Vince_Condella's Blog

Florida is getting too much of a good thing - sunshine.  For a state that bills itself as the "Sunshine State", this is not a good thing.  It has been way too dry for too long.  Rainfall has been elusive to the residents of Florida, which is great for the tourists but bad for everyone else.

Today Florida officials continue to battle wildfires on the Atlantic Coast.  For the third day in a row, Brevard County has been burning.  More than 160 homes have been destroyed or damaged.  An estimated 10,000 acres, or more than 15 square miles, in and around the neighboring towns of Palm Bay and Malabar have been burned.  And the cause of the fires is suspected to be arsonists.

All 18 schools in Palm Bay were closed today, and a 34-mile section of Interstate 95 south of the fires was closed.  The satellite photo below shows the fires on Monday (May 12) and the huge extent of the smoke plume being blown by the strong west wind.  The wind in Florida has eased today, but it is still too dry. 

While parts of the United States are being soaked with too much rain, other areas could use a good drenching.  The fine folks in Florida need a steady rain, too.  Just don't tell the tourists.