Interesting weather information pertaining mostly to south Florida.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

2009 Weather Review

As usual, NWS Miami has put together the best review of south Florida's weather for 2009. It makes you realize how much oir weather varies.

Have a happy and SAFE New Year's Eve!

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
425 PM EST WED DEC 30 2009

..2009 SOUTH FLORIDA WEATHER SUMMARY...

...WARMER THAN NORMAL...

WARMER THAN NORMAL TEMPERATURES WERE OBSERVED ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA
IN 2009. AFTER A COOL JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, MONTHLY AVERAGE
TEMPERATURES STAYED AT OR ABOVE NORMAL VALUES THROUGH THE REMAINDER
OF THE YEAR.

HERE ARE 2009 TEMPERATURE AVERAGES (DEGREES F) FOR SELECTED SITES
THROUGH DECEMBER 29 (7 AM DECEMBER 30 FOR MIAMI BEACH AND MOORE HAVEN):

LOCATION 2009 AVG TEMP DEPARTURE RANK

MIAMI INT'L 77.89 +1.2 3RD WARMEST
*FORT LAUDERDALE INT'L 77.49 +1.6 3RD WARMEST
PALM BEACH INT'L 75.89 +0.6 16TH WARMEST
NAPLES REGIONAL 75.38 +1.3 11TH WARMEST
MIAMI BEACH 76.36 +0.5 12TH WARMEST
MOORE HAVEN 73.97 +0.9 12TH WARMEST

* THE OFFICIAL FORT LAUDERDALE CLIMATE SITE WAS MOVED IN 2002 FROM
THE DIXIE WATER PLANT TO THE FORT LAUDERDALE/HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT. THE NEW SITE HAS SHOWN TO BE MUCH WARMER THAN THE OLD SITE.
THIS IS PROBABLY BECAUSE THE AIRPORT IS CLOSER TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN
AND THE FACT THAT THERE IS MORE CONCRETE AND ASPHALT AT THE AIRPORT
SITE COMPARED TO THE DIXIE WATER PLANT SITE. *

A NOTABLE ASPECT REGARDING THE WARM TEMPERATURES IN 2009 WAS THE HIGH
NUMBER OF 90-PLUS DEGREE DAYS. MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT REGISTERED
A TOTAL OF 121 DAYS OF TEMPERATURES REACHING THE 90-DEGREE MARK, THE
MOST RECORDED AT THAT SITE SINCE RECORDS BEGAN IN 1937. AT OTHER
SOUTHEAST FLORIDA SITES, THE NUMBER OF 90-PLUS DEGREE DAYS RANGED
FROM 83 AT FORT LAUDERDALE INTERNATIONAL TO 91 AT PALM BEACH
INTERNATIONAL TO AS HIGH AS 137 DAYS WELL INLAND AT WEST KENDALL
TAMIAMI AIRPORT. ON THE OTHER HAND, COASTAL LOCATIONS SUCH AS MIAMI
BEACH ONLY RECORDED 19 DAYS OF 90-PLUS DEGREE TEMPERATURES, NO DOUBT
INFLUENCED BY THE SLIGHTLY COOLER SUMMER SEA BREEZES. A SIMILAR
EFFECT OCCURRED ON THE SOUTHWEST GULF COAST, WHERE NAPLES REGIONAL
AIRPORT CLOSER TO THE COAST REGISTERED 108 DAYS OF 90-PLUS DEGREE
TEMPERATURES COMPARED TO 164 DAYS AT THE NAPLES COOPERATIVE SITE IN
GOLDEN GATE ABOUT 6 MILES INLAND. OVER INLAND LOCATIONS AND IN THE
LAKE OKEECHOBEE AREA, THE NUMBER OF 90-PLUS DEGREE DAYS INCLUDED 127
DAYS IN MOORE HAVEN (5TH HIGHEST ON RECORD), 133 DAYS IN LABELLE,
138 DAYS IN IMMOKALEE AND 169 DAYS IN DEVILS GARDEN IN CENTRAL
HENDRY COUNTY.

PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS VARIED WIDELY ACROSS THE REGION, WITH MOST OF
THE METRO AREAS ALONG THE SOUTHEAST AND LOWER SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
COASTS REGISTERING BELOW NORMAL RAINFALL AND MOST INTERIOR LOCATIONS
RECORDING ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL. A VERY DRY WINTER AND SPRING LED TO
A VERY WET EARLY SUMMER, AND THEN FOLLOWED BY NEAR NORMAL TO BELOW
NORMAL RAINFALL RIGHT UP TO THE LAST HALF OF DECEMBER WHEN VERY HEAVY
RAINFALL AFFECTED MUCH OF THE AREA (SEE BELOW FOR FURTHER DETAILS).

HERE ARE 2009 RAINFALL TOTALS AND DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL FROM AROUND
THE AREA (IN INCHES) THROUGH 7 AM DECEMBER 30:

LOCATION 2009 PRECIP DEPARTURE RANK

MIAMI INT'L 52.90 -6.32 38TH DRIEST
PALM BEACH INT'L 59.06 -2.13 52ND DRIEST
FORT LAUDERDALE INT'L 45.80* -18.23
NAPLES REGIONAL 33.91* -17.89 3RD DRIEST
HOLLYWOOD WATER PLANT 68.71 +7.26
MIAMI BEACH 62.12 +15.52 9TH WETTEST
THE REDLAND (SOUTH DADE) 61.37 -0.19
MOORE HAVEN 50.53 +4.09 34TH WETTEST
NWS MIAMI (FIU SWEETWATER) 57.56
CLEWISTON 56.12 +10.72
HOMESTEAD 53.93 -4.90
MARCO ISLAND 51.84
ORTONA 51.02
BRIGHTON RESERVATION 50.01

* NAPLES COOPERATIVE SITE AT GOLDEN GATE AQUATIC COMPLEX MEASURED
56.78 INCHES AND FORT LAUDERDALE COOPERATIVE SITE AT DIXIE WATER PLANT
MEASURED 64.16 INCHES. *

PERHAPS MOST NOTEWORTHY IN 2009 IS WHAT DIDN'T HAPPEN WEATHER-WISE.
NO TROPICAL CYCLONES AFFECTED SOUTH FLORIDA IN 2009, MIRRORING THE
TREND OF BELOW NORMAL ACTIVITY IN THE TROPICAL ATLANTIC.

NEVERTHELESS, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT WEATHER EVENTS IN
SOUTH FLORIDA DURING 2009 WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN THE SEASONAL
BREAKDOWN BELOW.

JANUARY-APRIL:

THE DRIEST WINTER ON RECORD (DECEMBER-FEBRUARY) WAS SET AT MIAMI AND
FORT LAUDERDALE, WHERE RAINFALL AMOUNTS DURING THE THREE-MONTH
PERIOD WERE 0.74 AND 0.39 INCHES, RESPECTIVELY. WEST PALM BEACH,
NAPLES AND MIAMI BEACH RECORDED THEIR SECOND DRIEST WINTER ON
RECORD. WEST PALM BEACH SET INDIVIDUAL MONTHLY DRIEST RECORDS IN
JANUARY AND FEBRUARY WHEN A COMBINED TOTAL OF ONLY .25 INCHES FELL.

MARCH AND APRIL CONTINUED THE VERY DRY TREND, HOWEVER NO RECORDS
WERE SET AS THE AREA RECEIVED SLIGHTLY HIGHER RAINFALL AMOUNTS
COMPARED TO THE BONE-DRY WINTER MONTHS. THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD FROM
NOVEMBER 2008 THROUGH APRIL 2009 RANKED AS THE SECOND DRIEST PERIOD
ON RECORD OVER MOST OF SOUTH FLORIDA. AS A RESULT, SEVERE TO EXTREME
DROUGHT CONDITIONS PREVAILED OVER SOUTH FLORIDA FROM LATE FEBRUARY
THROUGH APRIL. THE VERY DRY GROUND CONTRIBUTED TO A NUMBER OF
WILDFIRES ACROSS THE AREA, MOST NOTABLY A VERY LARGE WILDFIRE IN THE
BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE IN COLLIER COUNTY WHICH BURNED OVER
30,000 ACRES FROM LATE APRIL THROUGH EARLY MAY.

TEMPERATURES WERE COOLER THAN NORMAL DURING JANUARY AND FEBRUARY,
BOUNCING BACK TO NEAR NORMAL IN MARCH AND ABOVE NORMAL IN APRIL. TWO
SIGNIFICANT FREEZES AFFECTED SOUTH FLORIDA: ONE ON JANUARY 21ST AND
22ND AND THE OTHER ON FEBRUARY 5TH. THE COLDEST TEMPERATURES IN 6
YEARS WERE EXPERIENCED IN MANY AREAS OF SOUTH FLORIDA FROM BOTH COLD
OUTBREAKS. FREEZING TEMPERATURES OCCURRED AS FAR SOUTH AS THE
AGRICULTURAL AREAS OF SOUTHEAST FLORIDA ON JANUARY 22ND AND ALL THE
WAY INTO METRO AREAS OF PALM BEACH AND BROWARD COUNTIES AS WELL AS
COASTAL SECTIONS OF COLLIER COUNTY ON FEBRUARY 5TH. LOWEST
TEMPERATURES RECORDED DURING BOTH EVENTS WERE 22 DEGREES IN PALMDALE
(GLADES COUNTY), WITH READINGS IN THE MID AND UPPER 20S OVER LARGE
PORTIONS OF THE INTERIOR SOUTHERN FLORIDA PENINSULA. HEAVY FROST ON
JANUARY 22ND LED TO SEVERE CROP DAMAGE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AND
AROUND LAKE OKEECHOBEE. DAMAGE ESTIMATES TO CROPS WAS IN THE $60
MILLION RANGE. THE COLDEST TEMPERATURES OF THE YEAR FOR THE
PRIMARY WEATHER STATIONS WERE:

NAPLES: 33 (JAN 22)
WEST PALM BEACH: 33 (FEB 5)
FORT LAUDERDALE: 37 (FEB 5)
MIAMI: 38 (FEB 5)

MAY-SEPTEMBER:

THE SPRING'S SEVERE TO EXTREME DROUGHT CONDITIONS PERSISTED INTO THE
FIRST HALF OF MAY. FORTUNATELY, THE RAINY SEASON BEGAN EARLY, ON MAY
11, AND WAS NOTED FOR VERY WET CONDITIONS OVER ALL BUT THE WESTERN
SECTIONS OF COLLIER COUNTY. THESE CONDITIONS LASTED THROUGH THE END
OF MAY AND MOST OF JUNE. THE VERY WET START TO THE RAINY SEASON PUT
AN END TO THE DROUGHT BY THE LAST WEEK OF MAY. THIS REVERSAL FROM
VERY DRY TO VERY WET CONDITIONS OVER THE COURSE OF A COUPLE OF WEEKS
IS BEST ILLUSTRATED BY WEST PALM BEACH GOING FROM THEIR SECOND
DRIEST DRY SEASON ON RECORD TO THEIR SECOND WETTEST MAY ON RECORD.
IN FACT, WEST PALM BEACH'S ENTIRE MAY RAINFALL OF 15.69 INCHES FELL
BETWEEN MAY 18TH AND MAY 31ST! OTHER LOCATIONS RECEIVED RAINFALL
AMOUNTS OF 8 TO 12 INCHES IN MAY, EXCEPT NAPLES WHICH REMAINED BELOW
NORMAL AT 3.92 INCHES. THE PRIMARY CAUSE FOR THE REVERSAL FROM DRY
TO WET WAS A PERSISTENT MID TO UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE TROUGH WHICH
SET UP OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO AND PROVIDED MOISTURE AND ATMOSPHERIC
INSTABILITY TO THE REGION.

THIS MOSTLY WET PATTERN PREVAILED THROUGH JUNE AND INTO MUCH OF
JULY. AS A RESULT, ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL CONTINUED THROUGH THE FIRST
HALF OF THE RAINY SEASON, PRIMARILY OVER INTERIOR AND EASTERN
SECTIONS OF SOUTH FLORIDA. ON THE AFTERNOON OF JUNE 5TH, A SUPERCELL
THUNDERSTORM REMAINED NEARLY STATIONARY OVER DOWNTOWN MIAMI AND
MIAMI BEACH. THE STORM DROPPED A TOTAL OF 9.3 INCHES OF RAIN IN
MIAMI BEACH IN LESS THAN 3 HOURS ALONG WITH GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL.
THE RESULT WAS SEVERE FLOODING IN PORTIONS OF MIAMI BEACH. AREAS ALONG
THE IMMEDIATE GULF COAST, PARTICULARLY THE CITY OF NAPLES, WERE THE
EXCEPTION TO THE RULE AS THEY REMAINED DRIER THAN NORMAL DUE TO
WESTERLY WINDS KEEPING MOST OF THE THUNDERSTORMS INLAND.

DURING AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, THE PATTERN SHIFTED TO HIGH PRESSURE
OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC AND THE SOUTHEAST UNITED STATES WHICH
BROUGHT MOSTLY EASTERLY WINDS TO SOUTH FLORIDA. THE SHIFT IN WIND
DIRECTION STEERED MOST OF THE DAILY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
TOWARDS THE WEST, RESULTING IN MUCH NEEDED ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL
VALUES FOR WESTERN SECTIONS OF MAINLAND SOUTH FLORIDA.

TEMPERATURES WERE ABOVE NORMAL THROUGH THE MAY- SEPTEMBER PERIOD. A
HISTORIC HEAT WAVE OCCURRED ON JUNE 21ST AND 22ND. TEMPERATURES
SOARED INTO THE UPPER 90S TO 100 DEGREES OVER INTERIOR AND EASTERN
SECTIONS OF SOUTH FLORIDA. AN ALL-TIME RECORDED HIGH OF 100 DEGREES
WAS TIED AT FORT LAUDERDALE ON JUNE 22ND. MIAMI TIED THEIR MONTHLY
RECORD WITH A HIGH OF 98 DEGREES ON THE SAME DAY. THE VERY HOT
TEMPERATURES OF JUNE 22 WERE FOLLOWED BY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WHICH
POUNDED SOUTH FLORIDA DURING MUCH OF THE DAY ON JUNE 23RD. THE
THUNDERSTORMS OF JUNE 23RD RESULTED IN 4 INJURIES AND THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS IN DAMAGE FROM LIGHTNING AND STRONG WINDS.

THE HOTTEST TEMPERATURES OF THE YEAR FOR THE PRIMARY WEATHER
STATIONS WERE:

FORT LAUDERDALE: 100 (JUNE 22)
MIAMI: 98 (JUNE 22)
WEST PALM BEACH: 96 (JUNE 21 AND JUNE 22)
NAPLES: 95 (JULY 11 AND AUGUST 17)

OCTOBER-DECEMBER:

STRONG HIGH PRESSURE OVER CENTRAL FLORIDA CAUSED UNSEASONABLY HOT
AND DRY WEATHER OVER ALL OF SOUTH FLORIDA DURING MOST OF OCTOBER.
MIAMI ESTABLISHED ITS HOTTEST OCTOBER ON RECORD WITH AN AVERAGE
MONTHLY TEMPERATURE OF 82.4 DEGREES. THE TEMPERATURE IN MIAMI
REACHED OR EXCEEDED 90 DEGREES ON 13 CONSECUTIVE DAYS FROM OCTOBER 5
TO OCTOBER 17, SETTING A RECORD FOR MOST NUMBER OF CONSECUTIVE
90-PLUS DEGREE DAYS IN OCTOBER. LABELLE AND MOORE HAVEN TIED THEIR
RECORD OF CONSECUTIVE 90-PLUS DEGREE DAYS WITH 15 AND 12 DAYS,
RESPECTIVELY. THE HEAT REACHED ITS PEAK ON OCTOBER 6 AND 7 WHEN
TEMPERATURES SOARED INTO THE MID TO UPPER 90S. CLEWISTON AND OCHOPEE
HIT 98 DEGREES, WHICH FOR CLEWISTON IS A RECORD FOR THE MONTH OF
OCTOBER. AN UNSEASONABLY STRONG COLD FRONT SWEPT THROUGH SOUTH
FLORIDA ON OCTOBER 17TH, PUTTING AN ABRUPT BUT TEMPORARY END TO THE
HEAT. LOWS DROPPED INTO THE 40S AND 50S; AND HIGHS ON OCTOBER 18TH
WERE AS MUCH AS 20 DEGREES LOWER THAN THE PREVIOUS DAY'S HIGHS.
RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE READINGS WERE SET AT ALL FOUR PRIMARY SOUTH
FLORIDA SITES.

THIS FRONT ALSO BROUGHT AN END TO THE SOUTH FLORIDA RAINY SEASON.
FORT LAUDERDALE SET A RECORD FOR THEIR DRIEST OCTOBER ON RECORD WITH
A TOTAL OF ONLY 0.73 INCHES OF RAIN. OVERALL, THE 2009 RAINY SEASON
WAS NEAR TO ABOVE NORMAL, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PORTIONS OF THE
SOUTHWEST GULF COAST AND SOUTHEAST METRO AREAS WHICH WERE RELATIVELY
DRY.

THE WARM TEMPERATURES CONTINUED IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER WITH FEW
INTERRUPTIONS. TEMPERATURES SOARED INTO THE UPPER 80S TO NEAR 90 ON
DECEMBER 3RD AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT AND AGAIN ON DECEMBER 9TH AND
10TH. WEST PALM BEACH (90 DEGREES ON DEC 9) AND MIAMI (89 DEGREES ON
DEC 10) TIED THEIR ALL-TIME RECORDED DECEMBER HIGHS.

RAINFALL DURING THE LAST 2 MONTHS OF THE YEAR WAS NEAR TO BELOW
NORMAL ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA UNTIL MID-DECEMBER WHEN A SERIES OF WEAK
FRONTAL SYSTEMS BROUGHT COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF RAIN TO MUCH OF THE AREA.
ON THE NIGHT OF DECEMBER 17TH AND EARLY MORNING OF DECEMBER 18TH, A
RETREATING WARM FRONT HELPED TO PRODUCE EXTREME RAINFALL AMOUNTS
OVER PARTS OF BROWARD AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTIES. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF
10-15 INCHES WERE EITHER MEASURED OR ESTIMATED OVER SOUTHEAST
BROWARD AND NORTHEAST MIAMI-DADE COUNTIES, CAUSING SEVERE FLOODING
TO SCORES OF HOMES AND BUSINESSES.

2009 SEVERE WEATHER STATISTICS:

A TOTAL OF 8 PEOPLE DIED AS A RESULT OF WEATHER RELATED HAZARDS IN
MAINLAND SOUTH FLORIDA IN 2009. RIP CURRENTS ONCE AGAIN LED THE LIST
WITH 5 DEATHS DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE "FAIR WEATHER KILLER".
LIGHTNING STRIKES CLAIMED 2 LIVES; AND ONE DEATH WAS ATTRIBUTED TO
COLD EXPOSURE IN POMPANO BEACH ON FEBRUARY 5TH. A TOTAL OF 14
WEATHER RELATED INJURIES WERE NOTED: 8 FROM RIP CURRENTS, 5 FROM
LIGHTNING AND ONE FROM THUNDERSTORM WINDS. ONLY FOUR TORNADOES WERE
CONFIRMED OVER MAINLAND SOUTH FLORIDA, THE LOWEST YEARLY TOTAL SINCE
2006. MONETARY DAMAGE AMOUNTS AS A RESULT OF WEATHER HAZARDS IS
ESTIMATED AT $62 MILLION, MOST OF IT COMING FROM CROP DAMAGE DURING
THE FREEZES OF JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.

2010 OUTLOOK:

WITH EL NIO EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN PLACE THROUGH THE SPRING, THE
CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER'S OUTLOOK THROUGH APRIL CALLS FOR AN
ENHANCED LIKELIHOOD OF BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES AS WELL AS ABOVE
NORMAL PRECIPITATION. NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND PRECIPITATION IS
POSSIBLE DURING MAY, FOLLOWED BY THE POSSIBILITY OF ABOVE NORMAL
TEMPERATURES AND ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION FOR PARTS OF THE SUMMER
AND EARLY FALL (PLEASE NOTE THAT THE OUTLOOKS AT LONGER RANGES ARE
PRONE TO LARGE ERRORS).

FOR THE LATEST WEATHER FORECASTS AND ALERTS, PLEASE VISIT THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA WEB SITE AT
WEATHER.GOV/SOUTHFLORIDA.

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!



MOLLEDA

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Flash Flood Warning Until 1:30AM

Very busy night on the radar, many indications this afternoon and evening of waterspouts and flooding rains. Latest warning is outlined in orange above.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Miami Radar Out of Service

From the NWS:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
340 PM EDT THU SEP 10 2009

...LIGHTNING STRIKE DAMAGE REQUIRES REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR MIAMI
DOPPLER RADAR...

A LIGHTNING STRIKE ASSOCIATED WITH A STRONG THUNDERSTORM THAT MOVED
THROUGH SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AROUND 1145 PM EDT WEDNESDAY
NIGHT SEPTEMBER 9 CAUSED SOME ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT DAMAGE TO THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN MIAMI. NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE ELECTRONICS PERSONNEL HAVE ORDERED REPLACEMENT PARTS WHICH
SHOULD BE AVAILABLE BY NOON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11. ONCE THE PARTS COME
IN AND ARE INSTALLED THE RADAR SHOULD BE BACK IN OPERATION SOMETIME
FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

RADAR COVERAGE OF MAINLAND SOUTH FLORIDA AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL
WATERS WILL NOT BE INTERRUPTED AS NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER
RADARS AT KEY WEST, MELBOURNE, AND TAMPA BAY WILL BE AVAILABLE ALONG
WITH FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION LOCAL AIRPORT RADARS AT PALM
BEACH INTERNATIONAL, FORT LAUDERDALE HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL, AND
MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS.

FURTHER UPDATES WILL BE ISSUED AS INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Next Storm May Form Shortly

From the NHC this morning:

SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATES THAT THE AREA OF DISTURBED WEATHER
CENTERED ABOUT 470 MILES EAST OF NASSAU IN THE BAHAMAS IS
DEVELOPING A WELL-DEFINED CIRCULATION. THE SYSTEM COULD DEVELOP
INTO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION...OR MORE LIKELY A TROPICAL STORM...AT
ANY TIME AS IT MOVES WEST-NORTHWESTWARD AT ABOUT 15 MPH...AND IF
CURRENT TRENDS CONTINUE ADVISORIES WILL BE INITIATED LATER TODAY.
THERE IS A HIGH CHANCE...GREATER THAN 50 PERCENT...OF TROPICAL
CYCLONE FORMATION DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS. INTERESTS IN THE
BAHAMAS SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM. A NOAA
HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT IS CURRENTLY ENROUTE TO INVESTIGATE THIS
SYSTEM.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Ana and TD3

Real quick post to note that south Florida is now in the official 5 day cone for tropical storm Ana. If it were to impact our area we are looking at the late Wednesday into Thursday.

The NHC will be initiating advisories on TD3 at 11am this morning.

I will have more details later today.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Miami Radar is Now Up

Just a quick note, Miami radar is back in operation after having its panels replaced on the dome. Also it looks as if the FLL and PBI radars are now reporting as well. You can find these on www.wunderground.com

And the tropics...are quiet.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Watch is in effect until 3PM for the following Florida counties:


BROWARD CHARLOTTE CITRUS
COLLIER DESOTO GLADES
HARDEE HENDRY HERNANDO
HIGHLANDS HILLSBOROUGH LEE
LEVY MANATEE MIAMI-DADE
MONROE OKEECHOBEE PALM BEACH
PASCO PINELLAS POLK
SARASOTA SUMTER


Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Monday, June 22, 2009

Hottest Day in Southeast Florida

Here is a Public Information Statement from the NWS in Miami reviewing today's high temperatures and a glimpse back at the history of the hottest day previously.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT  
..UPDATED


NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
458 PM EDT MON JUN 22 2009

..ALL TIME RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE TIED AT FORT LAUDERDALE


..DAILY RECORDS FALL AT WEST PALM BEACH AND MIAMI


ACTUAL TEMPERATURES NEAR 100 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT HAVE ONLY OCCURRED A
FEW TIMES ACROSS MAINLAND SOUTH FLORIDA THROUGH THE PERIOD OF
METEOROLOGICAL RECORD OF ABOUT 100 YEARS. NORMALLY, ONSHORE
SEABREEZES KEEP TEMPERATURES WELL BELOW 100 DEGREES NEAR THE HEAVILY
POPULATED COASTAL AREAS OF MIAMI-DADE, BROWARD, PALM BEACH, MAINLAND
MONROE, AND COLLIER COUNTIES.

HOWEVER, TODAY, MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2009, A PERSISTENT STRONG WESTERLY
WIND FLOW KEPT SEA BREEZES FROM DEVELOPING ALONG THE METRO ATLANTIC
COAST. THIS ALONG WITH STRONG HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT ALLOWED ACTUAL
TEMPERATURES TO SOAR NEAR 100 DEGREES IN METRO MIAMI-DADE, BROWARD
AND PALM BEACH COUNTIES, RESULTING IN NUMEROUS RECORD TEMPERATURES.

CITY/CLIMATE SITE OLD RECORD AND DATE NEW RECORD SET JUNE 22 2009
---------------------------------------------------------------------
MIAMI INTL AP 94 1998 AND 1992 98 NEW DAILY RECORD

FT LAUDERDALE/
HOLLYWOOD INTL 96 1956 100 NEW DAILY RECORD

98 JUNE 21 2009 100 NEW MONTHLY RECORD

100 AUG 4 1944
JUL 21 1942 100 /TIED/ ALL TIME RECORD

PALM BEACH INTL 95 2004 AND 1992 96 NEW DAILY RECORD

TEMPERATURE RECORDS EXTEND BACK TO 1895 AT MIAMI, TO 1912 AT FORT
LAUDERDALE, AND TO 1888 FOR THE WEST PALM BEACH AREA.

NOTE...THE FORT LAUDERDALE RECORD OF 100 DEGREES ON AUGUST 4 1944 IS
SOMEWHAT DUBIOUS BECAUSE OF INSTRUMENT EXPOSURE AND BECAUSE ALMOST
NO OTHER SOUTH FLORIDA REPORTING STATION REACHED 100 DEGREES ON THAT
DATE. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT MANY SOUTH FLORIDA LOCATIONS
REACHED 100 DEGREES ON JULY 21 1942, EVEN THOUGH THE RECORD FOR FORT
LAUDERDALE FOR THAT MONTH IS INCOMPLETE.

THE FORT LAUDERDALE HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TEMPERATURE
ACTUALLY TOUCHED 101 DEGREES FOR A FEW SECONDS JUST AFTER 4 PM EDT
BUT DID NOT HOLD IT LONG ENOUGH TO BE CONSIDERED THE MAXIMUM
TEMPERATURE FOR THE DAY.

THE DATE OF JULY 21 1942 IS LIKELY THE PREVIOUS HOTTEST DAY EVER FOR
MAINLAND SOUTH FLORIDA, AS MANY LOCATIONS REACHED OR EXCEEDED 100
DEGREES. THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF REPORTED MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES
FOR MAINLAND SOUTH FLORIDA ON THAT DATE...

JULY 21 1942 MAX TEMPS

FORT LAUDERDALE 100 EST
FORTY MILE BEND 99
HIALEAH 100
HOMESTEAD 100
HYPOLUXO 98
LOXAHATCHEE 101
MIAMI BEACH 98
MIAMI INTL AP 100
MOORE HAVEN 100
NAPLES 96
POMPANO BEACH 100
WEST PALM BEACH 101

All Time High Tied

RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE SET AT FORT LAUDERDALE...

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 100 DEGREES WAS SET AT FORT LAUDERDALE
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD DAILY HIGH RECORD OF 96 SET IN 1956. THIS
ALSO TIES THE ALL TIME RECORD HIGH TEMP LAST REACHED AUG 4, 1944.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Weather Watch Possible this Afternoon

The atmosphere is starting to destabilize and we could start seeing some showers/thunderstorms developing north of us and then moving towards the south or southwest. The SPC has issued a discussion and there is a possibility that a severe thunderstorm watch may be needed this afternoon. This is due to our high temperatures and a trough that is starting to dig into the area.

If a watch is issued I will put it out over Twitter along with further updates.

12 Noon Observations

Here are the latest observations from the area. Ft. Lauderdale and Pompano have the highest heat index at 105F. The breeze outside is helping it feel just a bit more tolerable out there. No record highs yet...
SOUTHEAST FLORIDA  

CITY SKY/WX TMP DP RH WIND PRES REMARKS

W PALM BEACH PTSUNNY 90 78 68 NW15G21 29.79S HX 104
FT LAUDER-EXEC MOSUNNY 92 75 57 W17 29.80F HX 103
FT LAUDERDALE MOSUNNY 94 75 54 W13 29.80F HX 105
POMPANO BEACH PTSUNNY 92 77 61 NW17 29.80F HX 105
PEMBROKE PINES MOSUNNY 92 75 57 W15 29.83S HX 103
OPA LOCKA MOSUNNY 92 75 57 W14 29.82F HX 103
MIAMI MOSUNNY 90 74 59 W12 29.82F HX 99
VIRGINIA KEY NOT AVBL
WEST KENDALL PTSUNNY 91 76 61 MISG 29.83S HX 103
HOMESTEAD MOSUNNY 90 77 66 NW15 29.83F HX 102
FLAMINGO N/A 90 77 66 W9G17 N/A HX 103
EVERGLADES CIT N/A 88 75 66 W15G24 29.83F HX 97

Monthly Record High Broken Yesterday

Not only was that a daily record high broken yesterday but also a monthly high in June for Ft. Lauderdale.

RECORD EVENT REPORT...CORRECTED TO INCLUDE MONTHLY RECORD
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI, FL
920 AM EDT MON JUN 22 2009

...RECORD MONTHLY HIGH TEMPERATURE SET AT FORT LAUDERDALE...

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 98 DEGREES WAS SET AT FORT LAUDERDALE
YESTERDAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD DAILY HIGH RECORD OF 94 SET IN 1956.
THIS ALSO BREAKS THE PREVIOUS JUNE HIGH RECORD OF 97 LAST SET ON
JUNE 2, 1998.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Heat Advisory

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
358 AM EDT MON JUN 22 2009

...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM EDT
THIS EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MIAMI HAS ISSUED A HEAT
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM EDT
THIS EVENING.

A HOT DOME OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE SOUTH AND BE OVERHEAD
MAINLAND SOUTH FLORIDA THIS AFTERNOON. THIS WILL LEAD TO VERY HOT
TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 90S TO AROUND 100 THIS AFTERNOON. HEAT
INDEX READINGS...OR HOW IT ACTUALLY FEELS TO YOUR BODY WHEN
FACTORING IN THE HIGH HUMIDITY...WILL REACH 105 TO 110 DEGREES
THIS AFTERNOON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS
EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY
WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE
POSSIBLE. HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT CRAMPS BECOME LIKELY AS HEAT
INDICES REACH 105 DEGREES OR HIGHER...AND HEAT STROKE IS POSSIBLE
WITH PROLONGED EXPOSURE OR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. IT IS ADVISED TO
LIMIT OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES THIS AFTERNOON. DRINK PLENTY OF
FLUIDS...STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM...STAY OUT OF THE
SUN...AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Sunday, June 21, 2009

One More Day of Heat

Records were broken today with the high temperatures in Ft. Lauderdale (98F), West Palm Beach (96F) and Miami(96F). Conditions are setting up to possibly challenge the all-time record high at these stations tomorrow, 100F in Ft. Lauderdale and 101F in West Palm Beach. The heat index tomorrow will easily be in the range of 105F to 110F. Caution must be used with these temperature so please drink plenty of water and be aware of your exposure to the heat.

Showers and thunderstorms have been limited the past week but there is an impulse of energy from a trough to our north that could affect the area tomorrow afternoon. This system combined with the heat could generate some strong to severe storms. The SPC has placed us in a slight risk for severe weather.

I will update the blog and the Twitter tomorrow as conditions warrant. And by the way, the tropics remain quiet around the Atlantic basin.

Record Highs Today

Miami, West Palm Beach and Ft. Lauderdale all broke record highs today. Here is the report for FLL:

RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE WAS SET AT FORT LAUDERDALE...

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 98 DEGREES WAS SET AT FORT LAUDERDALE TODAY.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 94 SET IN 1956.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Monday, June 15, 2009

Morning Atmosphere Parameters

Here are this morning's storm atmosphere parameters for Miami along with comments from NWS Miami:

12Z MIA SOUNDING (06/15/09) EQUIL LEVEL 50935, CAPE 4048, PWAT 1.69,
500 MB TEMP -6.6C, LI INDEX -7.45, HGT OF WET BULB 12389, FRZ LEVEL
14772. THERE IS A HIGH IN CHANCE OF SEEING WET MICROBURST WITH WINDS
BETWEEN 30 TO 50 KNOTS WITH THE ST ORMS, AND SMALL HAIL UP TO DIME
SIZE MAINLY OVER THE INTERIOR AND EAST COAST METRO AREAS
TODAY.

The elements exist for some potentially strong to severe storms.

More updates as conditions develop.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Good Possibilty of More Strong Storms Today

Here are this morning's upper air parameters. Could be an interesting afternoon:

MIA SOUNDING 12Z (06/09/09) EQUIL LEVEL 44877, CAPE 4202, PWAT 1.73,
500 MB TEMP -8.3C, LI INDEX -8.21, HGT OF WET BULB 13101, FRZ LEVEL
15314, AND THE LAPSE RA TE 7.89. THERE IS A CHANCE OF SEEING WIND
GUSTS UP TO 80 KNOTS TODAY, ALONG WITH HAIL UP TO QUARTER SIZE WITH
THE STRONGEST STORMS MAINLY OVER THE SOUTHEAST ARE AS OF SOUTH
FLORIDA.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Saturday, June 06, 2009

Sever Storms Possible Today

Conditions remain ripe for morew thunderstorms and the potential for severe weather. CAPE is above 3600 which is high enough to support good confidence for some interesting weather.

The latest HWO highlights are:

...NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THIS EVENING...
...FREQUENT LIGHTNING/LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL/GUSTY WINDS POSSIBLE...
...ISOLATED RISK OF SMALL TORNADOES EAST METRO AND COASTAL AREAS...
...WATERSPOUTS POSSIBLE ACROSS ATLANTIC WATERS TODAY...

The SPC has placed our area in a slight risk of severe weather.

I will post more as conditions warrant.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Rainbow

Not much rain here in north Broward but here is a nice rainbow as seen from Deerfield Beach.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

More Rain Today

From this morning's forecast discussion:

"SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING AND BECOMING FOCUSED
INTERIOR/ATLANTIC COAST THIS AFTERNOON...
..THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG WIND GUSTS EAST COAST
AND AS THEY MOVE OUT INTO THE ADJACENT WATERS..."

We are off to a dry start here in northern Broward but that will change going into the afternoon. Be prepared for some storminess if you are headed out.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Thursday, May 28, 2009

TD1 Advisory #1

TROPICAL DEPRESSION ONE ADVISORY NUMBER 1
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL012009
1100 AM EDT THU MAY 28 2009

...TROPICAL DEPRESSION FORMS OFF THE MID-ATLANTIC COAST...

SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATES THAT THE AREA OF LOW PRESSURE THAT
PASSED TO THE EAST OF CAPE HATTERAS YESTERDAY HAS BECOME A TROPICAL
DEPRESSION...THE FIRST OF THE ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON.

AT 1100 AM EDT...1500 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION ONE
WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 37.3 NORTH...LONGITUDE 71.0 WEST OR ABOUT
310 MILES...500 KM...SOUTH OF PROVIDENCE RHODE ISLAND AND ABOUT 635
MILES...1020 KM...SOUTHWEST OF HALIFAX NOVA SCOTIA.

THE DEPRESSION IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST NEAR 17 MPH...AND THIS
GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT 24-48 HOURS.
THE DEPRESSION IS NOT EXPECTED TO THREATEN ANY LAND AREAS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 35 MPH...55 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. THE DEPRESSION IS FORECAST TO BECOME A TROPICAL STORM OVER
THE NEXT DAY OR SO...BUT THEN IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN OR DISSIPATE
OVER COLDER WATERS BY SATURDAY.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1007 MB...29.74 INCHES.

...SUMMARY OF 1100 AM EDT INFORMATION...
LOCATION...37.3N 71.0W
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...35 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NORTHEAST OR 50 DEGREES AT 17 MPH
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1007 MB

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
500 PM EDT.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Depressin Number One Forms in the Atlantic

Off the coast of North Carolina. Advisory to come shortly.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Special Weather Statement

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
1012 AM EDT THU MAY 21 2009

COUNTY SPECIFIC MESSAGE:

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS SOUTHEAST PALM BEACH AND
NORTHEAST BROWARD COUNTIES...

AT 1005 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM COCONUT CREEK TO NEAR BOCA
RATON...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 10 MPH. A REPORT WAS RECEIVED OF 53 MPH
AT 944 AM IN DEERFIELD BEACH. IN ADDITION, DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATES
3 TO 5 INCHES WHICH WOULD INDICATE PONDING OF ROADWAYS AND
INTERSECTIONS.

THIS STORM WILL AFFECT...

FAU SOUTH CAMPUS...
BOCA WEST...
MISSION BAY...
SOUTH COUNTY REGIONAL PARK...
WHISPER WALK...
MORIKAMI PARK...

AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

THE PRIMARY IMPACT WILL BE GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 50 MPH...WHICH CAN
DOWN SMALL TREE LIMBS AND BRANCHES...AND BLOW AROUND UNSECURED SMALL
OBJECTS. SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE BUILDING UNTIL THE STORM PASSES.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Monday, May 18, 2009

A Rainy Night

A rainy evening continues through the night. For most of northeast Broward the rain held off until about 5PM and it has rained almost ever since. As of 11PM Pompano has reported 2.23 inches of rain today.

As far as the low south of the central Bahamas, the NHC is planning on sending out a reconnaissance aircraft tomorrow to investigate the system. Below you will find the latest models on the system. Please keep in mind if the system were to develop, which there is less than a 30% chance of the occurring, intensity models do keep it well below hurricane strength.

I will post more tomorrow.

From the NHC

Here is the statement from the NHC from this afternoon. I will have more information later including model runs.

SATELLITE IMAGERY AND SURFACE OBSERVATIONS INDICATE THAT AN AREA OF
DISTURBED WEATHER HAS FORMED OVER EASTERN CUBA...THE SOUTHEASTERN
BAHAMAS...AND THE ADJACENT WATERS. SLOW DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SYSTEM
IS POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT DAY OR TWO AS IT MOVES GENERALLY
NORTHWARD AT 10 TO 15 MPH. AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER
AIRCRAFT WILL INVESTIGATE THE SYSTEM ON TUESDAY...IF NECESSARY.
THERE IS A LOW CHANCE...LESS THAN 30 PERCENT...OF THIS SYSTEM
BECOMING A TROPICAL CYCLONE DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.


Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Early Season System?

Very quick post for now and I will expand on it tomorrow. Just looked at some of the models and a couple of them are indicating a closed low developing in the Gulf of Mexico sometime between late Monday into Wednesday. Way too early to say but we do have a cold front that should stall over central Florida late tomorrow and tropical moisture over the Caribbean that will be drawn up over our area during the next few days (remember rainy season is here). Sea surface temperatures are in the upper 70s to low 80s in the area so there are several reasons to watch this area.

More updates tomorrow, good night.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Rainy Season has Begun

Officially from the NWS:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
305 PM EDT FRI MAY 15 2009

...RAINY SEASON HAS BEGUN OVER SOUTH FLORIDA...

AS A RESULT OF THE DAILY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER MUCH OF
SOUTH FLORIDA THIS WEEK, AS WELL AS THE EXPECTATION OF ADDITIONAL
RAINFALL DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
MIAMI FORECAST OFFICE HAS DECLARED MAY 11 AS THE BEGINNING OF THE
2009 RAINY SEASON. THIS IS 9 DAYS EARLIER THAN THE MEDIAN START
DATE OF MAY 20 (ABOUT ONE WEEK LATER ALONG THE GULF COAST AND THE
LAKE OKEECHOBEE REGION), AS WELL AS THE EARLIEST START TO THE RAINY
SEASON SINCE 2003. THE EARLY START TO THE RAINY SEASON IS QUITE
WELCOME THIS YEAR DUE TO THE EXTREME DROUGHT CONDITIONS BEING
EXPERIENCED OVER MOST OF SOUTH FLORIDA. THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED
DRY SEASON OF 2008-2009 RANKED AS THE SECOND DRIEST DRY SEASON ON
RECORD FOR MOST SOUTH FLORIDA LOCALES, WITH ONLY 1971 BEING DRIER.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Funnel Clouds Off Boca this Morning



Thanks to Patrick Garmon for sending in these pictures from this morning. These funnel clouds/waterspouts were taken from the Yamato Road/Glades Road areas from Boca Raton looking east. Boca Raton air tower also observed these funnel clouds at 8:18am according a Special Marine Warning issued from the NWS in Miami.

The possiblity of waterspouts were noted in this morning's Harazrdous Weather Outlook issued at 3:44am this morning.

Speaking of funnels, the Vortex2 mission is now in day four. This has been covered widely on The Weather Channel and CNN. Today has been the first day they have been able to encounter severe weather and The Weather Channel has been giving them quite a bit of time. If you have the oppurtunity please tune in. It is very interesting to see how much equipment is being deployed to investigate tornadic developement.

Last but not least for tonight, we have less than 20 days before hurricane season begins. Of course that is when this blog becomes more active. This is the time that all of us should begin our preperations.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Highlights From this Morning's HWO

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SOUTH FLORIDA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
1036 AM EDT WED APR 29 2009

COUNTY SPECIFIC MESSAGE:

...HIGH RISK FOR WATER SPOUTS...
...HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ATLANTIC COAST BEACHES...
...VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS FROM WILDFIRE SMOKE IN COLLIER COUNTY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH FLORIDA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

WATERSPOUTS: THE COMBINATION OF CLOUD CONVERGENCE LINES IN THE NEAR
SHORE ATLANTIC WATERS AND THE LOW LEVEL WIND PROFILE IS FAVORABLE
FOR THE FORMATION OF WATERSPOUTS TODAY.

RIP CURRENTS: EASTERLY WINDS FROM 15 TO 20 MPH TODAY ALONG THE
ATLANTIC COAST WILL CREATE A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS FOR THE
ATLANTIC COAST BEACHES. SWIMMING IS NOT ENCOURAGED DUE TO THE
DANGERS POSED BY RIP CURRENTS.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Tuesday's Weather

Some of us had rain today, many of us did not. Before part of the area was impacted by the rain and thunderstorms Miami broke a record high with a temperature of 91F and West Palm Beach tied a record high of 90F.

Through Tuesday morning central and north Florida had been impacted with severe weather with three tornadoes in Pasco county near Land 'O Lakes and Christmas. In our area we had small hail in Boynton Beach and pea-size hail in Pompano near the intersection of Copans Road and Andrews Avenue this afternoon.

We may see a few showers overnight and possibly a thunderstorm mid to late morning Wednesday before a cold front comes through and stabilizes the atmosphere. Highs tomorrow will be about 87F and lows tomorrow night will be about 64F. Quite a bit cooler than the low tonight of about 75F.

For updates please check my Twitter in the upper right corner of this blog. I am usually able to update there before I update the blog. Also feel free to comment on the blog below or message me.

Have a good night!

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

EF0 Tornado in Palm Beach County

Those of us in northeast Broward and southeast Palm Beach county saw some rain today. Here at the house we only had .02 inches of rain but a spotter in west Boca reported over four inches of rain.

In northern Palm Beach county the NWS has confirmed an EF0 tornado touched down. Also of this writing the Palm Beach Post is reporting 5300 people are without power. You can read the article here.

Off weather for a minute please check your anti-virus tonight and make sure that it is up to date. April 1 has always been a popular day for the launching trojan payloads associated with some viruses. If you do not currently have up to date anti-virus I would suggest the one I use, Avast Anti-Virus. It is free (with registration) for home use and has NEVER failed me. I know there are others out there but I have found this one to be very good.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Rip Currents

With a fairly warm Saturday still in front of us some of you may be heading to the beach. If so please beware of rip currents. Today's winds will favor the presence of these dangerous currents. The NWS has been issuing statements this morning and the latest is below.

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
1115 AM EDT SAT MAR 28 2009

COUNTY SPECIFIC MESSAGE:

/O.CON.KMFL.CF.S.0014.000000T0000Z-090329T0000Z/
COASTAL PALM BEACH-COASTAL BROWARD-COASTAL MIAMI DADE-
1115 AM EDT SAT MAR 28 2009

...HIGH RISK OF DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR
ALL ATLANTIC BEACHES...

A SOUTHEASTERLY WIND OF 20 TO 25 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS...WILL
PERSIST ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST BEACHES OF SOUTH FLORIDA THROUGH
EARLY THIS EVENING. THIS...COMBINED WITH A SMALL TO MODERATE
NORTHEAST SWELL...WILL RESULT IN A HIGH RISK OF DANGEROUS RIP
CURRENTS ALONG THE ATLANTIC BEACHES OF MIAMI-DADE...BROWARD...AND
PALM BEACH COUNTIES. SWIMMING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

A RIP CURRENT IS A 10 TO 30 YARD WIDE CHANNEL OF WATER THAT CAN
PULL EVEN A STRONG SWIMMER FROM NEAR OR INSIDE THE SAND BAR INTO
DEEPER WATER. DUE TO THE LIFE THREATENING DANGERS THAT THESE
STRONG CURRENTS OF WATER POSE...SWIMMING IS NOT ADVISED.

IF YOU DO GO INTO THE WATERS...SWIM AT GUARDED BEACHES AND HEED
THE ADVICE OF THE BEACH PATROL. IF CAUGHT IN THE SEAWARD PULL OF
A RIP CURRENT DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MOVE DIRECTLY TOWARD SHORE.
INSTEAD...MOVE SIDEWAYS ACROSS THE RIP CURRENT UNTIL THE PULL
EASES.

AN ALTERNATE METHOD OF ESCAPE IS TO LET THE RIP CURRENT PULL YOU
SEAWARD 50 TO 100 YARDS...WHERE THE FORCE WEAKENS...AND THEN SWIM
TOWARD THE BEACH AT AN ANGLE AWAY FROM THE CURRENT.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Record Rainfall for FLL Today

More rain in the area today as FLL sets a daily rainfall record:

RECORD EVENT REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI, FL
0521 PM EDT SAT MAR 21 2009

...RECORD DAILY MAXIMUM RAINFALL SET AT FORT LAUDERDALE...

A RECORD RAINFALL OF 1.16 INCH(ES) WAS SET AT FORT LAUDERDALE TODAY.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 1.04 SET IN 1961.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Thursday, March 19, 2009

6.98 Inches of Rain

Just a quick update, yesterday we had 6.98 inches of rain from 7am Wednesday to 7am this morning.

Some drying is already occurring in the atmosphere so the rain chances are going down and as of now it looks like we have a very nice weather weekend ahead.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Rain Gauge

Here is a picture of my rain gauge I took when I got home tonight. There is several inches of rain in there. My official measurement will be done in the morning and I will have it posted here. Good night and stay dry.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Updated Rainfall Totals

Rainfall through 10:50PM:

7.88 COCONUT CREEK
6.10 POMPANO BEACH APT (PMP)
5.70 LAUDERDALE LAKES
5.08 POMPANO BEACH
5.06 OAKLAND PARK
4.81 FT LAUDERDALE NEAR SUNRISE BLVD AND 441
4.70 FT LAUDERDALE EXECUTIVE APT (FXE)
4.48 BOCA RATON
4.28 CORAL SPRINGS
4.00 HOMESTEAD
3.90 CUTLER RIDGE
3.79 DELRAY BEACH
3.54 BOYNTON BEACH
3.08 BLACK POINT
3.00 PLANTATION
2.68 LOXAHATCHEE NWR-EAST
2.31 PRINCETON
2.06 LEISURE CITY
1.91 SAWGRASS MILLS
1.64 WEST BOCA
1.63 DAVIE
1.60 NW LAKE OKEECHOBEE
1.60 JUPITER
1.57 NORTH PALM BEACH
1.45 LAKE WORTH
1.41 MIAMI INTERNATIONAL APT (MIA)
1.30 TAMIAMI TR AT KROME AVE
1.11 FT LAUDERDALE/HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL APT (FLL)
1.05 JUPITER FARMS
1.01 NORTH MIAMI BEACH
0.92 WESTON AT BONAVENTURE
0.90 PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL APT (PBI)
0.64 BELLE GLADE
0.54 HOMESTEAD GENERAL APT
0.53 W LAKE OKEECHOBEE
0.42 SOUTH BAY
0.39 CLEWISTON FIELD

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Rainfall Totals

Here are some rainfall totals through 5:30PM from the NWS and SFWMD:

7.88 COCONUT CREEK
5.08 POMPANO BEACH
5.07 LAUDERDALE LAKES
4.97 OAKLAND PARK
4.14 FT LAUDERDALE NEAR SUNRISE BLVD AND 441
4.11 CORAL SPRINGS
3.90 CUTLER RIDGE
3.62 BOCA RATON
3.08 BLACK POINT
2.82 DELRAY BEACH
2.78 BOYNTON BEACH
2.33 PLANTATION
2.01 LOXAHATCHEE NWR-EAST
1.74 SAWGRASS MILLS
1.59 NW LAKE OKEECHOBEE
1.54 NORTH PALM BEACH
1.50 PRINCETON
1.40 WEST BOCA
1.25 TAMIAMI TR AT KROME AVE
1.18 LAKE WORTH
1.14 MIAMI INTERNATIONAL APT (MIA)
1.10 LEISURE CITY
1.03 DAVIE
1.03 FT LAUDERDALE/HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL APT(FLL)
1.02 JUPITER
0.93 JUPITER FARMS
0.89 PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL APT (PBI)
0.59 WESTON AT BONAVENTURE
0.53 W LAKE OKEECHOBEE
0.39 BELLE GLADE
0.38 CLEWISTON FIELD
0.24 SOUTH BAY

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Rain Continues

So far over 4.5 inches of rain at PMP airport since midnight.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Friday, March 13, 2009

Continued Dry Weather Expected

The NWS in Miami issued a statement this morning updating our area rainfall values and explaining that we may not see as much rain as usual this Spring.

HYDROLOGIC OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
0400 AM EST FRI MAR 13 2008

....BELOW NORMAL RAINFALL FORECAST FOR THIS SPRING ACROSS SOUTH
FLORIDA...

THE RAINFALL AMOUNTS FOR DRY SEASON OF 2008/09 HAVE BEEN BELOW
NORMAL...DUE TO THE LA NINA AFFECTS AND THE DRY COLD FRONTS MOVING
THROUGH SOUTH FLORIDA. HERE ARE SOME TOTALS FOR THE DRY SEASON OF
2008/2009.

AIRPORTS : TOTALS : NORMALS : DEPARTURES

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL : 1.71 : 10.52 : -8.81
FORT LAUDERDALE INTERNATIONAL : 0.98 : 13.89 : -12.91
PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL : 2.90 : 16.33 : -13.43
NAPLES MUNICIPAL AIRPORT : 1.40 : 8.55 : -7.15

SECONDARY OBSERVATION SITES

IMMOKALEE : 2.11 : 9.34 : -7.23
DEVILS GARDEN : 2.07 : 9.61 : -7.54
CLEWISTON : 1.97 : 9.87 : -7.90
BELLE GLADE : 2.01 : 10.63 : -8.62
MOORE HAVEN LOCK : 2.42 : 10.19 : -7.77
FLAMINGO RANGER STATION : 1.85 : 9.04 : -7.19
MIAMI BEACH : 1.47 : 10.65 : -9.18

AS A RESULT...THE NATIONAL DROUGHT MONITOR PERSONNEL HAVE PUSHED THE
SEVERE DROUGHT STATUS (D2) WESTWARD TO INCLUDE ALL OF
MIAMI-DADE...BROWARD...AND PALM BEACH COUNTIES ALONG WITH SOUTHERN
MAINLAND MONROE COUNTY. REST OF SOUTH FLORIDA WAS STILL IN A
MODERATE DROUGHT STATUS (D1).

LAKE OKEECHOBEE WATER LEVEL WAS ABOUT 2 FEET BELOW NORMAL THIS
TIME OF YEAR AT AROUND 12.5 FEET. THE SOIL MOISTURE OVER SOUTH
FLORIDA WAS ALSO BELOW NORMAL.

THE CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER'S PRECIPITATION OUTLOOK FOR THE REST
OF THE DRY SEASON CALLS FOR AN INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF BELOW NORMAL
RAINFALL...MAINLY DUE TO THE LA NINA CONDITIONS CURRENTLY BEING
EXPERIENCED AND EXPECTED TO LAST THROUGH REST OF THE SPRING.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Stronger Worded Warnings

Interesting article from the Sun-Sentinel, sounds like the NWS will be a bit more aggresive in their language in warnings (tornado and hurricane) when lives are in danger.

sun-sentinel.com/services/newspaper/printedition/local/sfl-flbwarning0310sbmar10,0,7195240.story

By Ken Kaye

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

March 10, 2009

When hurricanes, tornadoes and severe storms threaten, there's one message forecasters want residents to know: If they don't get out of harm's way, their lives could be in danger.

For that reason, the National Weather Service plans to better describe the most perilous aspects of a storm, be they winds, rain or storm surge, and place them at the top of local forecasts.

"It's not necessarily an overhaul. It's just better focusing the information we want the public to really get," said meteorologist Robert Molleda, who is based in the Miami office of the weather service.

Molleda said the change stems from Hurricane Ike, which slammed Galveston and Houston last September. Some of the local weather advisories "buried" information urging people to evacuate, he said.

At least 12 people died along the Galveston shoreline where the system's storm surge hit, according to the National Hurricane Center.

In another weather disaster, the February 2008 Super Tuesday Tornado Outbreak, many residents failed to evacuate because they didn't believe they were under threat until they saw a twister. In all, 82 tornadoes killed 57 people, with most of the deaths in Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee.

After that outbreak, the weather service found that many residents don't sense peril based on forecasts alone.

The agency also discovered that many people minimized the threat because they had "optimism bias," thinking bad things only happen to other people.

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Cooler Weather On the Way Again

Another cold front, a rather potent one for March, will come through the area Sunday afternoon and will bring a noticeable change to our temperatures.

Today (Saturday) we are looking at a beautiful, warm day with some clouds and a high near 80F. Tonight's low will be around 68F. As the front approaches tomorrow we will feel the winds pick up in the morning and ahead of the front we will see some showers and thunderstorms. Areas affected with the thunderstorms may see gusts up to 40MPH. The front should pass the area late afternoon with the cooler and dryer air behind. Lows Sunday night will be in the upper 40s. The cool weather will stay around through Wednesday. By Thursday temperatures will be increasing to near normal for this time of the year. So do not put the jackets away yet.

One good thing about this front coming in tomorrow is the possibility of rainfall. So far this year we have had .57 inches of rain here at the house and all official stations in the area are well below normal for the year. Though this is normally our "dry season," we have been much dryer than normal. Below is the drought map for the southeast US and as you can see the extreme southeast coast of Florida is now entering into a moderate drought.

Enjoy the weekend and more updates later.

Friday, February 20, 2009

WPB Weather Radio Back in Service

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
925 PM EST FRI FEB 20 2009

THE WEST PALM BEACH NOAA WEATHER RADIO
TRANSMITTER...KEC50...BROADCASTING ON THE FREQUENCY 162.475 MHZ...IS
NOW BACK IN SERVICE.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

WPB Weather Radio Problems

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
150 PM EST FRI FEB 20 2009

...WEST PALM BEACH WEATHER RADIO TRANSMITTER TROUBLE...

THE WEST PALM BEACH NOAA WEATHER RADIO
TRANSMITTER...KEC50...BROADCASTING ON THE FREQUENCY 162.475 MHZ...IS
TRANSMITING INTERMEDIATELY. THE BROADCAST IS OCCASIONALLY DROPPING OFF
THE AIR.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Warm Day on Thursday Then Cooling Off

Tomorrow we will have highs in the lower 80s. That is before a cold front sweeps through cooling us down with lows in the 50s Friday morning and lows in the upper 40s Saturday morning.

This cool down will be short lived as the winds will be from the east on Saturday starting on warming trend. Saturday afternoon we will return to the mid 70s and remain near normal for the next four or five days.

Best chance of rain will be tomorrow night with the frontal passage and then maybe a shower later Saturday and Sunday.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Test

Test Message.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Cold Front

After a warm and dry weekend we have a cold front that will usher in cooler weather for the beginning of the week. This front will not be nearly as cold as what we had a couple of weeks ago. Highs for Monday and Tuesday will be in the lower 70s and lows will be around 50.

There will be a second, slightly stronger front affecting us on Friday or Saturday. More on that later this week.

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Cold Weather for the Area

Yes, it is fairly cool out there now and will be cold when we wake up on Thursday morning. At this time it looks as if we may flirt with freezing temperatures along the east coast. My forecast for the Pompano area is 45F tonight, high on Wednesday 66F and a low Thursday morning of 36F. Areas further west and north will be cooler.

A Freeze Watch is in effect for Thursday morning for the western half of Broward and all of Palm Beach county, except the immediate coastal areas.

On another note tomorrow is Thunderstorm and Tornado Awareness Day. There will be a state wide tornado drill. Here is the time line for the test:

8:30AM - Test Tornado Watch issued for the entire state.
10:10AM - Test Tornado Warning will be issued.
10:30AM - Drill will end with an "all clear" being announced.

I will post tomorrow with an update on Thursday morning's low and any news of the severe weather drill. Also my Twitter will be updated throughout the day for short updates and changes to watches and warnings.

Stay warm!

Sunday, February 01, 2009

More Cold Ahead

I will have more details tomorrow but we are in store for more cold weather this week, possibly colder than two weeks ago. I will leave you with the Freeze Outlook below.

FREEZE OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
1014 PM EST SUN FEB 1 2009

COUNTY SPECIFIC MESSAGE:

...FREEZING TEMPERATURES POSSIBLE MID TO LATE WEEK...

A STRONG COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO MOVE ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA MONDAY
NIGHT. THIS FRONT WILL USHER COOLER AND DRIER AIR INTO THE
AREA...POSSIBLY ALLOWING TEMPERATURES TO FALL TO AROUND FREEZING BY
WEDNESDAY MORNING OVER GLADES AND HENDRY COUNTIES...AND EVEN
INTERIOR PALM BEACH COUNTY.

ANOTHER EVEN STRONGER COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. THE AIRMASS BEHIND THIS SECOND FRONT WILL BE OF
ARCTIC ORIGIN AND WILL ALLOW FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF EVEN A HARD
FREEZE ACROSS GLADES AND HENDRY COUNTIES...WITH FREEZING
TEMPERATURES POSSIBLE ELSEWHERE ACROSS INTERIOR PALM
BEACH...INTERIOR COLLIER...AND INTERIOR BROWARD COUNTIES. THE COLD
AIRMASS COULD LINGER THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING...ALLOWING FOR THE
POSSIBILITY OF YET ANOTHER NIGHT OF NEAR FREEZING
TEMPERATURES...MAINLY ACROSS GLADES AND HENDRY COUNTIES.

THIS COLD WEATHER EPISODE IS STILL SEVERAL DAYS OUT IN TIME...SO
THINGS COULD TREND WARMER OR COLDER. ALL INTERESTS ACROSS THE AREA
ARE URGED TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN MIAMI.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Harardous Weather Week Begins Monday

Starting Monday the state of Florida will begin its Hazardous Weather Week. Monday will be dedicated to lightning. Below is the Public Information Statement from the NWS with lightning information for all of us.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
330 PM EST SAT JAN 31 2009

...FLORIDA HAZARDOUS WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK...
...MONDAY FEBRUARY 2 IS LIGHTNING AWARENESS DAY...

LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURE'S DEADLIEST AND MOST UNPREDICATABLE
PHENOMENA. METEOROLOGISTS CAN ACCURATELY FORECAST THE GENERAL
CONDITIONS THAT WILL CAUSE LIGHTNING, BUT NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE
EXACTLY WHERE AND WHEN ONE WILL STRIKE.

DURING ANY GIVEN YEAR, AN AVERAGE OF 2 PEOPLE ARE KILLED BY
LIGHTNING IN SOUTH FLORIDA, WITH AN ADDITIONAL 9 PEOPLE INJURED.
DURING 2008, SOUTH FLORIDA WAS VERY FORTUNATE IN THAT NO ONE WAS
REPORTED TO BE KILLED BY LIGHTNING STRIKES. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
IN 4 YEARS THAT NO REPORTED LIGHTNING DEATHS WERE OBSERVED, AND ONLY
THE THIRD TIME SINCE 1970. DESPITE THE LACK OF DEATHS, 11 PEOPLE
WERE INJURED LAST YEAR BY LIGHTNING STRIKES, TWO ABOVE THE YEARLY
AVERAGE. THIS MEANS THAT ALTHOUGH LIGHTNING ISN'T ALWAYS DEADLY, IT
ONLY TAKES A NEAR MISS TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT SOMEONE'S LIFE.

ONE ASPECT OF LIGHTNING THAT IS COMMON IN SOUTH FLORIDA BUT CAN BE
DECEIVING IS THE PERCEPTION THAT LIGHTNING ONLY STRIKES WHEN DARK
CLOUDS ARE DIRECTLY OVERHEAD. SEVERAL CASES IN THE PAST FEW YEARS
HAVE PROVEN THIS TO BE FALSE. LIGHTNING COMMONLY STRIKES SEVERAL
MILES AWAY FROM THE HEAVY RAIN AREA OF THE THUNDERSTORM, AND IN SOME
CASES CAN STRIKE UP TO 10 MILES AWAY OR MORE! THIS TYPE OF LIGHTNING
IS MISLEADINGLY REFERRED TO AS DRY LIGHTNING OR BOLTS FROM THE BLUE,
BUT THEY STRIKE FROM THE SIDES OF THE CLOUDS AND ARE JUST AS STRONG
AS THOSE THAT OCCUR IN THE MIDDLE OF A HEAVY DOWNPOUR. THEREFORE,
THE GREATEST DANGER OFTEN COMES WITH THE FIRST OR LAST FLASH WHEN
PEOPLE LEAST EXPECT IT.

PEOPLE SHOULD HEAD INSIDE WHEN DARKENING CLOUDS APPEAR. A GOOD RULE
OF THUMB TO USE IS THE 30-30 RULE TO PREVENT BEING STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING. THIS MEANS HEADING INDOORS WHENEVER THUNDER IS HEARD 30
SECONDS OR LESS AFTER THE LIGHTNING IS OBSERVED, AND REMAINING
INSIDE UNTIL 30 MINUTES AFTER THE LAST CLAP OF THUNDER IS HEARD.

RECENT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT TEENAGE BOYS ARE THE MOST LIKELY
GROUP TO BE KILLED BY LIGHTNING IN FLORIDA. THE AGE GROUP FROM 10 TO
19 YEARS OF AGE HAS THE GREATEST NUMBER OF DEATHS, FOLLOWED BY THOSE
IN THEIR 30S AND 20S. THE NUMBER OF 10 TO 19 YEAR OLD LIGHTNING
DEATHS IS GREATER THAN THE NUMBER OF LIGHTNING DEATHS OF THOSE 40
AND OLDER.

LIGHTNING ALSO CAUSES MORE THAN ITS SHARE OF PROPERTY DAMAGE. DAMAGE
IN 2008 FROM LIGHTNING TOTALLED ABOUT $70,000 IN SOUTH FLORIDA
ALONE.

SINCE 1959 THE THREE SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COUNTIES OF MIAMI DADE,
BROWARD AND PALM BEACH HAVE EXPERIENCED A COMBINED 92 LIGHTNING
DEATHS, THE MOST OF ANY THREE CONTIGUOUS COUNTIES IN THE UNITED
STATES. THIS INCLUDES 34 DEATHS IN MIAMI DADE COUNTY, 31 IN BROWARD
COUNTY AND 27 IN PALM BEACH COUNTY.

ALTHOUGH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOES NOT ISSUE SPECIFIC
LIGHTNING WARNINGS...PRODUCTS SUCH AS THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
AND THE SURF FORECAST DESCRIBE THE DAILY LIGHTNING DANGER IN SOUTH
FLORIDA ON A SCALE RANGING FROM NONE...TO SLIGHT...TO MODERATE...TO
HIGH. WHEN A STORM PRODUCING EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING IS OBSERVED OR IS
IMMINENT, A SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT IS ISSUED TO ALERT OF ITS
LOCATION. CHECKING THESE PRODUCTS BEFORE VENTURING OUTSIDE CAN MAKE
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.

REMEMBER, ANY THUNDERSTORM CAN PRODUCE A LIGHTNING FLASH WHICH CAN
KILL YOU AND THOSE NEARBY.

SOME LOCATIONS ARE MORE DANGEROUS THAN OTHERS. THE GREATEST NUMBER
OF PEOPLE IN FLORIDA ARE STRUCK WHILE NEAR A BODY OF WATER. THIS
INCLUDES PEOPLE AT THE BEACH, NEAR LAKES ON FISHING PIERS AND IN
SMALL BOATS. ANOTHER VULNERABLE LOCATION IS AN OPEN AREA WITH FEW
TRESS AROUND SUCH AS A BALL FIELD, PLAYGROUND OR GOLF COURSE.
SCHOOL RELATED ACTIVITIES ALSO RATE HIGH IN LIGHTNING VULNERABILITY.
THESE INCLUDE WALKING TO AND FROM SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL EVENTS.

THE INCREASING NUMBER OF HIGH RISE BUILDINGS IN SOUTH FLORIDA ALSO
PUTS CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND EVEN RESIDENTS IN UPPER FLOORS AT A
GREATER RISK SINCE TALL OBJECTS ARE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING MUCH MORE
FREQUENTLY THAN OBJECTS CLOSE TO THE GROUND.

NO PLACE OUTDOORS IS SAFE FROM LIGHTNING. EVEN THE INSIDE OF AN
AUTOMOBILE, WHILE SAFER THAN BEING OUTSIDE, IS NOT AS SAFE AS BEING
INSIDE AN ENCLOSED BUILDING. IF PLANNING TO BE OUTDOORS, STAY
INFORMED OF THE LATEST WEATHER CONDITIONS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE
SHELTER INSIDE AN ENCLOSED BUILDING IF A THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHES OR
FORMS NEARBY.

FOR FURTHER LIGHTNING INFORMATION, AS WELL AS DAILY HAZARDOUS
WEATHER OUTLOOKS WHICH INDICATE THE THREAT OF LIGHTNING OVER SOUTH
FLORIDA, AS WELL AS SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENTS, PLEASE VISIT THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MIAMI WEBSITE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/MIAMI.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Friday, January 30, 2009

Cold Front

Our latest cold front came through the area today bringing a few showers and much cooler weather with it. After a high today of 80F at Pompano we will see our Saturday morning low bottom out around 45F.

The front was proceeded by fog this morning that brought visibilities down under a mile along the east coast and even less than a quarter of a mile further inland. This was caused by the warm, moist air that was ahead of the cold front.

Tonight should be our coldest night of this front with a second front coming through the area on Tuesday. This front looks like it could bring some winter weather all along the east coast of the US, with continued cool/cold conditions for us and possibly a wintry mix from the Carolinas and further north.

Stay warm :)

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Cold Weekend Coming Up

Another strong cold front will pass through the area on Friday bringing more winter like temperatures this weekend. Here is a statement from the NWS in Miami:

FREEZE OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
156 PM EST TUE JAN 27 2009

COUNTY SPECIFIC MESSAGE:

...TEMPERATURES NEAR OR SLIGHTLY BELOW FREEZING POSSIBLE ACROSS
INTERIOR SOUTH FLORIDA EARLY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY MORNINGS...
...LOW WIND CHILL READINGS POSSIBLE LATE FRIDAY NIGHT INTO
EARLY SATURDAY MORNING...

A VERY STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS MAINLAND SOUTH FLORIDA
FRIDAY AFTERNOON WITH A COLD AIRMASS PUSHING DOWN THE PENINSULA
BEHIND THE FRONT. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF TEMPERATURES APPROACHING
THE FREEZING MARK LATE FRIDAY NIGHT AND EARLY SATURDAY MORNING
OVER GLADES AND HENDRY COUNTIES FOR A SHORT TIME. PEOPLE SHOULD
ANTICIPATE THE POSSIBILITY OF OR AT LEAST NEAR FREEZING TEMPERATURES
AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE NECESSARY STEPS TO PROTECT TENDER
VEGETATION...AS TEMPERATURES BELOW 40 DEGREES FOR A SEVERAL HOURS
CAN STILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO SENSITIVE VEGETATION.

WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME FAIRLY LIGHT TOWARD SUNRISE ON SATURDAY
AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 10 MPH, HOWEVER THIS MAY STILL PRODUCE WIND
CHILLS VALUES OF AROUND 40 OR LESS OVER INTERIOR SECTIONS OF SOUTH FLORIDA.

CLEAR SKIES AND EXPECTED LIGHT WINDS SATURDAY NIGHT AND EARLY
SUNDAY MORNING COULD RESULT IN TEMPERATURES AROUND OR JUST BELOW
FREEZING ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE INTERIOR SECTIONS OF MAINLAND SOUTH
FLORIDA ONCE AGAIN.

PEOPLE ARE URGED TO STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL
MEDIA FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Friday, January 23, 2009

Thursday Morning Recap

Here is a statement from the NWS in Miami summarizing the "cool" temperatures we woke up to. Also as a side note, Pompano was actually a degree warmer Thursday morning compared to Wednesday morning, 39F Wednesday and 40F Thursday. This compares to 49F this morning.

EARLY THIS MORNING, LOW TEMPERATURES PLUMMETED TO BELOW FREEZING
OVER MOST OF THE INTERIOR SECTIONS OF SOUTH FLORIDA. IN FACT, A HARD
FREEZE OCCURRED OVER SOME NORTHERN INTERIOR LOCATIONS. READINGS WERE
IN THE MID TO UPPER 20S FROM PARTS OF GLADES COUNTY SOUTH ACROSS
MOST OF HENDRY COUNTY INTO INTERIOR SECTIONS OF COLLIER COUNTY.
WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY IN THE BELLE GLADE AREA ALSO SAW LOWS IN
THE MID TO UPPER 20S.

FARTHER SOUTH, TEMPERATURES ALSO MANAGED TO REACH THE FREEZING MARK.
LOWS BETWEEN 30 AND 32 WERE REGISTERED AS FAR SOUTH AS TAMIAMI TRAIL
IN COLLIER COUNTY, AND IN THE FAR WESTERN SUBURBS OF PALM BEACH,
BROWARD AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTIES.

HERE ARE SOME SELECT LOW TEMPERATURES FROM INTERIOR SOUTH FLORIDA
(UNOFFICIAL READINGS INDICATED BY *):

GLADES COUNTY
PALMDALE: 23 (22 RECORDED AT 2 FT ELEVATION)*
ORTONA: 27
MOORE HAVEN: 30

HENDRY COUNTY:
LABELLE: 27
DEVILS GARDEN: 29
BIG CYPRESS: 29
AIRGLADES AIRPORT: 30 (29 RECORDED AT 2 FT ELEVATION)*
CLEWISTON: 30 *

INLAND COLLIER COUNTY:
IMMOKALEE: 27 (25 RECORDED AT 2 FT ELEVATION)*
GOLDEN GATE ESTATES: 27 *
BIG CORKSCREW: 31 *
GOLDEN GATE: 32 *

INLAND AND WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY:
BELLE GLADE: 28 (26 RECORDED AT 2 FT ELEVATION)*
SOUTH BAY: 31
THE ACREAGE: 31 *
JUPITER FARMS: 31 *
LOXAHATCHEE: 31 *
WELLINGTON: 34 *

INLAND BROWARD
ALLIGATOR ALLEY NEAR COLLIER COUNTY LINE: 32 *
CORAL SPRINGS: 31 *
WESTON: 36
SOUTHWEST RANCHES: 35 *

INLAND MIAMI-DADE:
TAMIAMI AIRPORT: 31
THE REDLAND: 32 (30 AT 2 FT ELEVATION) *
HOMESTEAD: 35 (33 AT 2 FT ELEVATION) *

OVER METRO AREAS, LOW TEMPERATURES WERE MOSTLY IN THE MID 30S TO
LOWER 40S. NAPLES GOT DOWN TO 34, WITH MARCO ISLAND REGISTERING A
NEAR-FREEZING 33. OVER ON THE EAST COAST, LOWS RANGED FROM 35 AT
WEST PALM BEACH TO 43 AT MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, WITH MOST
EASTERN METRO LOCATIONS IN THE MID 30S TO AROUND 40. A NOTABLE
EXCEPTION TO THIS WAS IN CORAL SPRINGS WHERE AN UNOFFICIAL
TEMPERATURE OF 31 WAS RECORDED.

AREAS OF FROST WERE COMMON OVER INTERIOR AND WESTERN LOCATIONS, WITH
PATCHY FROST ON ROOFTOPS AND ON THE TOPS OF CARS OBSERVED IN METRO
SOUTHEAST FLORIDA. THE FULL EXTENT OF CROP DAMAGE FROM THE FREEZING
TEMPERATURES WILL NOT BE KNOWN FOR A FEW DAYS, BUT THE TEMPERATURES
OBSERVED THIS MORNING ARE CAPABLE OF DAMAGING CROPS, ESPECIALLY IN
AREAS THAT DROPPED INTO THE 20S.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Freeze Warning in Effect Until 9AM

Already 43F as of 10PM at PMP. That is a drop of 7F since 6PM.

I am predicting a low of 37F with some patchy frost in many areas and more widespread the further west you go.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Coldest Daytime Highs in Six Years

From the NWS this afternoon:


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
440 PM EST WED JAN 21 2009

...COLDEST MAXIMUM DAILY TEMPERATURES IN SIX YEARS OVER MUCH OF
SOUTH FLORIDA...

DESPITE FULL SUNSHINE, HIGH TEMPERATURES ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA TODAY
ONLY REACHED THE MID TO UPPER 50S AS A RESULT OF THE MODIFIED ARCTIC
AIRMASS FIRMLY ENTRENCHED ACROSS THE REGION. SOME OF THESE
TEMPERATURES WERE THE COLDEST DAILY MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE READINGS
OBSERVED SINCE JANUARY 2003.

HERE ARE TODAY'S HIGH TEMPERATURES AT THE FOUR PRIMARY OBSERVATIONS
SITES ALONG WITH THE LAST DATE THESE READINGS WERE AS COLD OR COLDER:

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: 57 DEGREES, COLDEST SINCE JANUARY 18,
2003 (55 DEGREES).

FORT LAUDERDALE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: 58 DEGREES, COLDEST SINCE
FEBRUARY 13, 2006 (58 DEGREES).

PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: 56 DEGREES, COLDEST SINCE JANUARY
24, 2003 (50 DEGREES).

NAPLES REGIONAL AIRPORT: 56 DEGREES, COLDEST SINCE JANUARY 24, 2003
(56 DEGREES).

PALM BEACH AND NAPLES AIRPORTS BOTH SET DAILY RECORD LOW MAXIMUM
TEMPERATURE READINGS, WITH MIAMI AND FORT LAUDERDALE FALLING JUST
SHORT OF THEIR DAILY RECORDS.

THE AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE IN SOUTH FLORIDA THIS TIME OF YEAR IS
IN THE MID 70S.

Last Night's Lows

Here are the lows from last night and yesterday's highs. Another cold night ahead. Stay warm!

AIRPORT OBSERVATIONS HIGH LOW PCPN

FORT LAUDERDALE INTL :FLL 69 41 0.00
FORT LAUDERDALE EXEC :FXE 68 39 0.00
MIAMI INTERNATIONAL :MIA 69 42 0.00
NAPLES MUNICIPAL AIRPORT :APF 69 39 0.00
OPA LOCKA AIRPORT :OPF 68 41 0.00
PEMBROKE PINES :HWO 68 40 0.00
POMPANO BEACH AIRPORT :PMP 68 39 0.00
WEST KENDALL/TAMIAMI AP :TMB 68 40 0.00
WEST PALM BEACH :PBI 67 36 0.00

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Happy 2009!

Happy New Year and welcome to my first post of the year. As I write this we have a cold front sweeping through the area which has generated some showers this afternoon and tonight. Most of this weather should pass by midnight with temperatures dropping to the lower 50s along the coastal areas and upper 40s in western areas. This will be about a 30 degree drop from today's high which was 80F at Pompano. The breezy conditions will continue through the morning.

This cooler weather will continue through Saturday and back to average temperatures on Sunday. Dry conditions will be with us through Friday when another front will come through and then mostly dry for the weekend.

I will have an update on the cooler weather later this week. Enjoy it!