MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Hit and miss showers in the month of March did little to help our drought situation. And it may get worse before it gets better.

The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) said only about 1.77 inches of rain fell last month in its 16-county region from Orlando down through the Florida Keys. That’s 56 percent below normal rainfall for the month.

“Operationally, we continue to hold as much water as possible in the canals and water conservation areas to make it through to the wet season,” said Susan Sylvester, SFWMD Chief of the Water Control Operations Bureau.

Lake Okeechobee was about 12.29 feet, which was 1.95 feet below its historical average for this time of year but 0.67 feet higher than a year ago.

April and May are typically the driest months of the year in the region before the arrival of the rainy season in June. Residents from Orlando to the Keys are being asked practice voluntary water conservation.

The U.S. Drought Monitor currently lists South Florida as being in a moderate to severe drought.