Wildfires rage in Florida
Firefighters in Florida have been battling to extinguish the wildfires that have raged for days across many parts of the state.
According to the Florida Division of Forestry, over 90 fires were burning out of control over the weekend. Some of the worst fires affected the Everglades National Park, with several burning near Lake Okeechobee. All in all, around 40,000 acres (16,188 hectares) of drought stricken land have been scorched, with many blazes still burning out of control.
This is the second year of drought conditions in Florida. According to the National Drought Monitor, approximately 20% of the state has been experiencing severe to extreme drought conditions since the start of this year. The worst affected areas are across the southwest and the Kissimmee River watershed.
It is thought that moderate La Niña conditions in the equatorial Pacific are the cause of the droughts. These droughts are intensified during the winter and spring months. Over the past week, high pressure has been in control of Florida’s weather causing it to stay sunny and dry with very little moisture in the atmosphere.
A little relief from the hot dry spell may be on the way for central parts today and over the next few days, as forecasters are expecting scattered thundery showers. The severely drought-stricken south, however, is unlikely to see any substantial rainfall and will remain hot and dry for the rest of this week; thus maintaining a high fire hazard.
