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Florida firefighters are receiving a helping hand from Mother Nature. Weekend showers over much of the state helped extinguish about a hundred wildfires. More rain is expected through the fourth of July, but as Whitney Ray tells us, even if it rains all week, the drought is so severe it will barely put a dent in the fire danger.

At the height of Florida’s wildfire crisis last week more than 4-hundred fires burned throughout the state. A wet weekend helped firefighters extinguish about a hundred of those fires and more rain is in the forecast.

State Meteorologist Amy Godsey says Florida is in for at least five rainy days.

“A little bit higher further South, around toward southern and central Florida areas, but even in northern Florida above normal rain chances continuing through much of the week,” said Godsey.

Most of the state will get about an inch and a half of rain. This is a six inch rain gage. Meteorologists say this will have to be filled twice before the drought condition subsides and the fire danger ends.

Florida Forestry Service Director Jim Karels buried two brave firefighters this weekend. The men died fighting a North Florida blaze. Karels says the week of rain is a good sign.

“The summer pattern are starting to kick in possibly, that’s what we need, we need that thunderstorm and they slowly feel in to where it gets better to where we can control it on a day to day basis,” said Karels.

Despite the weekend of rain 32 counties remain under a burn ban and fireworks are on the outs in most of the state. Whether skies light up with fireworks this coming weekend will depend on how much of a soaking the state receives between now and then.

We said it in the past, but this week’s forecast really sheds light on just how much rain the state needs to come out of the drought. Firefighters say it’s going to take a tropical depression, which hovers over the state for a few days. They’re hoping for a storm without strong winds.