South Atlantic Coastal Waters, 2015

Waterspouts in South Atlantic Coastal Waters, August 13, 2015

August 13, 2015 · NWS MFL · 5 events in 2 counties and zones

A moist and unstable atmosphere south of a weak frontal boundary over North Florida led to scattered storm development across South Florida.

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
5

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 moist and unstable atmosphere south of a weak frontal boundary over North Florida led to scattered storm development across South Florida.

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 Aug 13, 8:42 AM EST, 38 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 13, 8:42 AM EST, 38 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 13, 9:08 AM EST, 12 minutes before
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The radar

The Miami radar (KAMX), 40 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:19 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 waterspout, 2 marine thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Waterspout, Deerfield Beach to Ocean Reef Fl

When
August 13, 9:20 AM EST
Where
Deerfield Beach to Ocean Reef Fl forecast zone, 2.58 mi ENE of Miami Beach
Reported by
Lifeguard
Coordinates
25.810, -80.080

Miami Beach Ocean Rescue reported waterspout 3 miles east of Miami Beach. Also spotted by pilot in area.

Waterspout, Deerfield Beach to Ocean Reef Fl

When
August 13, 10:20 AM EST
Where
Deerfield Beach to Ocean Reef Fl forecast zone, 10.32 mi ESE of Government Cut
Reported by
Airplane Pilot
Coordinates
25.690, -79.990

Numerous waterspouts sited offshore Miami-Dade County.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind, Lake Okeechobee

When
August 13, 4:15 PM EST
Where
Lake Okeechobee forecast zone, 6.94 mi S of Port Mayaca
Measured
46 kt (53 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
26.900, -80.790

South Florida Water Management District tower LZ40 recorded a gust to 53 mph.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind, Lake Okeechobee

When
August 13, 4:45 PM EST
Where
Lake Okeechobee forecast zone, 6.94 mi S of Port Mayaca
Measured
42 kt (48 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
26.900, -80.790

South Florida Water Management District tower LZ40 recorded a gust to 48 mph.

Waterspout, Lake Okeechobee

When
August 13, 5:30 PM EST to 5:35 PM EST
Where
Lake Okeechobee forecast zone, 5.37 mi NE of Kreamer Island
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
26.828, -80.672

Video obtained of waterspout on Lake Okeechobee near Pahokee.

What these are

Waterspout
A tornado over water. One that moves ashore is filed as a tornado from the coastline on.
Marine Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds of 34 knots or more over coastal or lake waters.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in South Atlantic Coastal Waters in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather history

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 594107, 594117, 594124, 594125, 598934.