MONDAY

LIGHTNING:

The 2008 Florida Hazardous Weather Awareness Week is a perfect time to note that our state, out of all 50 states, is the lightning capital of the country. As lightning occurs frequently across the state, the area stretching across central Florida from Tampa to Titusville receives more lightning strikes than any other location in the state. Learn more about lightning HERE.

TUESDAY

RIP CURRENTS &
MARINE HAZARDS:

A rip current is a channelized flow of water moving away from the shore at beaches. Rip currents typically form along the beach at breaks in the offshore sandbar, but they also form near structures such as jetties and piers. Rip currents are part of the natural near-shore ocean circulation and are quite common, occurring at many beaches every day on both the Atlantic and gulf coasts of Florida. Some rip currents last from a few minutes to a few hours, while others may last for days. Weather or ocean conditions can cause rip currents to be stronger and more frequent on some days than on others. Learn more about rip currents HERE.

It is no surprise that Florida ranks as the top boating state, with almost 1-million registered boats. The state’s beautiful waterways, water sport opportunities and great weather add up to a lot of time spent on the water by residents and visitors alike. Learn more about boating safety HERE.

WEDNESDAY

THUNDERSTORMS & TORNADOES:

Thunderstorms occur frequently across Florida. In fact, the Florida peninsula has the greatest number of thunderstorms in the United States. One of the reasons Florida has so many thunderstorms is that many of the ingredients needed to create thunderstorms can be found here almost every day. Learn more about thunderstorms HERE.

A tornado is a violent column of rotating air that comes down from a thunderstorm to reach the ground. Tornadoes usually last only a few minutes, but they can cause much damage as they travel along the ground. Some tornadoes can travel for many dozens of miles; other tornadoes may appear to skip above the ground for a few moments. Most tornadoes in Florida occur in June, July and August. However, the strongest tornadoes in Florida usually occur in February, March and April. Learn more about tornadoes HERE.

THURSDAY

HURRICANES & FLOODING:

Tropical storms and hurricanes are a part of life in the Sunshine State. Ever since records have been kept, there have been plenty of stories about destructive winds originating in the tropics and sweeping across our state. Why is Florida in the path of so many hurricanes? It’s because of our unique geographical location. Florida lies in the subtropical zone, which extends roughly the length of the peninsula. Learn more about tropical storms and hurricanes HERE and HERE.

We’ve all seen those photos in the newspaper: After heavy rain, someone in a canoe or kayak paddles down what is usually the middle of a street. It may look like fun, but it is dangerous. Flooding can happen in Florida and any of the other 49 states. Even relatively dry states such as Nevada and Arizona have serious floods from time to time. In Florida, flooding occurs frequently, but often the floods are minor. Nonetheless, Floridians must be careful because even minor floods can take a life. Once in a while, Florida can experience major floods that can cause many deaths and loss of property. We must be prepared. Learn more about flooding HERE.

FRIDAY

EXTREME TEMPERATURES & WILDFIRE:

If you’ve ever spent a summer in Florida, you know it also could qualify as the “Hot State.” Each summer, numerous tourists come from all over the world to enjoy the warm weather and sunny beaches, but most are unaware of just how hot it can get in Florida. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, the state is always influenced by tropical moisture, especially in the summer. The humidity is a measure of how much water vapor is present in the air, and these percentages can be very high during the summer months. Learn more about temperature extremes HERE and HERE.

Though many people head south to escape the cold temperatures in the winter, it isn’t always warmer in Florida. During the past 150 years, there have been numerous severe cold outbreaks that have affected the state with below freezing temperatures and strong winds that produce bitterly cold wind chills. Increased wind speeds at cold temperatures accelerate the heat loss from exposed skin, and the wind chill is a measure of this effect. Basically, these conditions make a person or animal feel colder than the actual temperature. The National Weather Service will issue wind chill advisories/ warnings, along with freeze advisories/warnings, when cold weather will threaten the area. Learn more about winter weather HERE.

In 2007, wildfires across Florida burned more than 436,000 acres of state lands and 200,000 acres of federal property. With more than 4,200 wildfires across the state, 2007 was the most active wildfire season the state has seen since 2001. The biggest reason for the wildfire activity last year was the lack of hurricanes in
2006. Although tropical storms and hurricanes bring a lot of destruction and damage to the state, they also are the main source of rainfall for Florida during the summer and fall months of the year. Learn more about wildfires HERE and HERE.