West Palm Beach, FL — With little rainfall in recent weeks, meteorologists from
the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) reported that last
month was the driest October in South Florida since recordkeeping began in
1932. The low monthly rainfall total, coupled with seasonal forecasts of
exceptionally dry conditions, underscores the need for water conservation to
protect the region’s limited water supply.
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“Given the below average rainfall during the wet season, the forecast for a
drier-than-average dry season and the unpredictability of our weather means
saving as much water as possible now is critical to South Florida,” said Tommy
Strowd, SFWMD Deputy Executive Director of Operations and Maintenance.
For October, the District’s 16-county region received an average of 0.55
inches of rainfall. This represents 15 percent of the normal total for the
month, or a deficit of 3.21 inches.
The Upper and Lower Kissimmee basins were hit hardest, registering less than
1 percent of average rainfall for a monthly deficit of more than 2.5 inches. In
particular, Lake Istokpoga is heading toward water shortage conditions for
water users in its immediate area. These conditions also threaten to create a
potentially severe wildfire season, according to the Florida Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Most areas along the east coast saw rainfall amounts of 7 to 37 percent of
average for the month, creating rainfall deficits of more than 4 inches. Rainfall
totals on the southwest coast were about 15 percent of average, or 3 inches
below normal. Lake Okeechobee rainfall totaled 0.10 inches, or 3 percent of
average rainfall. The lake level is 13.47 feet above sea level and continues to
fall.
In mid-October, the National Weather Service declared an early start to the
annual dry season and forecast the strongest La Niña for this time of year
since 1955. La Niña is a weather phenomenon that creates colder than normal
ocean surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, which drives dry weather
into South Florida.
While about 12 inches of rain falls on average across the District’s 16-county
region from November through March, La Niña-influenced dry seasons often
produce only about two-thirds of the average during this five-month period.
Predictions of abnormally dry conditions for the coming months follow the
driest wet season since 1984 in South Florida. An average of 27.31 inches of
rain fell between June 1 and October 31, representing 82 percent of the
normal amount and a deficit of 6 inches. This was also the hottest summer on
record in Southeast Florida and the second hottest in Naples, according to the
National Weather Service.
In fact, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s (NOAA) Climate
Prediction Center is forecasting record La Niña conditions for each month from
October to April, along with several related dry season predictions, including:
• 1 to 2 winter storms over Florida for the dry season, which is 4 to 5 below
normal.
• La Niña pattern produces lower risk for tornadoes across the Florida
peninsula compared with El Niño years.
• Latest long-range model projects a warmer-than-normal winter, though
freezes are still a possibility.
• Average winter temperature predicted to be 64-66F interior/west to 67-69F
east.
Weather Roller Coaster
Forecasts of a drier-than-normal dry season once again showcase South
Florida’s weather extremes and water management challenges.
• Normal: Florida receives an average of 52 inches of rainfall a year, with 70
percent falling during the five-month wet season from approximately June
through October.
• Drier than Normal: The 2010 wet season produced an approximately 6 inch
deficit.
• Wetter than Normal: The 2009-2010 dry season recorded 131 percent of
average dry season rainfall, representing 5.88 inches above normal from the
beginning of November through the end of May.
• Record Wet Conditions: In 2009, the sea breeze cycle ushered in the wet
season in May. With 9.04 inches of rain falling across the District, May 2009
became the wettest May on record, according to District records dating back
to 1932.
• Drier than Normal: The 2008-2009 South Florida dry season was the third
driest on record as of March 1, 2009.
• Record Dry Conditions: November 2008 through April 2009 marked the driest
six-month period in South Florida, according to District records dating back to
1932.
Water Conservation Remains Key
The South Florida Water Management District’s Comprehensive Water
Conservation Program was approved by the Governing Board in September
2008 to encourage more consistent use of water resources throughout South
Florida. Numerous stakeholders worked with the District to define specific
regulatory, voluntary and incentive-based programs and in-depth education
and marketing plans that will help foster a year-round conservation ethic. The
program includes Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Conservation Measures that
took effect in March 2010.
The SFWMD continues to closely monitor water levels and is urging residents
and businesses to conserve water and follow landscape irrigation restrictions
in effect. More information about irrigation restrictions by area and water-
saving tips are available at www.savewaterfl.com.