Downpours Help Reduce Polk Drought Index

The drought index, which helps gauge the danger of wildfires, has dropped even more in Polk County during what is normally the driest month of the year.

After up to 5 inches of rain fell over the weekend in some parts of the county, the index fell another 136 points Monday. The average index for Polk County is 53.

"I'm happy," said Division of Forestry spokeswoman Chris Kintner. "Earlier, they were predicting a dry spring."

But Kintner warned that things can dry out fast at this time of year and there could still be problems with wildfires.

The index ranges from a soggy zero to a bone-dry 800. Firefighters expect problems any time the index exceeds 400.

While 53 is the average for Polk County, the index ranges from 1 to 433 in various areas. But only two places in Polk now exceed 400. One is a small patch along U.S. 27 near the Lake County line, and the second is a small patch on U.S. 27 near the Highlands County line.

The average rainfall for April is 2.04 inches. In the first week of April, 4.34 inches of rain have been recorded at the National Weather Service's official site at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport.