News :: Opinion

TBO > News > Opinion

Numbers Don't Lie: Drought Is Real

By GRANVILLE KINSMAN

Published: October 17, 2007

Regarding 'There Is No Drought' (Letters, Oct 4). Let there be no doubt that the region is experiencing a serious drought.

Rainfall naturally fluctuates from location to location. While the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's official Tampa rainfall gauge at Tampa International Airport (TIA) has recorded slightly above-average rainfall during the past 12 months, this station is not representative of the larger regional rainfall patterns of west-central Florida.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District monitors more than 130 rainfall gauges throughout its 16-county area. As of Sept. 30, the region is experiencing an annual average rainfall deficit of approximately 13.5 inches. The district calculates the deficit by comparing the regional rainfall over the previous 12 months to the long-term historical average. Looking at it this way, the region has been experiencing a rainfall deficit for 17 consecutive months.

As a result of the rainfall deficit, all 16 counties within the district are experiencing below-normal groundwater conditions and all of the major rivers are experiencing below-normal flows at the time of year when conditions should be healthiest. The entire region depends on these highly-impacted surface water and groundwater sources for water supply.

Climatologists now are predicting development of La Nina conditions in the eastern Pacific Ocean, which normally results in an even drier-than-normal fall, winter and spring in Florida.

The district is encouraging all water users to do their part to conserve water during the upcoming dry season.

To view the district's long-term rainfall, river flows and other hydrological data, visit the district's weather Web site at www.WaterMatters.org/weather.

Granville Kinsman Jr. is hydrologic data manager at the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

Share this:

* To:
Your Name:
Your Email Address:
Personal Message [optional]:

TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

News :: Opinion

Numbers Don't Lie: Drought Is Real