A mid-upper level low and attendant cold front were approaching the Florida peninsula which allowed for southwesterly surface flow. This consequently would pin the Atlantic sea breeze along the east coast.
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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.
A mid-upper level low and attendant cold front were approaching the Florida peninsula which allowed for southwesterly surface flow. This consequently would pin the Atlantic sea breeze along the east coast. This along with a weak residual boundary helped with low-level convergence and lift which led to scattered showers and thunderstorms across eastern Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Some gusty winds and hail were reported with the strongest activity.
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 20, 2:38 PM EST, 1 hour 38 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Miami FL 338 PM EDT Wed May 20 2020 .Short Term (This evening through Tomorrow)... Scattered showers and thunderstorms across the interior and the east coast from earlier will continue to diminish this evening as the heating of the day winds down. Once this happens, many areas will remain dry across the region for the rest of tonight. Low temperatures will generally remain in the mid to upper 60s across the interior sections to the mid 70s across the east coast. As for tomorrow, another round of showers and thunderstorms will be possible during mainly during the afternoon and evening hours. The best chances for showers and thunderstorms will be across the Lake Okeechobee region as well as the east coast. The chances for organized severe storms is rather low for tomorrow, however, there will be enough instability in place to support a chance for a couple of stronger storms especially across the Lake Okeechobee region and Palm Beach County. The strongest storms could contain gusty winds, heavy downpours, small hail and frequent lightning. High temperatures tomorrow will generally range from the mid to upper 80s across the east coast to the lower 90s across the interior sections. .Long Term(Friday into Next Week)... A weak surface high will develop over the Florida peninsula Friday as we move into the weekend, with easterly flow returning across the region. Afternoon convection will still be possible each day with most of the activity developing along sea breeze boundary collisions over the interior and Lake Okeechobee regions. Sea breeze typically rainy season convection looks to dominate the pattern through the weekend. As we move into next week Florida will be in omega weather pattern between two mid-level lows one on the northwest Gulf and another in the western Atlantic and a ridge across the Florida peninsula. The one in the Gulf will move through the Gulf coast states bringing southerly winds and stream of tropical moisture over the eastern Gulf of Mexico and possibly the western portion of the peninsula. While the low in the Western Atlantic will try to bring in some drier mid-level air over the western Atlantic, eastern portion of the peninsula. Both the GFS and ECMWF show the solutions with a block over the Florida peninsula. There is higher uncertainty in the extended given that any shift in the model solutions could change the forecast. For now, the forecast reflects this blocking pattern with just typical sea breeze convection and climo typical rainy season pattern. Temperatures in the extended will be in the mid-upper 80s across the east coast with upper 80s and low 90s over the interior. && .Marine... Southwesterly flow the rest of the day, but surface flow will gradually back to an easterly flow for the remainder of the week into the weekend. Seas will begin to increase as northeasterly swells from what once was TS Arthur begin to affect the Atlantic coast. Some hazardous boating conditions will be possible as 5 to 7 feet swells build by Thursday and last through late Friday. && .Aviation... Showers and thunderstorms over the east coast this afternoon. MVFR cigs, gusty variable winds possible with any storms that move over terminals. Activity should begin to decrease after sunset with light winds overnight. South/Southeasterly winds once again tomorrow with both seabreezes developing in the afternoon. && .Beach Forecast... The rip current potential will gradually increase later this evening and overnight as northerly swell begins to move down the Atlantic coast. && .Preliminary Point Temps/PoPs... West Palm Beach 72 88 74 87 / 20 50 20 20 Fort Lauderdale 75 86 76 86 / 20 50 10 20 Miami 74 88 75 87 / 20 40 10 20 Naples 73 88 72 89 / 10 20 10 30 && .MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. AM...None. GM...None. && Aviation...33/Kelly Beach Forecast...33/Kelly Short Term...55/CWC Long Term...33/Kelly
Hazardous Weather Outlook for South Florida National Weather Service Miami FL 1133 AM EDT Wed May 20 2020 AMZ610-630-650-651-670-671-FLZ063-066>075-168-172>174-GMZ656-657-676- 210345- 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- 1133 AM EDT Wed May 20 2020 ...A Few Strong Storms Possible across Interior/East Coast Areas... This hazardous weather outlook is for South Florida. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT Thunderstorms: Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are possible across the interior and east coast metro areas of South Florida today. The Primary impacts will be gusty winds, lightning strikes and locally heavy rainfall. Wind: Strongest storms could produce up to 45 mph wind gusts, and perhaps greater in one or two storms. Flooding: Heavy rainfall from thunderstorms, and repeated rounds of showers and storms, can produce flooding in low lying and poorly drainage areas, especially for the east coast where it has been raining the past few days. Waterspouts: There is a slight chance of waterspouts with any thunderstorms and showers that do develop over the local waters. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY There will be a chance of thunderstorms across South Florida throughout the week. Gusty winds, locally heavy rainfall, lightning, and waterspouts will be possible with the strongest storms. A long period northeast swell from once was Tropical Storm Arthur will also be increasing across the Atlantic waters of South Florida late this week. This will allow for the Atlantic seas to become rough especially over the Palm Beach Atlantic waters late this week. The threat of rip currents for Atlantic beaches will also increase towards the end of the work week into the weekend as winds become more easterly over South Florida along with the northeast swells. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time over South Florida. For more information...visit the National Weather Service in Miami website at www.weather.gov/miami.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Miami FL
1234 PM EDT Wed May 20 2020
FLZ071>074-172-173-201715-
Inland Broward County FL-Coastal Broward County FL-
Metro Broward County FL-Metropolitan Miami Dade FL-Inland Miami-
Dade County FL-Coastal Miami Dade County FL-
1234 PM EDT Wed May 20 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN MIAMI-DADE AND SOUTHERN
BROWARD COUNTIES UNTIL 115 PM EDT...
* At 1233 PM EDT, National Weather Service meteorologists were
tracking a strong thunderstorm over Oak Point, or near Hollywood,
moving northeast at 15 mph.
* Small hail and winds in excess of 45 mph possible with this storm.
* Locations impacted include...
Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Miramar, Coral Springs,
Davie, Plantation, Sunrise, Tamarac, Margate, Hallandale, Miami
Gardens, Lauderhill, Weston, North Miami, North Miami Beach,
Oakland Park, North Lauderdale, Aventura and Lauderdale Lakes.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. If
you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck! Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
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 2610 8003 2596 8003 2585 8022 2604 8051
2624 8024
TIME...MOT...LOC 1633Z 245DEG 14KT 2602 8020
WeinmanSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Miami FL
1241 PM EDT Wed May 20 2020
FLZ067-071-072-201730-
Inland Broward County FL-Metro Broward County FL-
Inland Palm Beach County FL-
1241 PM EDT Wed May 20 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN BROWARD AND SOUTH
CENTRAL PALM BEACH COUNTIES UNTIL 130 PM EDT...
* At 1241 PM EDT, National Weather Service meteorologists were
tracking a strong thunderstorm near Intersection Alligator Alley
And Miami Canal, or 19 miles west of Sunrise, moving northeast at
20 mph.
* Small hail, funnel clouds, and winds in excess of 45 mph possible
with this storm.
* Locations impacted include...
Coral Springs, Tamarac, Weston, Mile Marker 30 On Alligator Alley,
Intersection Alligator Alley And Miami Canal, East Toll Gate On
Alligator Alley and Intersection I-75 And U.S. 27.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
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 2604 8051 2618 8071 2630 8074 2640 8041
2624 8024
TIME...MOT...LOC 1641Z 247DEG 16KT 2622 8059
CWCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Miami FL
109 PM EDT Wed May 20 2020
FLZ067-068-071-072-168-172-201815-
Inland Broward County FL-Coastal Broward County FL-
Coastal Palm Beach County FL-Metro Broward County FL-
Inland Palm Beach County FL-Metro Palm Beach County FL-
109 PM EDT Wed May 20 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN BROWARD AND SOUTHEASTERN
PALM BEACH COUNTIES UNTIL 215 PM EDT...
* At 109 PM EDT, National Weather Service meteorologists were
tracking a strong thunderstorm over Margate, moving northeast at 20
mph.
* Winds in excess of 45 mph and funnel clouds possible with this
storm.
* Locations impacted include...
Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, Pompano Beach, Davie, Plantation,
Sunrise, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach,
Tamarac, Margate, Lighthouse Point, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Highland
Beach, Lauderhill, Coconut Creek, Oakland Park, North Lauderdale
and Lauderdale Lakes.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. If
you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck! Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
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 2651 8003 2613 8003 2608 8023 2624 8046
2651 8033
TIME...MOT...LOC 1709Z 232DEG 16KT 2624 8022
WeinmanSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Miami FL 154 PM EDT Wed May 20 2020 FLZ067-068-072-168-172-201900- Coastal Broward County FL-Coastal Palm Beach County FL- Metro Broward County FL-Inland Palm Beach County FL- Metro Palm Beach County FL- 154 PM EDT Wed May 20 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY UNTIL 300 PM EDT... * At 154 PM EDT, National Weather Service meteorologists were tracking a strong thunderstorm over Kings Point, or near Delray Beach, moving northeast at 15 mph. * Winds in excess of 45 mph possible with this storm. * Locations impacted include... West Palm Beach, Pompano Beach, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Wellington, Lake Worth, Lighthouse Point, Palm Beach, Highland Beach, Ocean Ridge, Greenacres, Royal Palm Beach, Palm Springs, Lantana, Atlantis, Hillsboro Beach, Haverhill and Cloud Lake. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck! Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. 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 2628 8008 2643 8037 2673 8024 2657 7977 TIME...MOT...LOC 1754Z 216DEG 12KT 2645 8016 Weinman
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Miami FL
302 PM EDT Wed May 20 2020
FLZ067-068-168-201945-
Coastal Palm Beach County FL-Inland Palm Beach County FL-
Metro Palm Beach County FL-
302 PM EDT Wed May 20 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY
UNTIL 345 PM EDT...
* At 301 PM EDT, National Weather Service meteorologists were
tracking a strong thunderstorm over Lion Country Safari Park, or
near Wellington, moving northeast at 25 mph.
* Small hail and winds in excess of 45 mph possible with this storm.
* Locations impacted include...
West Palm Beach, Wellington, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Riviera
Beach, Tequesta, Juno Beach, Royal Palm Beach, North Palm Beach,
Lake Park, North County Airport, Juno Ridge, Loxahatchee Groves,
Lion Country Safari Park, The Acreage, Golden Lakes, Loxahatchee
NWR, Fau North Campus, Philo Farms and Limestone Creek.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
These winds can down small tree limbs and branches, and blow around
unsecured small objects. Seek shelter in a safe building until the
storm passes.
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 2685 8003 2659 8027 2669 8056 2696 8044
2696 8014 2697 8014 2697 8003
TIME...MOT...LOC 1901Z 206DEG 20KT 2673 8034
CWCSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Miami FL 450 PM EDT Wed May 20 2020 FLZ072>074-172-173-202130- Coastal Broward County FL-Metro Broward County FL- Metropolitan Miami Dade FL-Inland Miami-Dade County FL- Coastal Miami Dade County FL- 450 PM EDT Wed May 20 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN MIAMI-DADE AND SOUTHERN BROWARD COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM EDT... * At 449 PM EDT, National Weather Service meteorologists were tracking a strong thunderstorm over Country Club, or near Miramar, moving northeast at 10 mph. * Small hail, funnel clouds, and winds in excess of 45 mph possible with this storm. * Locations impacted include... Hialeah, Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Miramar, Davie, Plantation, Hallandale, Miami Gardens, Lauderhill, North Miami, North Miami Beach, Oakland Park, Aventura, Dania Beach, Miami Lakes, Cooper City, Hialeah Gardens, Sunny Isles Beach and Opa-Locka. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 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 2593 8004 2585 8032 2601 8043 2618 8013 TIME...MOT...LOC 2049Z 240DEG 10KT 2595 8030 CWC
The Miami radar (KAMX), 39 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:16 UTC.
2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
The public reported penny to dime size hail near a Country Club in Miami Lakes, FL associated with a thunderstorm.
Broadcast media reported penny to dime size hail in the vicinity of Hallandale Beach, FL associated with a thunderstorm.
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, May 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: 890897, 890896.