Historic drought relief arrives just as Central Florida enters dry season

Central Florida is making progress on its historic drought, but the timing is less than ideal. Just as recent rain has helped improve conditions, the region is reaching the time of year when showers and storms typically become less frequent, called the ‘Dry Season’.The dry season typically begins around Oct. 15 in Orlando, Sanford and Daytona Beach, with Melbourne following around Oct. 17, according to the National Weather Service.Seasons of ChangeThe U.S. Drought Monitor maps from May 26 and Oct. 6 show how drought conditions across Florida have evolved through the wet season.Florida’s drought peaked during the late winter and early spring, when nearly the entire state was experiencing severe drought or worse. Summer thunderstorms have since helped improve conditions across much of the state, although significant rainfall deficits and lingering drought impacts remain.Central Florida has endured an especially difficult stretch, including the longest continuous period of severe drought