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El Niño expected to dump more rain on Southwest Florida

Southwest Florida is all wet, and the region isn't expected to dry out anytime soon with strong El Niño conditions in play.

Record heat and rain has kept the landscape lush and green since the beginning of November, which is about the same time Southwest Florida enters the dry season.

"It seems like the last several months have been the wettest ever," said Phil Flood, with the South Florida Water Management District, when asked about recent record rains.

Flood's right. Southwest Florida typically gets 3.7 inches of rain during the months of November and December. The past two months, though, have produced nearly 6 inches of rain.

El Niño is at its peak and is expected to dump above-average rainfall on this area through spring.

Heavy rainfall in the Caloosahatchee River watershed coupled with Lake Okeechobee releases can cripple coastal marine life.

Lake Okeechobee levels have approached the magic 15.5 feet above sea level, which is when Army Corps protocol says water must be released to Fort Myers, Stuart on the east coast, or both.