Folks in the central U.S. may not believe it, but it's not wet everywhere.

While the Plains and Midwest continue to endure drenching rain and record-breaking floods, extreme heat is fueling drought conditions and wildfires in the Southeast.

In Florida, 66 wildfires were burning as of Thursday, according to the Florida Fire Service. Smoky skies were reported across the state.

And with temperatures soaring above 100 degrees in some spots, dozens of record highs have fallen amid the Southeast heat wave since it began late last week, AccuWeather said.

On Sunday, Savannah, Georgia, set an all-time record high for May as the mercury soared to 102 degrees. So far, at least nine cities have either tied or set new all-time May monthly high-temperature records in this heat wave, the Weather Channel said.

Such extreme heat so early in the season "can put residents, especially older adults and children, at risk for heat exhaustion and heatstroke," AccuWeather meteorologist Max Vido said.

To counteract the heat, the Weather Channel said to "minimize your time outdoors during the hottest times of day, typically from late morning through late afternoon. Drink plenty of liquids and wear light, loose-fitting clothing if you must be outside for longer periods of time."

In South Carolina, because of the heat and dryness, officials are strongly encouraging residents to avoid outdoor burning amid a heightened threat of wildfires.

And while farmers in the Midwest cope with flooded fields and ruined crops, farmers in Georgia are dealing with a lack of rain: Reports from Coffee County, Georgia, included hay reserves disappearing, soils drying and heat stress to crops, the U.S. Drought Monitor said.

Over 50% of the southeastern U.S. was either abnormally dry or in a drought, according to Thursday's Drought Monitor. That's compared to 4% of the High Plains, 3.9% of the Midwest and 5% of the South (from Texas to Mississippi).

The Southeast is the only part of the Lower 48 states in a drought, along with portions of Washington state and New Mexico.

"Dry and hot conditions have prevailed for the last two to four weeks, with below-normal precipitation noted in many areas for the last three months" in the Southeast, the monitor said.

The Drought Monitor noted that in Brunswick County, in southeastern North Carolina, a notice to "use water wisely" has been issued because of developing drought conditions and increased demand. The county was also considering instituting water conservation measures.

Nearby Pender County restricted water use because of an ongoing "water shortage emergency" in southeastern parts of the county caused by high demand, hot weather, and limits in their distribution system, the Drought Monitor said.

There is some good news in the forecast in the Southeast: A bit of heat relief is expected late this week into the weekend, the Weather Channel said, shaving several degrees off the searing temperatures. But, overall, temperatures should still remain hotter than average.

Contributing: The Associated Press