Florida is halfway through meteorological summer, and the state has seen widespread warmth and inconsistent rainfall patterns. Bradenton, on the west coast, has been the warmest location, with a mean temperature of 86.1 degrees, which could make it the warmest summer on record if the trend continues.
Temperature and Rainfall Patterns
Several other cities, including Clermont, Lakeland, Ocala, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami, are also experiencing exceptionally warm summers, with temperatures on pace to rank among their five warmest on record. The final week of July is typically the warmest period across the state, with average low temperatures around 73 degrees and average afternoon highs around 92 degrees.
Coastal communities tend to be cooler due to the moderating effect of nearby water, although the added humidity can push heat index values into the triple digits. The Florida Panhandle has seen temperatures near average, with no notable cool spots across the state. The persistent heat has led to numerous heat advisories from the National Weather Service, but no forecast office is on pace to break its record for the most heat advisories issued in a year.
El Niño Pattern and Rainfall
The current El Niño pattern, characterized by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, is contributing to the warm and dry conditions in many areas. The Tampa region has experienced one of its driest starts to meteorological summer, with some areas receiving just over 3 inches of rainfall since June 1, nearly 8 inches below normal.
In contrast, Orlando and the nearby Space Coast have seen significant rainfall, with Orlando experiencing its fifth-wettest meteorological summer on record. Melbourne has received over 10 inches of rainfall since the beginning of June, making it one of the wettest starts to meteorological summer. Southeast Florida, however, continues to struggle with below-normal rainfall, with many communities around Miami between 4 and 10 inches below normal despite the on-time arrival of the wet season.
Original reporting: Jacksonville Today — read the source article.
