Florida Drought Intensifies: When to Expect Rain Relief

A massive wildfire is burning across Florida's famous Alligator Alley as the state grapples with the worst drought conditions in 25 years. The parched landscape has everyone wondering when meaningful rain will arrive. Here is what the long-range forecast is telling us about the chances of rain for Florida and the rest of the Southeast.

Wildfires Pop Up in Florida as Rain Eludes the State

The National Fire in southwestern Florida has exploded in recent days, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky. The fire broke out on February 22 in Big Cypress National Preserve near the Florida Everglades. As of the late Wednesday afternoon update, the blaze was 0% contained after burning over 25,000 acres.

Fires are igniting and spreading in several places across the Sunshine State as rain has been hard to come by in recent weeks. According to the latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor, 100% of the state is under some level of drought designation. More worrisome is that 67% of the peninsula is under the category of extreme drought.