Florida Bay Water Temperature reaches 91.6 degrees.

[beoumont]

Water temps. at buoy in Florida Bay yesterday at the station below, read as follows. Hot stuff.

------------------------------Water Temp. F
08 05 9:00 pm - - - - - - - - - - 91.6 - -
08 05 8:00 pm - - - - - - - - - - 91.0 -
08 05 7:00 pm - - - - - - - - - - 91.0 -
08 05 6:00 pm - - - - - - - - - - 91.0 -
08 05 5:00 pm - - - - - - - - - - 90.7 -

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=lsnf1.

By the way the low temperature for Miami on August 5th was 84 degrees; highest minimum temp. for any date on record for Miami, Florida.

[northjaxpro]

That is boiling sea surface temps. This is like added fuel to the fire for a tropical wave to potentially bomb if one moves over this region, provided that if the upper air environment is favorable of course.

[NDG]

It always amazes me how hot the west coast of FL waters get in the summer, meanwhile from Vero Beach on north upwelling takes control during most of the summer, it was in the mid 70s the surf temp last week when I visited Melbourne Beach, Brrrrr!

[chaser1]

As a long time Florida resident, 70's water temps seem awful chilly for mid August?! Would that be attributed to greater than normal up-welling as an affect of a anomalously strong Bermuda High?

[ftolmsteen]

Station BOBF1 - Bob Allen, FL had a 92.1 F water temp on Aug 5 at 5:00pm. Very shallow waters, but still impressive.

[chaser1]

Station BOBF1 - Bob Allen, FL had a 92.1 F water temp on Aug 5 at 5:00pm. Very shallow waters, but still impressive.

SURE IS WARM! Kinda relates to that 'ol weather folklore rhyme regarding that W. Coast summer malady which occurs from time to time.....

"Red Tide at morning, swimmers take warning. Red tide at night, the stench of dead fish is at its height" (hmmm, maybe that isn't quite it? )

[chaser1]

Kidding aside, those Red Tide conditions are certainly not exclusive to the W. Coast either. I think there was a big outbreak here off the Central Florida E. Coast during the last couple of years?? That may have been primarily induced by Sugar plant runoff though, not really sure.

[beoumont]

Station BOBF1 - Bob Allen, FL had a 92.1 F water temp on Aug 5 at 5:00pm. Very shallow waters, but still impressive.

After making the original post at the top of this thread I kept checking the buoys in Florida Bay and came across Garfield Bight, near Flamingo, with a 94.1 degree reading for an hour or so.

I used to fish those areas, and the water depth ranges from 1-4 feet; hence, the shallowness attributes to those extremely warm surface temps. This is why most fisherman only fish those areas early in the morning and just before dark; as the aquatic life gets very lethargic at peak sun angle.

The massive fish kills near Florida's east central coast in recent years, mentioned by some other forum poster above, are attributed to algae blooms; the source being the pollution from the sugar industry and fertilizers running off from near Lake Okeechobee sugar fields. The inland waterways, including the intercoastal waterway, often stink from this pollution in Martin and St. Lucie counties.

[beoumont]

Station BOBF1 - Bob Allen, FL had a 92.1 F water temp on Aug 5 at 5:00pm. Very shallow waters, but still impressive.

SURE IS WARM! Kinda relates to that 'ol weather folklore rhyme regarding that W. Coast summer malady which occurs from time to time.....

"Red Tide at morning, swimmers take warning. Red tide at night, the stench of dead fish is at its height" (hmmm, maybe that isn't quite it? )

Another variety of that weather saying folklore was created by my chasing partner Brad Riley during Hurricane Wilma. His video frame below was shot as a section of the shopping center broke loose and bounced through the parking lot at 7 am in Delray Beach, FL. as gusts topped hurricane force.

Brad exclaimed, "Red awning in morning, sailor take warning."

[gatorcane]

It just seems every summer is getting hotter than the previous summer in South Florida with more and more records being broken. So far we have not seen any direct correlation between hotter than normal and more hurricane hits though. If upper-level conditions cooperate and we get some kind of system around here to tap into these hot waters this year, the scary thing is that it could be quite an intense system with all of the built-up heat. There is no reason why this system couldn't be record-breaking too if upper-level conditions cooperate.

[chaser1]

Station BOBF1 - Bob Allen, FL had a 92.1 F water temp on Aug 5 at 5:00pm. Very shallow waters, but still impressive.

SURE IS WARM! Kinda relates to that 'ol weather folklore rhyme regarding that W. Coast summer malady which occurs from time to time.....

"Red Tide at morning, swimmers take warning. Red tide at night, the stench of dead fish is at its height" (hmmm, maybe that isn't quite it? )

Another variety of that weather saying folklore was created by my chasing partner Brad Riley during Hurricane Wilma. His video frame below was shot as a section of the shopping center broke loose and bounced through the parking lot at 7 am in Delray Beach, FL. as gusts topped hurricane force.

Brad exclaimed, "Red awning in morning, sailor take warning."

Wait, this looks more like a retail establishment? Maybe...... Red awning at night, shoppers take flight!

[WeatherGuesser]

After making the original post at the top of this thread I kept checking the buoys in Florida Bay and came across Garfield Bight, near Flamingo, with a 94.1 degree reading for an hour or so.

Quick, everybody grab their soap and shampoo and head to the community bath tub.

[NDG]

As a long time Florida resident, 70's water temps seem awful chilly for mid August?! Would that be attributed to greater than normal up-welling as an affect of a anomalously strong Bermuda High?

Don't think it has to do much with the Bermuda high, more to do with with persistent wind direction, parallel to the coast and or offshore winds. This phenomenon also happens along the northern coast of South America and northern coast of Yucatán Peninsula.

[chaser1]

Actually, it has always been my understanding that in fact the strength and orientation of the West Atlantic or "Bermuda High", was THE predominant feature responsible for Florida's Spring & Summer winds along with diurnal convective patterns / sea breeze collisions (the latter depending on both the surface flow AND the mid level flow of course)?? I can't think of any other semi-permenant surface feature having as much infuence over S. Florida winds, surf, and other surface conditions as the Bermuda High does?

[NDG]

Actually, it has always been my understanding that in fact the strength and orientation of the West Atlantic or "Bermuda High", was THE predominant feature responsible for Florida's Spring & Summer winds along with diurnal convective patterns / sea breeze collisions (the latter depending on both the surface flow AND the mid level flow of course)?? I can't think of any other semi-permenant surface feature having as much infuence over S. Florida winds, surf, and other surface conditions as the Bermuda High does?

You are correct regarding a weather pattern overall during the spring and summer months in FL but I am talking about the causes of upwelling along the east-central coast of FL that has to do more with direction of surface winds, to some degree yes the exact position of the Bermuda ridge will dictate the direction of the winds, but not so much the strength of it, IMO.

[LarryWx]

It just seems every summer is getting hotter than the previous summer in South Florida with more and more records being broken. So far we have not seen any direct correlation between hotter than normal and more hurricane hits though. If upper-level conditions cooperate and we get some kind of system around here to tap into these hot waters this year, the scary thing is that it could be quite an intense system with all of the built-up heat. There is no reason why this system couldn't be record-breaking too if upper-level conditions cooperate.

Do you and others think this is due to global warming or do you think it is due to some other factor(s)? Thanks in advance.

[chaser1]

It just seems every summer is getting hotter than the previous summer in South Florida with more and more records being broken. So far we have not seen any direct correlation between hotter than normal and more hurricane hits though. If upper-level conditions cooperate and we get some kind of system around here to tap into these hot waters this year, the scary thing is that it could be quite an intense system with all of the built-up heat. There is no reason why this system couldn't be record-breaking too if upper-level conditions cooperate.

Do you and others think this is due to global warming or do you think it is due to some other factor(s)? Thanks in advance.

Boy, thats a toughie! I dont know how GatorCane feels about that hot potato but I've generally leaned toward a belief that global warming is real..... still do. But, I've also read up and considered other view points as well. I just think that more science is needed to grapple with the much broader scales of time and understanding on how Earth changes do and have occurred with time. So many factors. Sure humans might and perhaps do play some role. The sun and/or other cosmic influences certainly play a primary role that impact other planets. Heck, just think what impact a major volcano causes by the millions of tons of particulates that could envelope our planets atmosphere. Unfortunately, it seems that this topic (just like politics) cant be a civil conversation between most people because nearly everyone seems to have some psychological need to take a side on every damn thing these days and not be willing to simply say "hmmmm, i'm just not sure". Just like weather though, the science behind it all should just be interesting to solve not some cold blooded competition.

[beoumont]

As a long time Florida resident, 70's water temps seem awful chilly for mid August?! Would that be attributed to greater than normal up-welling as an affect of a anomalously strong Bermuda High?

Don't think it has to do much with the Bermuda high, more to do with with persistent wind direction, parallel to the coast and or offshore winds. This phenomenon also happens along the northern coast of South America and northern coast of Yucatán Peninsula.

The technical paper at the URL below explains the periodic upwelling off central and NE Flroida:
http://dspace.rubicon-foundation.org/xmlui/bitstream/handle/123456789/6330/AAUS_1993_15.pdf?sequence=1

Much less technical: Upwelling along the NE Florida coast is a fairly common occurrence. This TV news piece from 2009 touches on the cause; stating it is a SW offshore wind that sets it off; as NDG notes. The story mentions several times during past summers when this has occurred in 'Daytona Beach.

I recall going on Spring Break in the late 1960s to Daytona and the water temps were 10 degrees colder than areas not that far south (65 F during this case in spring).

The Bermuda Hi is indirectly responsible, as when the Atlantic ridge is suppressed south to the Straits or extreme S. Florida, the lower level wind flow north of the ridge is SW / offshore.



Link: https://youtu.be/4vwvEzg0inU

[LarryWx]

As a long time Florida resident, 70's water temps seem awful chilly for mid August?! Would that be attributed to greater than normal up-welling as an affect of a anomalously strong Bermuda High?

Don't think it has to do much with the Bermuda high, more to do with with persistent wind direction, parallel to the coast and or offshore winds. This phenomenon also happens along the northern coast of South America and northern coast of Yucatán Peninsula.

Upwelling along the NE Florida coast is a fairly common occurrence. This TV news piece from 2009 touches on the cause; stating it is a SW offshore wind that sets it off; as NDG notes. The story mentions several times during past summers when this has occurred in 'Daytona Beach.

I recall going on Spring Break in the late 1960s to Daytona and the water temps were 10 degrees colder than areas not that far south (65 F during this case in spring).

The Bermuda Hi is indirectly responsible, as when the Atlantic ridge is suppressed south to the Straits or extreme S. Florida, the lower level wind flow north of the ridge is SW / offshore.



Link: https://youtu.be/4vwvEzg0inU

I wonder if this tends to protect the Daytona area somewhat by reducing the strength of H's just before landfall vs how much stronger they would otherwise be. Or would it make much difference since storms do their own upwelling, regardless? Any opinions?

[beoumont]

Larry WX asked; "

I wonder if this tends to protect the Daytona area somewhat by reducing the strength of H's just before landfall vs how much stronger they would otherwise be. Or would it make much difference since storms do their own upwelling, regardless? Any opinions?"

I would say the egg came first in this case, not the chicken.

When upwelling is occurring off NE Florida, the surface AND mid-level ridge is south of that area; so the wind flow and steering current is from the SW. So. if a hurricane comes north of the Antilles, it will curve around the SW edge of the ridge, encounter a SW steering flow, and recurve out to sea.

When hurricanes make landfall north of central Florida, the mid level Bermuda High is north and west of its most common position, and poked into the US East Coast. This orientation is nowhere near as common as the Bermuda High ridge being located south of latitude 28, and not poked westward into the continental US. Hence, a lot more hurricanes recurve than don't.