Sea breeze convergence lead to showers and thunderstorms across southeastern Florida, on May 23rd. One of these produced a funnel cloud observed by the public.
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The episode as NWS MFL wrote it up.
Sea breeze convergence lead to showers and thunderstorms across southeastern Florida, on May 23rd. One of these produced a funnel cloud observed by the public.
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 23, 7:25 AM EST, 3 hours 45 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Miami FL 825 AM EDT Tue May 23 2023 ...New UPDATE... .UPDATE... Issued at 822 AM EDT Tue May 23 2023 No major changes to the near term grids. Some widely scattered showers along the coast this morning, but activity will increase in coverage dramatically this afternoon across South FL. A few stronger storms are possible, especially across the lake region and over into Palm Beach county, with gusty winds and hail the main threats. Heavy rain may also lead to some localized street flooding across the metro today. && .SHORT TERM... (Today through Wednesday) Issued at 313 AM EDT Tue May 23 2023 A surface low sits across the SE CONUS this morning along a nearly stationary boundary draped across northern Florida. Ample moisture is in place at lower levels across the area with the 00Z MFL sounding showing 2.0 inch PWATs. Deterministic models show this moisture holding between the 1.6-1.8 inch range as the boundary remains to our north, allowing for continued lower level moisture advection across the area Tuesday and Wednesday. Today, more sea- breeze driven thunderstorms are expected to fire in the early afternoon hours. With stronger southwesterly flow, the Gulf breeze will dominate convective initiation over the interior areas of South Florida and eventually push eastward towards the metro areas by early evening. On Wednesday, a surface low will push eastward across Central Florida which will bring its associated frontal boundary through South Florida during the day. Ahead of the boundary, accelerated low level moisture transport will enhance the chance for scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms as flow turns south- southwesterly. Modeled PWATs continue to hold in the 1.6-1.8 inch range which is just slightly above average for this time. 500mb temps between -10 to -12C could support a few stronger thunderstorms around the lake region in the afternoon. Afternoon high temperatures will generally run in the upper 80s to lower 90s. && .LONG TERM... (Wednesday night through Monday) Issued at 313 AM EDT Tue May 23 2023 Thursday - Friday: Deterministic models are in decent agreement on the development of an upper level cutoff low across the eastern United states that will move southeastward through the end of the week. This will continue to support west-southwest flow across South Florida which will keep the lower atmosphere primed in terms of moisture. Scattered showers and storms will again be favored across eastern areas of South Florida on Thursday afternoon and evening. A few of these storms could be strong - especially around the lake region where dynamics and 500mb temps are most favorable. As this low continues to deepen on Friday, it is possible that a shortwave trough pivots around this low and pushes across central Florida during the day. This will bring significantly cooler 500mb temperatures ranging between -11 to -13 C which could support a few stronger thunderstorms in the afternoon on Friday - especially for northern portions of the CWA. Depending on exact timing of the shortwave, it could potentially pass through the area during peak daytime heating with enhanced sea breeze convergence which could lead to a few stronger afternoon cells - biggest threats will likely be small hail and strong wind gusts in the stronger activity. Saturday - Monday: Drier air aloft moves in for the weekend which should (somewhat) limit the chances for afternoon showers and thunderstorms. The aforementioned upper level low will aid in the development of a surface low just off the coast of the Carolinas which could bring an additional weak cold front through South Florida sometime over the weekend. At this point, it seems enough moisture will linger at lower levels to support scattered sea breeze type thunderstorms each afternoon, so keeping POPs in the 20-30% range through Monday. Temperatures across the area will remain hot through the long term period. Highs will likely be reaching the lower 90s and heat indices in the upper 90s each day. The evenings will remain warm, with lows dropping to the low 70s along the East coast and mid 60s in the interior. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 703 AM EDT Tue May 23 2023 Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected today, especially this afternoon into early evening, which may result in brief flight restrictions and erratic winds. Easterly winds 5-10 kts today except for APF where a Gulf breeze will develop this afternoon. && .MARINE... Issued at 313 AM EDT Tue May 23 2023 Light to moderate easterly to southeasterly flow on the Atlantic side and relatively light N/NW flow on the Gulf side will prevail through early Wednesday. Low seas will dominate outside of the Gulf Stream, with 2-3 feet within the current. Showers and storms expected each day this week, which may result in locally hazardous seas and winds. && .BEACHES... Issued at 313 AM EDT Tue May 23 2023 Along the Atlantic coast, onshore flow will result in a moderate rip current risk along the Atlantic beaches. An elevated risk will remain into mid-week for the Palm beaches, while conditions improve for the remainder of the Atlantic beaches. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Miami 88 75 88 73 / 70 60 80 60 West Kendall 88 71 90 70 / 70 60 70 60 Opa-Locka 88 73 89 72 / 70 50 80 60 Homestead 86 72 88 70 / 70 50 70 70 Fort Lauderdale 86 75 87 73 / 70 50 80 70 N Ft Lauderdale 86 74 87 73 / 70 50 80 70 Pembroke Pines 88 73 89 72 / 70 50 80 60 West Palm Beach 86 73 87 70 / 80 60 90 70 Boca Raton 87 73 88 72 / 80 50 90 70 Naples 89 74 88 73 / 40 40 70 60 && .MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. AM...None. GM...None. && SHORT TERM...99 LONG TERM....99 AVIATION...CMF
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Miami FL 822 AM EDT Tue May 23 2023 AMZ610-630-650-651-670-671-FLZ063-066>075-168-172>174-GMZ656-657-676- 241230- 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 County-Metro Palm Beach County- Coastal Collier County-Inland Collier County-Inland Broward County- Metro Broward County-Inland Miami-Dade County- Metropolitan Miami Dade-Mainland Monroe-Coastal Palm Beach County- Coastal Broward County-Coastal Miami Dade County-Far South Miami- Dade County- 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- 822 AM EDT Tue May 23 2023 ...Scattered Thunderstorms This Afternoon and Evening... ...Moderate Risk of Rip Currents for the Atlantic Beaches... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Atlantic coastal waters, southeast Florida, southern Florida, southwest Florida and Gulf of Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Rip Currents: There is a moderate risk of rip currents for the Atlantic beaches. Thunderstorms: Scattered thunderstorms are likely this afternoon and evening with a focus across interior and eastern areas of South Florida. The main hazards will be gusty winds, lightning, and locally heavy rain. Flooding: Heavy rainfall within showers and thunderstorms could lead to localized flooding in the low lying and poor drainage areas today. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. An elevated risk of rip currents is likely to continue much of this week, especially along the Palm Beaches. Showers and storms will become fairly widespread this week. Periods of heavy rain will be possible and could lead to localized flooding concerns. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The Miami radar (KAMX), 37 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:12 UTC.
1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
The public reported a funnel cloud lasting over 5 minutes naer the Opa-Locka Airport, associated with a passing shower.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, May 2023
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: 1098480.