Hurricane Milton brings heavy October rainfall to the District

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

After an exceptionally wet September left soils saturated, the St. Johns River Water Management District’s 18-county region saw extensive rainfall in October as Hurricane Milton moved through, pushing water levels even higher, leading to flooding along the St. Johns River and many of its tributaries.

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

Rainfall

• Average rainfall across the District reached 8.41 inches, exceeding the monthly average by 4.4 inches.
• Monthly totals ranged widely, from 15.37 inches in Volusia County to 1.74 inches in Baker County.
• Fifteen counties, including Lake, Seminole, Volusia, and Flagler, saw rainfall totals above 11 inches.
• Annual rainfall totaled 61.29 inches, exceeding the long-term average by 10.28 inches, with Nassau and Volusia counties both more than 17 inches above their yearly norms.
• Seventeen counties are above their 12-month average, with eight counties 10 inches or more above their normal. Groundwater

• The Upper Floridan Aquifer continued to show a strong increasing trend in October. Most areas are now in the high range, with four wells exceeding their historic water level maximum this month.
• Districtwide groundwater levels, expressed as a single index, were in the 91st percentile, high for this time of year.

High groundwater levels support and recharge the aquifer ahead of the typically drier winter and spring months, but they don’t lessen the importance of encouraging continued water conservation practices

Spring flows

• Silver Springs recorded a mean monthly flow of 801 cubic feet per second (cfs), or 518 million gallons per day (mgd), a 61 cfs increase from last month and placing it in the high range for this time of year.
• In Volusia County, Blue Spring station reported a mean monthly flow of 166 cfs (107 mgd), also within the high range.
• Rock Springs reached 68 cfs (44 mgd), with provisional data indicating a record flow in October.
• Wekiwa Springs recorded a mean monthly flow of 75 cfs (48 mgd), which is in the high range for this time of year.

For further insights into rainfall totals and other hydrologic data, visit www.sjrwmd.com.

Visit WaterLessFlorida.com for tips to help landscapes thrive while saving water and money. Follow the water conservation conversation at #sjrwmd #waterconservation #savewater.