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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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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.

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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.
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