From the St. Johns River Water Management District
In Summary:
A new hydrologic conditions report from the St. Johns River Water Management District shows that much of the region continues to experience dry conditions following four months of below-average rainfall. Groundwater levels in the Upper Floridan Aquifer declined during February as rainfall deficits widened across most of the District’s 18 counties. Statewide drought monitoring now shows large portions of Florida experiencing moderate to extreme drought conditions.
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Dry conditions continued across much of central and northeast Florida in February as the St. Johns River Water Management District reported another month of below-average rainfall across its 18-county region.
According to the District’s latest hydrologic conditions report, February marked the fourth consecutive month of below-normal rainfall. All 18 counties within the District recorded rainfall totals below their typical monthly averages, and 10 counties received less than half of their normal February rainfall.
Related: Orange County Vacant Land Prices in 2026: What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know.
Over the past year, rainfall deficits have become increasingly pronounced. Sixteen counties within the District recorded rainfall totals below their long-term averages over the past 12 months. Five counties are now more than 13 inches below normal, contributing to declining groundwater levels and lower surface water indicators across the region.
Most monitoring wells in the Upper Floridan Aquifer recorded falling water levels during February. Districtwide groundwater conditions are now near the low end, with the aquifer index at the 11th percentile for the month. Areas of low groundwater levels are expanding in northern and western counties, while several central counties are also beginning to show very low groundwater readings.
The dry pattern aligns with statewide drought conditions. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, about 70% of Florida was classified as being in extreme drought in its most recent assessment. While parts of central Florida remain in the Moderate Drought category, several northern and southern counties within the District are now experiencing severe to extreme drought conditions.
Rainfall deficits growing
Districtwide rainfall averaged 1.58 inches in February, 1.36 inches below the historical monthly average. County totals varied widely, ranging from 2.44 inches in Marion County to just 0.78 inches in Bradford County.
Over the past year, the District recorded an average of 43.98 inches of rainfall, roughly 7 inches below the long-term annual average. Rainfall has been uneven across the region. Parts of Volusia County, northern Brevard County, and portions of Seminole County and Orange County remain closer to normal rainfall levels.
However, areas farther west and northwest of the District have received less than 35 inches of rain over the past year. Only Volusia and Seminole counties remain above their typical annual rainfall totals, while eight counties are now more than 11 inches below normal. Two of the driest counties — Baker County and Bradford County — are more than 16 inches below their historical averages.
Spring flows show mixed conditions
Several major springs within the District showed mixed conditions during February.
At Silver Springs, the monthly average flow measured 476 cubic feet per second, or about 308 million gallons per day. That figure represents a 12-cubic-foot-per-second decrease from December and remains in the low range for this time of year.
In Volusia County, the monitoring station at Blue Spring recorded flows within the normal range. Similarly, Rock Springs averaged 58 cubic feet per second, and Wekiwa Springs averaged 63 cubic feet per second — both within the typical range for February.
The District continues to encourage residents to conserve water as dry conditions persist. Additional rainfall data and hydrologic reports are available at the District’s website, along with information about the current Phase II Moderate Water Shortage and tips for reducing outdoor water use.
For further insights into rainfall totals and other hydrologic data, visit www.sjrwmd.com.
For more information about the Phase II Moderate Water Shortage, visit www.sjrwmd.com/wateringrestrictions.
Visit WaterLessFlorida.com for tips to help landscapes thrive while saving water and money. Follow the water conservation conversation on #sjrwmd, #waterconservation, and #savewater.
Key Points:
- February rainfall averaged 1.58 inches across the District, more than an inch below the normal monthly average.
- Sixteen of the District’s 18 counties recorded below-average rainfall totals over the past year.
- Groundwater levels in the Upper Floridan Aquifer declined, with districtwide conditions in the 11th percentile.
- Major springs, including Rock Springs and Wekiwa Springs, remained within normal flow ranges, while Silver Springs stayed in the low range.
- Statewide drought monitoring indicates that much of Florida is experiencing moderate to extreme drought conditions.
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 District and the people of the state of Florida. The St. Johns River Water Management District is one of five districts in Florida that manage groundwater and surface water supplies. The District encompasses all or part of 18 counties in northeast and east-central Florida. District headquarters are in Palatka, and staff are also available to serve the public at service centers in Apopka, Jacksonville, and Palm Bay.
For more information about the District, please visit www.sjrwmd.com.
