For some, Florida drought is getting very "extreme"

[kinzyjr]

Might as well color the entire map some shade red - at least until May - maybe later.

[Looking Glass]

3 hours ago, kinzyjr said:

Might as well color the entire map some shade red - at least until May - maybe later.

I wish it was May.  I feel it’s more like late August most years.  

[SubTropicRay]

[SubTropicRay]

[Looking Glass]

Not a good year for rainfall in Florida…..

[kinzyjr]

On 1/2/2026 at 3:14 PM, Looking Glass said:

Not a good year for rainfall in Florida…..

Not at all.  The only reason the area around Orlando/Melbourne/Daytona weren't too bad is because of that one freak rainstorm they had in late October that dropped over a foot of rain in one fell swoop.  

We were lucky enough to get ~0.20 in of rain this evening.  

[SubTropicRay]

[SubTropicRay]

SOS

[SeanK]

It's bad up this way, too. 

[SubTropicRay]

Glorious #@^%

[SubTropicRay]

The pathetic 2025 totals have been published

[kinzyjr]

It looks like our only hope is the bits of rain we get before the cold snaps.

[SubTropicRay]

8 hours ago, kinzyjr said:

It looks like our only hope is the bits of rain we get before the cold snaps.

Half the state will be on fire in April-May.

[SubTropicRay]

[3 Milesfrom Gulf of Mexico]

Looks like a decent chance of rain tonight.  Weather app says Seminole  supposed to get .22 inches of rain. Better than nothing.

[SubTropicRay]

It's a kaleidoscope of fall colors in mid winter.

[Looking Glass]

We did get an inch or so of rain this week, but man, spring is gonna suck.  

[SubTropicRay]

With the recent cold snap further torching foliage, spring is looking like a firestorm.  The cold in the upcoming week looks to expand affected areas.

[SubTropicRay]

Dry soil works against you when the temps are cold.  

[SubTropicRay]

Hey, don't let this cold make you lose focus.  It still hasn't rained and....it's not coming any time soon.  Salt....wound....pour.

[SubTropicRay]

Cold and Drrrrryyyyyyyy..may as well be a winter night in Afghanistan.

[SubTropicRay]

We have worsening drought and now the state has an abundance of torched foliage.  The possibility is there for a historic spring fire season.

[SeanK]

6 minutes ago, SubTropicRay said:

We have worsening drought and now the state has an abundance of torched foliage.  The possibility is there for a historic spring fire season.

No better to your north. GA and the Carolinas are way down on rain also.

[kinzyjr]

Got almost 1/3" this morning.

[SubTropicRay]

[SubTropicRay]

[SubTropicRay]

[SubTropicRay]

Refocus from the cold.  Nothing can recover if we don't get some healing precipitation.

[SubTropicRay]

Master gardeners I've known for many years always warned me against overwatering cold damaged plants.  The plants ability to uptake water is greatly compromised because of the damaged tissue.  With the extended drought this year, I'm not sure that's good advice.  I believe the drought conditions leading up the freeze exacerbated the extent of damage the plants sustained across the state.  The plants were already stressed before being blasted by cold air.   You're hobbling around on one leg and someone comes up from behind and pushes you down.  It's no wonder you fell and got a concussion.  

[3 Milesfrom Gulf of Mexico]

.25 inches for me here in Pinellas with last night's front.   Was hoping for more.    

[kinzyjr]

My stations recorded roughly 0.5 inches here.  Could always use more, but at least this should stop all the dead foliage from catching fire and burning the city to the ground.

[SubTropicRay]

Nothing more than a trace with the last front here.  Unfortunately, I think it has to burn before there's improvment

[Palmarum]

On 2/12/2026 at 10:41 AM, SubTropicRay said:

Refocus from the cold.  Nothing can recover if we don't get some healing precipitation.

Almost getting touched by the Red here in S. Broward. 

Ryan

[kinzyjr]

It's so dry that just a small fire can burn out of control in a few seconds:

https://www.wfla.com/news/polk-county/bartow-high-school-teacher-arrested-after-backyard-debris-burn-causes-5-acre-brush-fire-sheriff/

[SubTropicRay]

By May unless we get rain soon, this will be the worst drought in Florida's recorded history.  Records date back to the late 1800's.

[Looking Glass]

6 hours ago, SubTropicRay said:

By May unless we get rain soon, this will be the worst drought in Florida's recorded history.  Records date back to the late 1800's.

The only thing that fixes this is multiple hurricanes/tropical storms…. and we are a long way out.   

[SubTropicRay]

[Looking Glass]

6 minutes ago, SubTropicRay said:

At this point “below” would mean drops of rain flying out of the ground up into the sky….   Now that I think about it, I guess that is essentially a good description of the past year’s weather pattern.  

[SubTropicRay]

Taking bets on one solid, red blob consuming the entire state.

 

[flplantguy]

1 hour ago, SubTropicRay said:

Taking bets on one solid, red blob consuming the entire state.

 

By June it will be really bad based on this, and I'm concerned for fires and agriculture issues.  I think this is the worst I have ever seen it since I have been here.