Drought Information Statement for South Florida 02 20 2026 Issued By: NWS Miami-South Florida Contact Information: sr-mfl.webmaster@noaa.gov Severe Drought has returned to a portion of South Florida. Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/mfl/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Webmaster email or public phone line likely preferred, but individuals may choose to include their contact information directly. 1 U.S. Drought Monitor U.S. Drought Monitor for South Florida U.S. Drought Monitor valid 10AM EDT February 20th, 2026. Below-average rainfall continued across South Florida for the month of February 2026 thus far, which has resulted in a worsening of drought conditions across the region. Extreme Drought has expanded to include most of the interior areas and Lake Okeechobee region. Drought intensity and Extent D1 (Moderate Drought): Metro Broward and metro Miami-Dade. D2 (Severe Drought): Metro Palm Beach and Metro Collier Counties. D3 (Extreme Drought): Interior South Florida and Lake Okeechobee region. Geography Availability: United States WFO: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/data/png/current/current_wfoabq_text.png Where it says “wfoabq” change the last 3 letters to the desired CWA in terms of “wfoxxx” (excluding SJU, PPG, or GUM, only regional data available) State: Replace where it says “wfoabq” change to the state’s abbreviation Regional: Replace where it says “wfoabq” change to either of the following… Caribbean → current_caribbean_text Pacific Islands→current_usapi_text Ex; southeast → current_southeast_text Ex; midwest → current_midwest_text Ex; high plains → current_high_planes_text Ex; south → current_south_text pdf National (including HI, AK, and PR): https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/data/png/20220823/20220823_usdm.png USAPI and Virgin Islands: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/data/png/20220823/20220823_usdm_pg2.png Recent Change in Drought Intensity 4-week change map for South Florida A slight worsening in drought conditions has occurred in the past week as severe drought has expanded into more of South Florida. Feel free to use other timescales if they tell a better story, or hide this slide if there’s no notable changes in your region. 4 weeks is a good default if you’re producing this product ~once per month as required by the directive. 1-Week Monitor Class Change (replace CHS with your WFO ID): https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/data/chng/png/current/current_wfoCHS_chng_1W.png Comparison of current drought monitor with drought monitor from 4 weeks ago for a desired WFO station: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/data/chng/png/current/current_wfoCHS_chng_4W.png Changing date: Replace where it says “current” twice with the date in terms of “YYYYMMDD” Ex; July 5th, 2022 → 20220705 Precipitation Rainfall observed with the departure and percent of normal since November 1st, 2025 The following table gives the rainfall from November 1, 2025 to February 19th, 2026: Observed Dep fm Percent Airports: Rainfall Normal of Normal Palm Beach Intl 1.88 -10.53 15% Naples Municipal 2.25 -3.15 42% Ft Lauderdale-Hollywood Intl 6.27 -4.85 56% Miami Intl 4.20 -5.13 45% Secondary Observation Sites Moore Haven (Glades) 1.20 -5.68 17% Opa Locka (Miami-Dade) 3.73 -5.09 42% Homestead (Miami-Dade) 2.91 -4.52 39% Hialeah (Miami-Dade) 6.00 -4.38 57% Palm Beach Gardens (Palm Beach) 2.47 -10.38 19% North Miami Beach (Miami-Dade) 4.33 -7.14 38% Devils Garden (Hendry) 1.05 -6.25 14% Image Captions: Left - Precipitation Amount for [area] Right - Percent of Normal Precipitation for [area] Data Courtesy High Plains Regional Climate Center. Data over the past 30 days ending February 19th, 2025 If longer-term drought is dominating in your region, you can use longer-timescale imagery to support that message. All data can be found at https://hprcc.unl.edu/maps.php?maps=ACISClimateMaps If you prefer a higher resolution precip source such as AHPS (https://water.weather.gov/precip/), that’s also okay but will have to be added manually each time. If little to no imagery is available for your area (i.e. USAPI) you may consider a data table. Some USAPI precipitation imagery available here:https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/drought/202303#regional-usapi and here: https://niwa.co.nz/climate/island-climate-update Pacific Island Climate Update for ENSO: Monthly Reports, find the PDF on this site: https://niwa.co.nz/climate/island-climate-update and consider linking to it here if it’s not too out of date MSWEP: https://www.gloh2o.org/mswep/ may be another option. Other options: Precipitation Station Data from USGS: Stations in each State: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/al/nwis/current/?type=precip&group_key=NONE To change state, alter link where it says “/al/” and change to desired state’s abbreviation. Homepage: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis Precipitation Reports for Basins from WCC Availability: SNOTEL and COOP stations for each state in the west including Alaska. State: https://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/support/water/SummaryReports/AZ/BPrecip_8_2022.pdf Where it says “AZ” change to desired state abbreviation to other states such as AK, CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA, and WY. Replace where it says “Precip_8_2022” and change the “8” to the desired month of year and “2022” to the year wanted. Homepage: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/wcc/home/snowClimateMonitoring/snowpack/basinDataReports/ 30-Day Precipitation & Percent Normal The majority of South Florida has received less than 25-50% of normal precipitation over the last 30 days. Image Captions: Left - Precipitation Amount for [area] Right - Percent of Normal Precipitation for [area] If longer-term drought is dominating in your region, you can use longer-timescale imagery to support that message. All data can be found at https://hprcc.unl.edu/maps.php?maps=ACISClimateMaps If you prefer a higher resolution precip source such as AHPS (https://water.weather.gov/precip/), that’s also okay but will have to be added manually each time. If little to no imagery is available for your area (i.e. USAPI) you may consider a data table. Some USAPI precipitation imagery available here:https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/drought/202303#regional-usapi and here: https://niwa.co.nz/climate/island-climate-update Pacific Island Climate Update for ENSO: Monthly Reports, find the PDF on this site: https://niwa.co.nz/climate/island-climate-update and consider linking to it here if it’s not too out of date MSWEP: https://www.gloh2o.org/mswep/ may be another option. Other options: Precipitation Station Data from USGS: Stations in each State: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/al/nwis/current/?type=precip&group_key=NONE To change state, alter link where it says “/al/” and change to desired state’s abbreviation. Homepage: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis Precipitation Reports for Basins from WCC Availability: SNOTEL and COOP stations for each state in the west including Alaska. State: https://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/support/water/SummaryReports/AZ/BPrecip_8_2022.pdf Where it says “AZ” change to desired state abbreviation to other states such as AK, CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA, and WY. Replace where it says “Precip_8_2022” and change the “8” to the desired month of year and “2022” to the year wanted. Homepage: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/wcc/home/snowClimateMonitoring/snowpack/basinDataReports/ 90 day Observed Precipitation & Rainfall Departure (Since 11/22/2025) Image Captions: Left - Precipitation since 11/22/25 To Date (Inches) Right - Departure From Normal since 11/22/25 To Date (+/- Inches) If longer-term drought is dominating in your region, you can use longer-timescale imagery to support that message. All data can be found at https://hprcc.unl.edu/maps.php?maps=ACISClimateMaps If you prefer a higher resolution precip source such as AHPS (https://water.weather.gov/precip/), that’s also okay but will have to be added manually each time. If little to no imagery is available for your area (i.e. USAPI) you may consider a data table. Some USAPI precipitation imagery available here:https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/drought/202303#regional-usapi and here: https://niwa.co.nz/climate/island-climate-update Pacific Island Climate Update for ENSO: Monthly Reports, find the PDF on this site: https://niwa.co.nz/climate/island-climate-update and consider linking to it here if it’s not too out of date MSWEP: https://www.gloh2o.org/mswep/ may be another option. Other options: Precipitation Station Data from USGS: Stations in each State: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/al/nwis/current/?type=precip&group_key=NONE To change state, alter link where it says “/al/” and change to desired state’s abbreviation. Homepage: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis Precipitation Reports for Basins from WCC Availability: SNOTEL and COOP stations for each state in the west including Alaska. State: https://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/support/water/SummaryReports/AZ/BPrecip_8_2022.pdf Where it says “AZ” change to desired state abbreviation to other states such as AK, CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA, and WY. Replace where it says “Precip_8_2022” and change the “8” to the desired month of year and “2022” to the year wanted. Homepage: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/wcc/home/snowClimateMonitoring/snowpack/basinDataReports/ Temperature Summarize conditions/impacts here Image Captions: Left - Average Temperature Right - Departure from Normal Temperature Data Courtesy High Plains Regional Climate Center. Data over the past 30 days ending 6, 25, 2025 Hydrologic Impacts Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter Hydrologic Impacts Lake Okeechobee level currently at 12.48 feet which is –2.08 feet below normal of 14.56 feet. Fisheating Creek is at 0.60 ft which is -1.80 feet below the normal level of 2.40 ft for this time of year. The underground level water conservation area 1 in Interior Palm Beach County is at 16.18 feet and it should be at 16.63 feet which is -0.45 feet below normal for this time of year. The Underground level water conservation area 2 in Interior Broward County is at 12.49 feet and its normal level is 11.00 feet which is +1.49 feet above normal for this time of year. The underground level water conservation area 3 in Interior Miami-Dade County is at 8.58 feet and its normal level is at 10.18 feet which is -1.60 feet below normal for this time of year. Fire Hazard Impacts Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) Fire Hazard Impacts KBDI index is 600 to 700 across all of South Florida. Fire Danger Matrix Fire Danger Risk Fire Danger Matrix A moderate fire (level 2 of 5) danger risk across all of South Florida. Burn Bans Link: County Burn Bans Current Burn Bans Collier, Hendry, Glades, and Palm Beach Counties. Issued by local county officials. Water Shortage Warnings Link: South Florida Water Management District Water Shortage Page Water Shortage Warnings Collier, Glades, Miami-Dade Counties Issued by the South Florida Water Management District. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Summarize conditions/impacts here Image Caption: USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map valid MM DD YYYY Soil moisture over South Florida is running below normal. South Florida is running at 1 to 5 percentile. Soil Moisture Image Captions: CPC Calculated Soil Moisture Ranking Percentile valid February 19th, 2026 Fire Hazard Impacts Currently Glades, Hendry, Collier, and Palm Beach Counties are in a burn ban. South Florida has an above normal chance of wildfires for the rest of February. Latest FL Burn Ban map available here. Image Caption: https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/predictive/outlooks/month1_outlook.png for February 2026 Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center. Latest FL burnmap at https://ffsfm.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/1f6572c92f8d41ec860f461ea433819b Precipitation Outlook Rainfall accumulations across the region will mostly remain below 0.10 inches through February 27th. CPC’s March monthly precipitation outlook is forecast to be 33 to 40 percent below normal. 7 day rainfall total from February 20th through February 27th, 2026 Rainfall outlook for the Month of March 2026. {{PRECIP_OUTLOOK}} Rapid Onset Drought Outlook Links to the latest Climate Prediction Center 8 to 14 day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook. Summarize conditions and impacts here Image Caption: Days 8 to 14 U.S. Hazards Outlook Valid Month DD to DD. The Climate Prediction Center depicts an equal chance of seeing below or above normal rainfall. The Climate Prediction Center depicts a 40-50% chance (“likely above normal”) of higher than normal temperatures. Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center Monthly Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center Monthly Precipitation Outlook. Valid MM YYYY Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Precipitation Outlook. Valid MM to MM YYYY Long-Range Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Image Captions: Right - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Temperature Outlook. Left - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Precipitation Outlook. Valid March 2026 - May 2026 Image Caption: Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook Released MM DD, YYYY valid for MM-MM YYYY Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage The drought over South Florida should continue through rest of spring 2026. Image Caption: Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook Released 02 19, 2026 valid through May 31, 2026. Links to the latest: Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook