How come in florida rain storm clouds form right over the coastline and not over the water?

Question

well this question goes for any place this happens. but while on the gulf of mexico, you can plainly see that storm clouds develop just as it reaches land for the midday rain showers. why is this?

Answer 1

lol....they form wherever they want to! I have been watching the weather channel lately espically for Panama City Beach..and the storms have been forming over the gulf and at the coast.  If you go to hipcbeach.com (thats the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort) you can watch live web cams of Panama City Beach.  Its really neat watching the storms form over the water and move towards the shore!!!!!

Answer 2

Land heats up much faster than water.  This is what causes the sea breeze along the shore.  As the cooler, higher pressure air moves into fill in the low pressure area caused by the warm air rising over land, it forces the warm air over land to rise much faster.  Soon this warm, moist air reaches its dew point and creating clouds and often, rain or even local thunder storms.  

BTW-the opposite occurs at night.  The land also cools much faster than the ocean. This causes a land breeze which can cause ocean fog, rain or thunderstorms depending on the circumstances.

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