A deep southerly flow over South Florida and the coastal waters ahead of a frontal boundary across the northwestern sections of the Gulf of Mexico allowed strong to severe thunderstorms to move northward from Cuba across the straits and into much of South Florida. A total of 25,000 customers lost power across South Florida as a result of the storms.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
A deep southerly flow over South Florida and the coastal waters ahead of a frontal boundary across the northwestern sections of the Gulf of Mexico allowed strong to severe thunderstorms to move northward from Cuba across the straits and into much of South Florida.
A total of 25,000 customers lost power across South Florida as a result of the storms. 21,000 customers lost power in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, and 4800 in Palm Beach County.
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 Apr 6, 1:30 PM EST, 3 hours 52 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 230 PM EDT SUN APR 6 2008 .DISCUSSION... FOR THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING...CONVECTION HAS FINALLY DEVELOPED ALONG THE WEST COAST SEA BREEZE ACROSS HENDRY AND COLLIER COUNTIES AND SHOULD CONTINUE MOVING NORTHEAST INTO THE LAKE OKEE REGION/PALM BEACH COUNTY. OTHER ISOLATED TO SCATTERED ACTIVITY MAY DEVELOP FURTHER SOUTH ACROSS MIAMI-DADE AND BROWARD COUNTIES WHERE THE EAST AND WEST COAST SEA BREEZES MERGE...AND THIS TREND SHOULD CONTINUE WITH SLOW NE MOVEMENT BACK TOWARDS THE METRO AREAS EXPECTED HERE AS WELL. COMPLEX/UNCERTAIN FORECAST SHAPING UP FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS. CURRENTLY...SFC TROUGH LIES ACROSS NORTH FL/BIG BEND AREA. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS ONE SHORTWAVE SOUTH OF THE FL PANHANDLE WITH AN ASSOCIATED LARGE CONVECTIVE MASS...AND RUC STREAMLINE ANALYSIS SHOWS GOOD UPPER DIVERGENCE ACROSS THE EASTERN GULF ALONG AND JUST EAST OF THIS DISTURBANCE. MODELS DIFFER IN THE DETAILS...WITH THE NAM12 SAGGING THE SURFACE TROUGH SOUTH TO CENTRAL FL BY 12Z TOMORROW...WHILE THE GFS KEEPS IT FURTHER NORTH. CONCERNING THE SHORTWAVE...THE GFS ELONGATES THE ASSOCIATED CONVECTIVE MASS MOVING ONE PIECE NE ACROSS N FL WHILE THE SOUTHERN PIECE BREAKS OFF AND MOVES E/SE AND SAGS ACROSS CENTRAL FL THIS EVENING/EARLY TONIGHT AND THEN INTO SOUTH FL LATER TONIGHT/EARLY TOMORROW MORNING AHEAD OF THE MAIN TROUGH AXIS. WHILE THE GFS SOLUTION LOOKS LIKE CONVECTIVE FEEDBACK...GIVEN THE UPPER DIVERGENCE IN THE GULF AND CURRENT CONVECTIVE TRENDS IT MAY ACTUALLY HAVE THE RIGHT IDEA...AND WILL LEAN TOWARDS ITS SOLUTION THE NEXT 24 HRS...GIVEN NAM APPEARS TO HAVE INITIALIZED A BIT TOO FAR SOUTH WITH THIS SHORTWAVE...AND GIVEN BROAD/DIFFUSE NATURE OF SURFACE TROUGH AND LACK OF AN UPSTREAM KICKER DO NOT FEEL IT WILL SAG THAT FAR SOUTH...REMAINING FURTHER NORTH OVERNIGHT LIKE THE 09Z SREF ENSEMBLE MEAN SUGGESTS...IN BETTER AGREEMENT WITH THE GFS. FORECAST WILL AGAIN BE HIGHLY DEPENDANT ON CONVECTIVE EVOLUTION ACROSS THE GULF THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING AND ANY ASSOCIATED BOUNDARIES THAT EMANATE FROM IT. WHATEVER CONVECTION THAT DOES MOVE THROUGH LATER TONIGHT/TOMORROW MORNING COULD BE SIMILAR TO LAST NIGHTS ROUND...WITH SOME STRONG WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH AND HEAVY RAINFALL...BUT EXPECT WEAK OVERALL SHEAR/LAPSE RATES AND NOCTURNAL COOLING WILL PREVENT A SEVERE WX OUTBREAK. SURFACE RIDGE BUILDING OVER THE MID ATLANTIC WILL FINALLY GIVE THE SFC TROUGH SOME PUSH THROUGH THE CWA MONDAY AFTERNOON. SFC FLOW VEERS TO SW OR WSW AHEAD OF IT WHICH SHOULD ALLOW THINGS TO WARM UP ACROSS THE SOUTHERN EAST COAST AREAS IF CONVECTIVE DEBRIS CAN CLEAR SOME. HIGHS COULD CLIMB INTO THE UPPER 80S AS A RESULT...BUT GIVEN HIGHLY UNCERTAIN CONVECTIVE EVOLUTION OVERNIGHT WILL NOT GO AS WARM AS THIS PATTERN FAVORS CLIMATOLOGICALLY. LOCATIONS TO THE NORTH SHOULD STAY COOLER AS WINDS SHIFT N AND THEN NE DURING THE AFTERNOON. MODELS CONTINUE TO GENERATE PRECIP AS THE TROUGH MOVES THROUGH TOMORROW AFTERNOON...BUT THIS AGAIN WILL BE DEPENDANT ON EVOLUTION TONIGHT. IF GFS SCENARIO DOES INDEED PAN OUT...WOULD EXPECT THE WSW SFC FLOW AHEAD OF THE TROUGH TO LIMIT MOISTURE RECOVERY AND CONVERGENCE...AND THUS LIMIT OVERALL PRECIP THREAT AFTER THE MORNING HOURS. THEREAFTER...SFC RIDGE MOVES SLOWLY INTO THE WESTERN ATLANTIC TUESDAY THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK WITH PREVAILING NE FLOW...AND MID-LEVEL RIDGING BUILDS OVERHEAD. WHILE ENOUGH MOISTURE MAY LINGER FOR A FEW AFTERNOON SHOWERS ACROSS WESTERN AREAS TUESDAY...THE BULK OF THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK LOOKS DRY AND WARM. IF THIS PATTERN DOES PAN OUT...STRONG SUBSIDENCE AND OFFSHORE FLOW COULD LEAD TO WARMER THAN GUIDANCE TEMPERATURES ALONG THE WEST COAST/NAPLES AREA ONCE AGAIN. && .AVIATION... VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE MOST OF THE TIME THROUGH MONDAY MORNING. HOWEVER BRIEF PERIODS OF IFR CONDITIONS ARE A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY PARTICULAR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ALONG THE EAST COAST SITES WITH ANY THUNDERSTORM IN THE VICINITY. THIS POSSIBILITY IS HIGHEST FOR PBI THAN THE OTHER SITES. ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY IS LIKELY OVERNIGHT AS A FRONTAL TROUGH APPROACHES THE AREA FROM THE NORTH. ALTHOUGH HIGHLY UNCERTAIN AT THIS TIME...ANY STORM ACTIVITY ACCOMPANYING THIS FEATURE COULD ALSO RESULT IN BRIEF PERIODS OF IFR CONDITIONS. MAIN CONCERN ALONG WITH ANY OF THIS ACTIVITY WILL ALSO BE WIND SHIFTS ASSOCIATED WITH OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES. && .MARINE... S TO SW WINDS CONTINUE INTO TOMORROW MORNING AROUND 15 KTS...THEN BECOME NW THEN NE FROM NORTH TO SOUTH AS WEAK SURFACE TROUGH PASSES THROUGH. NE WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK ACROSS THE LOCAL WATERS...AND IF SURFACE LOW DEVELOPS OFF THE CAROLINA COAST AS ADVERTISED BY SOME MODELS...THERE COULD BE A 3 TO 4 FT SWELL MOVING SW TO OUR LOCAL WATERS BEGINNING LATE WEDNESDAY AND LASTING THROUGH THURSDAY. FETCH AT THIS TIME WOULD FAVOR GREATEST IMPACT AT PALM BEACH COAST AS BAHAMAS WILL SHIELD AREAS FURTHER SOUTH FROM MORE THAN A 1 TO 2 FT SWELL. && .FIRE WEATHER... NO CONCERNS...SLIGHTLY LOWER DEWPOINTS WILL MOVE IN AND MIX DOWN ACROSS THE WESTERN INTERIOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...BUT RHS SHOULD NOT DROP BELOW 40 PERCENT. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... WEST PALM BEACH 70 85 70 82 / 60 60 20 20 FORT LAUDERDALE 71 85 72 83 / 60 60 20 20 MIAMI 72 87 72 84 / 60 60 20 20 NAPLES 71 84 67 88 / 70 40 20 20 && .MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. AM...NONE. GM...NONE. && DISCUSSION/MARINE/FIRE: STRASSBERG AVIATION: PS
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SOUTH FLORIDA...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 330 PM EDT SUN APR 6 2008 FLZ063-066>075-168-172>174-070000- 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- 330 PM EDT SUN APR 6 2008 ...HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING EAST COAST... ...CHANCE THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY INTERIOR/EAST COAST THROUGH EVENING... ...CHANCE THUNDERSTORMS MOST AREAS OVERNIGHT... ...ONE OR TWO STRONG STORMS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS: THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY ACROSS INTERIOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH FLORIDA AND THE SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COAST THIS AFTERNOON AD EVENING AND ACROSS MOST OF SOUTH FLORIDA TONIGHT. LIGHTNING STRIKES WILL BE THE PRIMARY HAZARD ALONG WITH GUSTY WINDS. THERE IS ALSO A SLIGHT POSSIBILITY OF SMALL HAIL WITH ANY STORM THAT DEVELOPS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. LOCALLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS THAT COULD RESULT IN PONDING OF WATER IN POOR DRAINAGE AREAS COULD ALSO OCCUR WITH THE STRONGEST STORMS. RIP CURRENTS: THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING OVER THE EAST COAST BEACHES. THE RISK IS HIGH SINCE RESCUES HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPORTED AND THE LOW TIDE HAS OCCURRED THIS MID AFTERNOON. TORNADOES: THERE IS A REMOTE POSSIBILITY OF A BRIEF WEAK TORNADO ALONG ANY THUNDERSTORM THAT DEVELOPS ALONG THE SEA BREEZE FRONT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ALONG THE SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COAST. WIND: THERE IS A SLIGHT POSSIBILITY THAT THE STRONGEST STORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING PRODUCE WIND GUSTS OF UP TO 45 MPH. HAIL: THERE IS A SLIGHT POSSIBILITY THAT THE STRONGEST STORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING PRODUCE PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL. FLOODING: MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS IS POSSIBLE IN LOCATIONS THAT RECEIVE HEAVY DOWNPOURS THIS AFTERNOON AND ON THROUGH TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE REGION MONDAY AND TUESDAY, WITH THE HIGHEST CHANCES DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE EACH AFTERNOON, WITH GUSTY WINDS, SMALL HAIL, AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES BEING THE PRIMARY HAZARDS. OTHERWISE, A NORTHEAST SWELL MAY AFFECT THE ATLANTIC WATERS FROM WEDNESDAY THROUGH THE FIRST PART OF NEXT WEEKEND. THIS WOULD RESULT IN AN INCREASING THREAT FOR RIP CURRENTS THROUGH THIS PERIOD. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH MONDAY MORNING. FOR MORE INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MIAMI WEBSITE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/MIAMI. PS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
415 PM EDT SUN APR 6 2008
FLZ067-062045-
INLAND PALM BEACH COUNTY FL-
415 PM EDT SUN APR 6 2008
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY...
AT 412 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM PAHOKEE TO BELLE
GLADE TO HOLEY LAND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
AROUND 18 MPH.
THESE STORMS WILL AFFECT...
PAHOKEE...
CANAL POINT...
BELLE GLADE...
AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
FREQUENT TO EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS TO NEAR 40
MPH...DIME-SIZED HAIL...TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS...OR A COMBINATION OF
THESE ARE POSSIBLE. LIGHTNING IS THE NUMBER ONE WEATHER RELATED
KILLER IN FLORIDA. TREES AND OPEN SHELTERS OFFER NO PROTECTION. WIND
GUSTS OF UP TO 40 MPH CAN DOWN SMALL TREE LIMBS AND BRANCHES...AND
BLOW AROUND UNSECURED SMALL OBJECTS. SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE BUILDING
UNTIL THE STORM PASSES.
LAT...LON 2677 8042 2644 8048 2641 8074 2665 8070
2670 8074 2677 8075 2678 8072 2675 8071
2676 8070 2681 8070 2685 8065 2690 8062
2693 8062 2695 8059
TIME...MOT...LOC 2015Z 243DEG 15KT 2686 8070 2669 8060
2642 8066
TINGLERSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 525 PM EDT SUN APR 6 2008 FLZ067-071-062200- INLAND PALM BEACH COUNTY FL-INLAND BROWARD COUNTY FL- 525 PM EDT SUN APR 6 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING ACROSS THE EVERGLADES... AT 523 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR INTERSECTION ALLIGATOR ALLEY AND MIAMI CANAL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 17 MPH. THIS STORM WILL AFFECT... THE EVERGLADES NORTH OF INTERSTATE 75... HIGHWAY 27 FROM INTERSTATE 75 TO OKEELANTA... FREQUENT TO EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS TO 50 MPH...DIME-SIZED HAIL...TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS...OR A COMBINATION OF THESE ARE POSSIBLE. LIGHTNING IS THE NUMBER ONE WEATHER RELATED KILLER IN FLORIDA. TREES AND OPEN SHELTERS OFFER NO PROTECTION. WIND GUSTS OF UP TO 50 MPH CAN DOWN SMALL TREE LIMBS AND BRANCHES...AND BLOW AROUND UNSECURED SMALL OBJECTS. SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE BUILDING UNTIL THE STORM PASSES. ALSO...THIS STORM IS DEVELOPING IN AN ENVIRONMENT FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES. LAT...LON 2644 8053 2622 8038 2614 8069 2620 8077 TIME...MOT...LOC 2125Z 246DEG 14KT 2618 8068 TINGLER
The Miami radar (KAMX), 78 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:20 UTC.
7 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A severe thunderstorm developed over the Everglades and moved northeast across highway 27. A motorist reported wind gusts of around 60 MPH along with pea sized hail and a funnel cloud.
A home antenna was blown down in Homestead with the passing severe thunderstorm.
A thunderstorm produced a wind gust of 64 MPH at the Miami-Dade College Kendall campus.
A SKYWARN spotter reported penny size hail at the corner of SW 40th ST and 96th Avenue in Westchester.
Branches were broken off trees in Westchester with the passing severe thunderstorm.
The public reported a wind gust to around 58 MPH with the passing severe thunderstorm.
Small trees were uprooted just east of Miami International Airport with the passing thunderstorm.
A line of strong to severe thunderstorms moved across Glades, Hendry, and Collier counties and also across Lake Okeechobee producing a high wind gust at Rotenberger Wildlife Management Area.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, April 2008
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: 95680, 95418, 95410, 95412, 95417, 95413, 95416, 95652.