Recent rains, not to mention the tornadoes in Florida, have not changed the fact that some counties are experiencing drought conditions, particularly in South Florida.
Florida’s fire season is closely linked to the state’s dry season, with activities beginning in January and peaking in May and June, according to Florida Agricultural Consumer Services.
As of February 14, there were 17 Florida Counties with a drought index above 500, indicating an increased drought and fire risk, according to the Florida Department of Emergency Management.
As of Friday, February 14th, there were 50 active wildfires across the state, burning about 806 acres, according to the Florida Forest Service.
Check out the latest drought conditions in Florida
The situation in most Florida ranges from extraordinarily dry to severe drought, with the worst spreading from Palm Beach County to Hendry County.
Sarasota County is under burns, according to the Florida Forest Service.
Burning of garden debris is always prohibited in these counties.
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Florida Drought Index as of February 13, 2025
The lack of rainfall and normal temperatures in Florida are factors that have led to the deterioration of Florida’s condition, according to the Florida Department of Emergency Management.
“Currently, there is a local area of severe drought conditions introduced south of Okeechobee Lake in Palm Beach and Hendry counties, unusually dry and mild south of I-10 corridor through most of the peninsula. “The drought conditions are growing south,” FDEM said.
With the expected rainfall next week, it will be reflected when a new drought index is issued next week, along with recent rain.
17 Florida County has over 500 Keetch-Byram drought indexes. That’s not good
The average Keetch-Byram drought index in Florida is 370 on a scale that affects 0 (very wet) to 800 (very dry) to 8 million residents.
There are 17 counties with 17 Florida counties with an average drought index of over 500. This means that there is an increased risk of drought and fire hazards.
Broward: 613Charlotte: 561Collier: 562Glades: 621hardee: 539hendry: 605highando: 568lee: 565manatee: 562martin: 575miami: 571kekekekobee: 571kekekekobea 597
See the latest county terms at drought.gov, which is part of the National Integrated Drought Information System.
What does the Keetch-byram drought number mean?
Keetch-Byram’s drought index figures are used by the Florida Forest Service and indicate soil dryness along with surface fuels. High numbers are associated with serious wildfire outbreaks.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services explained what the numbers mean.
KBDI 0-200: Soil moisture and large class of fuel moisture are high and do not contribute much to fire strength. This is typical of the dormant spring season after winter precipitation. KBDI200-400: Typical of spring, early growth. The low trash and duff layers are dry and are beginning to contribute to the strength of the fire. KBDI400-600: A typical example of late summer and early autumn. The low litter and duff layers actively contribute to the strength of the fire and burn aggressively. KBDI600-800: In many cases, an increase in wildfire outbreaks is associated with more severe droughts. A severe, deep burning fire is expected with considerable downwind spots. Live fuel can also be expected to burn aggressively at these levels.
Since January 1st, almost 4,000 acres have been burning in Florida.
3,839 acres are on fire in Florida from January 1st to February 9th to February 9th, according to the Florida Forest Service.
Will drought conditions improve in Florida?
The drought situation is expected to spread from coast to coast in southwestern and southwestern Florida in February.
Drought conditions are expected to develop in most of the rest of the state, according to the Climate Forecast Center.
Spring rainfall is predicted to be normal in most parts of Florida
The seasonal precipitation outlook for NOAA in Florida from February 2025 to April 2025 is 40% to 50% below the normal precipitation of most states.
For the western Panhandle, precipitation outlook is slightly better, potentially between 33% and 40% below normal precipitation for the same period.
