Severe storms drench Florida with much-needed rain amid extreme drought conditions
Despite localized flooding, the heavy rain over the weekend has helped put a dent in the widespread drought ongoing across the entire Southeast.
Severe storms to drench Florida with much-needed rain amid significant drought
Rain finally returns to Florida Tuesday in the form of severe storms. A Level 1 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms covers most of the Florida Peninsula from St. Augustine to Miami. Storms will roll along the Panhandle Tuesday morning, as the tail end of a cold front sags its way south through the day. The biggest threat with any associated severe storms will be damaging wind gusts, as well as the potential for weak, isolated tornadoes.
Rain has finally returned to Florida in the form of severe storms as the state grapples with historic drought.
Storms developed along a cold front that lashed other parts of the Southeast and Gulf Coasts Monday with strong wind gusts and hail.
![Quarter-sized hailstones in Ponce Inlet, Florida Sunday.]()
Image 1 of 3Quarter-sized hailstones in Ponce Inlet, Florida Sunday. (Paul and Joy Mueller)
![Lightning flashes across Greenwell Springs, Louisiana Sunday.]()
Image 2 of 3Lightning flashes across Greenwell Springs, Louisiana Sunday. (Lauren)
![AUSTIN, TEXAS - MAY 11: A snapped tree is seen at the Timber Ridge townhomes on Royal Hill Drive in Austin on Monday, May 11, 2026, after a storm moved through the area Sunday night.]()
Image 3 of 3AUSTIN, TEXAS - MAY 11: A snapped tree is seen at the Timber Ridge townhomes on Royal Hill Drive in Austin on Monday, May 11, 2026, after a storm moved through the area Sunday night. (Austin American-Statesman/Hearst Newspapers)
Parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia were soaked with more rain Monday after picking up 3 to 6 inches over the weekend. Despite localized flash flooding, the rain is helping ease drought conditions that have completely covered the Southeast.
Social media video from Monday showed powerful wind gusts lashing Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as severe weather reached the Carolina coast.
A Level 1 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms covers most of the Florida Peninsula from St. Augustine to Miami.
(FOX Weather)
Storms rolled along the panhandle Tuesday morning, as the tail end of a cold front moved south through the day.
SEE IT: MISSISSIPPI DRONE VIDEO REVEALS DEVASTATION LEFT BEHIND BY TORNADO IN BOGUE CHITTO
Orlando, Tampa and Miami all had a chance of seeing severe storms as they fired south of the front Tuesday afternoon.
The biggest threat with any associated severe storms will be damaging wind gusts, as well as the potential for weak, isolated tornadoes.
Watch: Severe thunderstorm blasts Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Severe thunderstorm blasts Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with strong wind gusts and hail Monday.
The FOX Forecast Center said a widespread 1 to 2 inches of rain was possible from Tallahassee to Jacksonville. Localized amounts over 2 inches were possible where any slower-moving downpours set up.
Florida in particular is dealing with Extreme and Exceptional Drought conditions, with some of the biggest deficits in North Florida and the panhandle, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
(FOX Weather)
Tallahassee has measured only around 9 inches of rain so far this year, which is nearly 10 inches below its average of 18.37 inches.
EVERGLADES WILDFIRE SCORCHES 11,000 ACRES JUST OUTSIDE MIAMI METRO, BROWARD COUNTY
The dry conditions have contributed to a very active wildfire season, including a fire that erupted in the Everglades on Sunday, scorching nearly 11,000 acres just outside the Miami suburbs.
This aerial view shows smoke rising from the Max Road Miramar fire in the Everglades near Pembroke Pines, Florida, on May 11, 2026. The wildfire has scorched nearly 5,700 acres and was about 40 percent contained, according to officials, as the Florida Forest Service continued containment operations with helicopters and emergency crews deployed across the area.
((Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP via Getty Images) / Getty Images)
This severe weather pattern is typical for the month of May — when the region often sees its most frequent severe storms and tornadoes.