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Drought in the
Florida Keys
Since November 22nd, 2005, only 1.05 inches of rainfall
has been recorded at the Key West International Airport.
For the period
December 1, 2005 to May 5, 2006, rainfall at Key West International
Airport was 9.18 inches below normal. With this
sparse amount of rainfall common throughout the Lower Keys and
portions of the Middle and Upper Keys, a" moderate drought" has
been assigned to the Florida Keys. On this page you will
find various drought indices, as well as the most recent Public
Information Statement issued by the National Weather Service serving
the Florida Keys, and fire safety tips.
Keetch-Byram Drought
Index
The Keetch-Byram drought index (KBDI)
is a continuous reference scale for estimating the dryness of the
soil and duff layers. The index increases for each day without rain
(the amount of increase depends on the daily high temperature) and
decreases when it rains. The scale ranges from 0 (no moisture deficit)
to 800. The range of the index is determined by assuming that there
is 8 inches of moisture in a saturated soil that is readily available
to the vegetation.
For the latest graphic or more information on the KBDI Index:
Drought
Monitor
Tracking drought blends
science and art. No single definition of drought works for
all circumstances, so people rely on drought indices to detect
and measure droughts. But no single index works under all
circumstances, either. That's why we need the Drought Monitor,
a synthesis of multiple indices, outlooks and news accounts,
that represents a consensus of federal and academic scientists.
The product will be refined over time as they find ways to
make it better reflect the needs of decision-makers and others
who use the information.
Precipitation
needed to end drought (approximately 3 to 6 inches for
the Florida Keys):
Here
is the latest public information statement:
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST
FL
600 AM EDT MON MAY 01 2006
...SECOND DRIEST APRIL ON RECORD
IN KEY WEST...
KEY WEST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT RECEIVED
ONLY 0.01 INCHES OF RAIN IN
APRIL OF 2006. THIS WAS THE SECOND
DRIEST APRIL ON RECORD ONLY
BEHIND APRIL OF 1959...WHICH WAS
THE ONLY MONTH EVER IN WHICH NO
RAIN FELL IN KEY WEST.
KEY WEST HAS RECEIVED VERY LITTLE
RAINFALL SINCE NOVEMBER 21
2005...WHEN 0.66 INCHES OF RAIN FELL
AT THE AIRPORT. IN THE 160 DAYS
SINCE THEN A TOTAL OF ONLY 1.05 INCHES
OF RAIN HAS BEEN RECORDED.
THIS IS EASILY THE DRIEST SUCH STRETCH
ON RECORD IN KEY WEST. THE
NORMAL RAINFALL FOR THE PERIOD NOVEMBER
22 THROUGH APRIL 30 IS 10.47
INCHES.
THE LONG RANGE OUTLOOK FOR THIS SPRING
CALLS FOR BELOW NORMAL
RAINFALL TOTALS IN SOUTH FLORIDA
AND THE KEYS...WITH THE DEVELOPMENT
OF DROUGHT CONDITIONS LIKELY.
$$
Here are some fire safety tips:
- If smoking is permitted outdoors, safe practice requires a 3-foot clearing around the smoker.
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- Don't park your vehicle on dry grass.
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- If off-road vehicle use is allowed, internal combustion equipment requires a spark arrester.
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- Know your county's outdoor burning regulations.
Unlawful trash burning is a punishable offense.
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- At the first sign of a wildfire, leave area
immediately by established trails or roads. Contact a
Ranger as soon as possible. If escape route is blocked,
go to the nearest lake or stream.
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- Leave campsite as natural as possible, traveling
on trails and other durable surfaces.
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- Inspect your site upon leaving.
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- Never take burning sticks out of a fire.
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- Never take any type of fireworks on public
lands.
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- Keep stoves, lanterns and heaters away from
combustibles.
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- Store flammable liquid containers in a safe
place.
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www.srh.weather.gov 
National Weather Service Forecast Office
