Florida, 2008Drought in Florida, April 1 to 8, 2008
April 1 to 8, 2008 · NWS MFL · 4 events in 4 counties and zones
Long term drought conditions continued into April across interior and western portions of South Florida, although beneficial rains early in the month were enough to remove the severe drought conditions (D2) from South Florida.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
Open the live radar over this ground
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 4
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.
Long term drought conditions continued into April across interior and western portions of South Florida, although beneficial rains early in the month were enough to remove the severe drought conditions (D2) from South Florida.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Miami, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 31, 8:15 PM EST, 3 hours 45 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 31, 8:15 PM EST, 3 hours 45 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
915 PM EDT MON MAR 31 2008
.UPDATE...18Z GFS AND NAM AND 21Z LOCAL WRF MODELS CONSISTENT IN
SHOWING A MINOR WIND SURGE MOVING THROUGH THE ATLANTIC COASTAL
WATERS TONIGHT, AND WINDS AT FOWEY ROCKS AND MIAMI BEACH ARE
ALREADY AROUND 20 TO 22 KNOTS SO DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND EXTEND
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THE NIGHT. WILL ALSO LEAVE ALONE THE
30 PERCENT POP ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST IN SPITE OF RADAR TRENDS
SHOWING DECREASING SHOWERS BECAUSE OF THE EXPECTATION OF THE MINOR
WIND SURGE. OTHERWISE ONLY COSMETIC CHANGES TO FORECAST.
.AVIATION...WILL CARRY VCSH AT KTMB EARLY THIS EVENING AS SHRA
MOVE SOUTH OF THE TERMINAL FROM THE ATLANTIC WATERS...AND VCSH ALL
NIGHT AT KPBI AS CONVERGENCE/STREAMER BAND CONTINUES TO BE
PERSISTENT JUST OFFSHORE. OTHERWISE...EXPECT FEW-SCT CUMULUS
AROUND 3000 FT TO CONTINUE ALL OTHER EAST COAST TERMINALS
OVERNIGHT WITH SKIES MAINLY CLEAR AT KAPF. EAST WINDS SHOULD
DECREASE TO LESS THAN 10 KTS OVERNIGHT ALL TERMINALS. WINDS WILL
PICK UP AROUND SUNRISE ONCE AGAIN WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 20 KTS AT
ALL TERMINALS TOMORROW, WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND WILL
CARRY VCSH FOR MAJORITY OF THE DAYTIME HOURS TOMORROW AS A RESULT.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 347 PM EDT MON MAR 31 2008/
UPDATE...UPDATED FOR SHORT TERM RED FLAG WARNING FOR COASTAL
COLLIER COUNTY. SEE FIRE WEATHER DISCUSSION.
PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 243 PM EDT MON MAR 31 2008/
DISCUSSION...MARCH WILL LEAVE LIKE A LAMB WITH NO SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER EXPECTED. DID INCREASE POPS TO 30 PERCENT OVER WESTERN
INTERIOR AREAS...BASED ON LATEST RADAR TRENDS. ALSO...THOUGH
MOISTURE WILL REMAIN FAIRLY CONSTANT...WITH PWATS ONLY NEAR 1.25
INCHES TONIGHT...LATEST SAT/RADAR TRENDS SUGGEST THAT ISOLATED TO
SCATTERED FAST MOVING SHOWERS WILL MOVE ONSHORE THE ATLANTIC COAST
TONIGHT IN THE FAST EASTERLY FLOW. THIS WILL BE ENHANCED BY THE
STREAMERS SET UP DOWNWIND OF THE BAHAMAS. A TIGHT PRESSURE
GRADIENT WILL BE MAINTAINED TONIGHT...KEEPING IT BREEZY ALONG THE
ATLANTIC COAST THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. THIS WILL KEEP MIN TEMPS ONCE
AGAIN IN THE LOW/MID 70S EAST COAST...ABOUT 10 DEGREES ABOVE
NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. LOWS INTERIOR AND GULF COAST
WILL FALL INTO THE 60S.
SURFACE TO LOW LEVEL RIDGE WILL REMAIN ANCHORED NORTH OF THE AREA
OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THIS WILL MAINTAIN A STEADY EASTERLY FLOW
REGIME ACROSS THE LOCAL AREA. LOW LEVEL WINDS LOOK FAST ENOUGH TO
PRECLUDE SEA BREEZES FROM DEVELOPING...AND WITH LIMITED MOISTURE
WITH PWATS GENERALLY LESS THAN 1.5 INCHES...AM NOT EXPECTING
ANYTHING MORE THAN ISOLATED SHOWERS AROUND...SO WILL GO WITH SLIGHT
CHANCE POPS THROUGH WEDNESDAY...IN LINE WITH LATEST GFS/NAM MOS.
ON THURSDAY...A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE SOUTHWARD AND STALL WELL NORTH
OF THE AREA OVER SOUTHERN GEORGIA. THIS FRONT WILL LIFT BACK
NORTHWARD EVEN FURTHER AWAY FROM THE AREA BY FRIDAY...AS A
SHORTWAVE MOVES INTO THE SOUTHWESTERN STATES AND INTO TEXAS
THU/FRI. GFS MOVES THIS FEATURE EVENTUALLY ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST
OVER THE UPCOMING WEEKEND WITH A SURFACE LOW OVER THE CAROLINAS
AND A POSSIBLE WEAK COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE EARLY NEXT WEEK.
HOWEVER...ALTHOUGH THE ECMWF MODEL SHOWS THIS SHORTWAVE AS WELL...IT
DOES NOT AMPLIFY IT AS MUCH...AND FORCES MOST OF THE ENERGY
NORTHEASTWARD...KEEPING THE RIDGE FIRMLY IN PLACE LOCALLY. SO
THERE IS HIGH UNCERTAINTY IN THE FAR EXTENDED FORECAST...AND SO
DID NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES.
AVIATION...MOSTLY VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL NEXT 24 HOURS WITH
LOW LEVEL EASTERLY FLOW CONTINUING ACROSS ALL OF S FLA. ALONG THE
E CST, THERE MAY BE A QUICK PASSING SMALL SHRA THAT COULD BRIEFLY
LOWER CIG/VSBY TO MVFR BUT THIS WOULD BE TOO BRIEF TO AFFECT MAJOR
OPERATIONS AT ANY OF THE TERMINALS SO WILL ONLY PLACE VCSH IN THE
E CST TAFS.
MARINE...WILL KEEP THE SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UP THROUGH THIS
EVENING FOR THE ATLANTIC WATERS AND BISCAYNE BAY. ALTHOUGH RECENT
OBS SHOW THIS BORDERLINE...THERE MAY BE ANOTHER WIND SURGE OVER
THE NEXT FEW HOURS...SO WOULD RATHER KEEP THIS IN EFFECT.
FIRE WEATHER...NEED A SHORT TERM RED FLAG WARNING FOR COASTAL
COLLIER COUNTY ONLY THROUGH 22Z AS NAPLES REGIONAL AIRPORT
RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL BRIEFLY BE AOB 35 PERCENT WITH 20 FT WIND
SPEEDS 15 MPH OR MORE. TUESDAY AFTERNOON LOOKS SIMILAR EXCEPT WIND
SPEEDS SHOULD BE SOMEWHAT LESS THEREFORE NOT REQUIRING THE RED FLAG.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
WEST PALM BEACH 73 83 73 84 / 30 20 20 20
FORT LAUDERDALE 75 83 75 84 / 30 20 20 20
MIAMI 74 84 73 84 / 30 20 20 20
NAPLES 67 87 67 87 / 10 20 10 20
&&
.MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...NONE.
AM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 5 AM EDT TUESDAY FOR AMZ630-AMZ650-
AMZ651-AMZ670-AMZ671.
GM...NONE.
&&
LONG TERM...50/RLP
SHORT TERM/AVIATION...65/GSHazardous weather outlook, Mar 31, 10:34 PM EST, 1 hour 26 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SOUTH FLORIDA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
1134 PM EDT MON MAR 31 2008
FLZ063-066>075-168-172>174-011545-
GLADES-HENDRY-INLAND PALM BEACH-METRO PALM BEACH-COASTAL COLLIER-
INLAND COLLIER-INLAND BROWARD-METRO BROWARD-INLAND MIAMI DADE-
METRO MIAMI DADE-MAINLAND MONROE-COASTAL PALM BEACH-
COASTAL BROWARD-COASTAL MIAMI DADE-FAR SOUTH MIAMI DADE-
1134 PM EDT MON MAR 31 2008
...HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ATLANTIC COAST BEACHES...
...HAZARDOUS MARINE CONDITIONS ACROSS THE ATLANTIC...
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH FLORIDA.
.DAY ONE...TONIGHT
RIP CURRENTS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WILL
CONTINUE ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST OVERNIGHT, RESULTING IN A HIGH
RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE BEACHES OF MIAMI-DADE, BROWARD, AND
PALM BEACH COUNTIES.
WIND: EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS AROUND 20 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 25
KNOTS, WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE LOCAL ATLANTIC WATERS AND
BISCAYNE BAY OVERNIGHT. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT
FOR THIS AREA.
WAVES: STRONG WINDS OVER THE ATLANTIC WATERS WILL RESULT IN WAVES
OF 5 TO 7 FEET IN THE GULF STREAM OVERNIGHT.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY
THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MAINLAND SOUTH
FLORIDA ON BOTH THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. AT THIS TIME,
LIGHTNING STRIKES APPEAR TO BE THE PRIMARY THREAT.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING.
FOR MORE INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
MIAMI WEBSITE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/MIAMI.
70/DD
Drought, Glades
- When
- April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 8, 7:00 AM EST
- Where
- Glades forecast zone
- Reported by
- Other Federal Agency
- Coordinates
- 26.957, -81.189 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Long term drought conditions continued into the first few days of April across interior and western sections of South Florida. However, heavy rains during the first week of April dropped from 2 to 5 inches of rain across the area. As a result, Glades, Hendry and Collier counties were dropped from the severe drought (D2) status.
The rains also brought the level of Lake Okeechobee up to 10.5 feet. Nevertheless, water usage restrictions continued in effect throughout the month across interior and southwest Florida.
Total agricultural damage estimates from the severe drought which began in March 2007 are estimated to be near $1 billion in the state of Florida, with much of that in South Florida.
Drought, Hendry
- When
- April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 8, 7:00 AM EST
- Where
- Hendry forecast zone
- Reported by
- Other Federal Agency
- Coordinates
- 26.554, -81.166 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Long term drought conditions continued into the first few days of April across interior and western sections of South Florida. However, heavy rains during the first week of April dropped from 2 to 5 inches of rain across the area. As a result, Glades, Hendry and Collier counties were dropped from the severe drought (D2) status.
The rains also brought the level of Lake Okeechobee up to 10.5 feet. Nevertheless, water usage restrictions continued in effect throughout the month across interior and southwest Florida.
Total agricultural damage estimates from the severe drought which began in March 2007 are estimated to be near $1 billion in the state of Florida, with much of that in South Florida.
Drought, Coastal Collier County
- When
- April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 8, 7:00 AM EST
- Where
- Coastal Collier County forecast zone
- Reported by
- Other Federal Agency
- Coordinates
- 26.099, -81.381 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Long term drought conditions continued into the first few days of April across interior and western sections of South Florida. However, heavy rains during the first week of April dropped from 2 to 5 inches of rain across the area. As a result, Glades, Hendry and Collier counties were dropped from the severe drought (D2) status.
The rains also brought the level of Lake Okeechobee up to 10.5 feet. Nevertheless, water usage restrictions continued in effect throughout the month across interior and southwest Florida.
Total agricultural damage estimates from the severe drought which began in March 2007 are estimated to be near $1 billion in the state of Florida, with much of that in South Florida.
Drought, Inland Collier County
- When
- April 1, 12:00 AM EST to April 8, 7:00 AM EST
- Where
- Inland Collier County forecast zone
- Reported by
- Other Federal Agency
- Coordinates
- 26.099, -81.381 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Long term drought conditions continued into the first few days of April across interior and western sections of South Florida. However, heavy rains during the first week of April dropped from 2 to 5 inches of rain across the area. As a result, Glades, Hendry and Collier counties were dropped from the severe drought (D2) status.
The rains also brought the level of Lake Okeechobee up to 10.5 feet. Nevertheless, water usage restrictions continued in effect throughout the month across interior and southwest Florida.
Total agricultural damage estimates from the severe drought which began in March 2007 are estimated to be near $1 billion in the state of Florida, with much of that in South Florida.
- Drought
- A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Flood in Mississippi, April 1 to 13, 20082 deaths · $200,000 · 1 event
- Flooding in Arkansas, April 1 to 6, 20081 death · $7.3 million · 2 events
- Flooding in Tennessee, April 1 to 13, 20081 death · $210,000 · 2 events
- Flooding in Arkansas, April 1 to 30, 2008$1.6 million · 8 events
- High Wind in Texas, April 1, 20083 injured · $135,000 · 63 kt wind · 15 events
- Flooding in Arkansas, April 1 to 24, 2008$100,000 · 2 events
- Strong Wind in Vermont, April 1 to 2, 2008$50,000 · 16 events
- Strong Wind in New York, April 1 to 2, 2008$30,000 · 9 events
- Drought in Alabama, April 1 to 30, 200830 events
- Flood in Illinois, April 1 to 24, 2008$30,000 · 1 event
- Heavy Snow in Minnesota, April 1, 200822 events
- Flood in Arkansas, April 1 to 30, 2008$25,000 · 1 event
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: 95687, 95691, 95692, 95693.