A wet pattern that started in late August continued into September this year.
Earlier in the month, a southeasterly flow set up a typical summertime pattern with daily thunderstorms on the afternoon sea breeze.
Later in the month, a front stalled over our area for about a week. Then a mass of deep tropical moisture moved in from the Bahamas.
These two features produced several days of heavy tropical downpours with little wind or lightning. The amount of moisture through the atmosphere was very efficient in producing heavy rain.
But, even with minor flooding and plenty of standing water, this September hasn’t been close to any records at most locations.
There have been no tropical storms or hurricanes which have brought any rain once again this year. We were not even close to the top-10 wettest. The wettest September in Tampa was back in 1912 with 18.93 inches of rain.
September Rainfall totals
Tampa 9.57 inches +3.27 above normal (24th wettest)
Ruskin 17.12"
Lakeland 12.99" 5.55" above normal (7th wettest)
Sarasota/Bradenton 10.53” (26th wettest)
Tarpon Springs 14.78” (5th wettest)
St. Petersburg 13.43” 4.19” above normal 3.43” above normal (7th wettest)
Fort Green 13.41” (6th wettest)