Tallahassee, FL – Despite a few days of scattered rainfall, drought conditions continue to expand across North Florida and the eastern Panhandle, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday.
According to the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, much of the region remains in moderate to severe drought as of September 30. Only a few coastal and inland pockets show “abnormally dry” or “no drought” conditions. Officials said the rainfall totals from last week were insufficient to bring meaningful improvement.
Rain chances are forecast to increase slightly Sunday and Monday, but totals are expected to remain light—generally less than half an inch across most counties. Breezy conditions will also persist into next week, keeping soil moisture low and further stressing vegetation.
As of this week’s update, over 99% of the Tallahassee forecast area is experiencing at least some level of drought, with 33% under “severe drought” (D2) classification. A year ago, none of the region faced drought conditions.
Residents are urged to conserve water where possible and avoid outdoor burning. No significant storm systems are currently forecast to bring widespread rainfall through mid-October.
