orlando, Melbourne and Fort Myers, have seen below- average rainfall so far in 2017, according to data from the weather service.

The dryness has worsened wildfires across the state, with nearly 1,900 reported so far this year, the Florida Forest Service said. Those fires have burned 153,315 acres.

DOROTHY EDWARDS, AP A brush fire burns in Naples, Fla., on March 7. Drought is exacerbating wildfires across the state.