Out-of-Season Downpour in Key West Sets New All-Time February Daily Rainfall Record; 9th Wettest February in 1 Day

The National Weather Service reports that the 4.34" of rainfall at Key West, Florida on February 5 is a new all-time daily rainfall record for the month of February. It also put this month into the position of 9th wettest February in climate records extending back to 1871. The 0.22" of precipitation as of 4 pm today moves the month up to 8th place, barely behind the 4.63" just 2 years ago.

The wettest February at Key West was in 1872, when 7.19" was recorded. Three of the wettest Februaries at Key West have now occurred in the last 15 years (1998, 2010, and 2012).

Key West also set a daily precipitation record by a wide margin on October 17, when the 6.91" smashed the previous record of 4.08" in 1910.

From the National Weather Service:

RAINFALL ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 5TH TOTALED 4.34 INCHES AT KEY WEST   
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THIS BROKE THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 2.89   
INCHES...WHICH WAS SET IN 1872. IN FACT...THIS WILL ALSO GO DOWN AS   
THE WETTEST FEBRUARY DAY IN HISTORY. THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 4.04   
INCHES WAS SET ON FEBRUARY 28TH...1954.   

..24-HOUR RAINFALL TOTALS...IN INCHES...FOR AVAILABLE STATIONS  
  
KEY WEST INT'L AIRPORT                                        4.34  
KEY WEST WFO                                                  3.79  
KEY LARGO NORTH--HANDAR                                       2.74  
BIG COPPITT KEY--COCORAHS                                     2.26  
CUDJOE KEY--COCORAHS                                          1.68  
CURRY HAMMOCK--COOP                                           1.50  
BIG PINE KEY--HANDAR                                          1.26  
CUDJOE KEY                                                    1.08  
MARATHON AIRPORT                                              1.03   

Image (click to enlarge): Radar-estimated rainfall for the Key West, Florida region, February 5, 2012, from wunderground.com