Tropical storm Mitch, after devastating portions of central America as a hurricane then dissipating over land, reformed over the Bay of Campeche and moved northeast across the Yucatan Peninsula, the southeast Gulf of Mexico and into south Florida. Casualties in south Florida included two drownings in a fishing boat that capsized near the Dry Tortugas and about 65 injuries, most of them minor, in…
Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS MFL wrote it up.
Tropical storm Mitch, after devastating portions of central America as a hurricane then dissipating over land, reformed over the Bay of Campeche and moved northeast across the Yucatan Peninsula, the southeast Gulf of Mexico and into south Florida. Casualties in south Florida included two drownings in a fishing boat that capsized near the Dry Tortugas and about 65 injuries, most of them minor, in the upper keys involving hurricane spawned tornadoes. Losses are estimated at $50 million, including $20 million in crop damage. Much of the property damage was caused by five tornadoes, one of which reached a maximum intensity of F2, in the upper Keys. A total of 646 dwellings were damaged in an area from Islamorada to north Key Largo. Other tornadoes were observed in Broward, Palm Beach, and Collier counties. Widespread rainfall totals across south Florida averaged 6 to 8 inches with local amounts of 13 inches. The storm surge of 2 to 4 feet along the Keys and southwest Florida coast, and 1 to 2 feet along the southeast coast, produced minor flooding, beach erosion and damage to marine structures and vessels. The maximum officially measured wind in south Florida was 52 knots (60 mph) with a peak wind of 57 knots (65 mph) at Fowey Rocks Light. The maximum wind on land was 35 knots (40 mph) with a peak wind of 48 knots (55 mph) at Key West International Airport. About 50,000 customers lost their electricity.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 tornado, 6 waterspout, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Brief tornado touchdown near the turnpike and Hypoluxo Road did no known damage.
A severe thunderstorm wind gust reported in Marathon but doing no known damage.
A tornado moved ashore from the Straits of Florida into the middle Keys near mile marker 80. It travelled in a northeast direction crossing to the west side of U.S. 1. Damage occurred to the roof of a motel and to trees, fences and power lines.
A tornado touched down just west of U.S. 1 near mile marker 98. Damage occurred to the roof of a house and to foliage.
A multivortex tornado touched down just west of U.S. 1 near mile marker 100. The tornado moved north northeast at 30 mph passing across ten housing subdivision, mostly mobile home parks. It damaged about 600 structures, tore down utility lines, damaged vessels and destroyed a great deal of foliage. The tornado crossed to the east of U.S. 1 near the intersection of Highway 905, overturning a semi tractor trailer, and continue north northeast for about six miles damaging house roofs and foliage.
A tornado touched down near the intersection of U.S. 41 and Highway 29 damaging trees along its path as it moved to the north.
A tornado touched down just north of the Miramar Florida Turnpike toll plaza and moved to the north northeast. The roofs of 12 houses were damaged as well as foliage, power lines and vehicles.
A waterspout was detected in the Atlantic 15 miles east of Miami Beach.
A pilot spotted a waterspout just offshore Palm Beach Shores.
A waterspout was reported in the Gulf of Mexico two miles northwest of Marco Island.
The Beach Patrol sighted a waterspout in the Atlantic about five miles east of the 79th Street Causeway.
A pilot sighted two waterspouts west of Grand Bahama Island in the Bahamas.
A pilot sighted two waterspouts in the Atlantic east of Miami Beach.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Florida, 1998Warnings in Florida, November 1998
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5670689, 5670690, 5670766, 5670767, 5670768, 5670769, 5670770, 5670771, 5670772, 5670773, 5670774, 5670775, 5670776.