Florida, 2026

Hail and Damaging Winds in Florida, March 1, 2026

March 1, 2026 · NWS KEY · 4 events in 1 county or zone

Severe thunderstorms developed along an outflow boundary propagating southward across eastern Florida Bay, resulting in large hail and damaging winds. Two residences in the Hammer Point subdivision of Tavernier experienced roof damage with tree, utility line and minor facade damage to other homes in the Blue Waters and Ocean Park neighborhoods.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

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.

Severe thunderstorms developed along an outflow boundary propagating southward across eastern Florida Bay, resulting in large hail and damaging winds. Two residences in the Hammer Point subdivision of Tavernier experienced roof damage with tree, utility line and minor facade damage to other homes in the Blue Waters and Ocean Park neighborhoods.

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 Mar 1, 1:01 PM EST, 2 hours 39 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Areas of fog from this morning have diminished with midday heating. Isolated showers and thunderstorms remain possible today specifically near the Upper Keys.
  • A strong high pressure system will spread southeastward off of North America early this week, freshening northeast to easterly breezes across the Keys. Beginning Monday night, breezy conditions will be possible and marine Cautions and Advisories may be required..
  • A moderate drought continues for the entire island chain. Burn bans are possible, trees and bushes begin browning, and water supply decreases. For the upcoming week, there will be a slight chance for showers.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 1, 1:01 PM EST, 2 hours 39 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Key West FL
101 PM EST Sun Mar 1 2026

...New DISCUSSION, MARINE, AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Areas of fog from this morning have diminished with midday
  heating. Isolated showers and thunderstorms remain possible
  today specifically near the Upper Keys.

- A strong high pressure system will spread southeastward off of
  North America early this week, freshening northeast to easterly
  breezes across the Keys. Beginning Monday night, breezy
  conditions will be possible and marine Cautions and Advisories
  may be required..

- A moderate drought continues for the entire island chain. Burn
  bans are possible, trees and bushes begin browning, and water
  supply decreases. For the upcoming week, there will be a slight
  chance for showers.

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 100 PM EST Sun Mar 1 2026
Fog has finally dissipated around EYW with VFR conditions
observed by both island terminals this afternoon. A slight chance
of showers and thunderstorms exists for the island chain for the
rest of today and into tonight, but most of the activity is
expected to develop near mainland South Florida and the Upper
Keys. While some guidance hints at some showers in the vicinity of
MTH this evening, chances are still too low to include in the
TAFs at this time. Near surface winds will start light and
variable, becoming northeast at 5 to 10 knots.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...
Issued at 430 AM EST Sun Mar 1 2026
The last remnants of the surface trough will move off to the
northeast and east today as modest high pressure over the
southeastern United States spreads southeastward into Florida.
This will result in winds becoming light to gentle
northeasterlies. This flow should drop dew points a couple of
degrees to slightly below 70. The strengthening breeze and falling
dew points, along with day time heating, should steadily
eliminate fog potential. A relatively amplified mid latitude
trough across the eastern United States will gradually push out to
sea over the next 24 hours. Until this clears, ample CAPE and
weak moist confluence will continue across our area. While forcing
will be weak, and very low inhibition will help to limit
activity, convective development cannot be completely ruled out.
If a shower forms, it could also amplify into a thunderstorm. For
this reason have kept rain chances slight, but also include the
possibility for thunderstorms.

The forecast becomes more monotonous early this week. An
expansive high pressure system will expand southeastward off of
the North American coast and take the remainder of the week to
lumber off into the Atlantic. This high will further ramp up
northeast to easterly breezes across the Keys. Expect breezy
conditions heading into mid week, lasting through the remainder of
the week. Breezes will start out east northeast to easterly, and
slowly veer east to southeasterly as the core of the high advances
further east. The fast flow and ample moisture will be supportive
of spats of shower activity. However, this will be held in check
by lower to mid level ridging remaining in firm control. Highs
will remain near 80 with overnight lows in the lower 70s. Dew
points are expected to meander in the upper 60s.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 1100 AM EST Sun Mar 1 2026
No watches, warnings, or advisories are currently in effect for
the coastal waters of the Florida Keys. From synopsis, a weak
high pressure system over the southeastern United States will push
southeastward across Florida today and tonight as a weak trough
pulls out into the Atlantic. As a result, light breezes will pick
up moderately out of the northeast. Thereafter, a large and robust
high will drive southeastward off of North America into the
Atlantic. This will usher in a prolonged period of moderate to
fresh breezes across the area through the remainder of the
forecast. A mix of cautions and possibly Advisories may be
required beginning around Monday Night.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Key West  69  79  69  80 /  20  10  10  10
Marathon  70  78  70  79 /  20  20  20  10

&&

.KEY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...None.
GM...None.
&&

Public/Marine/Fire...JAM
Aviation/Nowcasts....JAM
Data Acquisition.....JAM

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The radar

The Miami radar (KAMX), 66 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:38 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When
March 1, 3:40 PM EST to 3:50 PM EST
Where
Monroe County, 0.48 mi ESE of Sunset Pt
Measured
65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
25.028, -80.513

NWS photo survey via Monroe County Sheriffs Office and Monroe County Fire Department noted significant uplift of roof decking due to collapsed and lifted porch and patio elements on two manufactured homes in the Hammer Point Subdivision.

Hail, Monroe

When
March 1, 3:44 PM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where
Monroe County, 1.97 mi ENE of Sunset Pt
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
25.043, -80.492

Quarter-sized hail was observed at a residence on Coconut Drive about 3 miles southwest of Rock Harbor.

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When
March 1, 3:45 PM EST to 3:50 PM EST
Where
Monroe County, 1.69 mi E of Sunset Pt to 0.92 mi ESE of Tavernier
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Local Official
Coordinates
25.027, -80.493

NWS damage review courtesy of Monroe County officials from a detailed windshield survey reveals significant damage to large tree limbs at Harry Harris Park through the Ocean Park and Blue Waters neighborhoods. A few homes had limited fascia damage, one collapsed awning-type porch, with small tree limbs down through the neighborhood.

Hail, Monroe

When
March 1, 3:55 PM EST to 4:05 PM EST
Where
Monroe County, 0.94 mi ESE of Tavernier
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
25.016, -80.506

Video relayed through social media estimated quarter-sized hail in the Blue Waters subdivision in Tavernier.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Florida in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, March 2026

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: 1328728, 1328731, 1328730, 1328732.