PANAMA CITY— Bay County Emergency Services announced the end of the burn ban for unincorporated Bay County on May 11.
The agency said that recent weather conditions reduced the immediate fire risk that prompted the burn ban on April 7.
“Although the burn ban has been lifted, residents are strongly encouraged to exercise caution when conducting any legal outdoor burning activities and are asked to closely monitor weather conditions, avoid burning on windy days and ensure that fires are fully extinguished,” reads the release from BCES.
BCES said that the use of charcoal or propane grills for cooking remains permitted, and that residents should avoid activities that could unintentionally ignite vegetation or debris.
A Florida Forest Service dashboard shows that fire danger was low in Bay County and much of the Florida panhandle as of May 10. The dashboard also indicated that recent rains have improved the moisture in the topsoil (Keetch‑Byram Drought Index), indicating that fires will not spread as quickly.
National Weather Service measurements showed that Tyndall Air Force Base received 0.64 inches of rainfall between May 8 and May 11. The total at Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport for this time period was 1.13 inches.
Any rain is beneficial, however these precipitation amounts are not considered drought-busting. A drought statement issued by NWS Tallahassee on May 7 shows that Panama City only received 26% of its normal rainfall over the past 90 days.
While much of the area remains in exceptional drought conditions, the worst category measured by the U.S. Drought Monitor, the U.S. Geological Survey data from May 11 could be a sight for sore eyes.
Streamflows at Econfina Creek and the Choctawhatchee River were measured to be normal. Holmes Creek and the northern segment of the Chipola River actually had streamflows measured above normal.
Sites along the Apalachicola River were much below normal in the northern segments but normal near Apalachicola Bay. Streamflows across the Big Bend and much of North Florida didn’t appear to see much benefit from recent rainfall, with many gauges measuring them at much below normal.
A dry weather pattern is expected to return on May 13, with no other rainfall projected afterward in the NWS seven-day forecast. AccuWeather’s monthly forecast shows that after May 13, forecasters are anticipating a handful of days with rainfall, all measuring under an inch.
A Climate Prediction Center graphic shows that temperatures are likely to be above normal in Bay County over the next month, alongside an equal probability of above normal or below normal precipitation. The agency anticipates drought remaining but improving in our area.
Hurricane season is set to begin on June 1, with the National Hurricane Center not tracking any disturbances at this time.
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Rainfall lifts burn ban in Bay County. But the drought’s not over
Reporting by Dylan Gentile, Panama City News Herald / The News Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
