Publication Date September 28, 2017 | Category 6 | Weather Underground

Lake Okeechobee Nears Highest Water Level in 10 Years

United States
Rainfall from Hurricane Irma over Florida. Irma brought widespread rainfall amounts of 6 – 15” to the Lake Okeechobee watershed, which runs north-northwestward from the lake to the Orlando region. Image: NWS Tampa Bay
Rainfall from Hurricane Irma over Florida. Irma brought widespread rainfall amounts of 6 – 15” to the Lake Okeechobee watershed, which runs north-northwestward from the lake to the Orlando region. Image: NWS Tampa Bay

After Hurricane Irma dumped widespread rainfall amounts of 8 – 12” on September 10 – 12 over much of Florida, the Army Corps of Engineers is battling to draw down the level of Lake Okeechobee. The lake level has risen more than 2.5 feet since the hurricane departed, and will likely reach its highest level in ten years next week as flood waters from Irma’s rains continue to arrive.