The Miami Herald reports that the South Florida rainy season has ended a bit early this year and La Nina could bring a dryer than normal dry season.
Many South Florida residents have breathed a sigh of relief this week, as cooler air, lower humidity and nice breezes have ushered in that most glorious time of year between summer’s dreadful heat and the arrival of our winter friends and the heavy non-stop traffic that comes with the winter tourist season.
Our Miami insurance dispute attorneys do want to remind you, however, that the area remains a prime target for hurricanes through the end of November. As we reported recently on our Florida Insurance Claim Lawyer Blog, the halfway point of South Florida’s hurricane season is Sept. 21 — with half of the storms to hit the area in the last 160 years coming after that date.
Now is a good time to review your hurricane supplies. Perhaps you have snatched the bottled water over the course of the summer. Maybe the extra propane went into service during the Labor Day cookout. Restocking a few supplies now can save you a big hassle in the event that the area falls into the path of an approaching storm. Shopping with the mobs is never any fun and this “late” in the season you may also find local stores unprepared and understocked.
The National Weather Service said last week that South Florida has entered dry season, officially signaled by falling dewpoints and a dip into the 60s over Lake Okeechobee. It comes two weeks earlier than its Oct. 17 average and the earliest since 1995.
La Nina’s warmer sea temperatures in the Pacific Ocean could also make it a drier than normal dry season. Such weather raises wildfire risks and has also been a primary reason for the busy storm season, which finds us naming Tropical Storm Otto, the season’s 15th named storm, even as we talk about the beginning of dry season.
South Florida’s rainy season fell about 10 percent short of its normal 26.78 inches. The wet season, which usually begins in June, typically produces about 70 percent of South Florida’s rainfall.
Again, authorities stressed that the beginning of dry season does not mean the end of hurricane season, which lasts through Nov. 30. Hurricane Wilma, the last storm to hit South Florida, struck in late October 2005. Hurricane Kate struck the Panhandle just before Thanksgiving, 25 years ago this year.
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If you are facing a dispute over an insurance claim in Florida, contact Alvarez & Barbara, LLP toll free at 866-518-2913 for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.