The continuation of deep southwest flow of tropical moisture along with a low pressure trough in the Gulf of Mexico provided for strong to severe afternoon showers and thunderstorms over parts of south Florida.
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.
The continuation of deep southwest flow of tropical moisture along with a low pressure trough in the Gulf of Mexico provided for strong to severe afternoon showers and thunderstorms over parts of south Florida.
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 May 18, 1:21 PM EST, 2 hours 4 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 221 PM EDT TUE MAY 18 2010 ...DRIER WEATHER ON THE WAY LATE THIS WEEK INTO THIS WEEKEND... .DISCUSSION... THE WEST AND EAST COAST SEA BREEZES WERE DEVELOPING EARLY THIS AFTERNOON ALONG BOTH COASTS WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. THE WEST COAST SEA BREEZE WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH ACROSS THE CWA THIS AFTERNOON AS THE EAST COAST SEA BREEZE REMAINS ALONG THE EAST COAST METRO AREAS. THIS WILL FOCUS MOST OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY OVER THE EAST COAST METRO AREAS THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING...DUE TO THE SOUTHWEST STEERING FLOW OVER THE CWA AHEAD OF THE TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE. SO WILL CONTINUE WITH SCATTERED POPS OVER THE INTERIOR AND EAST COAST METRO AREAS THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY THIS EVENING...WITH ONLY ISOLATED POPS OVER THE WESTERN METRO AREAS. THERE COULD EVEN BE A FEW STRONG STORMS OVER THE EAST COAST METRO AREAS THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY THIS EVENING DUE TO THE COLDER AIR ALOFT. SO WILL CONTINUE TO MENTION A FEW STRONG STORMS IN THE HWO FOR THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY THIS EVENING OVER THE EAST COAST METRO AREAS WITH THE PRIMARY IMPACTS BEING HAIL...GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. THE TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE EAST TONIGHT AND INTO THE ATLANTIC WATERS ON WEDNESDAY...AS THE WEAK SURFACE TROUGH SLOWLY DISSIPATES OVER SOUTHERN CENTRAL FLORIDA OR LAKE OKEECHOBEE AREA. THIS WILL ALLOW FOR BOTH THE EAST AND WEST COAST SEA BREEZES TO DEVELOP AND PUSH INTO THE INTERIOR AREAS OF SOUTH FLORIDA. THERE SHOULD ALSO STILL BE SOME LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AROUND OVER THE CWA ALLOWING FOR ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS ALONG THE SEA BREEZES. THEREFORE...WILL CONTINUE WITH ISOLATED POPS OVER THE METRO AREAS INCREASING TO SCATTERED POPS OVER THE INTERIOR AREAS FOR WEDNESDAY. THERE COULD AGAIN BE SOME FOG OVER THE INTERIOR AND EAST COAST METRO AREAS OF SOUTH FLORIDA LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING...DUE TO THE LIGHT SOUTHWEST WINDS, CLEAR SKIES, AND HIGH MOISTURE IN THE ATMOSPHERE. SO WILL ADD FOG WORDING TO THE INTERIOR AND EAST COAST METRO AREAS FOR LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING WITH THE HIGHEST TREAT OVER THE INTERIOR PORTIONS. THE MODELS ARE STILL SHOWING HIGH PRESSURE TO BUILD INTO THE SOUTHEAST UNITED STATES...AS LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPS IN THE ATLANTIC WATERS WITH THE ASSOCIATED TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE. THIS WILL ALLOW FOR NORTHEAST WINDS OVER SOUTH FLORIDA LATE THIS WEEK ALONG WITH DRIER AIR. SO WILL ONLY CARRY A SLIGHT CHANCE OF POPS OVER THE INTERIOR AREAS LATE THIS WEEK...DUE TO THE SEA BREEZE COLLISION AND THE HEATING OF THE DAY. .EXTENDED FORECAST... THE LONG RANGE MODELS KEEPS THE HIGH NEARLY STATIONARY OVER THE SOUTHEAST UNTIED STATES THIS WEEKEND...AS LOW PRESSURE REMAINS NEARLY STATIONARY OVER THE ATLANTIC WATERS. THIS WILL KEEP THE NORTHEAST WINDS OVER SOUTH FLORIDA THIS WEEKEND ALONG WITH DRIER AIR FROM THE MID ATLANTIC STATES. SO WILL CONTINUE WITH DRY WEATHER THIS WEEKEND FOR SOUTH FLORIDA. THE LONG RANGE MODELS THEN TAKE THE HIGH TO THE EAST EARLY NEXT WEEK INTO THE WESTERN ATLANTIC WATERS ALLOWING FOR THE WINDS TO BECOME EASTERLY OVER THE CWA. THIS WILL ALLOW FOR SOME TROPICAL MOISTURE TO WORK BACK INTO SOUTH FLORIDA FROM THE ATLANTIC WATERS. SO WILL INTRODUCE A SLIGHT CHANCE OF POPS FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .MARINE... THE WINDS WILL REMAIN SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST TONIGHT...BEFORE SWINGING SLOWLY TO A NORTHEAST DIRECTION LATE THIS WEEK. THE SPEEDS WILL REMAIN BELOW 10 KNOTS DURING THIS TIME ALLOWING FOR THE SEAS TO REMAIN BELOW 6 FEET BOTH IN THE ATLANTIC AND GULF WATERS. SO BOATING SHOULD BE GOOD OUTSIDE OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. && .FIRE WEATHER... THE RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL REMAIN WELL ABOVE 35 PERCENT THIS AFTERNOON INTO WEDNESDAY DUE TO THE TROPICAL MOISTURE IN PLACE OVER THE CWA. HOWEVER...LATE THIS WEEK INTO THIS WEEKEND THE RELATIVE HUMIDITIES COULD FALL INTO THE MID TO UPPER 30S OVER THE INTERIOR AREAS OF THE CWA. AT THIS TIME WILL NOT ISSUE ANY FIRE WEATHER WATCHES...BUT WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST MODEL RUNS ON THE RELATIVE HUMIDITIES. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... WEST PALM BEACH 73 88 74 88 / 30 20 10 10 FORT LAUDERDALE 75 88 76 88 / 30 20 10 10 MIAMI 76 89 75 89 / 30 20 10 10 NAPLES 73 87 72 89 / 10 20 10 10 && .MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. AM...NONE. GM...NONE. && LONG TERM...54/BNB SHORT TERM/AVIATION...30/KOB
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SOUTH FLORIDA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 1008 AM EDT TUE MAY 18 2010 FLZ063-066>075-168-172>174-190515- 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- 1008 AM EDT TUE MAY 18 2010 ...A FEW WATERSPOUTS POSSIBLE COASTAL WATERS... ...A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE INTERIOR AND EAST COAST TODAY... ...SLIGHT RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ATLANTIC COAST... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT RIP CURRENTS: THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST BEACHES TODAY, DESPITE LOW LEVEL WINDS SHIFTING TO THE SOUTH AND DECREASING TO LESS THAN 10 MPH. THUNDERSTORMS: THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS ALL OF SOUTH FLORIDA AND THE ADJACENT WATERS TODAY, WITH THE HIGHEST CHANCES OF OCCURRENCE ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF OF THE PENINSULA AND ATLANTIC WATERS. FREQUENT TO EXCESSIVE CLOUD TO SURFACE LIGHTNING STRIKES, GUSTY WINDS TO 50 MPH, SMALL HAIL, AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS ACTIVITY. WATERSPOUTS: ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS APPEAR QUITE FAVORABLE FOR THE FORMATION OF A FEW WATERSPOUTS THIS MORNING OVER THE LOCAL GULF AND ATLANTIC WATERS. WIND: THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH. HAIL: THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL UP TO PENNY SIZE. FLOODING: THERE COULD BE SOME MINOR STREET FLOODING IN THE EAST COAST METROPOLITAN AREA WITH THE STRONGEST STORMS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF MAINLY AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF OF THE AREA ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, AND ACROSS THE GULF COAST AND REGION NEAR LAKE OKEECHOBEE ON FRIDAY. LIGHTNING STRIKES, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WIDESPREAD SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED, HOWEVER INDIVIDUAL SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT HIGH WIND, HAIL AND FLOODING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN MIAMI. FOR MORE INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MIAMI WEBSITE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/MIAMI.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
309 PM EDT TUE MAY 18 2010
FLZ072-172-181945-
METRO BROWARD COUNTY FL-COASTAL BROWARD COUNTY FL-
309 PM EDT TUE MAY 18 2010
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTHEASTERN
BROWARD COUNTY FOR GUSTY WINDS TO 45 MPH AND FUNNEL CLOUDS...
AT 306 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS HAVE DETECTED
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR COCONUT CREEK...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 5 MPH.
A STORM SPOTTER REPORTED A BRIEF FUNNEL CLOUD WITHIN THIS STORM...BUT
WITH NO TOUCH DOWN.
THIS STORM WILL AFFECT...
NORTH POMPANO BEACH...
POMPANO BEACH AIRPORT...
POMPANO BEACH...
AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
ALSO...THIS STORM IS DEVELOPING IN AN ENVIRONMENT FAVORABLE FOR
FUNNEL CLOUDS.
RESIDENTS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM SHOULD REMAIN ON THE ALERT FOR
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
LAT...LON 2628 8007 2627 8008 2626 8008 2617 8012
2623 8023 2632 8016 2631 8007 2629 8007
TIME...MOT...LOC 1908Z 314DEG 6KT 2625 8017
GREGORIASPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 338 PM EDT TUE MAY 18 2010 FLZ073-182000- INLAND MIAMI-DADE FL- 338 PM EDT TUE MAY 18 2010 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR INLAND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FOR 45 TO 55 MPH WINDS... AT 332 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS HAVE DETECTED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES EAST OF FORTYMILE BEND...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. A WIND GUST OF 45 MPH WAS JUST RECENTLY REPORTED AT MICCOSUKEE SCHOOL. THIS STORM WILL AFFECT... MICCOSUKEE... TAMIAMI TRAIL OVER RURAL MIAMI-DADE COUNTY... AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. THE PRIMARY IMPACTS WILL BE FREQUENT TO EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH. LIGHTNING IS THE NUMBER ONE WEATHER RELATED KILLER IN FLORIDA. TREES AND OPEN SHELTERS OFFER NO PROTECTION. THESE WINDS CAN DOWN SMALL TREE LIMBS AND BRANCHES...AND BLOW AROUND UNSECURED SMALL OBJECTS. SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE BUILDING UNTIL THE STORM PASSES. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES. LAT...LON 2586 8058 2562 8057 2559 8084 2585 8084 TIME...MOT...LOC 1935Z 275DEG 11KT 2575 8074 GREGORIA
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
353 PM EDT TUE MAY 18 2010
FLZ072-172-182000-
METRO BROWARD COUNTY FL-COASTAL BROWARD COUNTY FL-
353 PM EDT TUE MAY 18 2010
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR EAST CENTRAL
BROWARD COUNTY FOR FREQUENT TO EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS
FROM 45 T0 55 MPH...
AT 349 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS HAVE DETECTED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS STRETCHING FROM LAUDERHILL TO OAKLAND
PARK...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
THIS STORM WILL AFFECT...
WILTON MANORS...
FORT LAUDERDALE...
AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
THE PRIMARY IMPACTS WILL BE FREQUENT TO EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING AND GUSTY
WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH. LIGHTNING IS THE NUMBER ONE WEATHER RELATED
KILLER IN FLORIDA. TREES AND OPEN SHELTERS OFFER NO PROTECTION. THESE
WINDS CAN DOWN SMALL TREE LIMBS AND BRANCHES...AND BLOW AROUND
UNSECURED SMALL OBJECTS. SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE BUILDING UNTIL THE
STORM PASSES.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
DETAILS OR UPDATES.
LAT...LON 2618 8010 2610 8010 2604 8011 2602 8020
2614 8023 2622 8011 2620 8009
TIME...MOT...LOC 1952Z 332DEG 10KT 2614 8015
GREGORIASPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
403 PM EDT TUE MAY 18 2010
FLZ072-172-182030-
METRO BROWARD COUNTY FL-COASTAL BROWARD COUNTY FL-
403 PM EDT TUE MAY 18 2010
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR EAST CENTRAL
AND SOUTHEASTERN BROWARD COUNTY FOR FREQUENT TO EXCESSIVE
LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS FROM 45 T0 55 MPH...UP TO PENNY SIZED HAIL...
AT 358 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS HAVE DETECTED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM LAUDERDALE BY THE
SEA TO LAUDERHILL...MOVING SOUTH AT 10 MPH.
THESE STORMS WILL AFFECT...
WILTON MANORS...
FORT LAUDERDALE...
DOWNTOWN-DAVIE...
INTERSECTION I-595 AND I-95...
PORT EVERGLADES...
DANIA BEACH...
AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
FREQUENT TO EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS FROM 45 T0 55 MPH...UP
TO NICKEL-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. THESE
WINDS CAN DOWN SMALL TREE LIMBS AND BRANCHES...AND BLOW AROUND
UNSECURED SMALL OBJECTS. SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE BUILDING UNTIL THE
STORM PASSES.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
DETAILS OR UPDATES.
LAT...LON 2618 8010 2610 8010 2598 8011 2598 8025
2611 8025 2621 8010 2620 8009
TIME...MOT...LOC 2002Z 359DEG 9KT 2616 8010 2610 8020
GREGORIASPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 408 PM EDT TUE MAY 18 2010 FLZ073-182045- INLAND MIAMI-DADE FL- 408 PM EDT TUE MAY 18 2010 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK FOR FREQUENT TO EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS FROM 45 T0 55 MPH... AT 402 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS HAVE DETECTED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR SHARK VALLEY OBS TOWER...MOVING SOUTH AT 10 MPH. THIS STORM WILL AFFECT... THE EVERGLADES NATIONAL NATIONAL PARK NORTH OF THE PA-HAY OKEE OVERLOOK AND THE ROYAL PALM RANGER STATION. THE PRIMARY IMPACTS WILL BE FREQUENT TO EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH. LIGHTNING IS THE NUMBER ONE WEATHER RELATED KILLER IN FLORIDA. TREES AND OPEN SHELTERS OFFER NO PROTECTION. THESE WINDS 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 2552 8051 2546 8081 2569 8085 2576 8062 TIME...MOT...LOC 2005Z 339DEG 10KT 2564 8072 TINGLER
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
421 PM EDT TUE MAY 18 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0418 PM TSTM WND GST DAVIE 26.09N 80.30W
05/18/2010 M46.00 MPH BROWARD FL MESONET
A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED A WIND GUST OF 46 MPH AT BECON
BROWARD SCHOOL IN DAVIE.
&&
CARACOZZAThe Miami radar (KAMX), 55 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:24 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong winds from a thunderstorm knocked down a big pine tree onto SW 61st Ave in Davie. Palm trees were also knocked down along University and Nova Drives. Pea size hail was also reported.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, May 2010
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: 236771.