Florida, 2024

Tropical Storm and Storm Surge in Florida, November 6 to 7, 2024

November 6 to 7, 2024 · NWS KEY · 3 events in 2 counties and zones

Hurricane Rafael moved northwest from the northwestern Caribbean Sea, crossing western Cuba, and continuing northwest across the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. The center of Rafael passed 125 miles southwest of Key West during the evening of November 6, 2024 as a category 2 hurricane on the Saffir Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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
3

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 KEY wrote it up.

Hurricane Rafael moved northwest from the northwestern Caribbean Sea, crossing western Cuba, and continuing northwest across the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. The center of Rafael passed 125 miles southwest of Key West during the evening of November 6, 2024 as a category 2 hurricane on the Saffir Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Lower-end tropical storm force winds impacted mainly portions of the Lower Florida Keys producing isolated small tree limb damage. Minor coastal flooding and Atlantic-side wave overwash occurred late on November 6 through early November 7, 2024, primarily in Key West. Brief street flooding occurred in Key West during the late evening of November 6, 2024 due to brief, heavy squalls from outer rainbands mainly impacted the Lower Florida Keys.

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 Key West, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 6, 11:01 AM EST, 3 hours 24 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 6, 11:01 AM EST, 3 hours 24 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 6, 4:57 AM EST, 9 hours 28 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Key West FL
457 AM EST Wed Nov 6 2024

FLZ076>078-GMZ031>035-042>044-052>055-072>075-071000-
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-
457 AM EST Wed Nov 6 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Florida Keys and
adjacent coastal waters.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Lower and Middle
Florida Keys, including the adjacent coastal waters west of the
Channel Five Bridge, due to Hurricane Rafael. Small Craft
Advisories remain in effect for the coastal waters east of Craig
Key, including Florida Bay.

Coastal flooding, including the potential for saltwater flooding
of oceanside portions of the Florida Keys today and tonight.
Water levels could reach up 2 feet above mean higher high water,
or about a foot higher than recent high tides.

There is a Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) of severe thunderstorms,
including a few tornadoes today and tonight. The most potent
thundery squalls will be capable of localized wind gusts of 50 to
60 mph.

Locally heavy rainfall is possible from passing squalls,
resulting in flooding of streets and poor drainage areas.
Storm total rainfall likely will approach 1 to 3 inches.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Small Craft Advisories will likely be required through Friday
morning as Rafael pulls away from the Keys. Small Craft Advisories
may be required once again Saturday night and Sunday for
freshening easterly breezes.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

NB

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 tropical storm, 1 storm surge/tide. Local standard time, as filed.

Tropical Storm, Monroe/Lower Keys

When
November 6, 2:25 PM EST to November 7, 2:15 AM EST
Where
Monroe/Lower Keys forecast zone
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
25.557, -80.917 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane Rafael produced a period of tropical storm force winds primarily across the Lower Florida Keys of Monroe County. Sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph with peak wind gusts of 40 to 55 mph occurred, downing a few small tree limbs. No significant power outages were reported. Peak wind gusts were measured at 39 mph with a gust to 53 mph at the Naval Air Station Key West Boca Chica Field, and 36 mph with a gust to 47 mph at Key West International Airport.

Tropical Storm, Monroe/Middle Keys

When
November 6, 5:00 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Monroe/Middle Keys forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
25.557, -80.917 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane Rafael produced brief tropical storm force wind gusts associated with a strong rain band across the Middle Florida Keys of Monroe County. Wind gusts near 40 mph occurred, with no wind damage nor power outages reported. Peak wind gusts were measured at 41 mph at both the Florida Keys Marathon International Airport and at an automated mesonet weather station on Duck Key.

Storm Surge/Tide, Monroe/Lower Keys

When
November 6, 6:00 PM EST to November 7, 7:00 AM EST
Where
Monroe/Lower Keys forecast zone
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
25.557, -80.917 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minor coastal flooding along the Atlantic-side facing coast of Key West, Stock Island, and Boca Chica Key occurred as a combination of water levels reaching near 1.2 feet above mean higher high water (MHHW) and wave overwash. Minor street flooding occurred along with a temporary closure of State Road A1A (South Roosevelt Boulevard) in Key West within an ongoing construction zone.

What these are

Tropical Storm
A tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 34 to 63 knots (39 to 73 mph).
Storm Surge/Tide
Water pushed ashore above the normal tide by a storm’s winds and low pressure.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Florida in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, November 2024The 2024 hurricane season

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1225481, 1225482, 1225483.