Florida, 2011

Drought in Florida, February 1 to 28, 2011

February 1 to 28, 2011 · NWS MFL · 12 events in 12 counties and zones

Continued dry conditions in February led to the expansion of severe to extreme drought conditions over most of the south Florida peninsula.

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
12

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 MFL wrote it up.

Continued dry conditions in February led to the expansion of severe to extreme drought conditions over most of the south Florida peninsula.

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 Jan 31, 7:20 PM EST, 4 hours 40 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 31, 7:20 PM EST, 4 hours 40 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
720 PM EST MON JAN 31 2011

HAVE UPDATED THE ZFP PACKAGE TO CUT THE "REST OF THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING" PERIOD FROM THE ZONES. LOW LEVEL WIND SE AND POSSIBILITY
EXISTS THAT SOME SHRA MAY DEVELOP OVER GULF STREAM AND/OR THE SE
WINDS CONVERGE WITH AN OFFSHORE FLOW GENERATING SOME SHRA LATE
TONIGHT. POSSIBILITY EXISTS FOR SOME PATCHY FOG IN THE INTERIOR BUT
BOUNDARY LAYER WINDS SW AND THIS MAY ALLOW SOME STRATUS TO DEVELOP
THAT WILL BE MORE OF AN E COAST AVIATION CONCERN. THE POSSIBILITY
OF FOG/SHRA ALREADY IN ZFP PACKAGE.

&&

AT THIS TIME...ANTICIPATE NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO THE CURRENT
MARINE FORECAST.

.PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...THE CURRENT SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWS LOW
PRESSURE OVER THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO...WITH WEAK HIGH PRESSURE
OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC. ALOFT, A SHORTWAVE IS PUSHING EAST
SOUTHEAST OVER NORTH FLORIDA. THIS FEATURE IS GENERATING PLENTY OF
MID AND HIGH CLOUDINESS OVER THE PENINSULA...ALTHOUGH COVERAGE SHOULD
TEND TO DIMINISH LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE LOW LEVEL WIND
FLOW WILL REMAIN SOUTHEASTERLY...AND SOME OF THE HIGHER RESOLUTION
MODELS INDICATE THAT A FEW SHOWERS COULD DEVELOP IN THIS REGIME
LATER TONIGHT AND INTO TUESDAY. WE HAVE ACCORDINGLY ADDED A 20 POP
FOR THE ATLANTIC WATERS AND EAST COAST. LIGHT WINDS AND DECREASING
CLOUD COVER MAY ALSO RESULT IN SOME SHALLOW PATCHY FOG LATE TONIGHT
AND EARLY TUESDAY...MAINLY INTERIOR AND WESTERN PORTIONS.

AS LOW PRESSURE ADVANCES TOWARD THE MID ATLANTIC STATES ON
TUESDAY...AN ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO THE GULF
COASTAL STATES ON TUESDAY EVENING. AHEAD OF IT...THE AIR MASS
OVER SOUTH FLORIDA WILL GRADUALLY BECOME WARMER WITH INCREASING
AMOUNTS OF LOW LEVEL MOISTURE THROUGH WEDNESDAY. WEAK ISENTROPIC
LIFT THROUGH THIS PERIOD WILL LIKELY RESULT IN AT LEAST INTERVALS
OF CLOUDINESS. THE AFOREMENTIONED COLD FRONT WILL FINALLY PASS
THROUGH NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND THEN STALL
OVER OUR AREA ON THURSDAY...BEFORE LIFTING BACK TO THE NORTH AS A
WARM FRONT. THE CHANCE FOR RAIN SHOWERS WILL BE LIMITED TO THE
LAKE REGION WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING...AND THEN OVERSPREAD
THE ENTIRE AREA THURSDAY. AS LOW PRESSURE DEEPENS OFF THE MID
ATLANTIC COAST AND THE NEXT COLD FRONT PUSHES THROUGH THE REGION,
ANOTHER ROUND OF SCATTERED SHOWERS WILL BE POSSIBLE FRIDAY INTO
SATURDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL THEN RETURN TOWARD THE END OF THE
FORECAST PERIOD WITH A BRIEF PERIOD OF COOLER AND DRIER
CONDITIONS.

&&

.AVIATION...MOSTLY VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD BE EXPECTED AT ALL
TERMINALS THROUGH AT LEAST 01/10-12Z. THERE COULD BE PERIODS OF
BKN CEILINGS AT 5 KFT AND WL INDICATE THAT IN SOME OF THE TAFS.
PATCHY FOG COULD DEVELOP OVERNIGHT DUE TO A VERY LIGHT FLOW,
HOWEVER VISIBILITY IS NOT EXPECTED TO AFFECTED SIGNIFICANTLY AND
REMAIN P6SM. SFC WINDS SHOULD REMAIN E-SE THROUGH THE WHOLE 24 HR
PERIOD BUT DECREASING TO BELOW 5 KTS OVERNIGHT ONLY TO INCREASE
AGAIN TO ABOUT 10-13 KTS AFTER 01/15Z.

&&

.MARINE...SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 10 TO 15 KNOTS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH
MUCH OF THE WEEK...WITH SEAS MAINLY 4 FEET OR LESS. THE PRESSURE
GRADIENT MAY TIGHTEN JUST ENOUGH TO WARRANT EXERCISE CAUTION
STATEMENTS LATE TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL REMAIN ABOVE CRITICAL
THRESHOLDS THROUGH THE WEEK...WITH NO FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS OR
PROBLEMS ANTICIPATED.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
WEST PALM BEACH  64  77  67  80 / 20 20 10 10
FORT LAUDERDALE  65  78  69  80 / 20 20 10 10
MIAMI            65  78  68  81 / 20 20 10 10
NAPLES           59  80  63  78 / -  -  10 10

&&

.MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...NONE.
AM...NONE.
GM...NONE.
&&

DISCUSSION/MARINE...15/JR
AVIATION/RADAR/FIRE...54/BNB
Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 31, 6:00 PM EST, 6 hours before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SOUTH FLORIDA...UPDATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
600 PM EST MON JAN 31 2011

FLZ063-066>075-168-172>174-010930-
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-
600 PM EST MON JAN 31 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH FLORIDA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

FOR MORE INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
MIAMI WEBSITE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/MIAMI.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

12 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Glades

When
February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Glades forecast zone
Reported by
Other Federal Agency
Coordinates
26.957, -81.189 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

February was a very dry month over south Florida as high pressure dominated the region's weather pattern. Monthly rainfall totals were less than 1 inch, except for isolated locations in Palm Beach and Hendry counties where between 1.5 and 2 inches of rain were recorded. Over most of Miami-Dade and Broward counties, February rainfall totals were less than a tenth of an inch. As a result, February 2011 was among the top 10 driest Februaries on record at Miami, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Naples and Canal Point, the 12th driest at Moore Haven and 15th driest at LaBelle. This led to severe drought conditions over most of South Florida, with extreme drought conditions over portions of the southeast coast.

The level of Lake Okeechobee fell about a half-foot during February, from around 12.5 feet to near 12 feet. Forestry officials reported double the number of wildfires during the winter months of 2010-2011 compared to the previous year.

The period of October 2010 to February 2011 was the driest on record in the 80-year history of the South Florida Water Management District's records.

Drought, Hendry

When
February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Hendry forecast zone
Reported by
Other Federal Agency
Coordinates
26.554, -81.166 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

February was a very dry month over south Florida as high pressure dominated the region's weather pattern. Monthly rainfall totals were less than 1 inch, except for isolated locations in Palm Beach and Hendry counties where between 1.5 and 2 inches of rain were recorded. Over most of Miami-Dade and Broward counties, February rainfall totals were less than a tenth of an inch. As a result, February 2011 was among the top 10 driest Februaries on record at Miami, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Naples and Canal Point, the 12th driest at Moore Haven and 15th driest at LaBelle. This led to severe drought conditions over most of South Florida, with extreme drought conditions over portions of the southeast coast.

The level of Lake Okeechobee fell about a half-foot during February, from around 12.5 feet to near 12 feet. Forestry officials reported double the number of wildfires during the winter months of 2010-2011 compared to the previous year.

The period of October 2010 to February 2011 was the driest on record in the 80-year history of the South Florida Water Management District's records.

Drought, Coastal Broward County

When
February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Coastal Broward County forecast zone
Reported by
Other Federal Agency
Coordinates
26.152, -80.456 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

February was a very dry month over south Florida as high pressure dominated the region's weather pattern. Monthly rainfall totals were less than 1 inch, except for isolated locations in Palm Beach and Hendry counties where between 1.5 and 2 inches of rain were recorded. Over most of Miami-Dade and Broward counties, February rainfall totals were less than a tenth of an inch. As a result, February 2011 was among the top 10 driest Februaries on record at Miami, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Naples and Canal Point, the 12th driest at Moore Haven and 15th driest at LaBelle. This led to severe drought conditions over most of South Florida, with extreme drought conditions over portions of the southeast coast.

The level of Lake Okeechobee fell about a half-foot during February, from around 12.5 feet to near 12 feet. Forestry officials reported double the number of wildfires during the winter months of 2010-2011 compared to the previous year.

The period of October 2010 to February 2011 was the driest on record in the 80-year history of the South Florida Water Management District's records.

Drought, Coastal Miami-Dade County

When
February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Coastal Miami-Dade County forecast zone
Reported by
Other Federal Agency
Coordinates
25.609, -80.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

February was a very dry month over south Florida as high pressure dominated the region's weather pattern. Monthly rainfall totals were less than 1 inch, except for isolated locations in Palm Beach and Hendry counties where between 1.5 and 2 inches of rain were recorded. Over most of Miami-Dade and Broward counties, February rainfall totals were less than a tenth of an inch. As a result, February 2011 was among the top 10 driest Februaries on record at Miami, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Naples and Canal Point, the 12th driest at Moore Haven and 15th driest at LaBelle. This led to severe drought conditions over most of South Florida, with extreme drought conditions over portions of the southeast coast.

The level of Lake Okeechobee fell about a half-foot during February, from around 12.5 feet to near 12 feet. Forestry officials reported double the number of wildfires during the winter months of 2010-2011 compared to the previous year.

The period of October 2010 to February 2011 was the driest on record in the 80-year history of the South Florida Water Management District's records.

Drought, Coastal Palm Beach County

When
February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Coastal Palm Beach County forecast zone
Reported by
Other Federal Agency
Coordinates
26.648, -80.436 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

February was a very dry month over south Florida as high pressure dominated the region's weather pattern. Monthly rainfall totals were less than 1 inch, except for isolated locations in Palm Beach and Hendry counties where between 1.5 and 2 inches of rain were recorded. Over most of Miami-Dade and Broward counties, February rainfall totals were less than a tenth of an inch. As a result, February 2011 was among the top 10 driest Februaries on record at Miami, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Naples and Canal Point, the 12th driest at Moore Haven and 15th driest at LaBelle. This led to severe drought conditions over most of South Florida, with extreme drought conditions over portions of the southeast coast.

The level of Lake Okeechobee fell about a half-foot during February, from around 12.5 feet to near 12 feet. Forestry officials reported double the number of wildfires during the winter months of 2010-2011 compared to the previous year.

The period of October 2010 to February 2011 was the driest on record in the 80-year history of the South Florida Water Management District's records.

Drought, Inland Broward County

When
February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Inland Broward County forecast zone
Reported by
Other Federal Agency
Coordinates
26.152, -80.456 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

February was a very dry month over south Florida as high pressure dominated the region's weather pattern. Monthly rainfall totals were less than 1 inch, except for isolated locations in Palm Beach and Hendry counties where between 1.5 and 2 inches of rain were recorded. Over most of Miami-Dade and Broward counties, February rainfall totals were less than a tenth of an inch. As a result, February 2011 was among the top 10 driest Februaries on record at Miami, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Naples and Canal Point, the 12th driest at Moore Haven and 15th driest at LaBelle. This led to severe drought conditions over most of South Florida, with extreme drought conditions over portions of the southeast coast.

The level of Lake Okeechobee fell about a half-foot during February, from around 12.5 feet to near 12 feet. Forestry officials reported double the number of wildfires during the winter months of 2010-2011 compared to the previous year.

The period of October 2010 to February 2011 was the driest on record in the 80-year history of the South Florida Water Management District's records.

Drought, Inland Collier County

When
February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM 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)

February was a very dry month over south Florida as high pressure dominated the region's weather pattern. Monthly rainfall totals were less than 1 inch, except for isolated locations in Palm Beach and Hendry counties where between 1.5 and 2 inches of rain were recorded. Over most of Miami-Dade and Broward counties, February rainfall totals were less than a tenth of an inch. As a result, February 2011 was among the top 10 driest Februaries on record at Miami, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Naples and Canal Point, the 12th driest at Moore Haven and 15th driest at LaBelle. This led to severe drought conditions over most of South Florida, with extreme drought conditions over portions of the southeast coast.

The level of Lake Okeechobee fell about a half-foot during February, from around 12.5 feet to near 12 feet. Forestry officials reported double the number of wildfires during the winter months of 2010-2011 compared to the previous year.

The period of October 2010 to February 2011 was the driest on record in the 80-year history of the South Florida Water Management District's records.

Drought, Inland Miami-Dade

When
February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Inland Miami-Dade forecast zone
Reported by
Other Federal Agency
Coordinates
25.609, -80.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

February was a very dry month over south Florida as high pressure dominated the region's weather pattern. Monthly rainfall totals were less than 1 inch, except for isolated locations in Palm Beach and Hendry counties where between 1.5 and 2 inches of rain were recorded. Over most of Miami-Dade and Broward counties, February rainfall totals were less than a tenth of an inch. As a result, February 2011 was among the top 10 driest Februaries on record at Miami, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Naples and Canal Point, the 12th driest at Moore Haven and 15th driest at LaBelle. This led to severe drought conditions over most of South Florida, with extreme drought conditions over portions of the southeast coast.

The level of Lake Okeechobee fell about a half-foot during February, from around 12.5 feet to near 12 feet. Forestry officials reported double the number of wildfires during the winter months of 2010-2011 compared to the previous year.

The period of October 2010 to February 2011 was the driest on record in the 80-year history of the South Florida Water Management District's records.

Drought, Inland Palm Beach County

When
February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Inland Palm Beach County forecast zone
Reported by
Other Federal Agency
Coordinates
26.648, -80.436 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

February was a very dry month over south Florida as high pressure dominated the region's weather pattern. Monthly rainfall totals were less than 1 inch, except for isolated locations in Palm Beach and Hendry counties where between 1.5 and 2 inches of rain were recorded. Over most of Miami-Dade and Broward counties, February rainfall totals were less than a tenth of an inch. As a result, February 2011 was among the top 10 driest Februaries on record at Miami, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Naples and Canal Point, the 12th driest at Moore Haven and 15th driest at LaBelle. This led to severe drought conditions over most of South Florida, with extreme drought conditions over portions of the southeast coast.

The level of Lake Okeechobee fell about a half-foot during February, from around 12.5 feet to near 12 feet. Forestry officials reported double the number of wildfires during the winter months of 2010-2011 compared to the previous year.

The period of October 2010 to February 2011 was the driest on record in the 80-year history of the South Florida Water Management District's records.

Drought, Metro Broward County

When
February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Metro Broward County forecast zone
Reported by
Other Federal Agency
Coordinates
26.152, -80.456 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

February was a very dry month over south Florida as high pressure dominated the region's weather pattern. Monthly rainfall totals were less than 1 inch, except for isolated locations in Palm Beach and Hendry counties where between 1.5 and 2 inches of rain were recorded. Over most of Miami-Dade and Broward counties, February rainfall totals were less than a tenth of an inch. As a result, February 2011 was among the top 10 driest Februaries on record at Miami, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Naples and Canal Point, the 12th driest at Moore Haven and 15th driest at LaBelle. This led to severe drought conditions over most of South Florida, with extreme drought conditions over portions of the southeast coast.

The level of Lake Okeechobee fell about a half-foot during February, from around 12.5 feet to near 12 feet. Forestry officials reported double the number of wildfires during the winter months of 2010-2011 compared to the previous year.

The period of October 2010 to February 2011 was the driest on record in the 80-year history of the South Florida Water Management District's records.

Drought, Metro Palm Beach County

When
February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Metro Palm Beach County forecast zone
Reported by
Other Federal Agency
Coordinates
26.648, -80.436 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

February was a very dry month over south Florida as high pressure dominated the region's weather pattern. Monthly rainfall totals were less than 1 inch, except for isolated locations in Palm Beach and Hendry counties where between 1.5 and 2 inches of rain were recorded. Over most of Miami-Dade and Broward counties, February rainfall totals were less than a tenth of an inch. As a result, February 2011 was among the top 10 driest Februaries on record at Miami, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Naples and Canal Point, the 12th driest at Moore Haven and 15th driest at LaBelle. This led to severe drought conditions over most of South Florida, with extreme drought conditions over portions of the southeast coast.

The level of Lake Okeechobee fell about a half-foot during February, from around 12.5 feet to near 12 feet. Forestry officials reported double the number of wildfires during the winter months of 2010-2011 compared to the previous year.

The period of October 2010 to February 2011 was the driest on record in the 80-year history of the South Florida Water Management District's records.

Drought, Metropolitan Miami-Dade

When
February 1, 12:00 AM EST to February 28, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Metropolitan Miami-Dade forecast zone
Reported by
Other Federal Agency
Coordinates
25.609, -80.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

February was a very dry month over south Florida as high pressure dominated the region's weather pattern. Monthly rainfall totals were less than 1 inch, except for isolated locations in Palm Beach and Hendry counties where between 1.5 and 2 inches of rain were recorded. Over most of Miami-Dade and Broward counties, February rainfall totals were less than a tenth of an inch. As a result, February 2011 was among the top 10 driest Februaries on record at Miami, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Naples and Canal Point, the 12th driest at Moore Haven and 15th driest at LaBelle. This led to severe drought conditions over most of South Florida, with extreme drought conditions over portions of the southeast coast.

The level of Lake Okeechobee fell about a half-foot during February, from around 12.5 feet to near 12 feet. Forestry officials reported double the number of wildfires during the winter months of 2010-2011 compared to the previous year.

The period of October 2010 to February 2011 was the driest on record in the 80-year history of the South Florida Water Management District's records.

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

More

Every storm in Florida in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, February 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: 286627, 286628, 286629, 286630, 286631, 286632, 286633, 286634, 286635, 286636, 286637, 286638.