Drought in Florida, December 1 to 31, 2011

Name: Drought in Florida, December 1 to 31, 2011
Start: 2011-12-01T00:00
End: 2011-12-31T23:59
Location: Florida

December 1 to 31, 2011 · NWS TAE · 13 events in 13 counties and zones

D2-D3 drought conditions (severe to extreme) continued across the listed counties through the month of December and into January. Some beneficial rainfall during the month shrunk the D3 conditions to a three county area (Holmes, Jackson, and Washington counties) by the end of the month.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 12 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

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 13

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS TAE wrote it up.

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 Tallahassee, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 30, 9:42 PM EST, 2 hours 18 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 30, 9:42 PM EST, 2 hours 18 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
942 PM EST Wed Nov 30 2011

.DISCUSSION...00 UTC surface analysis shows high pressure across the
Mississippi River Valley extending from Southern Indiana down into
Mississippi. The pressure gradient across the region was beginning
to relax as this high pressure area spreads eastward. Over the last
couple of hours surface winds have continued to decrease and have
been intermittently calm, resulting in temperatures continuing to
drop into the mid to upper 30s.

Upper air data from 00 UTC and vapor imagery show a highly amplified
trof across the U.S. Southwest. This trof looks like it will cut off
soon across Southern California. Further east, another trof was
beginning to depart into the Western Atlantic. A piece of energy on
the southern end of this trough was analyzed moving across North
Florida.

The primary forecast concern this evening will focus on the
temperatures overnight. Given the latest trends, it is still
expected that we will see a light freeze, particularly across the
western portions of the region where winds will likely be calm for a
longer period of time. This pattern is handled well in the current
forecast, so will make very little changes on the update. The
present configuration of the freeze warning still looks good. Will
make some modifications for the current observations, but no other
substantive changes planned. Have a great night!

&&

.MARINE...As high pressure spreads east this evening, expect winds
and seas to shift to northeast and remain in the 10 to 15 knot range
as the high center remains north of the marine area.

&&

.AVIATION...Currently all terminals are VFR. Light fog will be our
main concern for tonight. Terminals should expect MVFR conditions
between midnight and sunrise, with visibilities ranging from 4 to 6
SM for all terminals.

&&

.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

AL...Freeze Warning from 2 AM to 8 AM CST Thursday for Coffee-Dale-
     Geneva-Henry-Houston.

GA...Freeze Warning from 3 AM to 9 AM EST Thursday for Baker-Ben Hill-
     Berrien-Brooks-Calhoun-Clay-Colquitt-Cook-Decatur-Dougherty-
     Early-Grady-Irwin-Lanier-Lee-Lowndes-Miller-Mitchell-
     Quitman-Randolph-Seminole-Terrell-Thomas-Tift-Turner-Worth.

FL...Freeze Warning from 3 AM EST /2 AM CST/ to 9 AM EST /8 AM CST/
     Thursday for Calhoun-Central Walton-Coastal Bay-Gadsden-
     Holmes-Inland Bay-Inland Dixie-Inland Franklin-Inland Gulf-
     Inland Jefferson-Inland Taylor-Inland Wakulla-Inland Walton-
     Jackson-Lafayette-Leon-Liberty-Madison-South Walton-
     Washington.

GM...None.

&&

Aviation...Walsh/Block
Rest of Discussion...Godsey

Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 30, 9:45 PM EST, 2 hours 15 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
945 PM EST WED NOV 30 2011

ALZ065>069-FLZ007>019-026>029-034-108-112-114-115-118-127-128-134-
GAZ120>131-142>148-155>161-GMZ730-750-755-765-770-775-010400-
COFFEE-DALE-HENRY-GENEVA-HOUSTON-INLAND WALTON-CENTRAL WALTON-
HOLMES-WASHINGTON-JACKSON-INLAND BAY-CALHOUN-INLAND GULF-
INLAND FRANKLIN-GADSDEN-LEON-INLAND JEFFERSON-MADISON-LIBERTY-
INLAND WAKULLA-INLAND TAYLOR-LAFAYETTE-INLAND DIXIE-SOUTH WALTON-
COASTAL BAY-COASTAL GULF-COASTAL FRANKLIN-COASTAL JEFFERSON-
COASTAL WAKULLA-COASTAL TAYLOR-COASTAL DIXIE-QUITMAN-CLAY-
RANDOLPH-TERRELL-DOUGHERTY-LEE-WORTH-TURNER-TIFT-BEN HILL-IRWIN-
EARLY-MILLER-BAKER-MITCHELL-COLQUITT-COOK-BERRIEN-SEMINOLE-
DECATUR-GRADY-THOMAS-BROOKS-LOWNDES-LANIER-
APALACHEE BAY OR COASTAL WATERS FROM KEATON BEACH TO OCHLOCKONEE
RIVER FL OUT TO 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM APALACHICOLA TO DESTIN FL OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM  OCHLOCKONEE RIVER TO APALACHICOLA FL OUT TO
20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM  SUWANNEE RIVER TO KEATON BEACH OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM APALACHICOLA TO DESTIN FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM  SUWANNEE RIVER TO APALACHICOLA FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
945 PM EST WED NOV 30 2011 /845 PM CST WED NOV 30 2011/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST ALABAMA...
SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA...AND THE FLORIDA BIG BEND
AND PANHANDLE...AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT...
A LIGHT FREEZE IS EXPECTED TONIGHT FOR MANY LOCATIONS AWAY FROM THE
IMMEDIATE COAST. TEMPERATURES WILL DROP INTO THE UPPER 20S TO LOWER
30S WITH TOTAL DURATION OF FREEZING TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 2 AND 4
HOURS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...
TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO BRIEFLY APPROACH FREEZING ONCE AGAIN
THURSDAY NIGHT...ESPECIALLY FOR NORMALLY COLDER LOCATIONS ACROSS
NORTHERN AND WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA. AT THIS TIME A
WIDESPREAD FREEZE EVENT IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

THE NEXT COLD FRONT IS NOT EXPECTED TO ARRIVE UNTIL THE EARLY
PORTION OF NEXT WEEK. A FEW SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH THIS FRONTAL PASSAGE...HOWEVER AT THIS TIME THE
THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER APPEARS LOW.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
WEBSITE ON THE INTERNET AT WEATHER.GOV...THEN CLICK ON YOUR AREA
OF INTEREST ON THE NATIONAL MAP.

MROCZKA/GODSEY

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

13 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Calhoun

When: December 1, 12:00 AM EST to December 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Calhoun forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 30.406, -85.197 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Central Walton

When: December 1, 12:00 AM EST to December 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Central Walton forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 30.619, -86.171 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, North Walton

When: December 1, 12:00 AM EST to December 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: North Walton forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Drought, South Walton

When: December 1, 12:00 AM EST to December 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: South Walton forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 30.619, -86.171 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Holmes

When: December 1, 12:00 AM EST to December 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Holmes forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 30.868, -85.814 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Gadsden

When: December 1, 12:00 AM EST to December 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Gadsden forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 30.580, -84.614 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Washington

When: December 1, 12:00 AM EST to December 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Washington forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 30.611, -85.665 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Jackson

When: December 1, 12:00 AM EST to December 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 30.795, -85.215 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Coastal Bay

When: December 1, 12:00 AM EST to December 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Coastal Bay forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 30.238, -85.633 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Inland Bay

When: December 1, 12:00 AM EST to December 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Inland Bay forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 30.238, -85.633 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Inland Gulf

When: December 1, 12:00 AM EST to December 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Inland Gulf forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 29.909, -85.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Leon

When: December 1, 12:00 AM EST to December 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Leon forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 30.458, -84.278 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Inland Wakulla

When: December 1, 12:00 AM EST to December 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Inland Wakulla forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 30.148, -84.376 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

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.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Florida in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history Warnings in Florida, December 2011

Sources

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: 352991, 352992, 352993, 352994, 352995, 352996, 352997, 352998, 352999, 353000, 353001, 353002, 353003.