Driest October in 74 years challenges Florida water flow managers

Just months after one of the wettest summers on record, eastern Palm Beach County experienced its driest October in 74 years, a shift that sent water levels in Lake Okeechobee plummeting, South Florida water managers said Thursday.

Between Oct. 1 and Nov. 5, the lake level receded at its fasted rate in 30 years, said Tommy Strowd, assistant executive director of operations, maintenance and construction for the South Florida Water Management District. The lake dropped by 0.8 feet during that time frame, he said.

Warm temperatures and clear skies have caused lake water to evaporate. Meanwhile, local farmers are drawing more irrigation water from the lake because of the dry conditions, Strowd said.