Florida Faces Deepening Drought Crisis

Burn bans, wildfires, and water shortages plague the state as rainy season remains months away.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Nearly 95% of Florida is now experiencing some level of drought, with over 100 wildfires burning and water supplies dwindling. Burn bans have been issued in 28 counties, and officials are urging residents in six South Florida counties to reduce water usage by limiting landscape watering, car washing, and laundry. The drought, which started in the Panhandle and spread southward, has left 16.5 million Floridians living in drought-affected areas.

Why it matters

The deepening drought in Florida poses significant challenges to the state's environment, economy, and public safety. Wildfires are threatening homes and infrastructure, while water shortages could lead to saltwater intrusion in freshwater aquifers that supply millions of residents. The drought also impacts agriculture and tourism, two of Florida's key industries.

The details

The drought has forced burn bans, stoked wildfires, and triggered water shortage alerts across the state. As of February 11th, 128 wildfires were burning statewide, snarling traffic and forcing school closures. The South Florida Water Management District has urged residents in six counties to reduce landscape watering, car washing, and laundry to once per week to prevent serious harm to water resources. Adherence to these requests is currently voluntary, but could become mandatory if the situation worsens.

  • On February 6th, warnings were issued to six South Florida counties as surface water supplies dwindled and freshwater aquifers shrank to critically low levels.
  • As of February 5th, about 16.5 million Floridians were living in areas suffering from drought.
  • Since December 1st, 2026, West Palm Beach has had just 1.35 inches of rain, making this its fourth driest winter in 130 years of measurements.

The players

South Florida Water Management District

The agency that oversees 16 counties from Orlando to the Keys and is working to hold as much water in the system as possible.

Sammy Hadi

A Miami-based National Weather Service meteorologist who stated that the state is "in the hole" and would need "a really good, prolonged soaking to make a dent in the drought."

Todd Chlanda

A wildfire mitigation specialist for areas in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Polk counties who noted that the dry and windy conditions are ideal for wildfires.

Brian LaMarre

An Inspire Weather meteorologist and former Tampa area NWS meteorologist who said a weather system coming on February 15th would bring some rain, but not enough to end the drought.

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What they’re saying

“We are in the hole, and until we get significant rainfall, we are not going to make up the deficit. We would need a really good, prolonged soaking to make a dent in the drought.”

— Sammy Hadi, Miami-based National Weather Service meteorologist (nwfdailynews.com)

“The humidities have been down, the wind has been up, and the sun has been shining. People say it's beautiful weather, and it is, but for wildfires, it's the worst time.”

— Todd Chlanda, Wildfire mitigation specialist (nwfdailynews.com)

“There is a weather system coming Sunday (Feb. 15) with a better chance of rain. It's not the type of system that will end the drought, but any rain helps.”

— Brian LaMarre, Inspire Weather meteorologist and former Tampa area NWS meteorologist (nwfdailynews.com)

What’s next

The South Florida Water Management District said it is doing what it can to hold as much water in the system as possible, and officials are closely monitoring the situation. If water supplies do not rebound, the voluntary water restrictions could become mandatory.

The takeaway

The deepening drought in Florida is a complex and multifaceted crisis that requires a coordinated response from state and local authorities, as well as the cooperation of residents. The situation highlights the need for long-term water management strategies and the importance of preparing for the impacts of climate change on the state's environment and resources.