Phase III water shortage continues as local rainfall stays below normal

Below-average September rainfall prolonged dry conditions across much of the St. Johns River Water Management District, limiting the usual seasonal recovery in several northern and western counties.Districtwide rainfall averaged 5.30 inches in September—1.44 inches below normal—according to a report presented Wednesday to the District’s Governing Board. Scattered storms brought heavy rain to some areas, but totals varied widely, offering drought-hit counties little relief.Rainfall remains well below normalMonthly rainfall ranged from 7.82 inches in Okeechobee County to just 3.19 inches in Bradford County.Over the past 12 months, the District received 42.07 inches of rain, 8.94 below average. By September, all 18 counties were below their 12-month averages; 10 had deficits over 10 inches, with Baker County exceeding 17 inches.Groundwater levels remain very lowMost monitoring sites in the Upper Floridan aquifer were below the normal range at the end of September, though nearly all showed