A state better known for downpours and wetlands is dealing with the opposite extreme. Florida is in the midst of a major drought, and the fallout reaches beyond brittle grass and fading lawns.
Here’s what to know
As the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported, by mid-July 2026, drought-affected areas were home to 15.5 million of Florida’s 23.5 million residents, raising alarms about both wildfire risk and access to clean drinking water.
Although Florida is typically driest from November to May, that seasonal pattern has stretched later into the year. Drought conditions are measured using indicators such as rainfall, soil moisture, streamflow, and local observations.
NASA data cited by the Herald-Tribune shows Florida has recorded some of its largest shares of severe, extreme, and exceptional drought since 2000. As of mid-July 2026, no part of Florida was in exceptional drought, though 16.2% of the state was in extreme drought…