A nearby frontal boundary and area of low pressure contributed to the presence of rip current activity along the Palm Beaches in mid-March.
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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 nearby frontal boundary and area of low pressure contributed to the presence of rip current activity along the Palm Beaches in mid-March.
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 Mar 14, 12:47 PM EST, 2 hours 28 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Miami FL
147 PM EDT Sat Mar 14 2026
...New SHORT TERM, AVIATION...
.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 135 PM EDT Sat Mar 14 2026
- Marginal risk of severe weather this afternoon and Sunday.
- Shower and thunderstorms chances remain elevated through
the end of the weekend, and could result in localized
flooding and strong to severe impacts each afternoon.
- Temperatures will remain above normal through the weekend.
However, a frontal passage Monday-Tuesday could bring much
cooler temperatures mid week.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
(Rest of today through Sunday)
Issued at 135 PM EDT Sat Mar 14 2026
Latest ensemble and global model solutions depict abundant moisture
over SoFlo associated with a stationary frontal boundary lingering
around the southern tip of the peninsula. Models also show a weak
subtropical jet over the central/southern Gulf waters, which will
continue to send disturbances across the state through the short
term.
Generally SE flow will remain in place through Sunday with moisture
advection continuing across SoFlo, keeping high chances of showers
and thunderstorms in the forecast for each afternoon. MFL and KEY
sounding data show PWATs around 1.4-1.5", well above the 75th to
90th percentiles for this time of year. Localized heavy rain and
urban flooding are a possibility with the heaviest downpours. And
although instability parameters remain favorable for deep
convection, like 500 mb temps around -11C and CAPE over 1500 j/kg,
the dynamic support aloft remains limited. But a few strong to
severe storms are still possible, for which SPC has placed most of
the area under a Marginal (Level 1 of 5) risk for severe weather
this afternoon.
Rainfall highest amounts in general are expected in the 1-2" range,
with potential for isolated amounts to 4". Other hazard concerns
will be lightning strikes, gusty winds amd small hail, which could
accompany any thunderstorm that forms. POps/Wx grids have been
adjusted with latest high-res solutions to better reflect the
expected increasing coverage this afternoon, which NBM seems to be
underestimating.
A similar weather pattern is expected for Sunday but with a scenario
more favorable for stronger thunderstorms as an upper lvl shortwave
moves over the area. Moisture will also increase as the
aforementioned stationary boundary lifts northward and drags
additional moisture into SoFlo. Therefore, widespread showers and
thunderstorms are expected to develop across SoFlo, starting mid-
morning and continuing intermittently through the day. Hazards
include potential for localized flooding, and increasing chances of
severe storms. The Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) of severe weather
also continues Sunday afternoon, with potential for damaging wind
gusts and large hail.
Temperatures are expected to remain above average, with afternoon
highs in the mid-upper 80s and morning lows in the mid 60s-low
70s.
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Sunday night through Friday)
Issued at 251 AM EDT Sat Mar 14 2026
The aforementioned strong synoptic complex (consisting of a deep
upper level trough and stout surface low and cold front) will
progress eastward as we head into next week, with the surface low
forecast to move over the Great Lakes on Monday and over the
Canadian expanse on Tuesday. This will help push the cold front
southward across the southeast CONUS and along the FL peninsula
Monday into Tuesday. This frontal passage will continue to
support widespread convective activity on Monday, with the
continued potential for a marginal severe weather threat. A cooler
airmass moves in behind the front through the middle of the week,
with temperatures topping off in the low 70s, and potentially
dropping into the 40s and 50s overnight Tuesday and Wednesday.
Winds will also surge behind the front, with breezy conditions
expected mid week.
The overall atmospheric profile will cool although deep moisture
will not fully escape as PWATs remain elevated and the atmospheric
column becomes nearly saturated. Thus, muggy conditions and slight
chances for showers will continue through the middle of next week
and perhaps into late week but it will not be anywhere near as
active and chaotic as this weekend is expected to be.
&&
.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 144 PM EDT Sat Mar 14 2026
MVFR/IFR periods of reduced vis/cigs are possible this afternoon
with thunderstorms developing around the terminals. SE winds
around 10 kts will prevail this afternoon, except for a westerly
Gulf breeze at APF through around 00-01Z. VCSH possible overnight,
then another round of thunderstorms expected Sunday afternoon
could again result in restrictions.
&&
.MARINE...
Issued at 251 AM EDT Sat Mar 14 2026
Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected to
develop each day this weekend as a frontal boundary remains stalled
out over the area and a low pressure system pushes across the area.
These elevated rain chances will persist into early next week as
another front pushes cross the region. Winds could surge behind
that front, ushering in another period of deteriorating marine
conditions.
Seas will range from 3-5 ft through the short term period. Light
to moderate southerly to southeasterly winds will persist over the
weekend.
&&
.BEACHES...
Issued at 251 AM EDT Sat Mar 14 2026
A moderate risk of rip currents will persist for Palm Beach county
beaches today. This risk could could increase for the entire East
Coast on Sunday as winds increase.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Miami 72 81 73 85 / 50 60 30 50
West Kendall 67 83 69 87 / 50 60 30 50
Opa-Locka 70 83 72 86 / 50 60 30 50
Homestead 71 83 73 86 / 50 60 30 40
Fort Lauderdale 70 80 73 84 / 50 60 40 50
N Ft Lauderdale 71 81 73 84 / 50 60 40 60
Pembroke Pines 71 83 73 86 / 50 60 30 50
West Palm Beach 70 82 71 85 / 50 60 40 60
Boca Raton 70 82 72 84 / 50 60 40 60
Naples 69 85 71 84 / 30 70 30 60
&&
.MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...None.
AM...None.
GM...None.
&&
SHORT TERM...17
LONG TERM....ATV
AVIATION...17Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Miami FL
303 PM EDT Sat Mar 14 2026
FLZ067-068-168-141945-
Coastal Palm Beach County FL-Inland Palm Beach County FL-
Metro Palm Beach County FL-
303 PM EDT Sat Mar 14 2026
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern Palm
Beach County through 345 PM EDT...
At 303 PM EDT, National Weather Service meteorologists were tracking
a strong thunderstorm near North County Airport, or 7 miles west of
Palm Beach Gardens, moving east at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.
Locations impacted include...
West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, North County Airport,
The Acreage, Caloosa, Philo Farms, and Jupiter Farms.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 2677 8041 2696 8037 2696 8030 2695 8015
2675 8014
TIME...MOT...LOC 1903Z 276DEG 10KT 2685 8028
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<45 MPH
WRSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Miami FL
354 PM EDT Sat Mar 14 2026
FLZ067-068-168-142030-
Coastal Palm Beach County FL-Inland Palm Beach County FL-
Metro Palm Beach County FL-
354 PM EDT Sat Mar 14 2026
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern Palm
Beach County through 430 PM EDT...
At 354 PM EDT, National Weather Service meteorologists were tracking
a strong thunderstorm near Lake Park, or near Riviera Beach, moving
east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 45 to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Riviera Beach, Palm
Beach, Juno Beach, Royal Palm Beach, North Palm Beach, Lake Park,
Haverhill, Palm Beach International Airport, Port Of Palm Beach,
Schall Circle, Juno Ridge, Downtown West Palm Beach, Golden Lakes,
Mangonia Park, Lakeside Green, Fau North Campus, and Plantation
Mobile Home Park.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 2667 8004 2672 8004 2667 8005 2672 8022
2690 8019 2690 8006 2682 8005 2684 8006
2683 8006 2680 8004 2682 8004 2680 8003
2677 8003 2680 8005 2672 8005 2675 8003
TIME...MOT...LOC 1954Z 279DEG 15KT 2680 8013
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
WRThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 rip current. Local standard time, as filed.
Broadcast media relayed reports that Ocean Rescue helped two individuals caught in a rip current in Boynton Beach on the afternoon of Saturday, March 14th. Both individuals were treated on scene.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, March 2026
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: 1328087.