A small cluster of thunderstorms over Florida Bay moved south, producing an isolated severe thunderstorm wind gust near Crawl Key.
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The episode as NWS KEY wrote it up.
A small cluster of thunderstorms over Florida Bay moved south, producing an isolated severe thunderstorm wind gust near Crawl Key.
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 Key West, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 19, 8:13 PM EST, 3 hours 33 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Key West FL 913 PM EDT Wed Aug 19 2020 .DISCUSSION... A quieter evening tonight compared to the last several nights, although this may be short-lived. The 00Z KKEY RAOB sampled nearly 2.0" of PW, meager moisture in the lower troposphere (dpd approaching 6-7 degC), moderate ML instability, and weak inhibition. The profile is similar to yesterday's, we just need a forcing mechanism, i.e., a collision. Surface winds across the island chain and Reef reveal a col-region atop the Florida Keys. This region should collapse over the next few hours as southeasterlies press to the northwest through the island chain. We advertise 50% rain chances for the overnight period which seems appropriate at this time. No updates planned. && .MARINE... A weak pressure pattern will prevail across the Florida Keys and adjacent coastal waters overnight, resulting in light to gentle breezes. A high pressure ridge gradually will build westward across the Florida Peninsula and eastern Gulf of Mexico as it lifts northward, from tonight through Saturday. Consequently, breezes will freshen out of the east to southeast. Fresh to possibly strong east breezes will be possible by Sunday as a tropical disturbance approaches from the east- southeast. && .AVIATION... VFR conditions are expected to prevail across the Key West and Marathon terminals through tomorrow afternoon. Showers and thunderstorms have diminished during the past few hours near the Florida Keys, but the storm activity is likely to increase again during the overnight through morning hours. Expect occasional amendments and TEMPOs as there is low confidence in the timing, duration and location of these showers and thunderstorms. Surface winds will remain light, becoming SE during the overnight hours. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Key West 82 91 83 91 / 50 30 30 30 Marathon 82 92 83 92 / 50 30 30 30 && .KEY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. GM...None. && Public/Marine/Fire...CLR Aviation/Nowcasts....SDR Data Acquisition.....DR Visit us on the web at weather.gov/key Follow us on Facebook and Twitter at: www.facebook.com/nwskeywest www.twitter.com/nwskeywest
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Key West FL 601 AM EDT Wed Aug 19 2020 FLZ076>078-GMZ031>035-042>044-052>055-072>075-201100- Monroe Upper Keys-Monroe Middle Keys-Monroe Lower Keys- Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and Buttonwood Sound- Bayside and Gulf side from Craig Key to west end of Seven Mile Bridge- Gulf waters from East Cape Sable to Chokoloskee 20 to 60 NM out and beyond 5 fathoms- Gulf of Mexico including Dry Tortugas and Rebecca Shoal Channel- Gulf of Mexico from west end of Seven Mile Bridge to Halfmoon Shoal out to 5 Fathoms- Hawk Channel from Ocean Reef to Craig Key out to the reef- Hawk Channel from Craig Key to west end of Seven Mile Bridge out to the reef- Hawk Channel from west end of Seven Mile Bridge to Halfmoon Shoal out to the reef- Straits of Florida from Ocean Reef to Craig Key out 20 NM- Straits of Florida from Craig Key to west end of Seven Mile Bridge out 20 NM- Straits of Florida from west end of Seven Mile Bridge to south of Halfmoon Shoal out 20 NM- Straits of Florida from Halfmoon Shoal to 20 NM west of Dry Tortugas out 20 NM- Straits of Florida from Ocean Reef to Craig Key 20 to 60 NM out- Straits of Florida from Craig Key to west end of Seven Mile Bridge 20 to 60 NM out- Straits of Florida from west end of Seven Mile Bridge to south of Halfmoon Shoal 20 to 60 NM out- Straits of Florida from Halfmoon Shoal to 20 NM west of Dry Tortugas 20 to 60 NM out- 601 AM EDT Wed Aug 19 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Florida Keys and adjacent coastal waters. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A few thunderstorms are possible along the Florida Keys and the surrounding coastal waters. The primary thunderstorm hazard will be cloud to surface lightning strikes and gusty thunderstorm outflows. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY Isolated to scattered thunderstorms will be possible along the island chain and the surrounding coastal waters. The primary thunderstorm hazards will be cloud to surface light strikes and locally gusty winds. Fresh to strong easterly breezes are possible over the marine waters from late Friday through Monday. Small Craft Advisories may eventually be required. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated.
The Key West radar (KBYX), 75 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:48 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A wind gust of 60 mph was measured at an automated WeatherFlow station near Crawl Key.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, August 2020
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: 919732.