Rains help boost aquifer level

Rainy Days and Mondays, indeed.

This week's big weather-maker was Wednesday, when Hernando County received 1.28 inches of rain - possibly more depending on what part of the county you live.

This week's rains also recharged the aquifer, the underground layers of rock and sand that hold water. In southwest Florida, more than 80 percent of the water supply comes from aquifers.

As of Friday, the level was at 0.98 feet, up from 0.87 feet last week, according to the Southwest Florida Water Management District, also known as Swiftmud.

The normal aquifer range for this area is anywhere between 0 and 4 feet.

This Labor Day weekend should bring the normal summer pattern of thunderstorms, according to Richard Rude, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Ruskin.

There is a 50 percent chance of afternoon rains Saturday and Sunday and 40 percent Monday.

Rude's advice for those planning Labor Day barbecues and picnics: "Probably earlier in the afternoon would be better."

Rude said there is not much chance of this area being affected by Tropical Storm Erika, which has since weakened into a depression and should lose most of its punch this weekend.

The rainy season has not stopped code enforcement officials from issuing notices to people who violate the county's once-a-week watering restrictions.

Liana Teague, manager of code enforcement and animal services, said her department issued 34 citations to violators in August; 33 in July; and 43 in June.