Alert archive / Florida / Tornado Warnings in 1991

Tornado Warning 4, NWS Melbourne, FL

April 9, 1991Brevard County, Florida

NWS Melbourne, FL issued this tornado warning at Apr 9, 1991, 9:21 PM EDT for Brevard County, Florida. It was in force for 39 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Apr 9, 1991, 9:21 PM EDT (01:21 UTC)
Expired
Apr 9, 1991, 10:00 PM EDT
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Melbourne, FL
Area
Whole counties

County Brevard County, FL

The nearest sounding before it

Tampa Bay, FL (KTBW), launched 00:00Z, 1.4 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 00:00Z on 1991-04-10Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 123 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 00:00Z on 1991-04-10The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -47 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
123 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-148 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1333 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
23 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-47 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-80 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KMLB 100122 RRA
TORMLB
FLC009-100200-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO AND SPECIAL MARINE WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
921 PM EDT TUE APR 9 1991
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MELBOURNE HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1000 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA
 
   ...NORTHERN BREVARD COUNTY AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS...
 
 
 
 
A TORNADO WAS REPORTED ON THE GROUND ABOUT 5 MILES NORTH OF
THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER NEAR PLAYALINA BEACH. THE TORNADO WAS
MOVING TO THE EAST. TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY.
 
IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED
BUILDING.  AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH
OR LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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 9, 4:22 PM EDT, 4 hours 59 minutes before
FLZ011-092115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
417 PM EDT TUE APR 9 1991

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM APPROACHING NORTHWEST LAKE COUNTY...

AT 415 PM RADAR SHOWED A STRONG RAPIDLY FORMING STRONG THUNDERSTORM
ABOUT 10 MILES WEST OF LEESBURG. THE THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING TO
THE EAST AT 10 MPH AND WILL BE MOVING INTO THE LEESBURG AREA WITHIN
THE NEXT HALF HOUR. RESIDENTS CAN EXPECT VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS...STRONG
GUSTY WINDS...AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING WITH ITS PASSAGE.

RESIDENTS SHOULD KEEP ALERT FOR DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS.
STAY TUNED FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Apr 9, 4:57 PM EDT, 4 hours 24 minutes before
FLZ011-009-092200-

SPECIAL EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA WEATHER UPDATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
457 PM EDT TUE APR 9 1991

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM JUST NORTH OF LEESBURG ALONG MARION COUNTY LINE

AT 455 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM
CAPABALE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...AND
FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING JUST NORTH OF LEESBURG AND EAST OF
WEIRSDALE ALONG STATE ROAD 42 NEAR THE LAKE/MARION COUNTY LINE.

THE THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING TO THE EAST AT 10 MPH AND WILL REACH UMATI
AND MOVE OVER THE OCALA NATIONAL FOREST DURING THE NEXT HOUR. RESIDENTIN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS
AS THESE THUNDERSTORMS PASS.

ELSEWHERE IN EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA...A THUNDERSTORM WITH HEAVY RAINFALL
WAS OVER THE COASTAL WATERS ABOUT 10 MILES EAST OF FLAGLER BEACH.
DURING THE NEXT TWO HOURS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO
DEVELOP FROM LEESBURG TO ASTOR PARK AND CONTINUE EAST TO THE COAST
AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS BETWEEN FLAGLER BEACH AND DAYTONA BEACH.
Special weather statement, Apr 9, 5:01 PM EDT, 4 hours 20 minutes before
FLZ011-009-092200-

SPECIAL EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA WEATHER UPDATE...CORRECTION TO 2ND PARAGRAPH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
500 PM EDT TUE APR 9 1991

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM JUST NORTH OF LEESBURG ALONG MARION COUNTY LINE

AT 455 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM
CAPABALE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...AND
FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING JUST NORTH OF LEESBURG AND EAST OF
WEIRSDALE ALONG STATE ROAD 42 NEAR THE LAKE/MARION COUNTY LINE.

THE THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING TO THE EAST AT 10 MPH AND WILL REACH
UMITILLA AND MOVE OVER THE OCALA NATIONAL FOREST DURING THE NEXT HOUR.
RESIDENTS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR DETERIORATING WEATHER
CONDITIONS AS THESE THUNDERSTORMS PASS.

ELSEWHERE IN EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA...A THUNDERSTORM WITH HEAVY RAINFALL
WAS OVER THE COASTAL WATERS ABOUT 10 MILES EAST OF FLAGLER BEACH.
DURING THE NEXT TWO HOURS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO
DEVELOP FROM LEESBURG TO ASTOR PARK AND CONTINUE EAST TO THE COAST
AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS BETWEEN FLAGLER BEACH AND DAYTONA BEACH.
Special weather statement, Apr 9, 5:56 PM EDT, 3 hours 25 minutes before
FLZ011-092300-

SPECIAL EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA WEATHER UPDATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
556 PM EDT TUE APR 9 1991

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM APPROACHING NORTHWEST LAKE COUNTY...

AT 555 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS...
FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...AND
POSSIBLE HAIL ABOUT 10 MILES WEST OF LEESBURG.

THE THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING TO THE EAST AT 15 MPH AND WILL MOVE
INTO NORTHWEST LAKE COUNTY BETWEEN LEESBURG AND LADY LAKE DURING
THE NEXT HALF HOUR. RESIDENTS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR
THESE THUNDERSTORMS AS THEY APPROACH. STAY TUNED FOR LATER
STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

ELSEWHERE IN EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN EXTENDED FROM THE OCALA NATIONAL
FOREST EAST TO LAKE GEORGE AND CROSSED THE COAST OVER THE
COASTAL WATERS BETWEEN FLAGLER BEACH AND DAYTONA BEACH. A FEW
SwHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO DEVELOPING FROM KISSIMMEE
THROUGH THE ORLANDO AREA TO NEAR SANFORD.
Special weather statement, Apr 9, 7:22 PM EDT, 1 hour 59 minutes before
FLZ011-100015-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
721 PM EDT TUE APR 9 1991

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO SOUTHERN LAKE AND NORTHERN
OSCEOLA COUNTIES...

AT 720 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A CLUSTER OF
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL JUST SOUTHWEST
OF KISSIMMEE AND JUST SOUTHWEST OF CLERMONT. THE THUNDERSTORMS
WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH AND WILL PRODUCE VERY
HEAVY DOWNPOURS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING...AND POSSIBLE HAIL AS THEY REACH POPULATED AREAS OF
THE KISSIMMEE/ST CLOUD AREA AND CLERMONT WITHIN THE NEXT HALF HOUR.

RESIDENTS OF NORTHERN OSCEOLA AND SOUTHERN LAKE COUNTIES SHOULD
REMAIN ALERT FOR THESE THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE NEXT HOUR. STAY
TUNED FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Apr 9, 8:42 PM EDT, 39 minutes before
FLZ011-100145-

SPECIAL EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA WEATHER UPDATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
841 PM EDT TUE APR 9 1991

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN THE METRO ORLANDO AREA...

AT 840 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS...FREQUENT DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING...AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE
METRO ORLANDO AREA BETWEEN OCOEE AND ALTAMONTE SPRINGS.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH AND WILL BE
MOVING INTO LONGWOOD AND SANFORD DURING THE NEXT HOUR. RESIDENTS
SHOULD BE ALERT FOR THESE THUNDERSTORMS AND USE EXTRA CAUTION WHEN
DRIVING AS PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS MAY OCCUR IN LOW LYING AREAS.

ELSEWHERE IN EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA...A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
WITH HEAVY RAINFALL WAS JUST EAST OF SANFORD AND CROSSED THE EAST
COAST TO THE COASTAL WATERS NEAR NEW SMYRNA BEACH. THE THUNDERSTORMS
WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST ATV 15 MPH.

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Florida, 1991Every tornado warning in 1991Tornadoes in 1991

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.