Recent rains helped, but most of Florida still very dry and this heat wave won't help
That's down sharply from the 17 million and more than 84% of the state last week, due to recent rainfall. One portion in particular shows a marked difference: An area stretching from Daytona Beach west is now considered under severe, instead of extreme, drought conditions.
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In South Florida, extreme drought conditions continue, although rainfall earlier in the week moved the east coast out of the driest area.
No rain is in Florida's immediate forecast and a heat wave is forecast to bring temperatures into or near triple digits into the weekend, and then into early next week.
As of May 15, there were 26 wildfires burning 1,824 acres, according to the Florida Fire Service.
There are 15 counties under burn bans, down from a high of 23 last week.
The mean statewide drought index is at 258, a marked difference from the 466 last week.
Use the slider to compare drought conditions on May 8 and on May 15.
Sections of Florida suffering from extreme drought changed dramatically between May 8 and May 15 after rain moved down the state between May 9-12.
NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System said 51% of Florida is under drought conditions, down from 84% May 8. The state is still dry, with most areas suffering from conditions ranging from abnormally dry to extreme drought.
➤ '80% of homes lost to wildfires could have been saved.' Here's what you can do
The breakdown of drought conditions in the state (compared to May 8 percentages) which affects 14.1 million residents, is:
Abnormally dry: 36.5% (12.6%)
Moderate drought: 20.8% (34.3%)
Severe drought: 21.1% (24.4%)
Extreme drought: 9.1% (25.5%)
Exceptional drought: 0% (0%)
➤ Maps: See drought conditions by county
Don't expect rain to return anytime soon. The Florida Department of Emergency Management warned conditions will remain dry starting May 15 and into the weekend, bringing "sensitive wildfire conditions," especially to portions of east Florida.
There is a "isolated chance for a brief shower or two" across Northwest Florida Saturday.
"Temperatures will gradually warm up each day and we will see temperatures return to the 90s across most of the state by the end of the week Florida weather forecast through May 17-18 weekend, according to the Florida Department of Emergency Management.
"By Friday and Saturday, feelslike temperatures will reach the middle to upper 90s across most of the state, with areas along the Panhandle and interior West Florida approaching or reaching triple digits (100-105-degrees)."
Here's your weekend forecast:
Pensacola:
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Tallahassee:
Saturday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 95.
Sunday: Patchy fog before 9 a.m. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 95.
Jacksonville:
Saturday: Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97.
Sunday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 96.
Daytona Beach:
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Melbourne:
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 90.
Port St. Lucie:
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 92.
West Palm Beach:
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Naples:
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 88.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 89.
Fort Myers::
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 93.
Sarasota:
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Orlando:
Saturday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 96.
Sunday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 96.
Historically, Florida's rainy season begins between mid May and early June, according to the National Weather Service.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index mean for Florida was 258 on May 15. The drought index uses a scale from 0, which is very wet, to 800, which is very dry.
As of May 15, there were no counties with a drought index over 600, which means severe drought conditions and an increased risk for wildfires. There were nine counties with a drought index over 600 a week ago.
According to the Florida Forest Service, as of May 15, burn bans are in place for the following counties:
Charlotte
Collier
DeSoto
Glades
Hardee
Hendry
Highlands
Lake
Lee
Manatee
Okeechobee
Orange
Osceola
Pasco
Sarasota
The open burning of yard debris is always prohibited in these counties:
Duval
Hillsborough
Orange
Pinellas
We will continue to update our weather coverage as conditions warrant. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And subscribe here.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Florida heat wave. Despite rains, drought impacts half of state
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