News Flash

LIVE OAK, FLA., FEBRUARY 13, 2024 – 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 January.  

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 January include:  

• The District received an average rainfall of 4.27 inches, which is about 17 percent higher than the 1932-2023 average of 3.64 inches of rain. 
• Most counties received anywhere between 2 inches and 5 inches of rainfall on average, though some areas of Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison, Suwannee, and Taylor counties received more than 6 inches of rainfall. 
• The 12-month rainfall period ending January 31 reflected a Districtwide rainfall surplus of 6.09 inches, an increase from the 4.58-inch surplus at the end of December.
• River stations across the District finished in either the normal (25^th to 75^th percentile) or above normal (75^th to 100^th percentile) flow ranges in January. 
• Upper Floridan Aquifer levels across the District reflected normal groundwater levels or higher in January, and large of areas of Columbia, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Madison, and Taylor counties saw areas with extremely high levels. Groundwater levels increased by half a foot since the end of December and ended January with a Districtwide average around the 83^rd percentile.
• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) three-month seasonal outlook suggests near normal temperatures along with above-normal precipitation throughout the District from February through April.   
• The U.S. Drought Monitor report released on February 8 shows no areas of the District with any drought characteristics.   

The full report can be found on 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. 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. 

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