Drought conditions across South Florida have ended after a week of record rainfall at the end of October and early November, according to the National Weather Service’s latest drought monitor released Thursday, Nov. 5.
The rain, which caused rare flooding across the Palm Beaches, the Treasure Coast and Okeechobee County, pushed much of the region out of drought. WPBF 25 First Warning Meteorologist Glenn Glazer said the viewing area is no longer under any drought conditions, but some inland communities remain abnormally dry. Those include inland St. Lucie, Martin and Palm Beach counties, along with a large part of Okeechobee County.
Before the rain, parts of Okeechobee County, including the city of Okeechobee, and western Martin and Palm Beach counties near Lake Okeechobee were in moderate drought. Southwest St. Lucie County was also affected. Most of those areas are now classified as abnormally dry, a lower designation that does not count as drought.
Earlier in the fall, as of Sept. 22, parts of Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee counties were under moderate drought.
For residents, the change means the region’s water restrictions and dry-season concerns are easing, though the abnormally dry areas inland still bear watching.
