Florida, 2015

Tornado in Florida, September 16, 2015

September 16, 2015 · NWS MFL · 2 events in 1 county or zone

A large upper level trough of low pressure over southern Alabama along with a tropical wave across the central Gulf of Mexico placed South Florida in deep tropical moisture with scattered late afternoon and early evening thunderstorms over the mainland.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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
2

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.

A large upper level trough of low pressure over southern Alabama along with a tropical wave across the central Gulf of Mexico placed South Florida in deep tropical moisture with scattered late afternoon and early evening thunderstorms over the mainland.

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 Sep 16, 4:23 PM EST, 1 hour 11 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 16, 4:23 PM EST, 1 hour 11 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
523 PM EDT WED SEP 16 2015

.DISCUSSION...

A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE PALM BEACH COUNTY METRO AREAS
THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. THE FOCUS OF THE SHOWERS EARLIER TODAY
WAS ACROSS THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY WITH TOTAL
RADAR ESTIMATED RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS FROM EARLY THIS MORNING
INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS RANGING FROM AROUND 1 INCH IN THE
SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE COUNTY TO ALMOST THREE INCHES TO THE
NORTHWEST OF JUPITER. THERE ARE ISOLATED AREAS AROUND RIVIERA
BEACH WITH AROUND 2.5 INCHES. WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT ACROSS THE ATLANTIC WATERS AND WILL LIKELY
IMPACT THE ATLANTIC COASTAL ZONE TONIGHT WITH ISOLATED AREAS
POSSIBLY RECEIVING TWO TO FOUR INCHES OF RAINFALL. WITH THE
ANTECEDENT ACCUMULATIONS ACROSS THE PALM BEACH COUNTY METRO
AREAS...A FLOOD WATCH WAS ISSUED THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING WITH
PERIODS OF HEAVY SHOWERS FORECAST ACROSS PALM BEACH COUNTY AND THE
REMAINING ATLANTIC METRO AREAS THROUGH THAT PERIOD.

A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL ATLANTIC
COAST BEACHES THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING. THE CURRENT
GUIDANCE AND REGIONAL OBSERVATIONS INDICATE THAT WINDS ACROSS THE
ATLANTIC WATERS TO THE EAST OF PALM BEACH COUNTY ARE LIKELY IN THE
15 TO 20 KNOT RANGE WITH INCREASING SEAS THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT.
ON THURSDAY THE PRESSURE GRADIENT ACROSS THE REGION IS FORECAST TO
RELAX WITH WINDS AND SEAS SLOWLY SUBSIDING WITH THE THREAT OF RIP
CURRENTS ALSO LESSENING ALTHOUGH A SLIGHT TO MODERATE RISK OF RIP
CURRENTS IS EXPECTED ON THURSDAY.

TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY DEEP TROPICAL MOISTURE AND AN UPPER LEVEL
TROUGH IN THE EASTERN GULF ARE FORECAST TO PERSIST. A SURFACE
TROUGH IN THE EASTERN GULF IS FORECAST TO MIGRATE NORTHEAST AND
INTO THE ATLANTIC OFF THE SOUTHEAST U.S. COAST BY FRIDAY. REGIONAL
PWAT'S ARE FORECAST TO REMAIN WELL ABOVE TWO INCHES TONIGHT
THROUGH AT LEAST FRIDAY WITH WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND ISOLATED TO
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS FORECAST THROUGH THAT PERIOD. THE GLOBAL
MODEL SOLUTIONS DIVERGE SOME BY SATURDAY...BUT THE GENERAL
CONSENSUS IS THAT THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH IS FORECAST TO REMAIN
ACROSS THE FLORIDA PENINSULA WITH A SURFACE LOW SLOWLY FORMING
EAST OF THE CAROLINA'S COAST OVER THE WEEKEND...WITH SCATTERED
SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS FORECAST ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA AND REGIONAL
WATERS.

&&

.MARINE...

MARINE...A PRE-CAUTIONARY STATEMENT IS IN EFECT FOR THE ATLANTIC
WATERS EAST OF PALM BEACH COUNTY THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY
MORNING WITH WINDS ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE PALM BEACH WATERS LIKELY
IN THE 15 TO 20 KNOT RANGE. ON THURSDAY THE PRESSURE GRADIENT
ACROSS THE REGION IS FORECAST TO RELAX WITH WINDS AND SEAS SLOWLY
SUBSIDING. BY FRIDAY AND INTO THE UPCOMING WEEKEND WINDS ARE
FORECAST TO BECOME SOUTH TO SOUTHWESTERLY AND GENERALLY AROUND 10
KNOTS OR LESS WITH REGIONAL SEAS 2 FFET OR LESS.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
WEST PALM BEACH  75  85  75  89 /  70  70  60  70
FORT LAUDERDALE  79  87  77  89 /  70  70  60  70
MIAMI            77  87  77  91 /  70  70  50  70
NAPLES           75  85  75  87 /  50  70  60  60

&&

.MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING FOR FLZ168-172-
     173.

     FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING FOR FLZ068-168.

AM...NONE.
GM...NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...60/BD
LONG TERM....60/BD
Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 16, 11:08 AM EST, 6 hours 26 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SOUTH FLORIDA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
1208 PM EDT WED SEP 16 2015

AMZ610-630-650-651-670-671-FLZ063-066>075-168-172>174-GMZ656-657-676-
170415-
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-
1208 PM EDT WED SEP 16 2015

...THUNDERSTORMS, SOME WITH GUSTY WINDS, HEAVY RAINFALL...
...SLIGHT RISK OF WATERSPOUTS ATLANTIC WATERS AND BISCAYNE BAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH FLORIDA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

RIP CURRENTS: THERE IS A HIGH RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS TODAY ON
BROWARD AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTIES BEACHES. THERE IS A MODERATE RISK
FOR RIP CURRENTS ON PALM BEACH COUNTY BEACHES.

THUNDERSTORMS: SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED. FREQUENT
CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS ARE THE PRIMARY THREATS
WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS.

WIND: THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRODUCE WIND GUSTS TO 50
MPH.

FLOODING: TRAINING OF THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE EAST COAST, COULD
LEAD TO URBAN STREET FLOODING TODAY.

WATERSPOUTS: THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF WATERSPOUTS THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING ACROSS THE ATLANTIC WATERS AND BISCAYNE BAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

THE RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS ALONG ATLANTIC BEACHES MAY EXTEND INTO
THURSDAY.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY THROUGH SATURDAY...WITH A CHANCE OF
THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING INTO NEXT WEEK. THE PRIMARY IMPACT FROM
THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.
HOWEVER...GUSTY WINDS ARE POSSIBLE AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL
COULD LEAD TO STREET FLOODING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED, HOWEVER INDIVIDUAL
SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT HIGH WIND 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.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 16, 12:03 PM EST, 5 hours 31 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
103 PM EDT WED SEP 16 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1120 AM     MARINE TSTM WIND 1 NW DANIA BEACH        26.07N  80.15W
09/16/2015  M41 MPH          BROWARD            FL   ASOS

&&

EVENT NUMBER MFL1500322

KM
Local storm report, Sep 16, 12:55 PM EST, 4 hours 39 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
155 PM EDT WED SEP 16 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1224 PM     MARINE TSTM WIND 1 N MANALPAN            26.55N  80.05W
09/16/2015  M44 MPH          AMZ650             FL   MESONET

            WXFLOW STATION AT BOYNTON BEACH

&&

EVENT NUMBER MFL1500323

KM
Local storm report, Sep 16, 1:50 PM EST, 3 hours 44 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
250 PM EDT WED SEP 16 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0512 AM     MARINE TSTM WIND 1 SE SOUTH PALM BEACH   26.61N  80.03W
09/16/2015  M43 MPH          PALM BEACH         FL   C-MAN STATION

            MEASURED WIND GUST OF 37 KNOTS 43 MPH AT LAKE WORTH
            PIER C-MAN STATION LKWF1

&&

EVENT NUMBER MFL1500324

MOLLEDA

The radar

The Miami radar (KAMX), 52 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:33 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 tornado, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Broward

When
September 16, 5:34 PM EST to 5:44 PM EST
Where
Broward County, 5.65 mi W of Davie to 4.55 mi NE of Miramar
Rating
EF0
Path length
2.32 mi
Path width
40 yd
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
26.069, -80.321

An EF-0 tornado initially touched down in Imagination Farms community north of Griffin Road and west of Flamingo Road in Davie. The tornado traveled W-SW over Imaginary Farms and uprooted several medium to large trees as well as breaking off large branches. One home had about a dozen roof tiles removed/shifted in a few places in Imaginary Farms, with most of the damage oriented in a NE-SW direction. Damage became less noticeable at Griffin Road, with only minor damage to branches.

The tornado appeared to have lifted briefly just south of Griffin Road as it entered Southwest Rances, with very little damage. Therefore, this tornado likely had a discontinuous path.

Damage increased again west of SW 148th Avenue in the Ivanhoe Estates neighborhood of Davie between Griffin and Sterling Roads as it continued to move SW. A second area of peak intensity and evidence of rotation along Castlegate Avenue north of Waterford Drive. A large black olive tree about 3 feet in diameter at the base uprooted in a southwest direction with nearby large tree branches and debris oriented in an eastward direction. One home had about a dozen tiles removed or shifted. The tornado apparently lifted just east of I-75 in Ivanhoe Estates.

In total, at least two dozen trees were uprooted or had medium to large sized branches snapped. At least two homes sustained minor roof damage. Most damage rated on low end of EF0 scale near 65 mph, with only two or three spots of peak intensity of 70 to 80 mph.

Funnel Cloud, Broward

When
September 16, 6:29 PM EST to 6:30 PM EST
Where
Broward County, 2.42 mi NNE of Miramar
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
26.030, -80.380

An off-duty NWS employee took video of a funnel cloud over Pembroke Pines. Location was estimated on radar.

What these are

Tornado
A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Funnel Cloud
A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Florida in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Florida, 2015Warnings in Florida, September 2015

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: 596509, 596510.