South Florida Sees Relief from Extreme Drought
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South Florida Sees Relief from Extreme Drought
- Recent rainfall has eliminated extreme drought conditions in parts of South Florida, including portions of the Everglades, as of early September 2026.
- While extreme drought has receded in some areas, moderate to severe drought conditions persist across much of South Florida, following an exceptionally dry trend throughout 2026.
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Recent rainfall has brought a significant improvement to drought conditions in South Florida, officially removing areas of the Everglades from the “extreme drought” category as of early September 2026. This comes after months of persistent dryness, with parts of western Broward and Miami-Dade counties, including portions of the Florida Everglades, experiencing extreme drought as recently as late August.
Despite this positive development, much of South Florida continues to experience moderate to severe drought conditions. The region has seen an exceptionally dry trend throughout 2026, with many areas experiencing below-normal rainfall even during what is typically the wetter season. For instance, the summer of 2026 was characterized by record-breaking heat and a historic lack of water across most major Florida cities, with some areas facing rainfall deficits of nearly 15 inches.
Drought intensity is categorized from abnormally dry to exceptional drought. As of September 1, 2026, approximately 52% of Florida was under active drought conditions, with 2.8% experiencing extreme drought statewide. The prolonged dry conditions throughout 2025 and 2026 led to water restrictions and an increased risk of wildfires. While the recent rains offer some temporary relief, experts indicate that widespread, substantial rainfall over an extended period, possibly from a tropical system, would be needed to fully erase the long-term precipitation deficits.