Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the average rainfall per year in
Florida? How much rainfall has Florida received so far in 2009?
Statewide, Florida receives an average (1901-2001) of 54.02 inches of
rainfall a year. The nation as a whole averages 30 inches per year. Nevada, the
driest state, has an average rainfall of only 9 inches per year.
Total annual rainfall for Florida typically varies (sometimes greatly) from
one part of the state to another, from one season to another, and from one year
to the next. Such rainfall variations have direct impacts upon surface water and
groundwater supplies.
This is the case so far in 2009. According to the Florida
Climate Center
at Florida State University, so far in 2009 (January 1 – March 31), Miami has
only received 2.25 inches of rainfall while Jacksonville has received nearly
nine. On average (1901-2001), during the first
three months of the year, Florida receives 9.78 inches of rainfall.
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What is a "water year"?
Florida’s water year is the period from May 1 through April
30.
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How is drought defined?
A drought is a period of unusually dry weather that persists
long enough to cause serious problems such as crop damage and/or
water supply shortages. The severity of the drought depends upon
the degree of moisture deficiency, the duration and the size of
the affected area.
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Are we in a drought now?
Parts of Florida, including much of Central, South and Southwest
Florida are experiencing drought conditions.
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Has there been a drought in Florida in
the past?
Periods of low rainfall occur naturally in Florida. Major
statewide or regional droughts occurred in recent decades,
including the early 1970s, the early 1980s, the 1989-1990, 1999-2001,
2006-2007 and currently. Even though average annual rainfall in
Florida is 54 inches (greater than any other state but
Louisiana), it is not evenly distributed and has some unusual
characteristics that tend to produce periods of water shortages.
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Can we predict when the next drought will
occur in Florida, or when the current drought conditions will
end?
No. Although accurate, detailed long-term weather forecasting
would be extremely valuable for many applications, this
capability does not yet exist. However, significant progress is
being made in climate research that helps us understand
fundamental oceanic and atmospheric conditions associated with
drought.
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What are typical reductions in urban
water use during droughts?
The reductions depend on what Water Management District you
live in.
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How do droughts affect groundwater use?
Groundwater is water that is stored in the ground, not often
in caves but mostly in the spaces between soil and rock.
Groundwater does not occur everywhere – it depends on the type
of rock in the area.
Groundwater is very different to rivers and lakes. When it
rains, rivers and lakes respond very quickly (within minutes or
hours) by increasing flows and levels. But the effect of
rainfall on groundwater may not be seen for days or weeks,
because it takes time for the water to seep into the soil and
move slowly down to the aquifer (the rock that holds
groundwater).
In Florida, about 90 percent of our drinking water comes from
groundwater.
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Why isn't seawater desalting the answer
to meeting water needs during droughts?
Although improvements in desalting technology are increasing
its efficiency, the high energy costs associated with seawater
desalting make it prohibitively expensive for most water
agencies, compared to other alternatives.
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Where can I find information about
reservoir levels or river flows?
The five Florida Water Management
Districts provide this information for the State's major
reservoirs and rivers.
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Specific information for Water Management
Districts:
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2012 State of Florida