August sees below-average rainfall

A map illustrates rainfall conditions in August across the St. Johns River Water Management District.

PALATKA, Fla., Sept. 12, 2023 — Overall, rainfall across the St. Johns River Water Management District’s 18-county region was drier than average in August. However, conditions varied with some areas receiving over nine inches of rain, while areas in the northern region received less than three inches.

A full report outlining August’s hydrologic conditions was presented at the District’s Governing Board meeting Tuesday. Highlights include:

Rainfall

• Districtwide, August rainfall averaged 4.75 inches, which is 2.25 inches below the average for the month.
• Districtwide, the cumulative rainfall total for the past 12 months is 53.60 inches, which is 2.59 inches above the long-term average.
• Rainfall over the past 12 months was above average throughout the District.

Groundwater 

• At the end of August, Upper Floridan aquifer conditions were in the normal range, except for some areas in Duval and northern St. Johns counties, where aquifer conditions were in the low range. Additionally, small zones of high conditions were recorded in Volusia and northern Brevard counties.
• Groundwater levels expressed as a single districtwide index are at the 65th percentile, which is in the normal range for this time of year.

Spring flows

• The mean monthly flow at Silver Springs is in the normal range for this time of year at 643 cubic feet per second (cfs), or 415 million gallons per day (mgd), which is a 11 cfs decrease from July’s mean.
• At the Blue Spring station in Volusia County, the mean monthly flow was 158 cfs, or 102 mgd, which is in the high range.
• At Rock Springs, the monthly mean flow decreased slightly and is in the normal range with a decrease of 1 cfs to 60 cfs (39 mgd).
• Mean monthly flow at Wekiwa Springs is in the normal range for this time of year at 65 cfs (42 mgd).

To learn more about rainfall totals and other hydrologic data collected, visit www.sjrwmd.com.

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