SFWMD Prepared for Wet Season
District preparing for start of summer storm season, which
began May 13, by clearing canals of trees and vegetation,
maintaining flood control system
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| Click on the image of the C-111 Canal in Miami-Dade County to learn more about SFWMD's preparations for the annual wet season, which began May 13 and runs through Oct. 15. |
West Palm Beach, FL - With the start of the annual rainy season, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) has been preparing South Florida's massive flood control system over the last several months.
Rainfall was slightly above average in April, changing the five month trend of below average rainfall. Since the beginning of the dry season in November, rainfall has been about 60 percent or about 6.13 inches below average District wide. Water levels in many parts of the flood control system are at or below normal water levels for this time of year.
During the annual wet season (typically May 15 - Oct. 15), South Florida typically receives about 36 inches or about 70 percent of its average annual amount of rainfall, according to the National Weather Service. The cycle of sea breeze systems and daily thunderstorms that are hallmarks of the wet season can sometimes develop much sooner than the official start date.
The wet season is forecasted to start with above average rainfall forecasted throughout the District through the weekend before settling into the typical cycle of frequent afternoon showers.
Due to the interconnected system of drainage canals in South Florida, flood control is a shared responsibility between the District, county and
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Click on the image to watch an educational video created by SFWMD about who to call during a flood. |
city governments, local drainage districts, homeowners associations and residents.
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Click on the image to see an infographic explaining how the interconnected flood control system in South Florida works. |
"Each year's annual wet season typically brings several heavy rain events across South Florida," said SFWMD Chief Engineer John Mitnik. "Our regional flood control system is ready for the task of protecting residents. Now is the time for the other important components of the flood control system - including local drainage districts, homeowners associations and every property owner and resident - to start doing their part to prepare for the wet season as well."
SFWMD operates and maintains the regional water management system known as the Central and Southern Florida Project, which was authorized by Congress more than 60 years ago to protect residents and businesses from floods and droughts. This primary system of canals and natural waterways connect to community drainage districts and hundreds of smaller neighborhood systems to effectively manage floodwaters during heavy rain.
In preparation for the rainy season, water managers are hard at work readying the entire regional flood control system, encompassing more than 2,000 miles of canals and more than 600 water control structures. The District recently conducted its annual "Hurricane Freddy" exercise where staff participate in response to a mock storm scenario. SFWMD crews are currently engaged in several projects clearing trees and other vegetation from canal banks and District right of ways to prevent those trees from falling into canals during storms, increasing the risk of flooding.
For updates on storm preparations and SFWMD's general preparations for the coming rainy season:
