An explainer on the Bay Area’s current conditions
“How are we still in a drought?” you ask, dripping wet from the pop-up storm in which you just got caught. It may feel like a contradiction to be talking about watering restrictions as we wind down Florida’s rainy season. And yet, watering restrictions, which affect homeowners and businesses, were just extended to March 31, 2027 for much of west central Florida. While all property owners need to be aware of these to avoid fines, they’re not top-of-mind for many residents.
It’s understandable to wonder where these restrictions come from and even to be confused about the current drought status, when it might feel like it has ended. And what about this “Godzilla El Niño” we keep hearing about? To better orient ourselves to where we are in all this, it may help to look back at how we got here and hear from an expert about what we might expect going forward.
The Drought in Fall 2026
Anyone can access drought status maps, updated every Thursday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). As of mid-October, most of the state still fell into one of the five categories of drought, from “abnormally dry” to “extreme drought.” Even after all the rain, , most of the state is still is still in a drought or abnormally dry.
The situation has improved in recent months. Since June, no area meets the criteria for “exceptional drought,” the most severe level. We are headed into the dry season, which generally means less rain, and then hurricane season ends November 30, meaning less threat from an already quiet period in the tropics…