Central Florida Sea Breezes
Bartlett C. Hagemeyer
National Weather Service
Melbourne, Florida 32935
During the wet season (May through October) sea breezes
dominate the ebb and flow of peninsular Florida weather. Sea breezes are
caused by temperature differences between the ocean and land. As the land
heats up during the day cooler air moves in from the ocean producing a
low-level boundary similar to a weak front. Sea Breezes are primary triggering
mechanisms for thunderstorm development during the wet season. The movement
and inland penetration of the sea breeze is controlled by the large scale
windflow influencing the peninsula. The direction of this large scale wind
flow determines to a large degree what areas will receive the best chance
of thunderstorms.East central Florida can be effected by both the east
coast sea breeze from the Atlantic and the west coast sea breeze from the
Gulf of Mexico. The following cases illustrate common sea breeze scenarios.
Weak
East Winds.
West
Winds -Unstable Atmosphere
Northeast
Winds
Famous
Seabreeze/Outflow Boundary Collision
Outflow
Winds
South
Winds