Putnam County Fire

An 800 acre wildfire continues to grow in the western portions of Putnam county. The wildfire is burning in swamp lands between Hawthorne and Interlachen. Luckily, smoke has not been problem over the last several weeks, but the situation looks like it is about to change.

Levy Prairie Wildfire Growing in Putnam County

Over the past several weeks, windy conditions mostly from the northeast, have dominated the weather pattern. But with relaxing wind and occasionally a southwesterly breeze, more of us will be smelling and seeing the smoke from this wildfire.

Multiple wildfires have popped up in Northern Florida over the last 2 weeks. And this should not be a surprise to anyone, as we are in a streak of consecutive monthly rainfall deficits. So far, for the year, Jax's official  rainfall deficit is around 4 inches. But this does not tell the whole story. When the rainfall deficit of the past two years is combined, the deficit come out to be around 30 inches of rainfall!

The bad news is that there is not any hope, in the long term forecast, for decent rainfall. November and December will both come in below average in rainfall. And if history tells us anything, the status of La Nina will undoubtedly keep much of Florida dry through the winter and springs months of 2012.

KBDI Drought Status