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Prepared by Preston Leftwich, David F. Zierden, and Melissa Griffin
Florida Climate Center
The Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
Average temperatures much below normal in December. Average temperatures in December were much below normal (Table 1). At Tallahassee, Melbourne, Orlando, Tampa, Miami, and Key West, as well as numerous other sites across the state, this was the coldest December on record. Many long-standing daily minimum records were tied or broken (Appendix). A minimum temperature of 40° F at Fort Lauderdale on the 7th broke a record for that date set in 1841. On the 15th, minimum temperatures of 46° F at Key West and 31° F at Sarasota broke records in existence since 1885 and 1915, respectively. Later in the month, minima at Tallahassee (18° F), Jacksonville (20° F), and Gainesville (21° F) broke records in existence since 1925. Further, many record-low maximum temperatures were observed during the month.
Table 1: December average temperatures and departures from normal (° F) for selected cities.
December rainfall totals below normal. Rainfall totals for December were below normal in all areas of the state (Table 2). An aerial perspective is given by Figure 1. Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and Key West all received less than one inch of rain during December. In contrast, a daily total of 1.87 inches at Melbourne on the 18th broke the previous record of 1.68 inches observed in 2009. A trace of snow was observed at several places in the north on the 25-26th, including Pensacola, Apalachicola, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville.
Table 2: December precipitation totals and departures from normal (inches) for selected cities.
Figure 1: A graphical depiction of the monthly rainfall departure from normal (inches) for December is given in the figure below (courtesy of NOAA, NWS).
La Niña continues during December. Sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean continued below normal during December, denoting a continued cold phase of ENSO, or La Niña. Winter dryness is associated with a cold phase of ENSO. In addition, cold phases of the large-scale North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the Arctic Oscillation (AO) aided the advances of frigid air into the state.
Hazardous weather. No tornadoes occurred during December. On the 11th, thunderstorm wind gusts to 70-80 mph damaged houses, mobile homes, trees and roofs near Milton. Severe drought conditions persisted from the east-central coast into the northeastern portion of the state.
Agricultural and other impacts. The majority of field crops were finished for the season and did not suffer damage from the record cold of December. However, in the south tomatoes, peppers, and sweet corn suffered some freeze damage. An extended period of freezes in mid-month near Lake Okeechobee severely damaged sugarcane. Pastures in the north were heavily damaged by freezing temperatures. Although damage assessment is incomplete, some fruit damage and defoliation were evident after two major freezes in citrus areas. Continued drought conditions provided favorable conditions for the onset of several wildfires around the state.
Appendix: Temperature Records (° F) Tied or Broken during December (compiled from NWS).
Prepared by Preston Leftwich, David F. Zierden, and Melissa Griffin
Florida Climate Center
The Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
Average temperatures near normal for November. Overall, average temperatures for November were near normal (Table 1). During the first half of the month record low maximum temperatures were tied or broken in southern areas. A maximum temperature of 62° F at St. Perersburg on the 6th tied the lowest daily maximum, a record in existence since 1939. Several minimum temperature records were tied or broken, too. The minimum temperature at Miami on the 7th (53° F) tied a record in existence since 1907. Later in the month, several daily maximum temperature records were set (Appendix).
Table 1: November average temperatures and departures from normal (° F) for selected cities.
November rainfall totals near normal in most areas. Rainfall totals for November were near normal in most areas of the state (Table 2). In contrast, the monthly total of 7.33 inches recorded at Pensacola was nearly three inches above normal. A daily amount of 3.34 inches at Pensacola on the 3rd was a primary factor in the monthly total being above normal. Two daily rainfall records were set durng the month. On the 16th, 2.22 inches of rain broke the record of 1.05 in that occurred in 1957. An amount of 0.78 inch at Key West on the 26th broke the record of 0.61 inch that occurred in 1987. Monthly departures from normal November rainfall are depicted in Figure 1. While Panhandle areas were near or slightly above normal, an area along the south-central coast was more than four inches below normal.
Table 2: November precipitation totals and departures from normal (inches) for selected cities.
Figure 1: A graphical depiction of the monthly rainfall departure from normal (inches) for November is given in the figure below (courtesy of NOAA, NWS).
La Nina continues during November. Sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean continued below normal during November, denoting a continued cold phase of ENSO, or La Nina. As a very active Atlantic hurricane season came to an end, no tropical cyclones affected the state during November.
Hazardous weather. No tornadoes were observed during the month. Only isolated severe local storms occurred. On the 2nd, golf-ball-sized hail fell near Pensacola. On the 15th, trees and power lines were downed by thunderstorm winds near Monticello. All areas of the state except the extreme southeast and Keys continued to experience drought conditions during November. Two areas, along the upper east coast and near the central east coast, reached extreme drought conditions by the end of the month. Although drought conditions eased somewhat in the Panhandle during November, areas near the borders of Alabama and Georgia still have moderate to severe drought conditions.
Agricultural and other impacts. Planting of cool season forage was delayed due to low soil moisture. Cattle producers continued to use hay as supplemental feed due to slowness of pasture growth. Frost and freezing temperatures in northern areas ended late vegetable production. Cooler weather aided strawberry development in west-central areas. By the end of the month citrus areas in Broward and Indian River Counties had reached extreme drought conditions.
Appendix: Temperature Records (° F) Tied or Broken during November (compiled from NWS).
Prepared by Preston Leftwich, David F. Zierden, and Melissa Griffin
Florida Climate Center
The Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
Average temperatures near normal for October. Overall, average temperatures for October were near normal (Table 1). Even so, there were many daily records set during the month (Appendix). During the first half of the month 12 daily minimum records were tied or broken. Among these, low temperatures of 45° F at Apalachicola and 47° F at Gainesville on the 7th broke records in existence since 1932. During the last eight days of October, 26 daily maximum records were tied or broken. High temperatures of 92° F on the 26th and 91° F on the 28th at Gainesville broke records in existence since 1932 and 1911, respectively. Tallahassee observed record high minimum temperatures on both the 26th and 27th.
Table 1: October average temperatures and departures from normal (° F) for selected cities.
October rainfall totals much below normal except in the Keys. October rainfall totals were much below normal in almost all areas of the state (Table 2). Miami's monthly total was more than four and one-half inches below normal. Jacksonville and Orlando did not officially record rain and Tampa recorded only a trace during October. This was the driest October on record at these three stations. In contrast, a localized heavy rain event (3.44 in) on the 26th at Key West raised the monthly total above normal. The general sparseness of rainfall across the state during October is depicted in Figure 1. Departures from normal in eastern and southeastern coastal areas exceeded five inches.
Table 2: October precipitation totals and departures from normal (inches) for selected cities.
Figure 1: A graphical depiction of the monthly rainfall departure from normal (inches) for October is given in the figure below (courtesy of NOAA, NWS).
La Nina continues during October. Sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean remained below normal during October, denoting a continued cold phase of ENSO, or La Nina. All five tropical cyclones in the Atlantic basin during October became hurricanes. Such increased tropical cyclone activity is associated with La Nina conditions. The warm, dry conditions across most of the state are also associated with La Nina.
Hazardous weather. No severe local storm events were reported during October. As Tropical Storm Paula passed near the Keys on the 12th, 8.28 inches of rain was recorded at the Marathon airport, resulting in the wettest day on record at that site. Small areas near the border with Alabama and along the east-central coast have reached extreme drought conditions. Severe drought conditions are present in the western Panhandle and along the northern two thirds of the Atlantic coast. Most of the northern two thirds of the state have abnormally dry conditions.
Agricultural and other impacts. Dry soil in western areas of the Panhandle hindered peanut digging as farmers harvested peanuts early in response to the worsening drought. Cattlemen have begun to use hay to supplement pastures that are in poor condition. River and well levels have continued to decrease in northern areas. Wildfire danger increased across most of the state as rainfall remained well below normal.
Appendix: Temperature Records (° F) Tied or Broken during October (compiled from NWS).
Prepared by Preston Leftwich, David F. Zierden, and Melissa Griffin
Florida Climate Center
The Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
Average temperatures above normal for September. Persistent subtropical high pressure during the first three weeks of the month led to average temperatures remaining above normal for September (Table 1). The monthly mean of 84.1° F at West Palm Beach broke the record of 83.3° F recorded in 1951. Several maximum temperature records were tied or broken (Appendix). On the 11th, Apalachicola (92° F) and Tallahassee (98° F) tied daily maximum records in existence since 1954. For four consecutive days, the 18th through the 21st, West Palm Beach tied or broke daily records for highest minimum temperature, with 82o F on the 18th breaking a record in existence since 1930. The minimum temperature (80° F) at Melbourne on the 21st broke a record in existence since 1951.
Table 1: September average temperatures and departures from normal (° F) for selected cities.
September rainfall totals vary around the state. Monthly rainfall in September was below normal in most areas except the south. Pensacola (0.62 in) and Tampa (1.13 in) were more than five inches below normal (Table 2). In contrast, Miami (15.89 in) was more than seven inches above normal. Localized heavy rain produced isolated record daily amounts (Table 3). Figure 1 provides an aerial depiction of both the well-below normal rainfall in northwest and north-central areas and the well-above normal rainfall in the extreme southeast.
Table 2: September precipitation totals and departures from normal (inches) for selected cities.
Table 3: Daily maximum rainfall records set in September
Figure 1: A graphical depiction of the monthly rainfall departure from normal (inches) for September is given in the figure below (courtesy of NOAA, NWS).
La Nina continues to strengthen during September. Sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean continued below normal during September, clearly denoting a cold phase of ENSO, or La Nina. Increased tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic basin, as seen during September, is associated with La Nina conditions. Also, the warm, dry conditions across most of the state are also associated with La Nina.
Hazardous weather. No tornadoes were observed during September. Thunderstorm winds produced only isolated damage in northern and central areas. On the 5th, thunderstorms produced wind gusts up to 69 mph near Cape Canaveral. As the remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole passed near southeastern coastal areas on the 29th, heavy rain was observed from Miami to Marathon.
Agricultural and other impacts. Dry conditions in western areas of the Panhandle have hindered peanut digging, stressed cotton and soybeans, and lowered hay yields. By the end of the month, areas in the western Panhandle along the border with Alabama reached severe drought conditions. Other areas in the northwest and along the northeast Atlantic coast have moderate drought conditions. Most northern areas have become abnormally dry. In contrast, growing conditions remained good in citrus areas throughout the month.
Appendix: Temperature Records (° F) Tied or Broken during September (compiled from NWS).
Prepared by Preston Leftwich, David F. Zierden, and Melissa Griffin
Florida Climate Center
The Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
Average temperatures above normal for August. Continued high pressure at both the surface and aloft, high moisture in low levels, and above normal sea-surface temperatures led to above normal temperatures across all areas of the state (Table 1). The monthly mean temperature at Vero Beach (83.6°) was the warmest on record. Tallahassee (84.2o F) and Melbourne (83.8° F) tied the second warmest August on record. Nine daily maximum temperature records were tied or broken. The maximum temperature at Orlando (97° F) on the 1st tied a record in existence since 1961. Also, the maximum temperature at Miami (95° F) on the 24th broke a record in existence since 1958. In contrast, the maximum temperature of 82o F at Key West on the 10th broke the record (83° F in 1901) for lowest maximum temperature in August. There were 37 daily temperature records tied or broken during the month. Much of the persistent overall warmth during August resulted from above normal minimum temperatures. Daytona Beach (76.1° F) and Melbourne (76.5° F) had record-warm monthly mean minimum temperatures.
Table 1: August average temperatures and departures from normal (° F) for selected cities.
August rainfall totals vary around the state. Monthly rainfall in August was above normal in most areas around the state. Pensacola (11.87 in) was more than five inches above normal (Table 2). In contrast, Vero Beach (2.89 in) was more than three inches below normal. Localized heavy rain produced isolated record daily amounts (Table 3).
Table 2: August precipitation totals and departures from normal (inches) for selected cities.
Table 3: Daily maximum rainfall records set in August
Further, the overall areal distribution of departures from normal rainfall during August is depicted in Figure 1. Departures from normal monthly totals range from much above normal in several areas near the Gulf coast and inland sections of the south to well below normal along the central east coast. A monthly total exceeding 20 inches was observed in coastal Levy County.
Figure 1: A graphical depiction of the monthly rainfall departure from normal (inches) for August is given in the figure below (courtesy of NOAA, NWS).
La Niña strengthens during August. Sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean continued to cool during August and now clearly denote a cold phase of ENSO, or La Niña. The development of La Niña has little impact on climate in Florida during summer.
Hazardous weather. Thunderstorm winds produced only isolated reports of minor damage during August. Weak tornadoes caused minor damage near New Smyrna Beach and Boca Raton on the 7th and again at New Smyrna Beach on the 11th. Waterspouts caused minor damage when they moved ashore near Edgewater on the 11th and near Key Largo on the 30th. Tropical Depression 5 formed in the southeast Gulf of Mexico on the 10th. Rainfall along the Gulf coast was enhanced for the next two days as the depression drifted northwestward before dissipating.
Agricultural and other impacts. Hot, dry conditions early in the month stressed some field crops and pasture in the extreme northwest. Rainfall later in the month improved the condition of field crops in the northwest and forage in west-central areas. However, continued heavy rain in some areas of the northwest promoted white mold in some peanut fields toward the end of the month. Warm, humid conditions throughout the month provided excellent growing conditions for citrus and sugarcane in the south. Abnormally dry conditions persisted through the month near the borders with Alabama and southwest Georgia and along the east-central and northeast Atlantic coasts.
Appendix: Temperature Records (° F) Tied or Broken during August (compiled from NWS).
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