Alert archive / Florida / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1986

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 5, NWS Miami, FL

March 15, 1986Broward County, Miami-Dade County, Florida

NWS Miami, FL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 15, 1986, 4:53 PM EST for Broward County, Miami-Dade County, Florida. It was in force for 52 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 15, 1986, 4:53 PM EST (21:53 UTC)
Expired
Mar 15, 1986, 5:45 PM EST
In force
52 min
Issued by
NWS Miami, FL
Area
Whole counties

Counties Broward County, FL, Miami-Dade County, FL

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Key West, FL (KEYW), launched 12:00Z, 9.9 hours before the alert went out and 193 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Key West, FL at 12:00Z on 1986-03-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 780 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Key West, FL at 12:00Z on 1986-03-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 110 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
780 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-4 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
588 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
37 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
110 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
214 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.4
Supercell composite
4.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KMIA 152153
SVRMIA
FLC011-025-152245-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND SPECIAL MARINE WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
453 PM EST SAT MAR 15 1986

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND 
SPECIAL MARINE WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 545 PM EST FOR PEOPLE IN THE 
FOLLOWING COUNTIES OF

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA...EASTERN BROWARD AND WESTERN DADE
...THIS WARNING ALSO INCLUDES THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS FOR THE
COUNTIES JUST MENTIONED

  RADAR AT 445PM THIS AFTERNOON INDICATED SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS
  HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING RAPIDLY FOR EASTERN BROWARD AND
  WESTERN DADE COUNTIES. ALSO SEVERAL REPORTS FROM THE PUBLIC HAVE
 REPORTED STRONG GUSTY WINDS WITH MARBLE SIZE HAIL IN THE ABOVE
 MENTIONED AREAS. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING NE 20 TO 25 MPH AND WILL
 ALSO BE AFFECTING THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS OF EASTERN BROWARD
 COUNTY WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOU SHOULD GO TO A SAFE PLACE
IMMEDIATELY..AND YOU SHOULD ASK THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
TO RELAY YOUR SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS TO THE LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE OFFICE.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 15, 11:15 AM EST, 5 hours 38 minutes before
^MIASPSPBI

SPECIAL WEATHER AND MARINE STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEST PALM BEACH FL
1115 AM EST SAT MAR 15 1986

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2PM EST FOR MUCH OF THE CENTRAL
FLORIDA AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS WHICH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES..PALM BEACH..MARTIN ..ST LUCIE AND OKEECHOBEE COUNTIES..

REMEMBER A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES
AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.

AT 1110 AM EST THE WEST PALM BEACH RADAR WAS INDICATING ISOLATED
SHOWERS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY COASTAL WATERS MOVING TOWARD THE
NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. NO SEVERE ACTIVITY WAS INDICATED OR REPORTED
DURING THE PAST TWO HOURS.

RESIDENTS IN THE ABOVE MENTIONED COUNTIES AND MARINE INTEREST IN THE
COASTAL WATERS SHOULD STAY TUNED TO THE LATEST LOCAL STATEMENTS AND
NOAA WEATHER RADIO. FURTHER STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS WILL BE ISSUED AS
CONDITIONS WARRANT.
Special weather statement, Mar 15, 11:37 AM EST, 5 hours 16 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
1135 AM EST SAT MAR 15 1986

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 37 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2PM FOR THE SOUTH
FLORIDA COUNTIES OF COLLIER...HENDRY...AND GLADES...

NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTED AT THIS TIME.

AT 1130 AM EST RADAR INDICATED WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED
HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM WELL OFFSHORE VERO BEACH TO 20 MILES
OFFSHORE THE PALM BEACHES.  THIS ACTIVITY ALSO EXTENDED ALONG AND OVER
THE COASTAL SECTIONS NEAR DELRAY BEACH TO FORT LAUDERDALE.

MOVEMENT WAS NORTH AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Mar 15, 12:38 PM EST, 4 hours 15 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
1235 PM EST SAT MAR 15 1986

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 37 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2PM FOR THE SOUTH
FLORIDA COUNTIES OF COLLIER...HENDRY...AND GLADES...

NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTED AT THIS TIME.

AT 1230 PM EST RADAR INDICATED SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED VERY
HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM ALONG AND OVER THE COASTAL SECTIONS
AT FORT LAUDERDALE TO VERO BEACH AND PTHE ADJACENT WATERS.

MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Mar 15, 1:15 PM EST, 3 hours 38 minutes before
^MIASPSPBI

SPECIAL WEATHER AND MARINE STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEST PALM BEACH FL
115 PM EST SAT MAR 15 1986

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 37 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2PM EST FOR MUCH OF
CENTRAL AND SOUTH FLORIDA AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS WHICH
INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES..PALM BEACH..MARTIN..ST LUCIE AND
OKEECHOBEE COUNTIES..

REMEMBER A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES
AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.

AT 105 PM EST RADAR INDICATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE
COAST OF MARTIN AND PALM BEACH COUNTIES EXTENDING NORTHEAST.

A LINE OF VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE MOVING INTO OKEECHOBEE AND
ST LUCIE COUNTIES AS WELL AS LAKE OKEECHOBEE FROM THE NORTHWEST WITHIN
THE NEXT 2 HOURS.

THE AREA IS MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH WHILE THE THUNDERSTORMS
ARE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

RESIDENTS IN THE ABOVE MENTIONED COUNTIES AND MARINE INTEREST IN THE
COASTAL WATERS SHOULD STAY TUNED TO THE LATEST LOCAL STATEMENTS AND
NOAA WEATHER RADIO.
Special weather statement, Mar 15, 1:47 PM EST, 3 hours 6 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
145 PM EST SAT MAR 15 1986

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 37 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2PM FOR THE SOUTH
FLORIDA COUNTIES OF COLLIER...HENDRY...AND GLADES...

NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTED AT THIS TIME.

AT 135 PM EST RADAR INDICATED SCATTERED VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS
AND PATCHES OF RAIN EXTENDED OVER THE SOUTHEAST PENINSULA FROM
VERO BEACH TO THE PALM BEACHES AND THE ADJACENT| WATERS AND SOUTH
TO DADE COUNTY.  THIS ACTIVITY ALSO EXTENDED WEST OVER THE INTERIOR
SECTIONS OF THE SOUTHERN PENINSULA.

MOVEMENT OF THE THUNDERSTORMS WAS NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Mar 15, 2:15 PM EST, 2 hours 38 minutes before
^MIASPSPBI

SPECIAL WEATHER AND MARINE STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEST PALM BEACH FL
215 PM EST SAT MAR 15 1986

THE TORNADO WATCH ISSUED AT 8 AM EST THIS MORNING FOR PALM
BEACH..MARTIN..ST LUCIE AND OKEECHOBEE COUNTIES HAS EXPIRED.

HOWEVER ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE THROUGOUT THE ABOVE MENTIONED
COUNTIES AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

MARINE INTERESTS OPERATING ALONG THE COASTAL WATERS OF ST
LUCIE..MARTIN AND PALM BEACH COUNTIES AND ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE SHOULD
REMAIN ALERT FOR POSSIBLE HIGH WINDS AND ROUGH SEAS FOR THE NEXT
SEVERAL HOURS.

PERSONS IN THE ABOVE COUNTIES CAN LIKELY EXCEPT FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL
HOURS PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN..STRONG GUST WINDS AND DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING.

FURTHER STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED IF CONDITIONS WARRANT.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Miami, FL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 15, 5:54 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMFLBroward, Miami-Dade51 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Florida, 1986Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1986

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.