{"id":401016,"date":"2026-04-07T14:01:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T04:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/drought-parches-florida\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T14:01:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T04:01:00","slug":"drought-parches-florida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=401016","title":{"rendered":"Drought Parches Florida"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Shallow groundwater aquifers are driest in northern and central Florida in this map based on observations acquired on March 30, 2026, by the <\/em>GRACE-FO<\/em><\/a> (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On) satellites.<\/em><\/div>\n
NASA Earth Observatory\/Lauren Dauphin<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Florida is among the wettest U.S. states, but that doesn\u2019t mean it is drought-free. Nearly all of Florida faced at least \u201cmoderate\u201d drought, and nearly 80 percent faced \u201cextreme\u201d conditions in April 2026, according to data<\/a> from the U.S. Drought Monitor<\/a>. Unusually dry conditions gripped the state for much of 2025, but the intensity and extent of the drought ratcheted up starting in January 2026.<\/p>\n

Data from a NASA and German Research Center for Geosciences satellite mission show that the drought has left its imprint on the state\u2019s underground water supplies<\/a>, which are often tapped for drinking water and farming. The map above combines data from the twin GRACE-FO<\/a> (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On) satellites and ground-based measurements to estimate the relative amount of groundwater stored underground as of March 30, 2026. The colors depict the wetness percentile<\/a>, or how the amount of shallow groundwater compares to long-term records (1948\u20132010). Blue areas have more water than usual, and orange and red areas have less. Aquifers in the northern and central regions of the state are particularly dry.<\/p>\n

The drought is being felt throughout Florida. Some water districts have imposed restrictions<\/a> on when water can be used for certain activities, such as lawn watering and car washes. News reports suggest that the dry weather poses a threat to crops, many of which already suffered severe damage<\/a> during hard freezes in February. Large wildland fires have flared up<\/a> in some areas, and even wetland ecosystems like the Everglades<\/a> face unusually dry conditions. \u00a0<\/p>\n

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The 2025-2026 drought is the most severe to affect Florida since 2012, data from the U.S. Drought Monitor show.<\/em><\/div>\n
NASA Earth Observatory \/ Lauren Dauphin<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

U.S. Drought Monitor records<\/a> indicate that the current drought is the most widespread and severe to affect the state since 2012. Many areas have received less than half their normal rainfall since September 1, 2025, according to the National Weather Service<\/a>. St. Petersburg has seen only 7.7 inches (195.6 millimeters) of rain since September 1, compared to the normal 19.0 inches, making this the driest year on record for that period.\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, the current drought does not yet rival the worst drought that has parched the state, according to data from the U.S. Drought Monitor. Their analysis indicates that the 2000\u20132001 drought was more intense, lasted longer, and affected a larger area. GRACE-FO observations are among the sources of information<\/a> that the U.S. Drought Monitor considers when mapping drought conditions in its weekly assessments. Forecasters anticipate<\/a> that a slow-moving rainstorm set to hit Florida this week may offer some relief.<\/p>\n

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NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using GRACE-FO<\/a> data from The National Drought Mitigation Center<\/a> at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln<\/em>. Story by Adam Voiland.<\/em><\/p>\n