By Tanya Caldwell
Orlando Sentinel (Florida)
Copyright 2007 Sentinel Communications Co.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Rain finally returned to portions of parched Central Florida, which was terrific news for DeBary resident John Capps.

He has been trying to keep his lawn green in the midst of drought, but that's pricey.

"The water that we have to put on is exorbitant," he said. "It seems like it's been months since we've had rain."

But unlike many houseguests, the weekend's rain didn't stay too long, and the outlook for a return visit is in doubt.

"It's definitely not a drought-buster," National Weather Service meteorologist Tim Sedlock said about the recent spotty rain. "We just need this to become more numerous in activity as opposed to isolated, as it has been."

That's not going to happen, forecasters say, until the rainy season kicks in next month.

At least one resident could have sworn Monday that it already has.

"We had terrible downpours this morning," said Dorothea Cottingham, who lives in DeLand. Until Monday, she said, "we've only been having tiny sprinkles."

Portions of southern Volusia and Brevard were the primary recipients of Monday's rain. Other parts of the region had heavy rain Sunday.

More downpours may be in store today, but only for about 15 percent to 20 percent of Central Florida.

Those chances will go up by late Thursday or early Friday, forecasters said, when a front is expected to slide in from the northeast.

Though the predicted wet weather may put a small dent in the rain deficit, forecasters said it won't be enough to end the region's dry spell.

"Nothing's a guarantee," Sedlock said. "It's sort of a hit or miss."

"It's just been so terribly dry," Cottingham said. "I just hope that this has taken care of the fires."

It hasn't.

At least 230 fires were burning more than 164,000 acres throughout the state Monday, including a behemoth blaze that measured more than 102,000 acres in North Florida, according to the Division of Forestry.

The spotty rain, however, has managed to keep fire conditions from deteriorating, and it even rid most of Central Florida of the smoke that lingered in the area last week.

"Of course, with this rain today, every little bit helps," said Ludi Ehlers, a spokeswoman for the Division of Forestry.

Most areas in Central Florida have received only half of the rainfall collected by this time last year, said National Weather Service meteorologist Peggy Glitto.