Hi everybody and welcome! It has only been a couple of weeks since hurricane season started and already we are seeing action in the form of tropical waves. The latest development could come out of a low-pressure area that is currently in the South West Gulf off the coast of Mexico. The system is drifting slowly towards the north as of Thursday, June 19. I checked the latest upper air maps and the upper level winds in the central gulf are streaming toward the east which could bring the system, if it develops, towards the West Coast of Florida. We will have to see if this materializes. There is also another tropical wave off the Cape Verde Islands and it is moving toward the west. Conditions are not currently favorable for development.
The recent heavy rains on the west coast of Florida near Tampa have began to take their toll as parts of Manatee County have received as much as 20 inches of rain. They have had so much rain that Lake Manatee, as of Sunday, June 22, is in danger of overflowing. There are at least 600 homes on the downstream side of the lake that could be in extreme danger if the Lake Manatee floods its banks. All of the dam’s floodgates have been opened but officials still cannot get enough water out of the lake fast enough. Another 6 inches of rain could fall in that area again today. Thirteen counties in West Central Florida are now under a flood watch. An area of deep tropical moisture has persisted over Florida for several days now. Fortunatly, no tropical development has evolved from this system thus far.
Heavy rain has also been reported in Melbourne where the Best Western Motel on U.S. highway 1 was flooded out due to roof damage from the heavy downpours. Rainfall amounts of over 3 inches have been reported in the area by NWS rainfall spotters. Many roads in the Melbourne area were reported under water.
Here at the Joe’s Disco weather station, I have recorded 2.48 inches of precipitation from June 19th till June 22nd. So far, the total precipitation for the month of June has been 5.79 inches.
The names for the 2003 hurricane season are as follows: Ana, Bill, Claudette, Danny, Erika, Fabian, Grace, Henri, Isabel, Juan, Kate, Larry, Mindy, Nicholas, Odette, Peter, Rose, Sam, Teresa, Victor and Wanda. Ana has already been used this year so the next named storm will be Bill.
NOAA forecasters are still predicting 11- 15 named storms with 6 – 9 of them hurricanes. At least two of these storms are forecast to be major hurricanes of category 3 or higher.
Now, on to the Time Capsule…
June 27, l952 -- Duval, Lake, Alachua, Nassau, Liberty, Calhoun, Lafayette, Gadsden, Wakula Counties -- Hail reported from one or more points in each county. Most damage suffered by tobacco crop.
June 27, l991 -- Orange Co., Orlando -- Lightning killed a man and injured two on a golf course.
June 27, 1996 -- Marion Co., Ocala -- Lightning started a roof fire at the
top of a mobile home. The fire burnt down the mobile home and it was
determined that the resident died of smoke inhalation.
June 28, l970 -- afternoon -- Vero Beach -- Lightning killed a 41-year old man plowing a field with a tractor.
June 28, l976 -- St. Johns Co., St. Augustine -- Lightning killed a 34-year-old woman and knocked three others unconscious during a thunderstorm.
June 28, l988 -- Polk Co., Lake Wales -- Lightning killed a man riding a horse on a cattle ranch.
June 28, l989 -- Palm Beach Co., Boca Raton -- Lightning killed a construction worker and injured another while they were working on a roof.
June 29, 1931 -- Jefferson Co., Monticello -- The high temperature of 109 degrees is the highest official temperature recorded in Florida history.
June 29, l952 -- afternoon -- West Palm Beach -- Winds at control tower gusted to 85 mph. Two airplanes were slightly damaged. Two windows blown in at courthouse, and two in a residence. Palm trees uprooted in various sections of the city. One automobile was damaged by a falling light pole. Three barges loaded with sand blown off-course and ran aground on sand bar. Telephone and electric service interrupted.
June 29, 1952 -- Tampa Bay -- Lightning struck a small boat in Tampa Bay, killing l of 2 occupants and causing minor injury to the other.
June 29, l962 -- afternoon -- Palm Beach Co., W. Palm Beach -- Lightning killed a person.
June 29, l964 -- afternoon -- Volusia Co., Daytona Beach -- Lightning killed a person and injured two.
June 29, l983 -- Hillsborough Co., Brandon -- Lightning killed a person and injured another seeking shelter under a tree.
June 30, l976 -- Orange County, Winter Park -- Lightning killed a l0 year old boy and injured l, while seeking shelter under a tree.
June 30, 1982 -- Alachua Co., Archer -- Lightning killed a man and injured two seeking shelter under a tree. They had been working in a watermelon field.
June 30, l990 -- Columbia Co., Lake City -- Lightning killed a man standing in a field.
June 30, 1996 -- St Johns Co., Anastasia -- An out-of-state swimmer was
caught in a rip current, was rescued but later died,
about 10 hours after the incident.
July 1, l963 -- afternoon -- Hillsborough Co., Tampa -- Lightning killed two people and injured l.
July 1, l973 -- Lake Co., Groveland -- Lightning killed a man just as his boat reached a landing ramp after returning from a fishing trip.
July 1, l987 -- Pasco Co., Anclote -- Lightning killed a l6 year old on a boat ramp.
July 1, 1995 -- Palm Beach Co.-- A 53-year-old male golfer was killed instantly at the Ibis Golf & country club, when lightning struck his 7-iron on the follow through, after a foursome had halted play because of lightning in the area. The lightning struck when the group resumed play.
July 2, l967 -- Dade County -- Lightning killed a man fishing in Miami and killed another man fishing at 40-Mile Bend. A boy was critically injured.
July 2, l969 -- Hillsborough Co., Gibsonton -- A Tornado unroofed a home and trailers were flipped over.
July 2, l982 -- Brevard Co., Port Canaveral -- Lightning killed a 20-year old man leaning against an automobile.
July 2, l984 -- Polk Co., Bartow -- Lightning killed a man standing under a tree.
July 2, l988 -- Dade Co., Homestead -- Lightning killed a man in a motorboat offshore.
July 3, 1956 -- Hernando Co., Brooksville -- Lightning set off a dynamite charge prematurely, killing one woman.
July 3, l959 -- Wakulla Co., Sudeville -- Lightning killed a person.
July 3, l97l -- Liberty Co., Bristol -- Lightning killed a person and injured five others at a class reunion.
July 3, l973 -- Manatee Co., Longboat Key -- Lightning killed a twenty-seven-year old construction worker on the 3rd floor of a building.
July 3, l975 -- Palm Beach Co., South Bay -- Lightning killed a 53 year old sugar cane worker in a sugarcane field.
July 3, 1992 -- Volusia County, Daytona Beach -- Rogue Wave -- A 27-mile-long wave rolled onto the Volusia County Beach at around 2:30 pm EST. The wave's extent was from Ormond Beach on the north, to New Smyrna Beach on the south. The crest was l8 feet high and centered at Daytona Beach. Sailboats crashed ashore onto cars and many people suffered cuts and bruises from glass and debris. Two people required hospitalization and 200 vehicles were damaged. 75 injuries reported.