http://www.climatecentral.org/news/u.s.-drought-intensifies-in-texas-and-florida-15708

Drought expanded in two key areas of the country last week –
Florida and West Texas – where several weeks of low rainfall have allowed
already dry conditions to intensify, according to an update to the U.S. Drought
Monitor released Thursday.

While much of the East Coast has seen heavy precipitation over the past two
weeks, very little of that has extended into the Florida peninsula. According to
the Drought Monitor, “abnormal dryness” pushed into all of southern Florida,
while conditions of “severe drought” expanded in the eastern and central parts
of the state. Meanwhile, relatively wet conditions in the Florida Panhandle have
kept the northwestern part of the state out of drought.

Although this is the climatological dry season for Florida, the current level of
dryness is more intense than in normal years. Since Nov. 1, 2012, Daytona Beach
has received just a little more than 40 percent of its normal rainfall, making
it the 7th driest period in 80 years.

The past several weeks saw the drought in Texas intensify as well, which is a
troubling sign moving into spring. Texas typically receives little widespread,
steady precipitation during the spring and summer months and relies on the rains
from the fall and winter to carry it through the year. Most of Texas has been
under drought conditions since the summer of 2011, and that prolonged aridity
has left reservoir levels across the state at record low levels, leaving the
state vulnerable to water shortages and restrictions if conditions do not
improve.

According to the office of the Texas state climatologist, the month of February
was drier than the month of January, and during the first week of March, low
humidity and high winds have led to the expansion of drought in all categories
of drought statewide.

http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/DM_southeast.htm