SARASOTA, Fla. ( WWSB ) - Dry conditions have taken over our forecast lately with very little rain.

Although the Suncoast is not technically in a drought, it is abnormally dry according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The monitor uses the Keetch-Byram drought index, which measures the water content in soil.

Once that number gets to 600, the City of North Port begins the process of issuing a burn ban, which went into effect on Wednesday.

Manatee County is also under a burn ban.

This is unusual this early in the season.

“Right now it’s setting itself up to be a pretty severe season possibly,” North Port Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Scott Lane said.

"I cant remember the last tome that we instituted a burn ban this late in the year or early in the dry season. Usually we’re instituting it aro

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