Alert archive / Florida / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 157, NWS Tampa Bay, FL

October 27, 1997Polk County, Florida

NWS Tampa Bay, FL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Oct 27, 1997, 10:01 AM EST for Polk County, Florida. It was in force for 29 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Oct 27, 1997, 10:01 AM EST (15:01 UTC)
Expired
Oct 27, 1997, 10:30 AM EST
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS Tampa Bay, FL
Area
Whole counties

County Polk County, FL

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Oct 27, 10:00 AM ESTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Tampa Bay, FL (KTBW), launched 12:00Z, 3.0 hours before the alert went out and 74 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 1997-10-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2501 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 1997-10-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 142 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
2501 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-3 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
494 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
54 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
142 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
158 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
2.3
Supercell composite
8.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

The text of this product is not in the archive. The NWS text archive before 2002 is incomplete.

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.

NWS Tampa Bay, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Oct 27, 9:25 AM EST, 36 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 27, 9:25 AM EST, 36 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Oct 27, 6:00 AM EST, 4 hours 1 minute before
FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-504-505-271600-
WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA RUSKIN FL
600 AM EST MON OCT 27 1997

...SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR MUCH OF WEST CENTRAL
   FLORIDA SOUTH OF BROOKSVILLE TO NAPLES...

AN IMPRESSIVE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE NORTH CENTRAL
PENINSULA WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH SOUTHEASTWARD AT 15 TO 20 MPH
THROUGH WEST CENTRAL TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA TODAY. THUNDERSTORMS
ARE GENERATING IN ADVANCE OF A COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH THE
SOUTHEASTERN U.S.

HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS WILL GENERATE GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...
FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND DOWNPOURS OF RAIN. THERE IS A
RISK FOR ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS TO BECOME NEAR SEVERE WITH THE
POTENTIAL FOR A DAMAGING WIND GUST OF ISOLATED BRIEF TORNADO AS
THE INITIAL HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS AFFECT A GIVEN AREA.

RESIDENTS IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA MAY WANT TO PLAN AHEAD FOR
THUNDERSTORMS PUSHING INTO THE METROPOLITAN AREA FROM 7AM TO 910AM
THIS MORNING...SO MORNING COMMUTERS SHOULD PLAN ACCORDINGLY. SOME
PONDING OF WATER IN ROADS AND INTERSECTIONS IS POSSIBLE DURING THE
MID TO LATE MORNING HOURS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS SHOULD AVERAGE BETWEEN
1.5 AND TWO INCHES.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED INTO THE FORT MYERS AREA UNTIL AROUND
NOON.

MARINE SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT.

ALL SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THEIR RADIO...TELEVISION OR NOAA
WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER WEATHER STATEMENTS.

RITTENBERRY
Special weather statement, Oct 27, 6:00 AM EST, 4 hours 1 minute before
FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-504-505-271600-
WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA RUSKIN FL
600 AM EST MON OCT 27 1997

...SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR MUCH OF WEST CENTRAL
   AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BETWEEN BROOKSVILLE AND NAPLES...

AN IMPRESSIVE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE NORTH CENTRAL
PENINSULA WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH SOUTHEASTWARD AT 15 TO 20 MPH
THROUGH WEST CENTRAL TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA TODAY. THUNDERSTORMS
ARE GENERATING IN ADVANCE OF A COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH THE
SOUTHEASTERN U.S.

HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS WILL GENERATE GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...
FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND DOWNPOURS OF RAIN. THERE IS A
RISK FOR ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS TO BECOME NEAR SEVERE WITH THE
POTENTIAL FOR A DAMAGING WIND GUST OR AN ISOLATED BRIEF TORNADO AS
THE INITIAL HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS AFFECT A GIVEN AREA.

RESIDENTS IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA MAY WANT TO PLAN AHEAD FOR
THUNDERSTORMS PUSHING INTO THE METROPOLITAN AREA FROM 7AM TO 10AM
THIS MORNING...SO MORNING COMMUTERS SHOULD PLAN ACCORDINGLY. SOME
PONDING OF WATER IN ROADS AND INTERSECTIONS IS POSSIBLE DURING THE
MID TO LATE MORNING HOURS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS SHOULD AVERAGE BETWEEN
1.5 AND TWO INCHES.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED INTO THE FORT MYERS AREA UNTIL AROUND
NOON.

MARINE SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT.

ALL SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THEIR RADIO...TELEVISION OR NOAA
WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER WEATHER STATEMENTS.

RITTENBERRY
Special weather statement, Oct 27, 6:09 AM EST, 3 hours 52 minutes before
FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-504-505-271600-
WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA RUSKIN FL
600 AM EST MON OCT 27 1997

...SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR MUCH OF WEST CENTRAL
   FLORIDA SOUTH OF BROOKSVILLE TO NAPLES...

AN IMPRESSIVE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE NORTH CENTRAL
PENINSULA WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH SOUTHEASTWARD AT 15 TO 20 MPH
THROUGH WEST CENTRAL TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA TODAY. THUNDERSTORMS
ARE GENERATING IN ADVANCE OF A COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH THE
SOUTHEASTERN U.S.

HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS WILL GENERATE GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...
FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND DOWNPOURS OF RAIN. THERE IS A
RISK FOR ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS TO BECOME NEAR SEVERE WITH THE
POTENTIAL FOR A DAMAGING WIND GUST OF ISOLATED BRIEF TORNADO AS
THE INITIAL HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS AFFECT A GIVEN AREA.

RESIDENTS IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA MAY WANT TO PLAN AHEAD FOR
THUNDERSTORMS PUSHING INTO THE METROPOLITAN AREA FROM 7AM TO 910AM
THIS MORNING...SO MORNING COMMUTERS SHOULD PLAN ACCORDINGLY. SOME
PONDING OF WATER IN ROADS AND INTERSECTIONS IS POSSIBLE DURING THE
MID TO LATE MORNING HOURS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS SHOULD AVERAGE BETWEEN
1.5 AND TWO INCHES.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED INTO THE FORT MYERS AREA UNTIL AROUND
NOON.

MARINE SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT.

ALL SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THEIR RADIO...TELEVISION OR NOAA
WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER WEATHER STATEMENTS.

RITTENBERRY
Special weather statement, Oct 27, 6:18 AM EST, 3 hours 43 minutes before
FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-504-505-271600-
WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA RUSKIN FL
600 AM EST MON OCT 27 1997

...SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR MUCH OF WEST CENTRAL
   AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BETWEEN BROOKSVILLE AND NAPLES...

AN IMPRESSIVE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE NORTH CENTRAL
PENINSULA WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH SOUTHEASTWARD AT 15 TO 20 MPH
THROUGH WEST CENTRAL TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA TODAY. THUNDERSTORMS
ARE GENERATING IN ADVANCE OF A COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH THE
SOUTHEASTERN U.S.

HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS WILL GENERATE GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...
FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND DOWNPOURS OF RAIN. THERE IS A
RISK FOR ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS TO BECOME NEAR SEVERE WITH THE
POTENTIAL FOR A DAMAGING WIND GUST OR AN ISOLATED BRIEF TORNADO AS
THE INITIAL HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS AFFECT A GIVEN AREA.

RESIDENTS IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA MAY WANT TO PLAN AHEAD FOR
THUNDERSTORMS PUSHING INTO THE METROPOLITAN AREA FROM 7AM TO 10AM
THIS MORNING...SO MORNING COMMUTERS SHOULD PLAN ACCORDINGLY. SOME
PONDING OF WATER IN ROADS AND INTERSECTIONS IS POSSIBLE DURING THE
MID TO LATE MORNING HOURS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS SHOULD AVERAGE BETWEEN
1.5 AND TWO INCHES.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED INTO THE FORT MYERS AREA UNTIL AROUND
NOON.

MARINE SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT.

ALL SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THEIR RADIO...&TELEVISION OR NOAA
WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER WEATHER STATEMENTS.

RITTENBERRY

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 26, 10:02 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWLevy88 min
Oct 27, 7:08 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWPasco, Pinellas62 min
Oct 27, 8:24 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWPinellas51 min
Oct 27, 8:34 AM ESTTornado WarningTBWPinellas26 min
Oct 27, 8:46 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWHillsborough, Pasco44 min
Oct 27, 8:46 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWManatee44 min
Oct 27, 9:00 AM ESTTornado WarningTBWHillsborough30 min
Oct 27, 9:15 AM ESTTornado WarningTBWPolk45 min
Oct 27, 10:27 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWHillsborough, Manatee48 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Florida, 1997Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1997

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.