The Season of Waiting: Drought in the Land of Water

August 15, 2025

By Dr. Paul Julian, Biogeochemist

Dark storm clouds and rain in Florida's Everglades National Park. Adobe Stock.

South Florida is a land of water, yet its lifeblood flows in a seasonal rhythm. The summer months of heavy rain recharge the Everglades, replenish the Biscayne Aquifer, and keep drinking water flowing to millions. But when the wet season arrives late, as it has this year, the balance tips. Seasonal drought lingers longer, water supplies run lower, and the entire system—from wading birds to city faucets—feels the strain.  

South Florida’s Two Seasons 

Florida doesn’t follow the rhythm of spring, summer, fall, and winter—instead, the land sways between two extreme moods: the lush, rain-soaked abundance of the wet season and the parched stillness of the dry.  

This rhythm shapes everything from the slow dance of wading birds across the Everglades to the demands of thirsty cities and farms, all vying for a share of water. As the climate shifts and becomes more unpredictable and extreme, this seasonal timing has become less certain.  

When the Rains Don’t Come 

(Left) Rainfall total to date for the water year (May – April), percent normal, and departure from long-term mean metrics for each major basin in the South Florida Water Management District. (Right) Drought intensity metric from the U.S. Drought Monitoring Network.

The wet season usually starts in mid-May and runs through mid-October, delivering about 70% of the region’s annual rainfall through daily thunderstorms, tropical moisture, and occasional hurricanes. This year, however, much of South Florida has seen below-average rainfall. While El Niño years tend to bring storms, its counterpart—La Niña—brings drier conditions and extended droughts. Currently, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties are all below normal for rainfall, and the coming dry season is expected to be even drier. If La Niña continues, drought could intensify, stressing both natural and urban water systems. 

Ripple Effects of Drought 

Fires 

Prolonged drought has profound effects on South Florida and the Everglades. When conditions are overly dry, the risk of wildfires increases. In early May, wildfires erupted in the Everglades. While these fires have long been extinguished, an active wildfire in northern WCA2A and an elevated risk of wildfires in the entire Everglades Protection Area persist. This underscores the critical need for wet-season rain.  

Hypersalinity 

As the landscape becomes parched, the deep sloughs of the Everglades dry out, and the flow of freshwater into our estuaries like southern Biscayne Bay and Florida Bay becomes less and less. This reduced freshwater affects the balance of fresh and marine water, causing increased salinity. Prolonged high salinities and high water temperatures can be stressful to seagrass and marine animals.  

Water Supply 

The effect of a parched landscape is also felt underground. When dry conditions persist groundwater recharge is halted. Moreover, the lack of groundwater recharged combined with continued extraction of groundwater for water supply water levels continue to drop, increasing the risk of impacts associated with saltwater intrusion and other effects.  

Groundwater well conditions across the South Florida Water Management District as of August 4^th 2025.

Nature’s Solution: Storing Water 

Wetlands have always been nature’s water bank—holding wet-season abundance and releasing it in times of scarcity. But, today only about half the Everglades remain. Everglades restoration projects including reservoirs and stormwater treatment areas are rebuilding this lost storage, capturing more water to protect cities, recharge aquifers, and buffer against drought. This stored water helps maintain the balance between fresh and saltwater in estuaries, pushes back saltwater intrusion, and safeguards drinking water for millions. 

Restoration for Resilience 

While restoration can’t shift the climate, it strengthens the system’s ability to endure extremes. By improving the quality, quantity, timing, and distribution of water restoration ensures benefits for both nature and people. In a drought, the needs of the environment are often last in line—but with restored storage and smarter water management, the Everglades and South Florida’s communities stand a better chance of making it through the hard times. 

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