LIVE OAK, FLA., JANUARY 10, 2023 – To help enhance public awareness of water levels and the impact rainfall has on current conditions in North Florida, the Suwannee River Water Management District (District) has released its Hydrologic Conditions Report for the month of December.
This monthly report highlights rainfall, surface water and groundwater levels, a climate and drought outlook, as well as other scientific data that can be utilized to help educate the public about the impact rainfall has on North Florida.
Notable highlights from the month of December:
- The District received an average of 1.12 inches of rain, which was approximately 65 percent lower than the 1932-2021 average of 3.17 inches.
- Due to low rainfall in December, the 12-month period ending December 31 reflected a rainfall deficit of 6.52 inches. This means the District has received less rainfall during the previous 12 months than the historical average.
- Many of the river gages finished the month in the normal (25th to 75th percentile flow range). However, gages on the Suwannee River at Ellaville, Steinhatchee River near Cross City, and Aucilla River at Lamont showed below normal flows (10th to 25th percentile range) at the end of December.
- Upper Florida Aquifer (UFA) levels ranged from extremely high (above the 90th percentile) in the eastern portion of the District to extremely low (below the 10th percentile) in the western and southern parts of the District at the end of December.
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) three-month seasonal outlook favors above normal temperatures with below normal rainfall changes throughout the District from January through March.
The full report can be found at the District’s website under the Science & Data tab. It is typically updated the second week of each month, and reports from the previous five years are available for viewing.
The mission of the Suwannee River Water Management District is to protect and manage water resources using science-based solutions to support natural systems and the needs of the public. The District holds true to the belief of water for nature, water for people. Headquartered in Live Oak, Florida, the District serves 15 surrounding north-central Florida counties.
For more information about the District, visit www.MySuwanneeRiver.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter, search @SRWMD.
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