Alert archive / Florida / Tornado Warnings in 1992

Tornado Warning 13, NWS Tampa Bay, FL

October 4, 1992Pinellas County, Florida

NWS Tampa Bay, FL issued this tornado warning at Oct 4, 1992, 12:07 AM EDT for Pinellas County, Florida. It was in force for 68 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Oct 4, 1992, 12:07 AM EDT (04:07 UTC)
Expired
Oct 4, 1992, 1:15 AM EDT
In force
68 min
Issued by
NWS Tampa Bay, FL
Area
Whole counties

County Pinellas County, FL

The nearest sounding before it

Tampa Bay, FL (KTBW), launched 00:00Z, 4.1 hours before the alert went out and 40 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 1992-10-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2781 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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 1992-10-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 185 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
2781 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
617 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
185 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
268 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
2.5
Supercell composite
17.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KTBW 040408
TORTBW
FLC081-103-040515-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA RUSKIN FL
1207 AM EDT SUN OCT 4 1992
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY AREA RUSKIN HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  115 AM EDT
FOR PEOPLE...
 
IN WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA
 
   ...MANATEE COUNTY...PINELLAS COUNTY
 
AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS
INCLUDING THE BAY AND INLAND WATERS
 
A TORNADO WAS REPORTED BY POLICE ON LONGBOAT KEY AT 1140 PM. OTHER TOR
COULD DEVELOP FROM STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER PINELLAS AND MANATEE
COUNTIES. THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING NORTH AT 25 TO 30 MPH.
 
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO MOVE TO A REINFORCED SHELTER
TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. AVOID WINDOWS.
IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE OPEN...GET INTO A DITCH OR CULVERT.
 
MARINE INTERESTS IN THESE WATERS SHOULD AVOID THESE STORMS AND
SEEK SAFE HARBOR.
 
IF YOU SEE A TORNADO... WATERSPOUT... HAIL OR DAMAGING WIND...
CALL THE WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SEVERE WEATHER LINE AT
1-800-282-5584.

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, Oct 3, 8:35 PM EDT, 3 hours 32 minutes before
FLZ006-008>021-040140-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA RUSKIN FL
830 PM EDT SAT OCT 3 1992

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM FOR LEVY..SUMTER..AND
CITRUS COUNTIES...

AT 825 PM A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN NORTH FLORIDA JUST NORTH OF GAINESVILLE
... AND OTHERS WERE IN THE EAST GULF FROM CEDAR KEY SOUTH TO BETWEEN
20 AND 30 MILES OFFSHORE OF TARPON SPRINGS.

MOVEMENT WAS NORTH AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.

SOME SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS REMAIN IN THE GULF
70 TO 85 MILES OFFSHORE OF CAPE ROMANO NORTH TO BETWEEN 20 TO 50 MILES
OFSHORE OF CLEARWATER... AND NORTH TO CRYSTAL RIVER AND CEDAR KEY.

SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME SOUTH OF CITRUS COUNTY.
RAIN WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER NORTH FLORIDA FROM
JACKSONVILLE TO NEAR ST AUGUSTINE WEST TO CRYSTAL RIVER AND BAYPORT.

OTHER WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS WERE THROUGH CENTRAL FLORIDA FROM
ORLANDO AND LAKELAND SOUTH TO LAKE OKEECHOBEE.

MOVEMENT WAS NORTH AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Oct 3, 9:00 PM EDT, 3 hours 7 minutes before
FLZ006-010-011-013-040600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA RUSKIN FL
855  PM EDT SAT OCT 3  1992

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM SUNDAY FOR MUCH OF NORTH AND CENTRAL
FLORIDA... INCLUDING LEVY... CITRUS... HERNANDO... PASCO ... AND SUMTER
COUNTIES AND THE ADJOINING COASTAL WATERS.

A BAND OF SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING ONSHORE JUST NORTH OF THE
TAMPA BAY AREA. FROM PASCO COUNTY NORTH TO LEVY COUNTY. THESE SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ARE BEING GENERATED BY THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE GULF OF
MEXICO.

A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADO DEVELOPMENT
IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. RESIDENTS IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA ARE URGED
TO TAKE IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONS IN CASE DAMAGING WEATHER OCCURS IN YOUR AREA. BE
READY TO SEEK SAFE SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM OF A REIFORCED BUILDING SHOULD
DAMAGING WEATHER APPROACH. CARS AND MOBILE HOMES ARE NOT A SAFE PLACE TO BE IN
THE EVENT OF A TORNADO OR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.
Special weather statement, Oct 3, 9:37 PM EDT, 2 hours 30 minutes before
FLZ006-008>021-040240-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA RUSKIN FL
935 PM EDT SAT OCT 3 1992

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM SUNDAY FOR MUCH OF NORTH AND CENTRAL
FLORIDA... INCLUDING LEVY... CITRUS... HERNANDO... PASCO ... AND SUMTER
COUNTIES AND THE ADJOINING COASTAL WATERS...

A BAND OF SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN THE GULF 15 MILES WEST
OF CLEARWATER NORTH TO NEAR CRYSTAL RIVER AND OFFSHORE FOR 20 MILES. THESE
THUNDERSTORMS ARE BEING GENERATED BY THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE GULF OF
MEXICO... MOVEMENT WAS NORTH AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.

A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADO DEVELOPMENT
IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.

OTHER SHOWERS... PATCHES OF RAIN AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER NORTH
FLORIDA FROM JACKSONVILLE AND ST AUGUSTINE SOUTHWEST TO CROSS CITY AND
BAYPORT... AND BETWEEN 15 AND 60 MILES OFFSHORE OF SARASOTA TO CAPTIVA.

MTOVEMENT WAS NORTH AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.
Local storm report, Oct 3, 10:22 PM EDT, 1 hour 45 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA RUSKIN FL
930 PM EDT SAT OCT 3  1992

03/1047 EDT             PINELLAS COUNTY, LARGO, TORNADO DESTROYED 23 HOMES AND
                        DAMAGED 40 HOMES. ONE FATALITY, NUMEROUS INJURIES.
                        REPORTED BY EOC.

03/1130 EDT             PINELLAS COUNTY, PINELLAS PARK, TORNADO DESTROYED 65
                        HOMES AND DAMAGED AT LEAST 100 HOMES. THREE
                        FATALITIES, 75 INJURIES. TORNADO ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO
                        A FEW HOUSES ON TREASURE ISLAND. REPORTED BY EOC.

03/1140 EDT             PINELLAS COUNTY, CLEARWATER, POSSIBLE TORNADO KNOCKED
                        DOWN TREES. REPORTED BY SPOTTER.

03/1210 EDT             PASCO COUNTY, NEW PORT RICHEY, TAMPA EXECUTIVE
                        AIRPORT, WIND GUST TO 58 KNOTS.

03/1220 EDT             HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, EXTREME WESTERN PORTION, WIND
                        DAMAGE TO 9 MOBILE HOMES. TWO MINOR INJURIES. REPORTED
                        BY EOC.

03/1232 EDT             PASCO COUNTY, MOON LAKE, TORNADO KNOCKED DOWN NUMEROUS
                        TREES AND POWER LINES. REPORTED BY EOC.

03/1235 EDT             CITRUS COUNTY, SOUTHWEST CORNER, OAKLAWN STREET, 20
                        FOOT PORCH BLOWN OFF.

03/1248 EDT             PASCO COUNTY, SHADY HILLS, TORNADO KNOCKED DOWN
                        NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES AND TORE A PORCH OFF A
                        HOUSE. REPORTED BY EOC.

03/1307 EDT             HERNANDO COUNTY, SR50 NORTH OF SPRING HILL, TORNADO
                        TORE ROOF OFF A BLOOD BANK. NO INJURIES. REPORTED BY
                        OCCUPANT.

03/1315 EDT             PASCO COUNTY, NEAR GREEN KEY, WATERSPOUT SIGHTED.

03/1318 EDT             HERNANDO COUNTY, SR50 NORTH OF SPRING HILL, TORNADO
                        TORE ROOF OFF THE EVERGREEN WOODS NURSING HOME.
                        REPORTED BY OCCUPANTS.

03/1320 EDT             HERNANDO COUNTY, SPRING HILL, TORNADO TORE ROOFS OFF
                        OF THREE HOMES AND A PORCH OFF ANOTHER HOME. NO
                        INJURIES

03/1330 EDT             HERNANDO COUNTY, SPRING HILL, TORNADO TORE ROOF OFF A
                        CATHOLIC CHURCH.

03/1408 EDT             CITRUS COUNTY, HOMOSASSA, SR490, SHED DESTROYED AND
                        TREES DOWN BY POSSIBLE TORNADO.

03/1415 EDT             CITRUS COUNTY, CREED AVE NEAR SR44, NUMEROUS TREES
                        DOWNED BY THUNDERSTORM WIND. REPORTED BY EOC.

03/1455 EDT             SUMTER COUNTY, NORTHWEST PORTION, POWER POLE AND TREES
                        DOWN AND HOLE IN PORCH ROOF. REPORTED BY OCCUPANT.

03/1551 EDT             CITRUS COUNTY, CRYSTAL RIVER, US 19, ROOF DAMAGE TO
                        PROLINE BOAT BUILDING AND TO GOODYEAR BUSINESS.
                        REPORTED BY EOC.

03/1540 EDT             CITRUS COUNTY, LECANTO, TREES DOWNED AND TWO SHEDS
                        DESTROYED. REPORTED BY EOC.

03/1840 EDT             LEVY COUNTY, HIGHWAYS US. 19 AND US. 98, TORNADO
                        KNOCKED DOWN TREES AND POWERLINES AND BLEW A UTILITxY
                        BUILDING INTO ANOTHER STRUCTURE. REPORTED BY EOC.
Special weather statement, Oct 3, 10:37 PM EDT, 1 hour 30 minutes before
FLZ006-008>021-040340-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA RUSKIN FL
1030 PM EDT SAT OCT 3 1992

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM SUNDAY FOR MUCH OF NORTH AND CENTRAL
FLORIDA... INCLUDING LEVY... CITRUS... HERNANDO... PASCO ... AND SUMTER
COUNTIES AND THE ADJOINING COASTAL WATERS...

A NARROW BAND OF SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN THE GULF 60 TO
85 MILES OFFSHORE OF CAPE ROMANO NORTH TO THE BEACHES AT LONGBOAT KEY AND
TARPON SPRINGS... AND CONTINUED NORTH TO BAYPORT... CRYSTAL RIVER AND
CEDAR KEY.  MOVEMENT WAS NORTH AT 20 TO 25 MILES AN HOUR.

A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADO DEVELOPMENT
IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.

OTHER SHOWERS... PATCHES OF RAIN AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER NORTH
FLORIDA NEAR JACKSONVILLE TO GAINESVILLE AND OCALA.

MOVEMENT WAS NORTH AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Oct 3, 11:46 PM EDT, 21 minutes before
FLZ006-008>021-040440-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA RUSKIN FL
1145 PM EDT SAT OCT 3 1992

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM SUNDAY FOR MUCH OF WEST CENTRAL
FLORIDA... INCLUDING LEVY... CITRUS... AND SUMTER COUNTIES... AND ADJACENT
COASTAL WATERS. AN EXTENDED TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR HERNANDO AND PASCO
COUNTIES UNTIL 4 AM SUNDAY MORNING... AND AN ADDITIONAL TORNADO WATCH HAS
BEEN ISSUED EFFECTIVE UNTIL 4 AM FOR PINELLAS... POLK... HILLSBOROUGH ...
MANATEE... SARASOTA... HARDEE... HIGHLANDS... DESOTO... CHARLOTTE AND LEE
COUNTIES. THIS INCLUDES THE COASTAL WATERS FROM LEE COUNTY NORTH TO HERNANDO
COUNTY.

A NARROW 25 MILES BAND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS SOME WITH VERY HEAVY
RAIN EXTENDED FROM 95 MILES WEST OF CAPE SABLE TO THE TAMPA BAY AREA AND
NORTH TO CRYSTAL RIVWR.

MOVEMENT WAS NORTH AT 20 TO 25 MILES AN HOUR.

A FEW SHOWERS AND PATCHES OF RAIN REMAINED OVER NORTH FLORIDA FROM BETWEEN
CROSS CITY AND GAINESVILLE NORTHEAST TO JACKSONVILLE.

MOVEMENT WAS NORTH AT 20 TO 25 MILES AN HOUR.

A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADO DEVELOPMENT
AND RESIDENTS AND MARINERS SHOULD SEEK SAFE SHELTER SHOULD
SEVERE WEATHER OCCUR.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 4, 12:07 AM EDTTornado WarningTBWManatee68 min
Oct 4, 12:21 AM EDTTornado WarningTBWSarasota54 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Florida, 1992Every tornado warning in 1992Tornadoes in 1992

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.