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).
