04/06/2026
Here is where things stand this Thursday.
Florida is the story today. Broward and Miami-Dade are under a flash flood threat with a 60 to 70 percent chance of widespread rain after days of downpours. The strange part is that Florida is in its worst drought since 2012, running 20 to 30 inches below normal along the I-10 corridor. The rain is exactly what the state needs, but it is falling so fast on hardened ground that it cannot soak in, so the same storms bringing relief are also flooding streets. This is what tropical moisture can do without ever becoming a named storm.
Elsewhere, more than 60 percent of the Lower 48 is in drought, and dust storms are picking up across the Plains. One on Interstate 29 in South Dakota caused a fatal pileup this spring. Western North Carolina stays on flood watch on ground that Helene already broke.
Flying relief is getting expensive. Jet fuel at the pump now averages nearly 8 dollars a gallon nationwide, about double where it sat in late winter. That cost rides on every relief and recon flight we put up.
Mississippi families are still waiting on federal disaster help after two EF-3 tornadoes last month.
Hurricane season is open. ELS is watching all of it. Follow for daily updates, and our volunteer and donation links are in bio
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