Alert archive / Florida / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 27, NWS Tampa Bay, FL

April 23, 1997Charlotte County, Sarasota County, Florida

NWS Tampa Bay, FL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 23, 1997, 4:11 PM EDT for Charlotte County, Sarasota County, Florida. It was in force for 64 min. 2 reports 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 23, 1997, 4:11 PM EDT (20:11 UTC)
Expired
Apr 23, 1997, 5:15 PM EDT
In force
64 min
Issued by
NWS Tampa Bay, FL
Area
Whole counties

Counties Charlotte County, FL, Sarasota County, FL

The radar

The Tampa radar (KTBW), 78 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:13 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Apr 23, 4:35 PM EDTThunderstorm WindSarasota, FLThunderstorm winds tore off the roof of a mobile home, caused major damage to several others and capsized a boat at the Harbor Cove mobile home park near the intersection of U.S. Highway 41 and County Road 777.
Apr 23, 4:45 PM EDTThunderstorm WindPunta Gorda, FLThunderstorm winds tore off the roof of a mobile home on Swaying Palm Drive in Punta Gorda.

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.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Apr 23, 11:45 AM EDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Tampa Bay, FL (KTBW), launched 12:00Z, 8.2 hours before the alert went out and 78 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 1997-04-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2247 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 1997-04-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 190 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
2247 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-1 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
587 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
32 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
190 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
250 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.8
Supercell composite
9.4

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 Apr 23, 2:43 PM EDT, 1 hour 28 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 23, 2:43 PM EDT, 1 hour 28 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY-RUSKIN, FL
800 PM EDT WED APR 23 1997

WILL REMOVE TORNADO WATCH FROM SOUTHERN FA. SAT/RADAR SHOWING
LINE OF SHWS/TSTMS HAVED MOVED OUT OF FA. PCLDY CONDITIONS WILL
PREVAIL THRU REST OF NIGHT. WILL TAKE OUT MENTION OF POPS ALL
ZONES TONIGHT. SFC FRNT STILL OVR NCENT FL AND WILL SLOWLY MOVE
S TONIGHT...FILTERING IN COOLER DRIER AIR LATER TONIGHT. MAY
TWEEK MINS A LITTLE MORE TOWARDS GUIDANCE.4 THANKS MIA FOR COORD.

MORALES

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 23, 12:13 PM EDT, 3 hours 58 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...VERY PRELIMINARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
1113 AM EST WED APR 23 1997

TIME(EST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....
0710 AM    NEAR CHEIFLAND            FL   TORNADO
04/23/97   LEVY                           REPORTED NEAR SR320 AND
                                          WILLOW SINK RD. NO DAMAGE
                                          REPORTED. REPORT FROM LEVY
                                          EOC

0800 AM    HERNANDO BEACH            FL   TORNADO
04/23/97   HERNANDO                       5 TO 6 WATERSPOUTS
                                          REPORTED OFF HERNANDO
                                          BEACH REPORT FROM HERNANDO
                                          EOC

0828 AM    HERNANDO BEACH            FL   64 MPH TSTM GUST
04/23/97   HERNANDO                       SPOTTER REPORT.

0833 AM    HOMOSASSA                 FL   TORNADO
04/23/97   CITRUS                         REPORTED AT GATEWAY
                                          SHOPPING CENTER. DAMAGE TO
                                          FURNITURE STORE. REPORT
                                          VIA HERNANDO EOC

0840 AM                              FL   WIND DAMAGE
04/23/97   SUMTER                         ROOF AND CARPORT DAMAGE AT
                                          CARDINAL LN AND US19. ALSO
                                          POWER OUT AND TREES DOWN
                                          COUNTY WIDE.

0900 AM                              FL   TORNADO
04/23/97   HERNANDO                       SEVERAL TORNADO TOUCHDOWNS
                                          ACROSS THE COUNTY FROM
                                          HERNANDO BCH TO 4E BROOKSVILLE

0910 AM    WILDWOOD                  FL   TORNADO
04/23/97   SUMTER                         TORNADO DAMMGED HIGH
                                          SCHOOL. ALSO DAMAGE TO
                                          LAKE PANASOFFKEE FIRE
                                          DEPT. NUMEROUS TRACTOR
                                          TRAILERS BLOWN OVER ON
                                          I-75. REPORT FROM SUMTER
                                          EOC

1014 AM    HOLIDAY                   FL   .75 INCH HAIL
04/23/97   PASCO                          DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED BY
                                          SPOTTER.

1018 AM    HOLIDAY                   FL   50 MPH TSTM GUST
04/23/97   PASCO                          SPOTTER ESTIMATED WIND
                                          GUST. ALSO 2 LARGE TREES
                                          DOWN.

1032 AM    SEMINOLE                  FL   FUNNEL
04/23/97   PINELLAS                       FUNNEL CLOUD SPOTTED BY
                                          SKYWARN SPOTTER.

1115 AM                              FL   0.5 INCH HAIL
04/23/97   PINELLAS                       MARBLE SIZE HAIL REPORTED
                                          ACROSS COUNTY. REPORT FROM
                                          HAM OPERATOR.

NASH
Local storm report, Apr 23, 12:15 PM EDT, 3 hours 56 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...VERY PRELIMINARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
1113 AM EST WED APR 23 1997

TIME(EST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....
0710 AM    NEAR CHEIFLAND            FL   TORNADO
04/23/97   LEVY                           REPORTED NEAR SR320 AND
                                          WILLOW SINK RD. NO DAMAGE
                                          REPORTED. REPORT FROM LEVY
                                          EOC

0800 AM    HERNANDO BEACH            FL   TORNADO
04/23/97   HERNANDO                       5 TO 6 WATERSPOUTS
                                          REPORTED OFF HERNANDO
                                          BEACH REPORT FROM HERNANDO
                                          EOC

0828 AM    HERNANDO BEACH            FL   64 MPH TSTM GUST
04/23/97   HERNANDO                       SPOTTER REPORT.

0833 AM    HOMOSASSA                 FL   TORNADO
04/23/97   CITRUS                         REPORTED AT GATEWAY
                                          SHOPPING CENTER. DAMAGE TO
                                          FURNITURE STORE. REPORT
                                          VIA HERNANDO EOC

0840 AM                              FL   WIND DAMAGE
04/23/97   SUMTER                         ROOF AND CARPORT DAMAGE AT
                                          CARDINAL LN AND US19. ALSO
                                          POWER OUT AND TREES DOWN
                                          COUNTY WIDE.

0900 AM                              FL   TORNADO
04/23/97   HERNANDO                       SEVERAL TORNADO TOUCHDOWNS
                                          ACROSS THE COUNTY FROM
                                          HERNANDO BCH TO 4E BROOKSVILLE

0910 AM    WILDWOOD                  FL   TORNADO
04/23/97   SUMTER                         TORNADO DAMMGED HIGH
                                          SCHOOL. ALSO DAMAGE TO
                                          LAKE PANASOFFKEE FIRE
                                          DEPT. NUMEROUS TRACTOR
                                          TRAILERS BLOWN OVER ON
                                          I-75. REPORT FROM SUMTER
                                          EOC

1014 AM    HOLIDAY                   FL   .75 INCH HAIL
04/23/97   PASCO                          DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED BY
                                          SPOTTER.

1018 AM    HOLIDAY                   FL   50 MPH TSTM GUST
04/23/97   PASCO                          SPOTTER ESTIMATED WIND
                                          GUST. ALSO 2 LARGE TREES
                                          DOWN.

1032 AM    SEMINOLE                  FL   FUNNEL
04/23/97   PINELLAS                       FUNNEL CLOUD SPOTTED BY
                                          SKYWARN SPOTTER.

1115 AM                 l             FL   0.5 INCH HAIL
04/23/97   PINELLAS                       MARBLE SIZE HAIL REPORTED
                                          ACROSS COUNTY. REPORT FROM
                                          HAM OPERATOR.

NASH
Special weather statement, Apr 23, 3:17 PM EDT, 54 minutes before
FLZ043-048-049-232015-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
317 PM EDT WED APR 23 1997

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 191 CANCELLED FOR HERNANDO...SUMTER...
   PASCO COUNTIES...

THE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE MOVED SOUTH OF THE
COUNTIES OF HERNANDO...SUMTER...AND PASCO. THIS HAS ENDED THE
THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER...THE TORNADO WATCH THAT WAS IN EFFECT
UNTIL 600 PM HAS BEEN CANCELLED. FOR THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS MAY FORM.

RKR
Special weather statement, Apr 23, 3:20 PM EDT, 51 minutes before
FLZ043-048-049-232015-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
317 PM EDT WED APR 23 1997

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 191 CANCELLED FOR HERNANDO...SUMTER...
   PASCO COUNTIES...

THE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE MOVED SOUTH OF THE
COUNTIES OF HERNANDO...SUMTER...AND PASCO. THIS HAS ENDED THE
THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER...THE TORNADO WATCH THAT WAS IN EFFECT
UNTIL 600 PM HAS BEEN CANCELLED. FOR THE REST OF$ THE AFTERNOON
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS MAY FORM.

RKR

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 23, 8:08 AM EDTTornado WarningTBWLevy52 min
Apr 23, 8:55 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWHernando, Pasco65 min
Apr 23, 8:55 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWCitrus, Levy65 min
Apr 23, 9:30 AM EDTTornado WarningTBWHernando45 min
Apr 23, 9:34 AM EDTTornado WarningTBWCitrus41 min
Apr 23, 9:50 AM EDTTornado WarningTBWSumter40 min
Apr 23, 9:57 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWPasco63 min
Apr 23, 10:10 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWHernando65 min
Apr 23, 10:28 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWSumter62 min
Apr 23, 10:59 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWPasco, Pinellas61 min
Apr 23, 11:03 AM EDTTornado WarningTBWPasco, Pinellas42 min
Apr 23, 11:23 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWHillsborough67 min
Apr 23, 11:35 AM EDTTornado WarningTBWHillsborough40 min
Apr 23, 11:59 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWPolk61 min
Apr 23, 12:04 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWPinellas56 min
Apr 23, 12:26 PM EDTTornado WarningTBWHillsborough49 min
Apr 23, 12:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWManatee57 min
Apr 23, 12:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWPolk61 min
Apr 23, 1:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWHillsborough, Pinellas55 min
Apr 23, 2:05 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWHardee55 min
Apr 23, 2:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWManatee53 min
Apr 23, 2:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWHighlands60 min
Apr 23, 2:33 PM EDTTornado WarningTBWSarasota42 min
Apr 23, 3:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWManatee, Sarasota63 min
Apr 23, 3:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWDeSoto, Hardee, Highlands60 min
Apr 23, 4:52 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWDeSoto, Highlands68 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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.