Drought

The ban in Sarasota County will be lifted once the index reaches acceptable levels for seven consecutive days.

Counties across the greater Tampa Bay region and along the west coast are under water restrictions, and the state's wettest season is over until late spring. Meanwhile, portions of the east coast were deluged with rain.

Residents of Sanibel, and north Cape Coral, are being reminded about the drought unfolding in coastal Southwest Florida and to stick to the water restrictions.

Southwest Florida is in the midst of an abnormally dry to moderate drought.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is limiting lawn-watering in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties to once a week until July 1.

The U.S. Drought Monitor says that some parts of the greater Tampa Bay region are facing one of their most severe droughts to date.

The warmer temperatures and lack of rain are contributing to drought conditions across parts of Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota counties.

The Sandy Fire broke out Monday at 50 acres in the far eastern part of Collier County. By Sunday morning the fire had spread to 8,398 acres and containment remained at 0%.

It's due to low levels in the Hillsborough River Reservoir, Tampa's main source of water. The U.S. Drought Monitor says parts of Hillsborough County are under an "extreme drought."

Most forecasters have decided the disturbance developing in the Gulf of Mexico does not have the time, or the mojo, to undergo the rapid and daunting transformation into an early tropical system and ease the drought.

The National Interagency Fire Center reported the Big Cypress National Preserve reported Thursday that the fire had grown by more than 50 percent.

State Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Florida Forest Service Director Rick Dolan spoke during a news conference in Hillsborough County about what has already proven to be a busy fire season.