Drought Information Statement for 
East Central Florida
Valid April 18, 2025
Issued By: WFO Melbourne, FL
Contact Information: sr-mlb.webmaster@noaa.gov
This product will be updated May 15th 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/mlb/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 
Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/ for regional drought status updates.

Below normal rainfall has continued over the past month, with moderate (D1) to severe (D2) drought conditions expanding, especially across northern portions of east central Florida.
Drier than normal conditions are generally favored through the remainder of spring (through May), which is forecast to allow drought conditions to continue to persist or worsen across the area. 


U.S. Drought Monitor

Drought intensity and Extent
D4 (Exceptional Drought): None
D3 (Extreme Drought): None
D2 (Severe Drought): Northern Lake County and portions of Volusia County
D1 (Moderate Drought): Portions of Volusia, southern Lake, Seminole, much of Orange and northern Brevard counties
D0: (Abnormally Dry): Portions of northern Osceola, central Brevard, southern Okeechobee, northern Martin, and southwest St. Lucie counties


Recent Change in Drought Intensity
Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change. 

Drought Worsened: Portions of northern Lake, Volusia, and Brevard counties
 
No Change: Much of east central Florida

Drought Improved: Portions of Osceola and Okeechobee counties


Precipitation
For much of east central Florida, rainfall has been below normal over the past 90 days, especially near to north of Orlando and across Martin County where precipitation totals have been around 30-60% of normal.  

However, periods of locally heavy rainfall, over the past few months, especially south of Orlando during late February, have led to near to above normal rainfall for portions of the Treasure Coast, as well as Osceola and northern Okeechobee counties. 


Summary of Impacts

Hydrologic Impacts 
The latest 7-day average streamflow indicates an increase in locations reporting values that are below normal (10-24% of normal) to much below normal (<10% of normal), across east central Florida. (https://waterwatch.usgs.gov/) 

Agricultural Impacts
There are no known impacts at this time.

Fire Hazard Impacts
Burn bans are currently in effect for Lake, Volusia, Seminole and Orange counties. Also, due to the drier conditions, the potential for significant wildland fires remains above normal for April, May and June. (https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive-services/outlooks)  

Other Impacts
Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) values have been increasing across the region, with highest values ranging from 500-599 across Lake, Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Martin counties. (https://fireweather.fdacs.gov/wx/kbdi_index.html)

Mitigation Actions
Please refer to your municipality and/or water provider for mitigation information.


Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts
Streamflows are decreasing across the region due to continued below normal precipitation.

Values averaged over the past 7 days are below normal (10-24% of normal) from Indian River County northward through Volusia County and are normal (25-75% of normal) farther inland across east central Florida and across the southern Treasure Coast. 


Fire Hazard Impacts
Across east central Florida, burn bans are now in effect for Lake, Volusia, Seminole and Orange counties. 
The potential for significant wildland fires remains above normal. 


Seven Day Precipitation Forecast
Dry conditions are forecast to prevail through late April, with no rainfall currently forecast across much of Florida through Friday, April 25th.   


Long-Range Outlooks
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
The outlook for the 3-month period from May-July favors average temperatures ending up above normal across central Florida (~50-60% chance).

The outlook for the 3-month period from May-July slightly favors above normal rainfall across central Florida (~35-40% chance).


Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
The outlook through the remainder of April and into much of May is for drought conditions to generally persist or worsen across east central Florida, as chances slightly lean toward below normal rainfall continuing through this period.

However, as the wet season begins across central Florida (typically toward late May/early June), then drought conditions are generally forecast to improve or even end through late July.