Suddenly, Clouds Dry Up in Polk

LAKE WALES | The rain machine responsible for Central Florida's summer rainy season has sputtered in September.

Halfway through the month, Lakeland rainfall totals just 0.51 inches and elsewhere in Polk County has been equally dry.

The most rain reported at the Division of Forestry's seven offices in Polk County was 0.75 inches in Dundee.

September is normally the end of the dry season, with an average of 6.33 inches.

The average monthly rainfall drops to 2.29 inches in October, when fronts from the north begin to dominate the weather.

During the summer months, sea breezes from the east and west coasts collide over Central Florida, resulting in regular afternoon thundershowers.

The passage of tropical weather systems, which missed Central Florida, has disrupted that pattern.

Today Central Florida is under a high-pressure system, which will suppress rainfall chances, according to the National Weather Service. Rainfall chances today are 30 percent.

[ Bill Bair can be reached at bill.bair@theledger.com or 863-676-7118. ]