Florida Drought Could Make Hurricane Impacts Worse Despite Quiet Season

Despite the forecast of a tame Atlantic hurricane season, the ongoing drought in Florida and the threat of wildfires could amplify the impacts of tropical weather events this summer. This is what the experts are saying about how the dry conditions may impact the upcoming hurricane season.

Florida's Historic Drought Continues to Grip the State

Florida has been battling its worst drought in decades in recent months. The parched landscape is fueling the development of widespread wildfire activity across the peninsula.

According to the latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor, 99.3% of the state is under some level of drought. Several parts of the state are running 8 to 14 inches below the typical rainfall totals by this time of the year.

For instance, zones under the designation of extreme to exceptional drought fell from almost 75% of the state last week to approximately 64% this week. Some parts of the peninsula are approaching drought classifications comparable to the historic 1998 drought.