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Prepared by Florida Climate Center
The Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

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Average temperatures continued to be well above average across the state in November. Most places in Florida were warm throughout the month with average temperatures above normal, much like the contiguous U.S. which had its 4th warmest November on record. Departures from normal across the state ranged from +1.4 ̊F in Key West to over +6 ̊F in the Panhandle (Table 1 and Appendix 1). West Palm Beach observed its second warmest November on record (1888-2020). Both maximum and minimum temperatures were well above average during the month across the state as well. Many high daily minimum temperature records were set during the month; Tampa observed its highest daily minimum temperature on record at 78 ̊F on the 10th (1890-2020). Additionally, many record daily high maximum temperatures were set, particularly during the middle of the month (Appendix 2).

Table 1.  November average temperatures and departures from normal ( ̊F) for selected cities.

Station Mean Temperature Departure from Normal
Pensacola 67.2 +6.5
Tallahassee 66.6 +5.8
Jacksonville 67.3 +4.7
Orlando 73.5 +5.0
Tampa 74.6 +5.2
Miami 77.4 +2.2
Key West 77.8 +1.4  

 

Rainfall totals in November were mixed, with wetter than normal conditions in the southern half of the state and drier than normal conditions in the northwestern and Panhandle regions. The Panhandle observed monthly precipitation departures from normal ranging from -3.5 inches in Crestview to -1.3 inches in Perry. Conversely, the Peninsula experienced wetter conditions during the month, with departures from normal ranging from +1.6 inches in Orlando to over +11 inches in Fort Lauderdale (Table 2 and Figure 1). From November 8-12th, Tropical Storm Eta impacted portions of west-central and southern Florida, contributing between 5 and 10 inches of rainfall in these areas. On the 11th, Sarasota-Bradenton observed its wettest November day on record (since 1911) with 6.41 inches of rainfall. Additionally, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Homestead, and Sarasota all experienced their wettest Novembers on record.

Table 2. November precipitation totals and departures from normal (inches) for selected cities.

Station Total Rainfall Departure from Normal
Pensacola 2.20 -2.53
Tallahassee 3.63 +0.13
Jacksonville 1.81 -0.31
Orlando 5.24 +3.06
Tampa 5.40 +3.86
Miami 9.61 +6.34
Key West 7.52 +5.22 

 

 

Figure 1. A graphical depiction of the monthly rainfall departure from normal (inches) for November 2020 (courtesy of NOAA, NWS).

Figure 1.  A graphical depiction of the monthly rainfall departure from normal (inches) for November 2020 (courtesy of NOAA, NWS).

 

Strong La Niña Conditions in the Pacific.

La Niña strengthened in the tropical Pacific in October, as indicated by sea surface temperature indices in the two westernmost Niño regions. La Niña will continue through the winter (100% chance) with conditions expected to remain strong. La Niña conditions are expected to continue into spring (~65% chance during March-May). La Niña winters tend to favor above-average temperatures and dry conditions across the southern tier of the U.S.

 

Hazardous Weather Events in November.

There were 676 individual local reports of hazardous weather events recorded in Florida during the month of November (see Table 4 for a breakdown by event type). Tropical Storm Eta made initial landfall on Lower Matecumbe Key, FL on the 8th with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and several reports of wind gusts exceeding 50 mph. The storm made a second landfall on the 12th near Cedar Key, FL. The storm impacted central and southern parts of the Florida Peninsula, with numerous reports of flooded roadways and homes as the storm moved north and east across the state. With the close of November, the 2020 record-breaking hurricane season has officially ended. Tropical Storm Eta was the 12th named storm to make landfall in the U.S. during this season, which broke the previous annual record of 9 landfalls set in 1916.

 

Table 4. Breakdown of storm reports submitted in Florida during the month of November (compiled from Iowa State University/Iowa Environmental Mesonet).

Report Type Number of Reports
Coastal Flood 3
Flash Flood 12
Flood 36
Heavy Rain 20
Marine Thunderstorm Wind 251
Non-Thunderstorm Wind Damage 1
Non-Thunderstorm Wind Gust 121
Tornado/Waterspout/Funnel Cloud 4/1/1
Thunderstorm Wind Damage 14
Thunderstorm Wind Gust 54
Hail 2
Rip Current 1
Storm Surge 16
Tropical Storm 139

 

Drought-Related Impacts.

During the month of November, drought did not impact any part of the state, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Abnormally dry conditions (D0) affected a small area in the extreme northeastern most section of the state expanding into parts of Georgia. Continuing La Niña conditions are expected to result in a dry winter pattern across the Southeast U.S. region.

As of November 30, the Lake Okeechobee water level was at 16.12 ft. above sea level (Feet-NGVD29), which is above average for this time of the year. At the beginning of November, the water level was at 16.26 ft. above sea level.

 

drought monitor

 

Agriculture-Related Impacts.

In mid-November, topsoil moisture levels were adequate in 53% of the state, short in 9% of the state, and 38% of the state had a surplus. By the end of November, topsoil moisture levels were adequate in 66% of the state, short in 10%, and 24% of the state was in surplus. For more information, consult the weekly Crop Progress and Condition reports published by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

 

Appendix 1
Additional November departures from normal data for select Florida locations (Source: NWS).

Station Average Temperature (˚F) Departure from Normal (˚F) Total Rainfall (in.) Departure from Normal (in.)
Gainesville 67.5 +4.7 2.41 +0.35
Sarasota 74.7 +5.5 7.62 +5.69
Melbourne 73.2 +4.2 4.41 +1.53
Fort Myers 75.8 +4.2 4.21 +2.29

 

Appendix 2
Select daily maximum temperature records tied or broken during November (compiled from NOAA).

Location Date Record (˚F) Broken/Tied Last
Miles City 1 94 Broken 93 in 2015
Key West 1 96 Broken 89 in 2019
Fort Lauderdale 2 89 Broken 88 in 2019
Key West 5 90 Broken 88 in 2019
Pensacola 8 85 Broken 82 in 2017
Key West 9 90 Broken 88 in 1993
Pensacola 9 85 Broken 83 in 1986
Bradenton 10 87 Tied 87 in 2018
Tarpon Springs 10 90 Broken 89 in 1946
Gainesville 10 84 Tied 84 in 1998
Tampa 10 89 Broken 87 in 1986
Key West 10 89 Broken 88 in 2018
Crestview 10 85 Broken 83 in 2002
Pensacola 10 84 Broken 82 in 2002
Tallahassee 10 87 Tied 87 in 1986
Niceville 11 83 Broken 81 in 2018
Marianna 11 86 Broken 82 in 2010
Crestview 11 86 Broken 82 in 2010
Pensacola 11 87 Broken 82 in 2006
Key West 12 94 Broken 88 in 2018
Miami 14 86 Tied 86 in 2018
Key West 14 93 Broken 88 in 2018
Punta Gorda 15 89 Broken 88 in 2011
Key West 15 94 Broken 90 in 2007
Pensacola 15 85 Broken 84 in 1951
Hastings 16 85 Tied 85 in 1993
Niceville 16 85 Broken 81 in 1980
Key West 16 95 Broken 86 in 1993
Perrine 17 86 Broken 85 in 2010
Key West 17 90 Broken 87 in 1988
Key West 19 87 Broken 86 in 2018
Key West 20 92 Broken 86 in 1976
Key West 21 90 Broken 86 in 1994
Key West 22 91 Broken 85 in 1998
Key West 23 87 Broken 85 in 1986
Tallahassee 26 83 Broken 82 in 1967
Gainesville 27 82 Tied 82 in 1988
Key West 27 93 Broken 86 in 2019
Key West 28 94 Broken 86 in 1994
Key West 29 94 Broken 86 in 1994
Key West 30 89 Broken 86 in 1994
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