LIVE OAK, FLA., FEBRUARY 15, 2023 – To help enhance public awareness of water levels and the impact rainfall has on current conditions in North Florida, the Suwannee River Water Management District (District) has released its Hydrologic Conditions Report for the month of January.
This monthly report highlights rainfall, surface water and groundwater levels, a climate and drought outlook, as well as other scientific data that can be utilized to help educate the public about the impact rainfall has on North Florida.
Notable highlights from the month of January:
- The District received an average of 2.71 inches of rain, which was approximately 26 percent lower than the 1932-2022 average of 3.65 inches.
- Due to slightly lower rainfall in January, the 12-month period ending January 31 reflected a rainfall deficit of 5.74 inches. This means the District has received less rainfall during the previous 12 months than the historical average.
- Many of the river gages finished the month in the normal (25th to 75th percentile flow range). However, gages in the Santa Fe River Basin along with the Steinhatchee River near Cross City showed below normal flows at the end of January.
- Upper Florida Aquifer (UFA) levels ranged from extremely high (above the 90th percentile) in the eastern portion of the District to an extremely low (below the 10th percentile) area in Lafayette County at the end of January. Elsewhere, much of the district showed normal groundwater conditions overall.
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) three-month seasonal outlook favors above normal temperatures with below normal rainfall changes throughout the District from February through April.
- The U.S. Drought Monitor report released on February 9 shows all District counties in at least one of the following drought categories: Abnormally Dry, Moderate Drought, or Severe Drought.
The full report can be found at the District’s website under the Science & Data tab. It is typically updated the second week of each month, and reports from the previous five years are available for viewing.
The mission of the Suwannee River Water Management District is to protect and manage water resources using science-based solutions to support natural systems and the needs of the public. The District holds true to the belief of water for nature, water for people. Headquartered in Live Oak, Florida, the District serves 15 surrounding north-central Florida counties.
For more information about the District, visit www.MySuwanneeRiver.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter, search @SRWMD.
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