05-05-2025
23 Florida counties under burn bans as drought conditions continue. See list of driest counties
More than 16 million people in Florida, 82% of the state, are suffering from drought conditions ranging from moderate to extreme, according to NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System.
Two areas of extreme drought exist in the state, with the largest in South Florida extending from coast to coast.
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The drought is keeping the number of wildfires burning in the state high, with 88 burning Monday, May 5, according to the Florida Fire Service.
There are 23 counties under burn bans, almost one-third of the state's 67 counties.
The mean statewide drought index is at 478.
NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System said 82.2 percent of Florida is under drought conditions, ranging from moderate to extreme.
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The breakdown of drought conditions in the state, which affects 16.6 million residents, is:
Abnormally dry: 16.5%
Moderate drought: 35.5%
Severe drought: 29.9%
Extreme drought: 16.9%
Exceptional drought: 0%
➤ Maps: See drought conditions by county
Western Panhandle, Pensacola: Sunny. High 78. Low 68.
Central Panhandle, Tallahassee: Sunny. High 85. Low 60.
Northeast Florida, Jacksonville: Sunny. High 88. Low 65.
East Coast, Central Florida from Daytona Beach to Stuart: Sunny, chance for showers. High 87. Low 70.
South Florida, West Palm Beach, Naples: Chance for showers and thunderstorms. High 81. Low 76.
Southwest Florida, Fort Myers to Sarasota: Sunny. High 84. Low 69.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index mean for Florida was 478 on May 5. The drought index uses a scale from 0, which is very wet, to 800, which is very dry.
As of May 1, there were 16 counties with a drought index over 600, which means severe drought conditions with an increased risk for wildfires:
Broward
Charlotte
Collier
DeSoto
Glades
Hardee
Hendry
Highlands
Lake
Lee
Manatee
Miami-Dade
Monroe
Palm Beach
Sarasota
Volusia
According to the Florida Forest Service, as of May 2, 23 burn bans are in place for the following counties:
Brevard
Charlotte
Citrus
Collier
DeSoto
Flagler
Glades
Hardee
Hendry
Hernando
Highlands
Lake
Lee
Manatee
Okeechobee
Orange
Osceola
Pasco
Polk
Sarasota
Seminole
Sumter
Volusia
The open burning of yard debris is always prohibited in these counties:
Duval
Hillsborough
Orange
Pinellas
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This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida drought. See list driest counties, rain forecast, burn bans
