Alert archive / Florida / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1988

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 3, NWS Melbourne, FL

April 19, 1988Brevard County, Florida

NWS Melbourne, FL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 19, 1988, 1:50 PM EDT for Brevard County, Florida. It was in force for 40 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Apr 19, 1988, 1:50 PM EDT (17:50 UTC)
Expired
Apr 19, 1988, 2:30 PM EDT
In force
40 min
Issued by
NWS Melbourne, FL
Area
Whole counties

County Brevard County, FL

The radar

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

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Apr 19, 2:00 PM EDTHail 0.75Brevard, FL

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.

The nearest sounding before it

Tampa Bay, FL (KTBW), launched 12:00Z, 5.8 hours before the alert went out and 180 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, Tampa Bay, FL at 12:00Z on 1988-04-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 774 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, Tampa Bay, FL at 12:00Z on 1988-04-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 388 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
774 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-40 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
592 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
65 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
388 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
418 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
2.0
Supercell composite
11.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KDAB 191753
SVRDAB
FLC009-191830-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND SPECIAL MARINE WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DAYTONA BEACH FL
150 PM EDT TUE APR 19 1988
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DAYTONA BEACH HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING AND
SPECIAL MARINE WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  230 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA
          ...NORTHERN BREVARD
 
AND ADJOINING COASTAL WATERS.
 
AT 1 50 PM EDT A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS INDICATED BY RADAR NEAR
TITUSVILLE FLORIDA AND WAS MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.
 
A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA.  REMEMBER
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES
WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.  REMAIN CALM BUT BE ALERT TO
RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.  HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO
DON'T DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.
 
AS THE THUNDERSTORMS MOVE OUT OVER THE COASTAL WATERS...BOATERS
IN THE THREATENED AR/EA CAN EXPECT STRONG WINDS...ROUGH SEAS AND
LIGHTNING. BOATERS SHOULD TAKE NECESSARY ACTION TO AVOID THE
DANGEROUS THUNDERSTORMS.

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, Apr 19, 10:57 AM EDT, 2 hours 53 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ORLANDO FL
1055 AM EDT TUE APR 19 1988

A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL FLORIDA INCLUDING
LAKE..ORANGE..OSCEOLA AND SEMINOLE COUNTIES UNTIL 200 PM EDT.

LATEST RADAR SHOWS A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO
WESTERN LAKE COUNTY WEST OF LEESBURG. THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING TO
THE EAST AT 40 MPH.

VERY HEAVY RAIN...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS AND
HAIL WILL LIKELY ACCOMPANY THE HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS.

CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN
AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE
LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER
STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Apr 19, 11:47 AM EDT, 2 hours 3 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DAYTONA BEACH FL
1145 AM EDT TUE APR 19 1988

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR NORTH AND
CENTRAL FLORIDA INCLUDING MARION...FLAGLER...VOLUSIA...BREVARD COUNTIES
THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. THE WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2PM EDT.

REMEMBER ...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES
AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN
THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS
AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

A LARGE AREA OF RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME STRONG WITH VERY HEAVY
RAINFALL...CONTINUED OVER THE NORTHERN PART OF THE FLORIDA PENINSULA
NORTH OF A LINE FROM TITUSVILLE TO ST. PETERSBURG NORTH TO THE
GAINESVILLE AND JACKSONVILLE. IN THIS AREA WAS A LINE OF VERY STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS FROM JUST WEST OF DELAND TO THE GULF COAST NEAR NEW
PORT RICHEY AND THE LINE WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST 20 MPH. OTHER STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER THE OCALA NATIONAL FOREST EAST OF OCALA.
THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST 45 MPH.
Special weather statement, Apr 19, 12:16 PM EDT, 1 hour 34 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ORLANDO FL
1215 PM EDT TUE APR 19 1988

A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL FLORIDA INCLUDING
LAKE..ORANGE..OSCEOLA AND SEMINOLE COUNTIES UNTIL 200 PM EDT.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR CENTRAL LAKE COUNTY HAS EXPIRED.

LATEST RADAR SHOWS STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN SOUTH CENTRAL LAKE AND WEST
CETNRAL ORANGE COUNTIES. THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING TO THE EAST AT
ABOUT 40 MPH AND WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY HEAVY RAINFALL...GUSTY WINDS...
FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND HAIL. RESIDENTS OF THESE COUNTIES SHOULD BE ON
THE ALERT FOR THREATENING WEATHER. AT 1130 AM TH LAKE COUNTY SHERIFFS
OFFICE REPORTED A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY
RAINFALL IN THE LEESBURG AREA.

CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN
AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE
LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATE-
MENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Apr 19, 12:45 PM EDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DAYTONA BEACH FL
1245 PM EDT TUE APR 19 1988

TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR NORTH AND CENTRAL FLORIDA INCLUDING
MARION...FLAGLER...VOLUSIA...AND BREVARD COUNTIES AND THE ADJACENT
COASTAL WATERS. THE WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2PM EDT.

REMEMBER ...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES
AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN
THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS
AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

A LARGE AREA OF RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME STRONG WITH VERY HEAVY
RAINFALL...CONTINUED OVER THE NORTHERN PART OF THE FLORIDA PENINSULA
NORTH OF A LINE FROM TITUSVILLE TO ST. PETERSBURG NORTH TO THE
GAINESVILLE AND JACKSONVILLE. MOST OF STRONG THUNDESTORMS WERE LOCATED
JUST WEST AND SOUTHWEST OF DAYTONA BEACH WEST ACROSS LAKE COUNTY.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST 40 MPH.
Special weather statement, Apr 19, 1:11 PM EDT, 39 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DAYTONA BEACH FL
110 PM EDT TUE APR 19 1988

THIS STATEMENT IS FOR FLAGLER AND MARION COUNTIES.

THE TORNADO WATCH ISSUED AT 845 AM THIS MORNING IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT
FOR FLAGLER AND MARION COUNTIES.

THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER HAS ENDED IN THOSE COUNTIES.

THE TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR VOLUSIA AND BREVARD
COUNTIES OF EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA UNTIL 200 PM THIS AFTERNOON.
Special weather statement, Apr 19, 1:41 PM EDT, 9 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DAYTONA BEACH FL
140 PM EDT TUE APR 19 1988

TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL
FLORIDA THAT INCLUDES VOLUSIA AND BREVARD COUNTIES AND THE ADJACENT
COASTAL WATERS UNTIL 2PM EDT.

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WERE BETWEEN ORLANDO AND
SANFORD AND SOUTH OF LAKELAND TO TAMPA BAY.  SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WERE ACROSS THE PENINSU(LA FROM NEAR DAYTONA BEACH TO
SARASOTA WEST INTO THE GULF. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN THE
ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS FROM JACKSONVILLE BEACH SOUTH TO DAYTONA
BEACH AND EXTENDED TO 125 MILES OFFSHORE.

MOVEMENT WAS EAST 35 MPH.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 19, 11:14 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMLBLake61 min
Apr 19, 12:35 PM EDTTornado WarningMLBLake25 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Florida, 1988Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1988

Sources

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