May showers brings double the rain statewide

From the St. John's River Water Management District

May’s wet weather pushed rainfall totals across the St. Johns River Water Management District to double the average.

For the month of May, the districtwide rainfall total was 8.8 inches compared to the average of 3.5 inches. This is a departure from last year’s data when rainfall was trending significantly below average.

While May’s rainfall has been reported as record-setting, it wasn’t record-setting in all areas of the district, with weather stations in Jacksonville, Orlando, Daytona Beach and Vero Beach having recorded more rain in prior years.

• Indian River County had the highest monthly rainfall, with 11.6 inches, followed by Seminole and Volusia, with just over 10 inches.
• Twelve-month rainfall totals are above average, with a zone of unusually high rainfall running through northern Alachua, Putnam, southwest St. Johns and northwest Flagler counties.
• Putnam County had the highest 12-month rainfall of 76 inches.
• Districtwide, the annual total is 16.5 inches above average.

About the St. Johns River Water Management District

St. Johns River Water Management District staff are committed to ensuring the sustainable use and protection of water resources for the benefit of the people of the district and the state of Florida. The St. Johns River Water Management District is one of five districts in Florida managing groundwater and surface water supplies in the state. The district encompasses all or part of 18 northeast and east-central Florida counties. District headquarters are in Palatka, and staff also are available to serve the public at service centers in Maitland, Jacksonville, and Palm Bay.