For significant progress battling the statewide drought, Lushine agreed, weeks or months of rain will have to fall over Lake Okeechobee and its watershed in Central Florida. Those areas did get some precipitation Tuesday, and forecasters, homeowners, gardeners, farmers and growers alike in those regions were eagerly for more. That could prime the pump. The district covers all of South Florida from the Keys northwards, past Lake Okeechobee and north away from both coasts to Orlando. Lake Okeechobee, Shaughnessy notes, is near a historic low and still losing water.
Streams feeding the lake are lower than usual, too.
May 21 start date. Lushine says the daily afternoon thunderstorms more likely will kick in by May 14. Ahead of that, unsettled weather could bring rain and wind to South Florida all the way through this weekend.