Despite Idalia, drought persists in Southwest Florida

The latest drought monitor index released Thursday [Sept. 8th] shows coastal Lee, Collier and Charlotte Counties still in a drought as the relatively arid rainy season of 2023 continues.

The update takes into account rain that fell in our community during Hurricane Idalia and in the days following the storm when tropical downpours moved in with onshore winds from the Gulf of Mexico.

According to the index, moderate drought is in place across western Charlotte County west of Interstate 75 with abnormally dry conditions in the rest of the county. DeSoto County is also considered to be abnormally dry for this time of year.

The update does show that severe and extreme drought conditions have lessened in our area. Those two levels of the drought monitor no longer take up any of Charlotte County, as they have retreated northward across coastal Sarasota County.