LIVE OAK, FLA., JUNE 12, 2024 – 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 May.
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 May include:
The District received an average rainfall of 4.57 inches of rain, which is approximately 32 percent higher than the 1932-2023 average of 3.47 inches of rain. The 12-month period ending May 31 reflected a Districtwide rainfall surplus of 7.69 inches of rain, which represents an increase from the 6.5-inch surplus from the end of April. - Most counties in the District received anywhere between 2 inches and 7 inches of rainfall on average, with areas of Dixie, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Madison, and Taylor counties receiving more than 7 inches of rainfall.
- Most of the river stations in the District finished the month in the above normal (75th to 100th percentile) flow range, with several river gages setting record high daily flows at some point in May.
- Upper Floridan Aquifer levels across the District reflected mostly normal groundwater levels or higher in May. However, some wells in Levy County showed levels this month in the low category. Groundwater levels decreased by a median of 0.7 feet since the end of April and ended the month of May with a Districtwide average around the 77th percentile.
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) three-month seasonal outlook suggests above-normal temperatures along with above-normal precipitation throughout the District from June through August.
- The U.S. Drought Monitor report released on June 4 shows no areas of the District with any drought characteristics.
The full report can be found on 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. 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.
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