The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1, with the first named storm expected to form around June 20 and the first hurricane typically tracking by mid-August. The first named storm of the season will be Arthur, and the name Melissa has been retired from the official list following the destruction caused by a Category 5 storm. Florida residents are encouraged to prepare ahead of the season’s start.
Sources: The Gainesville Sun · WUFT News
New research from UF/IFAS shows that heavy rainfall is forcing murky river water back into Florida’s freshwater springs, reversing their natural outward flow and degrading water clarity. A study of 62 springs across the Suwannee and Santa Fe river systems found widespread loss of aquatic vegetation, particularly in springs repeatedly hit by flood-driven intrusions. Researchers say these backflow events compound existing problems such as low oxygen levels and algae blooms.
Sources: UF News
A 130-acre wildfire burning in the Osceola Forest just outside Lake City is now 85% contained, with recent rainfall helping slow the blaze. The U.S. Forest Service crew that has been on the scene for roughly two weeks is beginning to scale down as containment efforts near completion.
Sources: WCJB TV20
Emergency management and forestry officials warn that recent rainfall did little to address Alachua County’s nearly 20-inch rainfall deficit, leaving wildfire danger elevated and burn bans in place across the region. The Florida Forest Service expects the dry pattern to continue through at least July, with the ground drying out quickly after each shower. The drought is also threatening pollinators such as bees by reducing the flowering plants and water sources they depend on, prompting local groups to hold native-plant workshops encouraging residents to support habitat recovery.
Sources: WCJB TV20
County officials have prolonged the existing burn ban for another week, keeping it in effect through Friday, May 8. Alachua County is one of every county in North Central Florida currently under a burn ban. The extension comes as the Cow Creek fire in Goethe State Forest, which spread to roughly 2,400 acres, remains only partially contained.
Sources: WCJB TV20 · Alachua County
A wildfire burning in Levy County known as the Cow Creek fire has grown beyond 2,000 acres, with firefighters still working to contain it more than a week after it started. The blaze is part of a broader pattern of wildfires burning across Florida. No additional details on containment status or evacuation orders were available from current reporting.
Sources: WUFT News
Florida is enduring its most severe drought in more than ten years, with over half the state under extreme drought conditions. Falling lake levels and reduced water access have created deeply challenging conditions for anglers across the region.
Sources: WUFT News
