Florida, 2012Rip Current in Florida, April 29, 2012
April 29, 2012 · NWS MFL · 1 event in 1 county or zone
Deep and strong easterly flow north of a low pressure area over the Caribbean Sea led to the formation of strong rip currents along the Atlantic beaches.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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- Deaths
- 1
- Injuries
- 1
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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.
Deep and strong easterly flow north of a low pressure area over the Caribbean Sea led to the formation of strong rip currents along the Atlantic beaches.
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 Apr 29, 6:20 PM EST, 10 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 29, 6:20 PM EST, 10 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
720 PM EDT SUN APR 29 2012
.AVIATION...SFC TROF XTNDG FM UPR FLA STRAITS NE TO N BAHAMAS
SLOLY MOVG W AND JUST OFF OF THE SE FLA COAST AT 30/12Z. SYSTEM
CROSSES S FLA AND INTO GUF OF MEX BY 30/18Z. VRY MOIST EASTERLY
WND FLOW WL PERSIST ACRS THE AREA THRU PD. ATTM WDSPRD MVFR CIG
ACRS S FLA WITH AREAS OF -RA BUT VSBY VFR. AFT 06Z WDSPRD MVFR CIG
AND -RA CONTINUES BUT POCKETS OF EMBEDDED HVY SHWRS MAY PRODUCE
IFR CIG /VSBY AT TIMES. WILL PLACE TEMPO MVFR CIG/VSBY VALUES IN
TAFS AFT 06Z PENDING DEVELOPMENT. EASTERLY WINDS WL PERSIST ALL
TAF SITES AND ARE XPCTD TO INCRS.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 225 PM EDT SUN APR 29 2012/
DISCUSSION...WATER VAPOR CONTINUES TO SHOW WELL DEFINED MID LEVEL
TROUGH OVER THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN EXTENDING NORTHEAST INTO THE FL
STRAITS. AT THE SFC, A BROAD TROUGH ALSO STRETCHES ACROSS ROUGHLY
THE SAME AREA WITH VISIBLE SATELLITE INDICATING BROAD CIRCULATION
AROUND THESE TWO FEATURES WITH A RICH PLUME OF TROPICAL MOISTURE
FEED ACROSS CUBA, FL STRAITS AND S FL. THE 12Z MFL SOUNDING
ALTHOUGH CONTAMINATED BY CONVECTION AT LAUNCH TIME SHOWS THE DEEP
EASTERLY FLOW.
LOOKING AT THE VERY SHORT TERM, THE HRRR WHICH HAS BEEN DOING
REMARKABLY WELL THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS SHOWS A DECREASING TREND
THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON BUT THEN A REGENERATION OFF THE SE CST AFT
03Z THIS EVENING WHICH IS AT THE END OF ITS CURRENT FCST CYCLE. BOTH
THE GFS AND NAM PERSIST IN SHOWING A DEEPENING SFC TROUGH OVER THE FL
KEYS FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING AND MOVING IT WEST
INTO THE SE GULF BY LATE MONDAY. THEY HAVE HOWEVER BOTH SCALED BACK
THE STRENGTH AND NO LONGER SHOW A CLOSED CIRCULATION SO WILL STICK
CLOSER TO THE NAM SPEEDS WHICH IS THE WEAKER OF THE TWO MODELS. THE
LONGER RANGE MODELS STILL DIVERGE AS TO THE EVOLUTION OF THESE
SYSTEMS THROUGH THE NEXT 24 TO 36 HOURS BUT ALL AGREE TO A CERTAIN
DEGREE THAT THE BAND OF MOISTURE WILL MOVE VERY LITTLE THROUGH
THIS TIME FRAME. RAINFALL ACCUMULATION IS ALSO TROUBLESOME WITH
THE NAM NOT SHOWING MUCH AFT 00Z THIS EVENING AND ALTHOUGH THERE
HAS BEEN SOME DECREASE IN THE OVERALL REFLECTIVITY FROM THE
REGIONAL RADARS, THE TROPICAL FEED WILL CONTINUE AND THUS THAT
SOLUTION SEEMS UNREALISTIC. THE GFS SEEMS TO BE SUFFERING FROM
CONVECTIVE FEEDBACK AS IT IS SHOWING A BULLS EYE 12 HOUR TOTAL
ENDING AT 18Z MONDAY OF IN EXCESS OF 8 INCHES ACROSS NORTHERN
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. OF COURSE, GIVEN THESE HISTORIC PWAT ANOMALIES
FOR LATE APRIL THIS SOLUTION CANNOT BE TOTALLY RULED OUT HOWEVER
AND SOMEWHERE FROM BROWARD TO MIAMI- DADE COUNTIES MAY INDEED APPROACH
8 INCHES OR EVEN SLIGHTLY HIGHER BY LATE MONDAY WITH THE GREATEST
COASTAL CONVERGENCE LIKELY OCCURRING AT LOW LEVELS ALONG AND NEAR
THE SOUTHEAST COAST LATE TONIGHT THROUGH EARLY MONDAY. THE ECMWF
IS A MIDDLE OF THE ROAD APPROACH. SO WITH ALL OF THIS BEING SAID,
THE FLOOD WATCH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR THE EAST
COASTAL REGION.
HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN TO THE NORTHEAST OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC
WITH THE PRESSURE GRADIENT REMAINING TIGHT SO STRONG COASTAL
CONVERGENCE MAY AGAIN SET UP MONDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY TUESDAY AS THE
HIGH MOISTURE REMAINS ACROSS THE AREA. THE ECMWF HAS COME MORE IN
LINE WITH THE GFS AND SHOWING THE DEEP MOISTURE REMAINING IN PLACE
THROUGH THE END OF THIS WEEK SO RAIN CHANCES WILL CONTINUE WITH THE
HIGHEST CHANCES FOR THE EAST COAST.
MARINE...DETERIORATING MARINE CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH
EARLY IN THE WEEK WITH SCA FOR ATLANTIC AND GULF WATERS. SEAS IN
THE GULF STREAM WILL LIKELY BE UP TO 8 FEET THROUGH LATE TUESDAY
BEFORE SUBSIDING BY THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK AS THE GRADIENT WEAKENS.
FIRE WEATHER...NO PROBLEMS OR CONCERNS WITH AMPLE TROPICAL
MOISTURE IN PLACE.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
WEST PALM BEACH 73 80 73 82 / 60 60 40 50
FORT LAUDERDALE 72 79 74 83 / 80 70 50 50
MIAMI 70 80 72 83 / 80 70 50 50
NAPLES 68 82 70 86 / 40 50 30 50
&&
.MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...FLOOD WATCH THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR COASTAL BROWARD-COASTAL
MIAMI DADE-COASTAL PALM BEACH-FAR SOUTH MIAMI DADE-INLAND
MIAMI DADE-METRO BROWARD-METRO MIAMI DADE-METRO PALM BEACH.
HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON FOR COASTAL
BROWARD-COASTAL MIAMI DADE-COASTAL PALM BEACH.
AM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 AM EDT TUESDAY FOR COASTAL WATERS
FROM DEERFIELD BEACH TO OCEAN REEF, FL OUT 20 NM-COASTAL
WATERS FROM JUPITER INLET TO DEERFIELD BEACH, FL OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM DEERFIELD BEACH TO OCEAN REEF, FL EXTENDING
FROM 20 NM TO THE TERRITORIAL WATERS OF THE BAHAMAS-WATERS
FROM JUPITER INLET TO DEERFIELD BEACH, FL EXTENDING FROM 20
NM TO 60 NM.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT MONDAY FOR BISCAYNE BAY.
GM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 AM EDT TUESDAY FOR COASTAL WATERS
FROM CHOKOLOSKEE TO BONITA BEACH, FL OUT 20 NM-COASTAL
WATERS FROM EAST CAPE SABLE TO CHOKOLOSKEE, FL OUT 20 NM-
GULF WATERS FROM CHOKOLOSKEE TO BONITA BEACH, FL EXTENDING
FROM 20 TO 60 NM.
&&
DISCUSSION/MARINE/FIRE...57/DG
AVIATION/RADAR...15/JRHazardous weather outlook, Apr 29, 3:12 PM EST, 3 hours 18 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SOUTH FLORIDA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
412 PM EDT SUN APR 29 2012
AMZ610-630-FLZ063-066>075-168-172>174-301030-
LAKE OKEECHOBEE-BISCAYNE BAY-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-
412 PM EDT SUN APR 29 2012
...FLOOD WATCH EAST COAST METRO AREAS THROUGH MONDAY EVENING...
...HAZARDOUS MARINE AND COASTAL CONDITIONS THROUGH TUESDAY...
...STRONG WIND GUSTS POSSIBLE IN THE SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS...
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH FLORIDA.
.DAY ONE...TONIGHT
FLOODING: A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE EAST COAST
METROPOLITAN AREAS OF WEST PALM BEACH, FORT LAUDERDALE, AND
MIAMI THROUGH MONDAY EVENING. HEAVY RAINS COULD CAUSE STREET
FLOODING AND FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS. THERE IS EVEN THE
POTENTIAL FOR STRUCTURAL FLOODING SHOULD A PERSISTENT BAND OF
TORRENTIAL RAINS SET UP OVER A GIVEN AREA. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL
AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES ARE EXPECTED ACROSS SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
TONIGHT, WITH ISOLATED HEAVIER AMOUNTS.
RIP CURRENTS: THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT ALL
LOCAL ATLANTIC BEACHES.
THUNDERSTORMS: A FEW THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE. THE MAIN
IMPACTS WOULD BE TORRENTIAL RAINS, STRONG WIND GUSTS, AND
LIGHTNING STRIKES.
WATERSPOUTS: THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF WATERSPOUTS OVER THE
ATLANTIC WATERS, INCLUDING BISCAYNE BAY.
WIND: EAST WINDS WILL AVERAGE 20 TO 25 KNOTS OVER THE LOCAL
ATLANTIC AND GULF WATERS, WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO 35 KNOTS
POSSIBLE. SOME HEAVIER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MAY ALSO
PRODUCE STRONG WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.
WAVES: SEAS WILL BUILD TO 6 TO 8 FEET OVER THE ATLANTIC WATERS,
AND TO 5 TO 7 FEET OVER THE OFFSHORE GULF WATERS. CHOPPY
CONDITIONS ARE ALSO EXPECTED ON BISCAYNE BAY. A SMALL CRAFT
ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL LOCAL WATERS EXCEPT LAKE
OKEECHOBEE.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY
THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE MONDAY
THROUGH AT LEAST THURSDAY AS A LOW LEVEL TROUGH REMAINS NEAR THE
LOCAL AREA. THE POTENTIAL FOR LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL PERSIST
THROUGH AT LEAST TUESDAY, ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE EAST COAST METRO
AREAS.
SOME OF THE MORE INTENSE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE
STRONG WIND GUSTS AROUND 50 MPH MONDAY INTO TUESDAY.
THERE WILL LIKELY BE A CONTINUED HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT THE
ATLANTIC BEACHES MONDAY THROUGH AT LEAST TUESDAY.
STRONG WINDS AND SEAS WILL RESULT IN HAZARDOUS MARINE CONDITIONS
OVER PORTIONS OF THE LOCAL WATERS MONDAY THROUGH AT LEAST EARLY
TUESDAY.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
WIDESPREAD SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED, HOWEVER
INDIVIDUAL SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT HIGH WIND 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.
GREGORIA
Rip Current, Coastal Miami-Dade County
- When
- April 29, 6:30 PM EST
- Where
- Coastal Miami-Dade County forecast zone
- Deaths
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Injuries
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- Broadcast Media
- Coordinates
- 25.609, -80.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A male tourist in his 30s drowned after being caught in a rip current in rough conditions at the 77th Street beach in Miami Beach. The incident occurred after lifeguards had gone home for the day. The victim and a female friend were caught in the rip current, with the female getting out of the water and calling 911. Miami Beach Fire Rescue arrived on scene and two rescuers went to rescue the victim. The victim was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
One of the rescuers was tangled in rope on the way to help the victim and required medical attention at a hospital.
- Rip Current
- A narrow, fast current flowing away from the beach that caused a drowning or rescue.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Flooding and Hail in Texas, April 29 to 30, 2012$26 million · 4.5 in hail · 24 events
- Extreme Cold in Ohio, April 29, 2012$15 million · 17 events
- Flash Flooding and Flood in Kansas, April 29 to 30, 20121 death · 61 kt wind · 6 events
- Extreme Cold in Pennsylvania, April 29, 2012$950,000 · 3 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, April 29 to 30, 2012$35,000 · 2.75 in hail · 22 events
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in Oklahoma, April 29 to 30, 2012$13,000 · EF1 · 8 events
- Frost and Freeze in New York, April 29 to 30, 201217 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Kansas, April 29, 20121 in hail · 11 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Kansas, April 29, 20121 in hail · 10 events
- Flash Flood and Hail in Oklahoma, April 29 to 30, 20121.25 in hail · 6 events
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Missouri, April 29 to 30, 20121 in hail · 4 events
- Dense Fog in Maryland, April 29, 20123 events
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: 377587.