Droughts Florida

Fountains will run dry and golf courses may turn brown in South Florida under water restrictions adopted in response to a 14-month drought that is the worst in 27 years. About 4 million people from the Florida Keys to Palm Beach must cut their water use 15% because the water storage has dipped below the previous record low, set in 1962.

At least nine large fires burned across drought-stricken Florida on Saturday, sending smoke over Disney World, and there was still no soaking rain in the forecast. The fires burning Saturday included one in central Florida that has sent smoke drifting across Walt Disney World Resort at Orlando since Thursday. The 450-acre blaze, two miles from Disney, was 35% contained Saturday. Disney officials said all theme parks would remain open.

At least nine large fires burned across drought-stricken Florida on Saturday, sending smoke over Disney World, and there was still no soaking rain in the forecast. The fires burning Saturday included one in central Florida that has sent smoke drifting across Walt Disney World Resort at Orlando since Thursday. The 450-acre blaze, two miles from Disney, was 35% contained Saturday. Disney officials said all theme parks would remain open.

The major east-west highway across the southern part of Florida was closed for the third straight day Monday as uncontrolled wildfires burning in the Everglades shrouded Interstate 75 with thick black smoke. Motorists planning to use the toll road, called "Alligator Alley," again were forced to make long detours to travel between Miami and Fort Lauderdale on the east coast and Naples and Fort Myers on the west.

The major east-west highway across the southern part of Florida was closed for the third straight day Monday as uncontrolled wildfires burning in the Everglades shrouded Interstate 75 with thick black smoke. Motorists planning to use the toll road, called "Alligator Alley," again were forced to make long detours to travel between Miami and Fort Lauderdale on the east coast and Naples and Fort Myers on the west.

Thunderheads were building to the southwest as Steve Loyd fired up his bass boat to join the dawn parade of fishermen heading out of the channel. "I don't mind getting a little wet," he said, glancing warily over a shoulder, "but if it starts to sparking--well, even I won't stay out there then." Out there is on Lake Okeechobee, America's second-largest freshwater lake and, even after 18 months of drought, still perhaps its hottest spot for largemouth bass.

Six years without a victory over an archrival seems like an eternity to a college football coach, and Florida State's Bobby Bowden felt the added pressure of being a heavy favorite against Florida. "I think they would have had the real nooses up this time in Tallahassee--pure rope if we'd lost this game," Bowden said. But Florida State fans can put the rope away.

Thunderheads were building to the southwest as Steve Loyd fired up his bass boat to join the dawn parade of fishermen heading out of the channel. "I don't mind getting a little wet," he said, glancing warily over a shoulder, "but if it starts to sparking--well, even I won't stay out there then." Out there is on Lake Okeechobee, America's second-largest freshwater lake and, even after 18 months of drought, still perhaps its hottest spot for largemouth bass.

Fountains will run dry and golf courses may turn brown in South Florida under water restrictions adopted in response to a 14-month drought that is the worst in 27 years. About 4 million people from the Florida Keys to Palm Beach must cut their water use 15% because the water storage has dipped below the previous record low, set in 1962.

Six years without a victory over an archrival seems like an eternity to a college football coach, and Florida State's Bobby Bowden felt the added pressure of being a heavy favorite against Florida. "I think they would have had the real nooses up this time in Tallahassee--pure rope if we'd lost this game," Bowden said. But Florida State fans can put the rope away.