Abundant tropical moisture across the region associated with an upper level low pressure system allowed for widespread showers and thunderstorms to develop. One of these storms produced deadly lightning at a farm in Broward County.
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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.
Abundant tropical moisture across the region associated with an upper level low pressure system allowed for widespread showers and thunderstorms to develop. One of these storms produced deadly lightning at a farm in Broward County.
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 16, 12:39 PM EST, 26 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Miami FL 139 PM EDT Wed May 16 2018 .AVIATION... Convection will continue over the region through the end of the TAF period with sub-VFR cigs and vsbys possible at times. Heavy rain from a vigorous shower or storm could produce brief LIFR/IFR conditions that will require short-fused amendments. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 1225 PM EDT Wed May 16 2018/ UPDATE... Latest WPC analysis depicts a low pressure cell still sitting stagnant near the panhandle of Florida. Counter clockwise flow around the low will usher in deep moisture from the south southeast this afternoon. CAPE on this mornings sounding only measured 1000 J/KG, but when modified for diurnal heating, it jumped to over 2000 J/KG, indicating the potential for strong updrafts and marginally severe storms. Wind observations over the last few hours show convergence along the center portion of the peninsula with south southeast winds intersecting south southwest winds. This convergence should aid in lift over the next several hours, with showers and thunderstorms likely over central and northern portions of the CWA. By late afternoon, storms will be guided by cold pool interactions, spreading the activity elsewhere. Have adjusted PoPs higher near Lake Okeechobee for early this afternoon, otherwise, all other variables appeared on track. PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 352 AM EDT Wed May 16 2018/ DISCUSSION... SHORT TERM (Today through Friday) Convection remained near both Atlantic and Gulf coasts well after midnight but has now finally waned for the night. Temperatures are in the low 70s this morning with nearly saturated conditions. Main synoptic feature has been and will continue to be upper-level trough over the eastern Gulf of Mexico. This trough continues to pump deep-layer moisture northward from the Caribbean across the Florida Peninsula. It's associated surface low is weak and non- tropical over the northeastern Gulf. The National Hurricane continues to monitor this system, which as of yesterday's most recent outlook, still had about a 10 percent chance of development through Thursday, before it is expected to move northward and inland over the Panhandle and Deep South. Regardless of any tropical development/organization, and highly moist, tropical airmass will remain entrenched over South Florida through the end of the week. Cool temperatures aloft and diurnal sea/land breezes and subsequent outflow collisions will support fairly widespread shower and thunderstorm develop, especially during the afternoon hours, and most numerous over the interior. Although locally heavy rainfall is the primary concern (See Hydro section below), aside from the usual cloud- to- ground lightning, the past several days have held a few strong to severe thunderstorms. Temperatures aloft are not a cold as early in the week and there is only limited dry air aloft to support any further cooling. Thus, risk for intense convection is lower today, but can't rule out some isolated strong thunderstorms, mainly capable of strong downburst wind gusts. Near-term mesoscale guidance suggests a fairly benign morning rainfall-wise, which should allow for some sun/heating, adding to confidence that a few strong thunderstorms are possible. LONG TERM (Friday night through Tuesday) Little to no change is expected this weekend in the overall wet weather pattern. In fact both ECMWF and GFS hint that moisture plume may become even more significant over South Florida. ECMWF forecasts that high pressure ridge to the east will gradually build toward the region reducing rain chances to near climatological norms for rainy season, whereas GFS prolongs the abnormal moisture through the end of the extended. Temperatures into next week will be near normal overall, with a bit warmer than normal minima and perhaps a few degrees below normal maxima, due to widespread clouds/convection. MARINE... Southeast flow 10 to 15 KT will be maintained through the end of the week, before perhaps enhancing a bit this weekend. Seas will be 2 to 4 feet but could increase slightly this weekend as well. Scattered thunderstorms and the threat for locally gusty winds, higher waves, and waterspouts are expected to persist into the weekend. BEACH FORECAST... A moderate risk of rip currents is possible by this weekend on Atlantic beaches as southeast/onshore winds are forecast to increase. HYDROLOGY... Locally heavy rainfall has impacted South Florida the past several days, with fairly widespread rainfall totals of 1 to 4 inches in the past 3 days. PWAT values will remain above normal for mid to late May through at least early next week, and could peak at over 2 inches this weekend. With plenty of synoptic lift from low pressure to the west, combined with sea-breeze development and diurnal instability, at least locally heavy rainfall appears possible through this period, especially in stronger thunderstorms and where training becomes realized. WPC has placed the east coast metro areas in a marginal risk for excessive rainfall for both today and Thursday, and rainfall amounts are forecast to average between 3 and 6 inches by Tuesday. Still, the region is only now beginning to recover from moderate to severe drought conditions, which should abate any significant or widespread flooding concerns for the immediate time-being. Should forecast rainfall amounts materialize or locally much higher amounts occur, the risk for flooding may increase, especially by this weekend. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... West Palm Beach 72 83 73 83 / 40 70 50 70 Fort Lauderdale 74 84 74 85 / 40 70 60 70 Miami 74 85 74 85 / 40 70 50 70 Naples 73 85 71 87 / 30 60 50 60 && .MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. AM...None. GM...None. && AVIATION...02/RAG
Hazardous Weather Outlook for South Florida National Weather Service Miami FL 1134 AM EDT Wed May 16 2018 AMZ610-630-650-651-670-671-FLZ063-066>075-168-172>174-GMZ656-657-676- 170345- 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 from 20 to 60 NM- Waters from Deerfield Beach to Ocean Reef FL from 20 to 60 NM excluding the territorial waters of 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- Waters from Chokoloskee to Bonita Beach FL from 20 to 60 NM- 1134 AM EDT Wed May 16 2018 ...THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY AGAIN TODAY ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA... ...LOCALIZED FLOODING POSSIBLE EAST AND WEST COAST METRO REGIONS... This hazardous weather outlook is for South Florida. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT Flooding: Periods of moderate to heavy rainfall may be possible along the east coast and west coast metro regions. Ponding of water on roadways is possible in low lying and poor drainage areas. Thunderstorms: Showers and thunderstorms are forecast to develop across South Florida late morning through this evening. The primary hazards will be, small hail, gusty winds, lightning, and the potential for heavy rainfall. Waterspouts: Isolated waterspouts will be possible over all South Florida waters. Hail: Thunderstorms this afternoon will have the potential to produce small hail. Wind: Thunderstorms this afternoon may produce gusty winds. Isolated minor wind damage will remain possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY Periods of showers and thunderstorms are forecast to develop across South Florida with above normal rain chances continuing through the week into the weekend. Several periods of heavy rainfall may be possible. This may lead to localized flooding concerns. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Widespread spotter activation is not anticipated, however individual spotters are encouraged to report funnel clouds, 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.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Miami FL 156 PM EDT WED MAY 16 2018 FLZ067-068-071-072-161830- Inland Broward County FL-Metro Broward County FL- Inland Palm Beach County FL-Metro Palm Beach County FL- 156 PM EDT WED MAY 16 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN BROWARD AND SOUTHEASTERN PALM BEACH COUNTIES UNTIL 230 PM EDT... * At 155 PM EDT, National Weather Service meteorologists were tracking a strong thunderstorm over Parkland, or near Coral Springs, moving north at 10 mph. * Small hail, funnel clouds, and winds in excess of 45 mph will be possible with this storm. * Locations impacted include... Coral Springs, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Delray Beach, Margate, Coconut Creek, Parkland, Mission Bay, Boca Pointe, Boca Del Mar, Hamptons At Boca Raton, Whisper Walk, Godfrey Road, Kings Point, Dunes Road, Loxahatchee NWR, Boca West, Hillsboro Pines, Villages Of Oriole and Hillsboro Ranches. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. This activity was also developing in an environment favorable for the formation of funnel clouds. Stay tuned to NOAA weather radio and local media for additional updates and possible warnings. To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement agency. You can also share your report with NWS Miami on Facebook and Twitter. && LAT...LON 2624 8018 2626 8038 2652 8039 2648 8009 TIME...MOT...LOC 1755Z 187DEG 10KT 2633 8027 RAG
The Miami radar (KAMX), 82 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:03 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
A 53-year-old woman was killed when struck by a lightning strike while working at C.W. Hendrix Farms in Parkland. Two other people in the immediate area were also struck and taken to nearby hospitals.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning, Broward | 2018-05-16 | 53 | Female | Outside/Open Areas | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, May 2018
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: 753726.