Gulf Coast still sees major rainfall deficit one month from the end of rainy season

There is one month left of rainy season in Southwest Florida. And we are running behind on rainfall. As of Sept. 15, we have seen 30.60 inches of rain this year in Fort Myers. That puts us almost a foot behind the benchmark for this time of year. There is a significant rainfall deficit in Naples, as well. Naples is over seven inches behind in 2026. The rainfall gap can be linked, in part, to our lack of landfalling hurricanes this and last season. Additionally, last year's rainy season was in the top 15 driest on record. So, we started 2026 with abnormally dry conditions. We have seen drought in at least some portion of Southwest Florida since November of 2025. According to data from NCEI, we need over two feet of rain over the next month to clear the drought. We see between 55% and 70% of our annual rainfall during rainy season. Rainy season ends on October 15, so we are running out of time to make up the difference. However, our El Niño winter weather pattern may save the day. Typically, El Niño causes a wetter-than-normal winter in Florida. Expect some winter thunderstorms and, potentially, some severe weather. However you watch or scroll, we're committed to delivering your Gulf Coast Weather Most Accurate Forecast, one you can rely on every day, wherever you are. Live Interactive Radar: Track conditions in real time with the Gulf Coast Live Radar. Watch Gulf Coast Weather: Find the latest weather forecast videos, streaming live or on demand, on TV and online. Stream on the Go: Download the free Gulf Coast News app to watch on your phone or tablet. Your Gulf Coast Weather Team Chief Meteorologist Allyson Rae Meteorologist Caroline Castora Meteorologist Jim Dickey Meteorologist Lauren Hope Meteorologist Raphael Tavernier Meteorologist Rob Duns Meteorologist Sara Blue Follow on Social: Follow, like and subscribe to Gulf Coast News on social media to share your tips and be part of the conversation with Southwest Florida's most experienced, trusted weather team: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | Threads | Bluesky | Nextdoor | X DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest breaking news and weather alerts. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.