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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Melbourne FL
845 PM EST Tue Dec 3 2024

...Fall 2024 Was Warmer and Wetter Than Normal Across East Central
Florida...

Temperatures ended up well above normal to start the Fall season,
with September 2024 ranking within the top 4 warmest on record at
all primary climate sites of east central Florida, and in fact it
was the warmest September on record at Vero Beach and Fort Pierce. A
stalled frontal boundary early in October, the passage of Hurricane
Milton and few cold fronts that moved through the area did bring
some brief periods of near to below normal temperatures through the
remainder of the Fall. However, overall average temperatures for
October and November still ended up warmer than normal. With these
warmer conditions largely prevailing across the area, seasonal
average temperatures were above normal by 1.5 to 2.0 degrees, with
Fall 2024 ranking within the top ten warmest on record for most
sites across east central Florida.

The wet season ramped up into September, especially during the first
half of the month as a stalled front maintained ample moisture to
fuel higher coverage of daily showers and storms across the region.
The tropics also remained active, especially across Florida with two
major hurricane landfalls for the state, with Hurricane Helene in
late September and Hurricane Milton during the first half of
October. While rainfall was widespread from outer rainbands from
Helene, precipitation totals were not very notable across east
central Florida from this system. However, Hurricane Milton produced
considerable rainfall, especially near to north of Orlando and along
the coast as it crossed central Florida, leading to above to well
above normal precipitation for October. It was actually the wettest
October on record for Sanford!

The dry season kicked in following Milton`s exit and led to
drier than normal conditions through the second half of October and
into November. Despite this drier end to the season, the heavier
rainfall from Milton and also with increased showers and storms from
lingering frontal boundaries early in September and October, led to
overall wetter than normal conditions for the Fall. In fact, for
Daytona Beach, Leesburg, Sanford and Vero Beach, Fall 2024 ranked
within the top four wettest on record!


Temperatures...

A frontal boundary stalled and lingered mostly north of central
Florida for the first half of September, keeping warmer conditions
in place across the area. Above normal temperatures then largely
prevailed through the remainder of September. It was the warmest
September on record for Vero Beach and Fort Pierce, and for all
other primary climate sites, September 2024 ranked as either 3rd or
4th warmest. A frontal boundary that moved into the region early in
October and the passage of Hurricane Milton late on the 9th through
early on the 10th increased cloud cover and rainfall, which helped
provide a temporary break from the overall warmer than normal
conditions. A passing cold front toward mid-October even ushered in
a brief period of cooler than normal conditions, but onshore flow
quickly developed from high pressure north of the region, moderating
temperatures.

High pressure north of Florida largely prevailed during the second
half of October and into the first half of November, limiting
frontal passages and producing a prevailing onshore breeze that kept
temperatures near or above normal. A few stronger cold fronts passed
through central Florida during the latter half of November, with
much cooler weather moving in behind these boundaries. However,
these drop in temperatures were also rather brief.

The predominant warmth through the Fall, led to seasonal average
temperature departures that ranged from 1.3 degrees above normal at
Sanford to 2.2 degrees above normal at Orlando. Fall 2024 ranked
within the top ten warmest at almost all primary climate sites,
except at Fort Pierce where it tied the Fall of 1929 as the 13th
warmest Fall on record.


Average temperature values for Fall 2024 at the primary climate
sites across east central Florida are as follows (rankings provided
if in the top 10):

- Daytona Beach had an average temperature for the season of 75.9
degrees Fahrenheit, which was 2.0 degrees above normal. This ties
the Fall of 1931 as the 4th warmest Fall on record for this site,
with records dating back to 1923.

- Leesburg had an average temperature for the season of 76.2 degrees
Fahrenheit, which was 1.6 degrees above normal. This ranks as the
8th warmest Fall on record for this site, with records dating back
to 1958.

- Sanford had an average temperature for the season of 76.3 degrees
Fahrenheit, which was 1.3 degrees above normal. This ranks as the
5th warmest Fall on record for this site, with records dating back
to 1948.

- Orlando had an average temperature for the season of 77.1 degrees
Fahrenheit, which was 2.2 degrees above normal. This ties the Fall
of 2018 as the 7th warmest Fall on record for this site, with
records dating back to 1892.

- Melbourne had an average temperature for the season of 77.2
degrees Fahrenheit, which was 1.9 degrees above normal. This ties
the Fall of 1998 and 2013 as the 9th warmest Fall on record for this
site, with records dating back to 1937.

- Vero Beach had an average temperature for the season of 77.8
degrees Fahrenheit, which was 1.8 degrees above normal. This ranks
as the 5th warmest Fall on record for this site, with records dating
back to 1942.

- Fort Pierce had an average temperature for the season of 77.4
degrees Fahrenheit, which was 1.9 degrees above normal.


Rainfall...

An unusually persistent front that lingered either across, but
mostly north of central Florida during the first half of September,
significantly enhanced daily shower and thunderstorm development to
start the Fall. Periods of locally heavy to excessive rainfall
occurred across the region with this activity, keeping wetter than
normal conditions in place across east central Florida. Coverage of
afternoon and evening showers and storms then decreased through the
second half of the month after the front faded. Hurricane Helene
that made landfall as a Major Category 4 hurricane in the Florida
Big Bend region late on the 26th produced widespread rainfall across
the area. However, totals were not very significant across east
central Florida, with values from around 0.50-2.00 inches, with
locally higher totals of 3.00-3.50 inches across Martin County.
Overall though, the rainfall from this system and from the wetter
start to the month, led to near to above normal rainfall for
September.

A frontal boundary that stalled across the southern Florida
peninsula increased rainfall across the area, especially along the
coast early in October. Outer rainbands from Hurricane Milton then
began to impact the area on the 9th, and also led to a tornado
outbreak across central and south Florida, with 46 confirmed
tornadoes of which 19 of those occurred in the east central Florida
area alone! As Milton made landfall as a Major Category 3 hurricane
along the west coast of Florida during the evening of the 9th and
crossed central Florida and offshore early on the 10th, the system
brought considerable rainfall and flooding impacts to the region.
Highest rainfall totals from Milton, up to 10-15 inches, occurred
near to north of the I-4 corridor, with amounts around 4-9 inches
across portions of Brevard County and the Treasure Coast, and as low
as 1-3 inches toward Martin County and across inland areas farther
south of the Orlando metro area. The dry season began across east
central Florida after Milton exited the area, with rainfall
decreasing across the region. However, the wet first half to October
led to above to well above normal rainfall across east central
Florida, and led to October 2024 ranking within the top 5 wettest on
record for Daytona Beach, Leesburg, Sanford and Vero Beach. Most
notably it was the wettest October on record for Sanford.

High pressure that largely dominated north of the area in late
October, persisted into the first half of November, with any
rainfall generally limited to isolated to scattered onshore moving
showers. Precipitation was then very limited into the second half of
November to end out the Fall, with only isolated to scattered
showers occurring along a few cold fronts to move through the
region. This overall lack of rainfall through the month, led to
drier than normal conditions across much of the area for November,
with precipitation totals that were around 1.00-1.50 inches below
normal.

Despite this drier end to the Fall, the rainfall from the wetter
periods during the first half of September and October well made up
for any precipitation deficits that occurred during the second half
of the season. Rainfall totals peaked at around 25-35 inches across
portions of the I-4 corridor and Treasure Coast, where heavier
rainfall occurred from Milton. Elsewhere along the coast and
northern portions of east central Florida, amounts were generally
between 15-25 inches, and as low as 10-15 inches across the
interior, west of I-95, and farther south of the Orlando metro area.
This rainfall was above to well above normal for the season across
much of the region. It was actually the 4th wettest Fall on record
at Leesburg, 3rd wettest Fall at Daytona Beach and Vero Beach, and
2nd wettest Fall on record at Sanford.


Fall 2024 rainfall totals for the primary climate sites across
east central Florida are as follows (ranking provided if in the top
10):

- Daytona Beach received 26.90 inches of rain for the season, which
was 12.14 inches above normal. This ranks as the 3rd wettest Fall on
record for this site, with records dating back to 1923.

- Leesburg received 18.08 inches of rain for the season, which was
8.49 inches above normal. This ranks as the 4th wettest Fall on
record for this site, with records dating back to 1958.

- Sanford received 23.13 inches of rain for the season, which was
11.11 inches above normal. This ranks as the 2nd wettest Fall on
record for this site, with records dating back to 1948.

- Orlando received 11.11 inches of rain for the season, which was
0.51 inches below normal.

- Melbourne received 15.42 inches of rain for the season, which was
0.38 inches above normal.

- Vero Beach received 28.38 inches of rain for the season, which was
13.10 inches above normal. This ranks as the 3rd wettest Fall on
record for this site, with records dating back to 1942.

- Fort Pierce received 18.87 inches of rain for the season, which
was 4.34 inches above normal.

Cooperative Observer Station Rainfall Rankings (Note: These totals
for Fall 2024 end around 7 AM on November 30th):

- Clermont received 16.70 inches of rain for the season, which ranks
as the 8th wettest Fall on record for this site, with records
dating back to 1948.

- Titusville received 27.74 inches of rain for the season, which
ranks as the 4th wettest Fall on record for this site, with
records dating back to 1901.


Below is a list of observed precipitation totals and rainfall
statistics for select sites across east central Florida for Fall
2024:

Station        Fall 2024        Normal      Departure    Percent of
                Rainfall       Rainfall    From Normal     Normal

Daytona Beach     26.90"        14.76"      +12.14"         182%
(DAB)
Orlando           11.11"        11.62"       -0.51"          96%
(MCO)
Melbourne         15.42"        15.04"       +0.38"         103%
(MLB)
Vero Beach        28.38"        15.28"      +13.10"         186%
(VRB)
Clermont*         16.70"         9.91"       +6.79"         169%
(CLRF1)
Leesburg          18.08"         9.59"       +8.49"         189%
(LEE)
Sanford           23.13"        12.02"      +11.11"         192%
(SFB)
Titusville*       27.74"        15.03"      +12.71"         185%
(TITF1)
Fort Pierce       18.87"        14.53"       +4.34"         130%
(FPR)
Stuart*           21.66"        18.90"       +2.76"         115%
(STRF1)

*Rainfall totals for the season end around 7 AM on November 30th.

For more local climate information, please visit our web page at
http://weather.gov/mlb and click on the "Climate" icon toward the
bottom of the page.

$$


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