Despite a few recent bouts of rain, Tampa Bay remains in its worst drought in 15 years and its most severe water shortage in decades.

Why it matters: Tighter watering restrictions are set to go into effect next weekend as the dry season stretches on.

State of play: The Southwest Florida Water Management District board voted this week to declare a Modified Phase 3 "Extreme" Water Shortage, up from a Phase 2.

• That means residents with properties less than an acre can continue watering their lawns once a week, but only from 12:01am-4am or 8pm-11:59pm. Larger properties can water during both windows.
• It also means that restaurants can serve water only upon request and that aesthetic fountains are limited to four hours a day, among other restrictions.
• The rules go into effect April 3 for the district's coverage area, which includes Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, plus surrounding counties from Sarasota north to Citrus and west to Polk.

Yes, but: Check with your county or city for any stricter localized restrictions, the water management district advised.

• Also, check with your local government for your designated watering day.
• Customers of Tampa Bay Water — the service provider for Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties and the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg and New Port Richey — can check here.

Threat level: At least one county announced Wednesday that utilities staff would soon skip warnings for violators of the restrictions.

• After April 17, Pinellas will hand out $193 fines.

Driving the news: Tampa Bay is well into the dry season, but the region is extra parched this year.

• The district is facing an almost 14-inch rainfall deficit compared with the average year's total, per the district.
• Drought conditions were considered severe and extreme across much of Pinellas and Hillsborough, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
• With little to no water available to pull from area rivers, Tampa Bay Water is relying on its reservoir in Hillsborough, which was about 40% full this week.

What's next: The rainy season typically starts up again in mid-May, per the National Weather Service.

• The service's Climate Prediction Center is anticipating drought conditions to improve between now and June 30 across most of Florida.
• The water restrictions that begin next weekend are in effect until July 1.

The bottom line: "It took us a while to get here," Tamera McBride, the water management district's hydrologic data manager, said this week, per the Tampa Bay Times.

• "It's going to take some time to get out of it."

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Florida's orange crop has dropped by 95% in just 30 years — a decline that's forced citrus farmers to change how they grow and sell the fruit, WLRN reported.

Why it matters: A decade ago, Florida was the country's top citrus producer, but it has since fallen behind California, according to the USDA.

• The decline has resulted in less than half the number of full-time jobs the industry sustained just two decades ago.
• Today, the industry generates about $7 billion annually and supports around 30,000 jobs, per the outlet.

The big picture: While diets and fruit juice consumption have changed in recent decades, citrus farmers attribute the drastic decline more so to disaster, disease and development.

Zoom in: The industry has been dealing with citrus greening disease, which was first noticed in groves about 20 years ago.

• The bug, caused by a bacterial infection, causes the fruit to turn green and taste less sweet than its bright orange counterparts.
• To keep the microscopic bugs out, farmers have been investing in antibiotics for trees and screen houses, which cost upwards of $40,000 per acre to build, per WRLN.

Meanwhile, this year's cold weather spell cost the industry nearly $700 million, and recent hurricanes have dealt a hefty blow.

What we're watching: Some farmers are concerned about the "loss of knowledge" that comes with a shrinking industry.

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💰 Pinellas County commissioners approved $6 million in public dollars yesterday to buy land for an affordable housing development in St. Petersburg's Skyway Marina District. (St. Pete Catalyst)

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office saw three of its deputies arrested this week in connection with domestic violence incidents. (Tampa Bay Times)

🥩 A federal appeals court upheld Florida's ban on lab-grown meat, finding it doesn't conflict with existing federal laws. (WUSF)

• California-based UPSIDE Foods argues that the ban, which makes it a second-degree misdemeanor to sell the meat, is unconstitutional and vows to keep litigating the case.

The weekend is fast approaching.

• Here are a few ways to spend it, in and around Tampa.

🖼️ Immerse Yourself in The Art Show, Downtown Tampa: The Tampa EDITION hosts a rooftop exhibition this weekend featuring a series of paintings, a live DJ and craft cocktails.

• Friday, 8-11pm. Admission is free.

🏎️ 2026 FuelFest Tampa, East Lake-Orient Park: Stars from the Fast & Furious franchise — Tyrese Gibson and Cody Walker — will headline the second-annual automobile festival at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

• Saturday, 1-8pm. Tickets start at $35; children 12 and under get in free.

🍽️ Food From The Soul, Carrollwood: Head down to the Carrollwood Cultural Center this weekend for a celebration of global cuisine, with a diverse lineup of caterers and food trucks, original art and live entertainment.

• Saturday, 10am-4pm. Tickets start at $20.

🤼 Real American Freestyle, University Area: The Yuengling Center hosts a professional freestyle wrestling promotion this weekend, featuring Olympic champions and local athletes.

• Saturday, 8pm. Tickets start at $95.

The typical first-time homebuyer in Florida is in their mid-thirties, according to industry data provider Cotality.

Why it matters: High prices, near-6% mortgage rates, and a housing shortage are delaying homeownership for many.

By the numbers: In Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater, the typical first-time buyer was 34 years old as of September 2025, Cotality data shows.

• Meanwhile, the median age was 33 in North Port, Sarasota and Bradenton.

Zoom out: The median age of first-time homebuyers in the U.S. has held relatively steady at 32, per Cotality's analysis of mortgage applications from people with no prior property ownership.

• Among all 50 U.S. states, Hawaii saw the highest median age at 38 (up from 34 in 2019), followed by California at 35 (up from 33).

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