Palm Beach County drought abates, but water order still in place.
A report released Thursday by the National Drought Mitigation Center shows 33 percent of Florida is in severe drought — mostly in central and western parts of the state — with another 24 percent in a moderate drought.
While 73 percent of Palm Beach County has no drought, that includes 23 percent still considered “abnormally dry.” An area in the far western part of the county was labeled in moderate-to-severe drought in Thursday’s report.
“The area impacted by Sunday’s rain was so small.” Related: Five things to know about La Niña In the 16-county region covered by the water management district, the seasonal rainfall since November has been just 50 percent of normal.
As of Thursday, coastal Palm Beach County had received 61 percent of its normal seasonal rainfall and is down 7.1 inches.
Western Palm Beach County is down 6.3 inches of rain and has received 47 percent of what’s normal.
While rainfall is a key element in the weekly drought report, the level of South Florida’s three water conservation areas and groundwater levels are also considered, said Geoff Shaughnessy, a meteorologist with the water management district.
Three wildfires totalling more than 100,000 acres burned on federally managed properties.
The so-called West Mims Fire may not be out until November, said Susan Granbery, a public information officer working on the fire with the Georgia Forestry Commission.
Since 1932, virtually all wet seasons have produced 2 to 4 feet of rain, according to the water management district.