Strong high pressure was resulting in onshore flow across the southeast coast and causing strong rip currents at the beaches throughout the Memorial Day weekend. Numerous rescues were performed by Ocean Rescue lifeguards along many southeast Florida beaches.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
Strong high pressure was resulting in onshore flow across the southeast coast and causing strong rip currents at the beaches throughout the Memorial Day weekend. Numerous rescues were performed by Ocean Rescue lifeguards along many southeast Florida beaches.
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 24, 8:14 AM EST, 1 hour 31 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
914 AM EDT SUN MAY 24 2015
.UPDATE...
...HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS EAST COAST BEACHES THROUGH TUESDAY...
WATER VAPOR SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS THAT THE DEEP TROPICAL
MOISTURE IS LOCATED OVER THE SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE CARIBBEAN SEA
AND AWAY FROM SOUTH FLORIDA. A LARGE AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE OVER
THE WESTERN ATLANTIC WILL CONTINUE TO DOMINATE THE WEATHER THIS
WEEKEND AND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. A LONG FETCH OF EASTERLY WINDS
EXTENDS FROM THE EASTERN ATLANTIC INTO SOUTH FLORIDA ASSOCIATED
WITH THIS AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE AT THE SURFACE. THERE IS HIGH
CONFIDENCE WHEN IT COMES TO THE FORECAST LOCATION AND INTENSITY OF
THIS HIGH PRESSURE. OVER 90 PERCENT OF THE ENSEMBLE MEMBERS OF THE
NAEFS PRODUCE EXTREME VALUES FOR THE 500-HPA LEVEL FOR MONDAY AND
TUESDAY WITH THE MID LEVEL HIGH BEING CENTERED EAST OF COASTAL
GEORGIA AND NORTH OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. WHEN COMPARING THE MODEL
FORECAST WITH CLIMATOLOGY THE 500-HPA AND 700-HPA LEVELS SHOW THE
ENSEMBLE IS FORECASTING AN EVENT THAT IS OUTSIDE THE 1979-2009
CLIMATOLOGY FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. THIS INDICATES HIGH
CONFIDENCE WHEN IT COMES TO THE HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS DUE TO
THE EXTENDED FETCH OF EASTERLY WINDS. WHEN IT COMES TO MOISTURE
THERE IS ALWAYS MORE UNCERTAINTY AROUND THESE AREAS OF HIGH
PRESSURE, SINCE POCKETS OF INCREASED/DECREASED MOISTURE ROTATE
AROUND THE STRONG RIDGE. THE REASONING FOR TODAY IS THAT THERE
WILL BE LESS COVERAGE OF PRECIPITATION THAN YESTERDAY. THE 12Z
SOUNDING FROM THIS MORNING INDICATES A LITTLE BIT LESS MOISTURE
THAN YESTERDAY AND WARMER MID LEVEL TEMPERATURES. THE CURRENT
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS ON TRACK WITH SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS
CONFINED OVER THE INTERIOR AND THE WEST COAST METRO AREAS. THE
STRONGEST STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH
OVER THE WESTERN AREAS OF SOUTH FLORIDA.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 731 AM EDT SUN MAY 24 2015/
AVIATION...
EAST WIND PATTERN WELL-ESTABLISHED ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA TODAY DUE
TO STRONG HIGH PRESSURE OFF THE COAST OF THE CAROLINAS. LITTLE IN
THE WAY OF SHOWER ACTIVITY THIS MORNING, WITH SCATTERED
SHOWERS/TSTMS CONCENTRATING INTERIOR AND GULF COAST AFTER 17Z.
COVERAGE OF PRECIPITATION EXPECTED TO BE LOWER THAN THE PAST FEW
DAYS, MEANING THAT ONLY KAPF HAS A VCTS MENTION STARTING AT 20Z
WHEN A WEAK SEA BREEZE MOVES THROUGH. OTHERWISE, VFR CONDITIONS
TO PREVAIL THROUGH THE DAY. LOW LEVEL MOISTURE INCREASES TONIGHT
WITH A FEW MORE SHOWERS PROBABLY MOVING ONSHORE EAST COAST AND
ENOUGH TO INCLUDE VCSH AFTER 00Z. EAST WINDS INCREASE TO 15 KT
WITH GUSTS EXCEEDING 20 KT AT TIMES, ESPECIALLY EAST COAST AFTER
14Z. /MOLLEDA
PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 320 AM EDT SUN MAY 24 2015/
DISCUSSION...
EASTERLY FLOW CONTINUES WITH SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE PERSISTING
ACROSS THE WESTERN ATLANTIC. THE STRENGTH OF THE EASTERLY WINDS
OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS ELICIT A HIGH RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS ALONG
THE ATLANTIC BEACHES THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND. OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS,
THE MID AND UPPER RIDGE WILL CLOSE OFF THROUGH H5 AND H3. THE
RESULTING SUBSIDENCE WILL GENERATE A LARGE AREA OF MUCH DRIER AIR
ALOFT OVER FLORIDA. THUS, MODEL SOUNDINGS CUT PWATS SIGNIFICANTLY
BY TUESDAY AND PERHAPS CLOSE TO 1" BY THURSDAY. BEFORE THEN,
MOISTURE WILL BE SUFFICIENT THROUGH THE COLUMN TO SUPPORT TYPICAL
MORNING AND LATE NIGHT SHOWERS EAST COAST, WITH SHOWERS AND SOME
STORMS INTERIOR AND WEST COAST THIS AFTERNOON AND MONDAY
AFTERNOON. FOR TODAY AND MONDAY, CAN'T RULE OUT A FEW STRONGER
STORMS ALONG THE WEST COAST WITH H5 TEMPS AND MID-LEVEL LAPSE
RATES SIMILAR TO YESTERDAY. HOWEVER BOTH OF THESE PARAMETERS ARE
LESS THAN FAVORABLE. INTO TUESDAY, POPS DROP MARKEDLY THROUGH THE
REST OF THE WORK WEEK WITH THE DRIER AIR ARRIVING. NOT MUCH CHANGE
TO THE OVERALL PATTERN, UNTIL A H5 LOW APPROACHES THE RIDGE IN THE
ATLANTIC, AND A TROUGH CONFRONTS THE WESTERN FLANK OF THE RIDGE
INTO FRIDAY. AS THE RIDGE BEGINS TO BREAK DOWN, EASTERLY WINDS
WILL WEAKEN AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL INCREASE SOMEWHAT THROUGH
THE MID LEVELS, ALLOWING FOR MORE NUMEROUS/WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND
STORMS PERHAPS BY NEXT WEEKEND.
MARINE...
STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT EXISTS WITH SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE
PARKING OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC. WINDS ARE STRONGEST TONIGHT
THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT, POSSIBLY SUSTAINED NEAR 20 KNOTS. MID AND
UPPER LEVEL HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN ANCHORED ALONG THE EAST
COAST. THE PATTERN BREAKS DOWN LATE WEEK.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
WEST PALM BEACH 87 79 88 78 / 20 30 30 20
FORT LAUDERDALE 88 79 87 79 / 30 40 40 20
MIAMI 89 78 87 78 / 30 40 30 20
NAPLES 92 74 92 72 / 50 20 50 20
&&
.MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR FLZ168-172-
173.
AM...NONE.
GM...NONE.
&&
SHORT TERM...71/JE
LONG TERM....71/JE
AVIATION/RADAR...59/RMHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SOUTH FLORIDA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 410 AM EDT SUN MAY 24 2015 AMZ610-630-650-651-670-671-FLZ063-066>075-168-172>174-GMZ656-657-676- 250000- LAKE OKEECHOBEE-BISCAYNE BAY- COASTAL WATERS FROM JUPITER INLET TO DEERFIELD BEACH, FL OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM DEERFIELD BEACH TO OCEAN REEF, FL OUT 20 NM- WATERS FROM JUPITER INLET TO DEERFIELD BEACH, FL EXTENDING FROM 20 NM TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM DEERFIELD BEACH TO OCEAN REEF, FL EXTENDING FROM 20 NM TO THE TERRITORIAL WATERS OF THE BAHAMAS-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- 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- 410 AM EDT SUN MAY 24 2015 ...FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING INTERIOR/WEST THIS AFTERNOON... ...HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS EAST COAST BEACHES THROUGH TUESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT RIP CURRENTS: THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS WILL REMAIN HIGH TODAY INTO TONIGHT AND SWIMMING IS NOT RECOMMENDED. THUNDERSTORMS: SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE MAINLY THIS AFTERNOON OVER THE INTERIOR AND WEST COAST METRO AREAS, EXCEPT FOR A FEW THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE EASTERN AREAS THIS MORNING. A FEW OF THE STORMS COULD EVEN BECOME STRONG LATE TODAY INTO EARLY THIS EVENING OVER THE WESTERN AREAS OF SOUTH FLORIDA. WIND: THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH OVER THE WESTERN AREAS OF SOUTH FLORIDA. HAIL: SMALL HAIL IS POSSIBLE WITH THE STRONGEST STORMS OVER THE WESTERN AREAS OF SOUTH FLORIDA. FLOODING: SOME FLOODING OF STREETS AND LOW-LYING AREAS ARE POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY OVER THE INTERIOR AND GULF COAST METRO AREAS. WATERSPOUTS: WATERSPOUTS ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE ATLANTIC AND BISCAYNE BAY WATERS ESPECIALLY THIS MORNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THE CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL GRADUALLY DIMINISH AND BE PRIMARILY OVER THE WESTERN SECTIONS OF THE SOUTH FLORIDA PENINSULA THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK. THE CHANCE OF OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL THEN BE INCREASING AGAIN TOWARDS THE END OF THE WEEK OVER ALL OF SOUTH FLORIDA. WINDS WILL BE NEAR SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS OVER ALL OF SOUTH FLORIDA WATERS TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY. THIS WILL KEEP A HIGH RISK OF LIFE-THREATENING RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE ATLANTIC BEACHES DURING THROUGH AT LEAST TUESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WIDESPREAD SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED, HOWEVER INDIVIDUAL SPOTTERS OVER THE WESTERN AREAS OF SOUTH FLORIDA 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. BAXTER
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 rip current. Local standard time, as filed.
Three minors were rescued from rip currents by lifeguards at Riviera Beach. One of the victims was taken to the hospital and is in good condition.
Lifeguards and a Riviera Beach marine unit rescued three swimmers at the Riviera Beach municipal hospital. Two of the swimmers were taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons.
Delray Beach lifeguards responded to four or five calls throughout the day, with three people requiring medical treatment. Two of the near-drownings were near Atlantic Avenue and South Ocean Boulevard and the third was across from Anchor Park.
A small child was rescued by lifeguards at Loggerhead Park in Juno Beach.
Emergency response crews at Lake Worth Beach searched and rescued a 16-year-old boy who went missing in the ocean. He was taken to a local hospital.
Lifeguards and paramedics rescued a 24-year-old man at Ocean Reef Park in Singer Island. The man was unconscious but revived at the beach and taken to the hospital.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, May 2015
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: 579900, 580927, 580930, 580926, 580928, 580929.