Tampa Bay Area Faces 'Stage 2 Drought Warning' as Severe Drought Conditions Persist

Mandatory one-day-a-week outdoor watering restrictions begin this weekend to combat dwindling water supplies

Feb. 6, 2026 at 6:47pm

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Much of the Tampa Bay region is facing severe or extreme drought conditions, triggering a Stage 2 Drought Warning for the area. Regional water experts are mandating one-day-a-week watering restrictions starting February 8 to prevent supplies from depleting. Officials warn that the dry season began a month early this year, leading to a 12-inch water deficit over the last 12 months.

Why it matters

The drought is impacting more than just lawns, with the dry conditions forcing Hillsborough and other counties to extend bans on open outdoor burning. Since the start of the year, more than 400 brush fires have burned over 11,000 acres statewide. Public cooperation is essential to ensure there is enough water to last through the spring.

The details

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and Tampa Bay Water have moved the region into a Stage 2 Drought Warning. The shift comes after a year of significantly lower-than-normal rainfall, leaving the area with a rainfall deficit of nearly 11 inches. To combat the shortage, mandatory one-day-a-week outdoor watering restrictions begin this weekend, on February 8. While the City of Tampa is already on permanent one-day restrictions, residents in Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties will now have to adjust their schedules. Experts note that home irrigation is a primary culprit for water waste, with a single cycle using about 2,500 gallons of water.

  • The dry season began a month early this year.
  • The one-day-a-week watering restrictions begin on February 8, 2026.

The players

Tampa Bay Water

The regional water supplier for the Tampa Bay area.

Warren Hogg

The chief science officer for Tampa Bay Water.

Hillsborough County Fire Marshal Tammy Zurla

The fire marshal for Hillsborough County, Florida.

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What they’re saying

“Our rivers only flow, and we get good rainfall, and river flow is now more than 10 million gallons a day, less than it should.”

— Warren Hogg, Chief Science Officer, Tampa Bay Water (fox13news.com)

“Something as simple as just a small, you know, the little burn pits that you have, something as small as that can turn into a major catastrophe very quickly.”

— Tammy Zurla, Hillsborough County Fire Marshal (fox13news.com)

What’s next

Residents can find their specific assigned watering day by visiting MyWaterDay.org and entering their zip code. Tampa Bay Water warns that as temperatures rise in the coming months, the strain on the local system will increase.

The takeaway

This severe drought highlights the importance of water conservation efforts and the need for residents to cooperate with mandatory water restrictions to ensure there is enough water to last through the spring dry season.