US drought

Florida drought conditions

54.5% of Florida is in drought on the Drought Monitor map of Sep 15, 2026, down 4.2 points from the week before. The worst is extreme drought, across 2% of the state. 53 of 67 counties have some drought.

Map valid Sep 15, 2026, released Thursday, Sep 17, 2026. The next map is due Thursday, Sep 24, 2026.

In drought
54.5%
Worst category
D3 Extreme drought
Abnormally dry or worse
90.3%
Counties with drought
53 of 67

Every countyLive radarFlorida alertsFlorida forecasts

Radar

Reflectivity now over Florida. Open it to see the Drought Monitor on the map.

Open the live radar with the Drought Monitor

Radar mosaic and map layers from NOAA MRMS. Boundaries from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet.

This week's map, by category

Percent of Florida in each category or worse, the Drought Monitor's own way of counting. In exactly one category this week: D0 35.8%, D1 40.8%, D2 11.7%, D3 2%, D4 0%; none 9.7%.

CategoryThis weekSep 15Last weekSep 83 months agoJun 16A year agoSep 16
D0 to D4 Abnormally dry or worse90.3%90.3%99.9%42%
D1 to D4 Moderate or worse54.5%58.7%91.9%9.4%
D2 to D4 Severe or worse13.7%15.9%62.8%0%
D3 to D4 Extreme or worse2%2%23.5%0%
D4 Exceptional drought0%0%3.9%0%
None9.7%9.7%0.1%58%

The past year

Percent of Florida in each category, week by week. Each color includes the worse categories drawn over it.

Percent of Florida in drought categories from Sep 16, 2025 to Sep 15, 2026. On the latest map, 54.5% is in drought (D1 or worse) and 90.3% is abnormally dry or worse.0%25%50%75%100%OctNovDec2026FebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep
  • D0 Abnormally dry
  • D1 Moderate drought
  • D2 Severe drought
  • D3 Extreme drought
  • D4 Exceptional drought
Every week in the chart
MapD0+D1+D2+D3+D4+
Sep 15, 202690.3%54.5%13.7%2%0%
Sep 8, 202690.3%58.7%15.9%2%0%
Sep 1, 202691.2%66.2%29.7%3.6%0%
Aug 25, 202691.2%67.1%40.1%9.7%0%
Aug 18, 202690.4%65.9%39%9%0%
Aug 11, 202690.2%67.4%39.3%8.7%0%
Aug 4, 202690.3%69.7%41.8%9%0%
Jul 28, 202697%72.5%52.4%14.3%0%
Jul 21, 202689.9%75.5%54.5%14.3%0%
Jul 14, 202692.5%75.7%55.2%16.2%0%
Jul 7, 202692.5%75.7%54.7%16.2%0%
Jun 30, 202693.1%80%58.9%18%0%
Jun 23, 202695.5%79.7%58.9%19.9%0%
Jun 16, 202699.9%91.9%62.8%23.5%3.9%
Jun 9, 2026100%95.1%69.8%31.1%3.9%
Jun 2, 2026100%98.6%81.1%53.1%10%
May 26, 2026100%99.3%92.7%64.5%17.2%
May 19, 2026100%99.3%92.9%74.6%22.3%
May 12, 2026100%99.3%95%80.6%23.8%
May 5, 2026100%98.7%94.3%81.9%25%
Apr 28, 2026100%98.7%92.3%78.5%25%
Apr 21, 2026100%99%92.8%76.7%22.7%
Apr 14, 2026100%99%92.8%71.2%20.2%
Apr 7, 2026100%99.5%95%79.5%20.2%
Mar 31, 2026100%99.5%95%79.5%12.2%
Mar 24, 2026100%99.8%90.7%72.9%9.5%
Mar 17, 2026100%99.8%90.7%72.5%1.6%
Mar 10, 2026100%100%90.9%72.9%0%
Mar 3, 2026100%100%87.5%70.5%0%
Feb 24, 2026100%100%87.5%67.4%0%
Feb 17, 2026100%98.8%87.5%67.4%0%
Feb 10, 2026100%98.8%85.5%43.4%0%
Feb 3, 2026100%95.5%78.7%24.1%0%
Jan 27, 2026100%94%73.7%14%0%
Jan 20, 2026100%92.8%64.8%4.8%0%
Jan 13, 2026100%91.9%54.7%4.8%0%
Jan 6, 202699.8%87%38%3.5%0%
Dec 30, 202598.8%83.3%31.7%3.5%0%
Dec 23, 202598.8%77.5%19.2%3.5%0%
Dec 16, 202587.1%67.8%17.2%3.5%0%
Dec 9, 202585.8%66%26.8%5.8%0%
Dec 2, 202585.6%62.9%37.6%20.5%5.6%
Nov 25, 202579.7%63%29.3%20.3%5.6%
Nov 18, 202579%57.3%28.4%15.5%2%
Nov 11, 202573.1%45.5%25.1%12.5%0%
Nov 4, 202570.6%40.6%23.3%10.8%0%
Oct 28, 202568.6%36%23.3%10.7%0%
Oct 21, 202562.9%35.6%21.2%6.3%0%
Oct 14, 202558.5%34%21%4.7%0%
Oct 7, 202559.7%30.2%7.2%0%0%
Sep 30, 202557.7%30.6%6.2%0%0%
Sep 23, 202542.5%27%4.3%0%0%
Sep 16, 202542%9.4%0%0%0%

Since 2000

Every weekly map of Florida since January 2000.

Percent of Florida in drought categories from Jan 4, 2000 to Sep 15, 2026. On the latest map, 54.5% is in drought (D1 or worse) and 90.3% is abnormally dry or worse.0%25%50%75%100%200420082012201620202024
  • D0 Abnormally dry
  • D1 Moderate drought
  • D2 Severe drought
  • D3 Extreme drought
  • D4 Exceptional drought
Year by year
YearWorst categoryMost in droughtWeek ofWeeks with drought
2026D4 Exceptional drought100%Feb 2437 of 37
2025D4 Exceptional drought84.2%May 652 of 52
2024D3 Extreme drought42%Jun 1141 of 53
2023D3 Extreme drought80.3%Mar 750 of 52
2022D2 Severe drought52.3%Mar 842 of 52
2021D1 Moderate drought11.5%Jun 114 of 52
2020D2 Severe drought83%Apr 725 of 52
2019D3 Extreme drought29.4%Jun 444 of 53
2018D2 Severe drought28%Apr 1728 of 52
2017D3 Extreme drought71.7%May 3025 of 52
2016D3 Extreme drought24.4%Nov 2912 of 52
2015D3 Extreme drought23%Jul 2148 of 52
2014D2 Severe drought6.7%Nov 1125 of 52
2013D3 Extreme drought71.9%Feb 1923 of 53
2012D4 Exceptional drought100%Apr 1038 of 52
2011D4 Exceptional drought91.3%Mar 2252 of 52
2010D3 Extreme drought86%Dec 2822 of 52
2009D3 Extreme drought78.7%Mar 3127 of 52
2008D3 Extreme drought39%Feb 1241 of 53
2007D4 Exceptional drought96.3%May 2252 of 52
2006D3 Extreme drought55.2%Dec 1938 of 52
2005D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2004D1 Moderate drought29.3%Jun 15 of 52
2003D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2002D2 Severe drought34.3%Jun 430 of 53
2001D4 Exceptional drought99.9%May 2937 of 52
2000D4 Exceptional drought99.8%May 3052 of 52

Drought history since 2000

Some part of Florida was in drought on 62% of the weekly maps since Jan 4, 2000, and exceptional drought (D4) last reached the state the week of Jun 16, 2026.

Weeks with some drought
860 of 1,394 (62%)
Worst category reached
D4 Exceptional drought, last the week of Jun 16, 2026
Most widespread
100% in drought, week of Mar 10, 2026
Longest spell
124 weeks, Apr 11, 2006 to Aug 19, 2008
Current spell
102 weeks, since Oct 8, 2024

Counties

Every county in Florida: the worst category on this week's map, the share of it in drought, and CPC's monthly outlook at its center. Each page has the county's record since 2000.

CountyWorst categoryIn droughtChangeMonthly outlook
Alachua CountyD3 Extreme drought99.1%−0.9Drought remains but improves
Baker CountyD1 Moderate drought35.3%0Drought remains but improves
Bay CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Bradford CountyD2 Severe drought100%0Drought remains but improves
Brevard CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Broward CountyD2 Severe drought100%0Drought remains but improves
Calhoun CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Charlotte CountyD2 Severe drought49.4%−38.6Drought removal likely
Citrus CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Clay CountyD2 Severe drought100%0Drought remains but improves
Collier CountyD2 Severe drought74.6%0Drought removal likely
Columbia CountyD3 Extreme drought70%0Drought remains but improves
DeSoto CountyD3 Extreme drought100%0Drought remains but improves
Dixie CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%−99.6Drought removal likely
Duval CountyD1 Moderate drought9.4%0Drought remains but improves
Escambia CountyD1 Moderate drought37.2%0No drought expected
Flagler CountyD1 Moderate drought38.1%0Drought removal likely
Franklin CountyNone0%0No drought expected
Gadsden CountyD1 Moderate drought0.2%0No drought expected
Gilchrist CountyD3 Extreme drought77.3%−22.7Drought remains but improves
Glades CountyD2 Severe drought63.7%−5.8Drought removal likely
Gulf CountyNone0%0No drought expected
Hamilton CountyD1 Moderate drought25.9%0Drought remains but improves
Hardee CountyD3 Extreme drought100%0Drought remains but improves
Hendry CountyD2 Severe drought74%−4.3Drought remains but improves
Hernando CountyD1 Moderate drought34.9%−9.3Drought removal likely
Highlands CountyD3 Extreme drought100%0Drought remains but improves
Hillsborough CountyD3 Extreme drought100%0Drought remains but improves
Holmes CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%−10.2No drought expected
Indian River CountyD1 Moderate drought7.9%0No drought expected
Jackson CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%−2.6No drought expected
Jefferson CountyD1 Moderate drought44.1%−2.6Drought removal likely
Lafayette CountyD1 Moderate drought64.4%−23.6Drought remains but improves
Lake CountyD1 Moderate drought91.2%0Drought remains but improves
Lee CountyD2 Severe drought30.9%−11.2Drought removal likely
Leon CountyD1 Moderate drought55.7%0No drought expected
Levy CountyD1 Moderate drought2.8%−37.6Drought removal likely
Liberty CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Madison CountyD1 Moderate drought30.4%0Drought removal likely
Manatee CountyD3 Extreme drought100%0Drought remains but improves
Marion CountyD2 Severe drought58.5%0Drought removal likely
Martin CountyD2 Severe drought59.5%0Drought removal likely
Miami-Dade CountyD2 Severe drought100%0Drought remains but improves
Monroe CountyD2 Severe drought100%0Drought remains but improves
Nassau CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0Drought remains but improves
Okaloosa CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Okeechobee CountyD2 Severe drought100%0Drought removal likely
Orange CountyD1 Moderate drought50.2%0Drought removal likely
Osceola CountyD1 Moderate drought38.8%0No drought expected
Palm Beach CountyD2 Severe drought98.9%0Drought removal likely
Pasco CountyD2 Severe drought83.1%−0.3Drought removal likely
Pinellas CountyD3 Extreme drought100%0Drought remains but improves
Polk CountyD2 Severe drought100%0Drought removal likely
Putnam CountyD2 Severe drought100%0Drought remains but improves
Saint Johns CountyD1 Moderate drought36.3%0Drought removal likely
Saint Lucie CountyD1 Moderate drought42.8%0No drought expected
Santa Rosa CountyD1 Moderate drought34.4%0No drought expected
Sarasota CountyD3 Extreme drought100%0Drought remains but improves
Seminole CountyD1 Moderate drought4.7%0No drought expected
Sumter CountyD1 Moderate drought18.8%0No drought expected
Suwannee CountyD3 Extreme drought97.7%0Drought remains but improves
Taylor CountyD1 Moderate drought57.4%−36.6Drought removal likely
Union CountyD2 Severe drought100%0Drought remains but improves
Volusia CountyD1 Moderate drought15%0No drought expected
Wakulla CountyD1 Moderate drought8.1%−0.5No drought expected
Walton CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Washington CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected

Outlook

The Climate Prediction Center's monthly drought outlook for Sep 2026, read at the center of each county. Its seasonal outlook runs through December 31; each county page has both.

  • Drought improves25 counties
  • No_Drought23 counties
  • Drought removal likely19 counties

What drought has meant in Florida

The National Drought Mitigation Center's examples of impacts observed in Florida at each level of drought.

D0 Abnormally dry

  • Increased landscape irrigation is needed; voluntary water conservation is requested
  • Small brush fires increase

D1 Moderate drought

  • Burn bans are possible
  • Trees and bushes begin browning
  • Water supply decreases

D2 Severe drought

  • Air and water quality are poor; water salinity is high; river and lake levels are low
  • Bears and snakes change food and water habitats
  • Large increase of wildfire abundance; fire danger is elevated; burn bans are implemented
  • Lawns and landscapes go dormant
  • Pasture is drying, hay yields are low

D3 Extreme drought

  • Fire danger is extreme; fire restrictions increase
  • Fish kills occur; toxic algae blooms appear
  • Ground water declines; Lake Okeechobee is extremely low
  • Nesting bird populations grow with increased nesting area; mosquitoes increase
  • Saltwater species replace freshwater species; sea intrusion

D4 Exceptional drought

  • Ground water declines rapidly
  • Large municipalities use alternative water sources, borrow water

Drawn from the Drought Impact Reporter and local observers.

This week in the Southeast

The Drought Monitor authors' narrative for the map of Sep 15, 2026, released Sep 17, 2026.

Central Virginia had moderate rainfall this past week, leading to some drought improvement. Most of the Carolinas into Georgia were warm and dry, however, resulting the regional degradation of drought conditions. Florida was generally wet and had drought improvement in small areas in the north, center, and south parts of the state. Meanwhile, Alabama continued to experience above normal temperatures and limited rainfall in the central to north, leading to large areas with drought degradation. There remain some areas of extreme drought in northern North Carolina, coastal South and North Carolina, and small areas in Florida.

Looking ahead

Over the next five days leading up to next Tuesday, above normal rainfall is forecast in south Florida as well as a large area in southern Wisconsin and Minnesota into eastern Iowa and northern Illinois. The latter area of forecasted rainfall continues to the east through central Michigan, the southern Great Lakes, Pennsylvania, New York, and much of central and southern New England. Other locations with rainfall in the forecast this week are in the Appalachian Mountains, the western Great Plains, and the Four Corners states. Unfortunately, most of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are forecast to receive little rainfall. Dry conditions are also forecast in California, Nevada, and Washington. Much above normal temperatures are forecast to continue this week in the central and southern U.S.

The 6- to 10-day outlook (September 22-26, 2026) favors above normal temperatures continuing over nearly all of the continental United States. Areas most likely to be above normal are again the south into the southeast, plus the far north. Hawaii is also likely to be above normal. For precipitation, the Eastern Seaboard is likely to have above normal rainfall as is the Southwest. The central U.S. into the upper Midwest is likely to have below normal rainfall. Hawaii and Alaska are both likely to have above normal rain during this period.

Written by Lindsay Johnson, National Drought Mitigation Center; David Mocko, SSAI, NASA/GSFC. The national narrative.

What this means

The five categories the Drought Monitor draws, and how the map is made.

D0 Abnormally dry
Going into or coming out of drought.
D1 Moderate drought
Some damage to crops and pastures; water shortages developing.
D2 Severe drought
Crop or pasture losses likely; water restrictions imposed.
D3 Extreme drought
Major crop and pasture losses; widespread water shortages.
D4 Exceptional drought
Exceptional and widespread losses; water emergencies.

The US Drought Monitor is drawn every week by authors at the National Drought Mitigation Center, USDA and NOAA, who weigh rainfall, soil moisture, streamflow, groundwater, vegetation health and reports from local observers. Each map shows conditions through Tuesday morning and is released on Thursday. It shows where drought is and how bad it is; it does not forecast it. CPC's outlooks do that.

Sources

Statistics and narrative from the US Drought Monitor, courtesy of the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, with USDA and NOAA. Outlooks from the NOAA Climate Prediction Center. Impacts from NDMC's State Impacts tool.