Drought Information Statement for East Central Florida Valid May 29, 2025 Issued By: WFO Melbourne, FL Contact Information: sr-mlb.webmaster@noaa.gov This product will be updated June 26th 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. Above normal rainfall in May has helped alleviate drought conditions across the area, but moderate (D1) to severe (D2) drought conditions remain across portions of east central Florida. The arrival of the wet season will allow for the continuation of daily scattered showers and storms, and is forecast to gradually bring an end to any lingering drought conditions into the summer months (June-August). U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and Extent D4 (Exceptional Drought): None D3 (Extreme Drought): None D2 (Severe Drought): Portions of northern Lake and northwest Volusia counties D1 (Moderate Drought): Much of Lake, Volusia, central Brevard and Martin counties D0: (Abnormally Dry): Across the remainder of east central Florida Recent Change in Drought Intensity One Week Drought Monitor Class Change. Drought Worsened: No areas No Change: Okeechobee, Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin counties, as well as portions of Osceola, Brevard, Lake, Orange and Volusia counties Drought Improved: Seminole County, as well as portions of Lake, Volusia, Orange, Osceola and Brevard counties Precipitation Rainfall has been near to above normal in May, reducing rainfall deficits over the past 90 days across east central Florida. Areas near to just southeast of the I-4 corridor now have rainfall totals for this period that are near to above normal by 1-3 inches. Lingering rainfall deficits still exist elsewhere across the area over the past 90 days, especially across Lake, Volusia, portions of central Brevard and Martin counties. Precipitation totals across these areas are around 2-5” below normal over the past 3 months, or around 50-75% of normal. Temperature Average temperatures in March were generally closer to normal. However, warmer than normal conditions in April and May have led to overall average temperatures over the past 90 days that range around 1-3 degrees above normal across the area. Summary of Impacts Hydrologic Impacts The latest 7-day average streamflow indicates values are near normal (25-75% of normal) across much of east central Florida, except across portions of Lake and Volusia counties where they are below normal (10-25% of normal). (https://waterwatch.usgs.gov/) Agricultural Impacts Through early May there was an increase in reports of impacts to the agricultural and livestock communities due to limited rainfall during the dry season. However, with recent above normal rainfall in May there have been no additional reports over the past 7 days. (See Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR)) Fire Hazard Impacts There are currently no burn bans in effect across east central Florida. However, due to lingering drier than normal conditions over the past few months, the potential for significant wildland fires remains above normal for June. (https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive-services/outlooks) Other Impacts Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) values increased (worsened) slightly since mid-May due to several days of hotter and drier than normal conditions. However, recent increases in rainfall have allowed these values to stabilize, with values ranging from 100-399 across much of east central Florida. (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 Near to above normal rainfall over the past several days has allowed 7 day average streamflows to remain around normal (25-75% of normal) across much of east central Florida. However, streamflows are below normal (10-24% of normal) across portions of Lake and Volusia counties. Fire Hazard Impacts There are currently no burn bans in effect across east central Florida due to the near to above normal rainfall in May. However, the potential for significant wildland fires remains above normal for June. Seven Day Precipitation Forecast Daily scattered showers and storms will continue across the area over the next several days as a weak front approaches and pushes into central Florida this weekend. Widespread rainfall of 1-2” is generally forecast over the next 7 days, with locally higher totals occurring. With near to above normal rainfall forecast, this should continue to help alleviate drought conditions across the area. Long-Range Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage The outlook for the 3-month period from June-August favors average temperatures ending up above normal across central Florida (~50-60% chance). The outlook for the 3-month period from June-August favors above normal rainfall across central Florida (~40-50% chance). Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage The 8-14 day and 3-4 week CPC outlooks covering the period from June 5-20th, have slightly greater probabilities (~40-50%) of wetter than normal conditions across east central Florida. This will continue to alleviate lingering drought conditions. Now that the wet season has begun across east central Florida, drought conditions are generally forecast to diminish and eventually end across Florida during the summer months (June through August).