Recent rains helped blunt blazing heat but didn't ease the drought in Sarasota-Manatee

Rains this week helped halt a near-record five-day hot streak in which even the low temperatures were consistently above 80 degrees between Aug. 7 and 12, according to the National Weather Service in Ruskin.

That streak was one day short of a record six-day streak that ended July 13, 2020 and came on the heels of the historically hot July.

Ali Davis, a meteorologist with NWS-Ruskin, said on Friday that those record temperatures are in the past, though we can still expect temperatures around the 90 degree mark at least through the weekend, with intermittent rain and thunderstorms.

“We’re going to be in a little bit of a lull Saturday but as the tropical wave moves from east to west across the Florida peninsula and Florida Straits we’re going to see an increase in rain activity Sunday,” she added.

Expect highs in the low mid-90s Monday, with a forecast high of 96 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday, which would be four degrees above normal.

While recent rains have helped reduce the heat for a few days, Sarasota and Manatee counties are still under either extreme or severe drought restrictions.

“Right along the coast is actually worse than in the inland areas,” said Christianne Pearce, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

The coastal area is under extreme drought conditions, according to the National Integrated Drought System, while the inland areas are suffering from severe drought conditions.

The dividing line runs close to Interstate 75.

“You could say west of I-75 is in more of a drought than east but overall both counties are in pretty bad drought conditions – especially this time of year, because it’s unusual for us to be in August and in a drought,” Pearce added.

Observed rainfall accumulation from Oct. 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 is more than 9 inches less than the 30-year normal at the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, Myakka River State Park and Venice.

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Venice is a whopping 13.10 inches behind that normal.

The adverse conditions have not triggered any additional water use restrictions beyond the usual year-round water conservation guidelines established in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

A spokeswoman for the Southwest Florida Water Management District – which regulates water use in 16 counties, including Manatee, Sarasota County and a portion of Charlotte – said via email that the district has not declared a water shortage nor recommended any additional watering restrictions despite the drought.

Hottest July on record

This July proved to be the hottest ever in the state of Florida. In the Sarasota-Bradenton area, that meant an average high of 93.6 degrees and an average nighttime low of 78.8 degrees – roughly 3.1 degrees hotter than normal.

August is off to a similar start with an average high of 94.4 degrees, nighttime low of 78.9 degrees – also roughly 3.1 degrees hotter than normal.

That hot streak means that July – always a busy time for area air conditioning service techs has been even busier.

“We’re running around like crazy and we’re booked out every single day in high demand – any contractor should be,” said Seth Lisik service supervisor for Tri-County Air Conditioning and Heating in Venice.

Excess heat means excess stress on the air conditioning system and older units can be taxed further still.

“When units age they become less efficient over time – especially if you don’t maintain them,” Lisik said. “As units run more, whether they’re new or old, they produce an extravagant amount of moisture.“You want to pay more attention to your drain line when it’s hotter outside because your unit’s running longer, it’s producing more water, there’s a higher chance that it’s going to clog.”

Typically that clog is a result of Zooglea algae growing in the drain line.

Tri-County uses sodium hydroxide to combat that; internet remedies suggest distilled vinegar or bleach – Lisik counsels against bleach – to break up the algae.

The key after that, is to flush the line afterwards with warm water, to clear the line.

“It’s important to flush afterwards with hot water to get that algae out of the drain line,” Lisik said. “Otherwise it’s going to sit in there and re adhere to the PVC.”

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Rain helps Sarasota, Manatee cool but drought conditions still present