The Florida Keys were hit late this afternoon with a rare weather phenomenon called a “wake low”.

A line of thunderstorms moved southeast of the lower Keys today and the atmospheric pressure to the north of this line of storms fluctuated rapidly and this created strong south winds over the Keys in advance of the cold front moving across the area later tonight.  There was damaged reported in Tavernier and wind gusts up to 40mph in Key Largo around 5 p.m.

“Wake lows” usually form on the back side or in the wake of a line of thunderstorms usually north of where the heaviest rain is falling.  That is exactly what happened in the Keys today.

In April 2004 a “wake low” struck Lake Okeechobee with wind gusts up to 70mph.  Several trailers were damaged in South Bay and in Belle Glade shop windows were blown out.

You can get the latest radar and wind reports at www.justweather.com