Despite several stormy days in September, South Florida’s rainy season was considerably drier than normal, the National Weather Service in Miami said in a summary Tuesday.
Fort Lauderdale was parched, recording 18.34 fewer inches of rain than normal between May 1 and Oct. 17. That resulted in the city seeing its third-driest summer on record.
West Palm Beach registered 9.79 fewer inches than normal and Miami 10.28 fewer inches than normal.
South Florida’s wet season normally runs from the third week in May until mid-October and produces about 70 percent of the region’s annual rainfall, or about 33 to 44 inches.
Other weather stations with low rainfall totals included North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines, which saw 20.95 fewer inches than normal; Pompano Beach Air Park, 16.51 inches below; and Hollywood Waste Water Plant, 16.48 inches below.
Persistent easterly winds, which pushed showers and storms far inland, are to blame for the dry conditions, said meterologist Robert Molleda.
“This lack of rainfall led to extreme drought conditions across southeast Florida in what is normally a drought-free time of year,” he said.
However, a wind shift brought heavy rains to the region in late September, ending the drought conditions, he added.
