Drought Information Statement for South Florida 05,15, 2025 Issued By: NWS Miami-South Florida Contact Information: sr-mfl.webmaster@noaa.gov This product will be updated May, 15, 2025 or sooner if drought conditions change significantly. 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 Image Caption: U.S. Drought Monitor valid 8am EDT May 15th. Extreme Drought Developed over Northern Interior areas as Severe Drought expanded over South Florida. Drought intensity and Extent D3 (Extreme Drought): Collier, Southern Hendry, Western Broward, and NW Miami-Dade D2 (Severe Drought): Most of South Florida D1 (Moderate Drought): Metro areas of Broward, NE Miami-Dade, Southern Everglades, Northern Glades, and extreme Northern Palm Beach. 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 Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change. Drought Worsened: [State each county or region within WFO region where a class degradation occurred. If nowhere is under a class degradation, remove subheading.] No Change: [State each county or region within WFO region where no class change occurred. If nowhere is under no change, remove subheading.] Drought Improved: [State each county or region within WFO region where a class improvement occurred. If nowhere is under a class improvement, remove subheading.] Image Caption: U.S. Drought Monitor 4-week change map valid 8am EDT April 6th. 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 NOV 1, 2024 The following table gives the rainfall from November 1, 2024 to May 14, 2025: Observed Dep fm Percent Airports: Rainfall Normal of Normal Palm Beach Intl 9.03 -12.94 41% Naples Municipal 7.26 -3.97 65% Ft Lauderdale-Hollywood Intl 12.81 -6.41 67% Miami Intl 11.52 -6.64 63% Secondary Observation Sites Moore Haven (Glades) 11.88 - 1.79 87% Opa Locka (Miami-Dade) 9.33 - 7.96 54% HomeStead (Miami-Dade) 14.16 - 0.86 64% Tamiami Airport (Miami-Dade) 13.69 -1.24 92% North Perry Airport (Miami-Dade) 11.50 -7.60 60% Ft Lauderdale Exec (Broward) 11.26 - 8.21 58% Hialeah (Miami-Dade) 14.58 - 5.53 73% Palm Beach Gardens (Palm Beach) 10.15 - 12.90 44% North Miami Beach (Miami-Dade) 9.11 -11.65 44% 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 May, 15, 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/ 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 Month, DD, YYYY Summary of Impacts Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter Hydrologic Impacts Lake Okeechobee level currently at 11.19 FT which is 2.12 FT below normal of 13.73 FT Most of the locks are closed until the lake level gets back up to 12 FT. Fisheating Creek at 0.7 FT which is 56% of normal level which is 1.25 FT. The underground level water conservation area 1 in Interior Palm Beach County is at 15.78 feet and it should be at 15.75 feet which is +0.03 feet above normal for this time of year. The Underground level water conservation area 2 in Interior Broward County is at 11.18 feet and its normal level is 11.00 feet which is +0.18 feet above normal for this time of year. The underground level water conservation area 3 in Interior Miami-Dade County is at 8.72 feet and its normal level is at 9..62 feet which is -0.90 feet below normal for this time of year. Fire Hazard Impacts KBDI index is currently at 600 to 700 over Collier County, 500-600 over Palm Beach and Mainland Monroe Counties, 400 to 500 over Broward, Glades, Hendry Counties, and below 400 over Miami-Dade County. Therefore, there is a high chance of wildfires over Collier County, Moderate risk over rest of South Florida except low chance over Miami-Dade and Glades Counties. Other Impacts Airboat tour companies over the Western interior areas of South Florida is having navigable waterways impassable. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Summarize conditions/impacts here Image Caption: USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map valid MM DD YYYY Agricultural Impacts Soil moisture over South Florida is currently at 10 to 30 percentile for this time of year. Image Captions: CPC Calculated Soil Moisture Ranking Percentile valid May 14, 2025 Fire Hazard Impacts Currently there is a fire burn ban in effect over Collier, Hendry, and Glades Counties. South Florida has an above normal chance of seeing significant wildland fires. Latest FL Burn Ban map available here. Image Caption: Significant Wildland Fire Potential Monthly Outlook for May 2025 Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center. Latest FL burnmap at https://ffsfm.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/1f6572c92f8d41ec860f461ea433819b Seven Day Precipitation Forecast South Florida will see little to no rainfall through May 22nd, as high pressure remains over the region. Image Caption: Weather Prediction Center 7-day precipitation forecast valid Friday May 16 to Friday May 22, 2025 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. 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 Climate Prediction Center is forecasting and equal chances of above and below normal temperatures for rest of May 2025. Climate Prediction Center is forecasting an equal chance of above and below normal rainfall for rest of May 2025. Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center Monthly Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center Monthly Precipitation Outlook. Valid 05 2025 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 will continue through rest of May 2025. The drought should improved for the months of June, July, and August 2025 due to the rainy season. Image Caption: Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook Released 05 15, 2025 valid between May 15 - August 31, 2025 Links to the latest: Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook