EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA

Observed precipitation trends in the East Central Florida region show no significant changes (increase or decrease) in annual precipitation over time. Generally, observed rainfall trends exhibit a natural variability and no systematic trends; this is representative of the region and most monitoring stations across the United States. Natural variability in precipitation can be due to various cyclical patterns and local effects, and it can also vary from place to place in the same area. 

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When analyzing the long-term decadal trends over the entire period of record (shown below), a slight decrease can be observed in total annual precipitation. This negligible decrease in precipitation has mostly been observed during the wet season, with almost no observed change over the period of record during the dry season. However, this slight decrease is considered negligible as there has not been significant change overall. The region has a large interannual variability and a distinct wet and dry season based on total rainfall amount over a year. The wet season is defined as the five-month period of June to October, followed by the dry season identified from November to May. Over time, when looking at wet season patterns, a similar interannual variability pattern can be observed, making substantial systematic trends in precipitation hard to detect.

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Regional impacts from changes in wet and dry season precipitation trends, along with extreme temperatures, are most expected to significantly impact the agriculture sector by affecting soil moisture levels, crop yields, plant growth (stress and stunting), and stress to livestock. These effects undoubtedly generate negative economic impacts and social health and well-being stress.

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