Alert archive / Florida / Tornado Warnings in 1998
Tornado Warning 32, NWS Tampa Bay, FL
NWS Tampa Bay, FL issued this tornado warning at Feb 22, 1998, 9:12 PM EST for Citrus County, Florida. It was in force for 48 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
- Feb 22, 1998, 9:12 PM EST (02:12 UTC)
- Expired
- Feb 22, 1998, 10:00 PM EST
- In force
- 48 min
- Issued by
- NWS Tampa Bay, FL
- Area
- Whole counties
County Citrus County, FL
The radar
The Tampa radar (KTBW), 128 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:14 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 22, 9:18 PM EST | Hail 0.75 | Homosassa, FL | Dime sized hail was reported by a Skywarn Spotter. |
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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 22, 9:00 PM EST | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Tampa Bay, FL (KTBW), launched 00:00Z, 2.2 hours before the alert went out and 128 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 906 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -39 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1127 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 69 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 239 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 283 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 1.4
- Supercell composite
- 14.9
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KTBW 230212 RRA TORTBW FLC017-230300- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 912 PM EST SUN FEB 22 1998 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A...TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1000 PM EST FOR ...CITRUS COUNTY AT 910 PM EST... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN RUSKIN INDICATED A DEVELOPING TORNADO OVER SOUTHWEST CITRUS COUNTY NEAR CHASSAHOWITZKA SPRINGS. THE TORNADO WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. A DOPPLER RADAR DETECTED TORNADO MEANS THAT THERE IS STRONG ROTATION WITHIN A STORM. THE STORM MAY NOT BE PRODUCING A TORNADO AT THE MOMENT...BUT WILL LIKELY DURING THE WARNING PERIOD. THE STORM MAY ALSO INCLUDE HAIL AND DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WIND. THOSE IN THE PATH OF THE STORM ARE ADVISED TO TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY. TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY.
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.
NWS Tampa Bay, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Feb 22, 8:10 PM EST, 1 hour 2 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Feb 22, 8:10 PM EST, 1 hour 2 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY-RUSKIN, FL 810 PM EST SUN FEB 22 1998 WELL DEFINED NE TO SW SQUALL LINE NOW NOTED ON SATL AND 88D LOOPS EXTNDG FM NEAR JAX SWWD THRU LEVY COUNTY AND THEN CONTG SWWD OVER THE NERN AND ERN GLF WATERS TO WELL OVER 100 NM WEST OF CHARLOTTE HARBOR. SINCE THE EARLY AFTERNOON HRS SQUALL LINE HAS NOT MADE MUCH E OR SEWD PROGRESS AS LINE ITSELF IS PARALLEL TO DEEP LYRD S-SWLY FLOW OVER THE FA. HEAVIEST RAINFALL AMOUNTS AND BEST CNVTN HAS BEEN CONFINED TO MY NWRN MOST ZONE (LEVY COUNTY) IN VCNTY OF WARM FRONTAL BNDRY. WITH SLOWER SPEED TO SQUALL LINE...CONVECTION SHOULD BEGIN TO AFFECT COASTAL ZONES FROM HERNANDO COUNTY S TO TAMPA BETWEEN 9 AND 11 PM AND INTERIOR AND SWRN ZONES THERAFTER. LOOKING OVER 00Z RAOB DATA ATMOS IS VERY UNSTABLE ACRS THE FA WITH LIS AT TBW NOW -8. WITH GOOD INSTABILITY IN PLACE...PVA MOVG THROUGH AND STILL FAVORABLE SHEAR PROFILES BEING INDICATED BY 88D VWP AND RAOB DATA THE THREAT OF SVR TSTMS AND OR ISOLD TORNADOES WILL CONT ACRS THE FA THRU THE EVENING HOURS...BUT AM A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT WE MADE NEED AN ADDITIONAL BOX ISSUED ONCE PREVIOUS BOX EXPIRES AT 02Z BASED ON ENVIRONMENT EXISTING ACRS THE AREA. AFTER COORD WITH SPC IN THE LAST FEW MINUTES...TORNADO BOX WILL BE EXTENDED BEYOND 02Z FOR THE SAME AREA. AS FOR COASTAL FLOODING THREAT...TIDES NOW RUNNING ABOUT 1.5 FEET MSL. WITH HIGH TIDES EXPECTED BETWEEN 9 AND MIDNIGHT AND WINDS EXPECTED TO BE S-SWLY AT 20 TO 25 KNOTS...TIDES WILL LIKELY BE IN THE 2 TO 23/4 FOOT MSL RANGE DURING THIS TIME FRAME WHICH SHOULD NOT CAUSE MANY COASTAL FLOODING PROBLEMS. WILL WAIT TIL SPC EXTENDS WATCH BOX BEFORE UPDATING ZONES. ON MONDAY WX WILL BE IMPROVING...BUT GRADIENT WILL BE TIGHT ACRS THE CWA WITH WINDY CONDITIONS LIKELY AND WE MAY NEED TO THINK ABOUT A WIND ADVISORY AT THAT TIME AND WILL PASS ALONG TO MIDNIGHT CREW. MCMICHAEL
In the hours before
Local storm report, Feb 22, 4:50 PM EST, 4 hours 22 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
450 PM EST SUN FEB 22 1998
TIME(EST) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
207 PM BRONSON FL .75 INCH HAIL
2/22/98 LEVY REPORTED BY SPOTTER 2 MILES NORTH
OF BRONSON.
410 PM PALMETTO FL GRADIENT WIND DAMAGE
2/22/98 MANATEE TREE BLOWN DOWN ON MINI VAN IN
PALMETTO. 4 PEOPLE INJURED. WIND
WAS NON-THUNDERSTORM RELATED.
REPORT FROM STATE WARNING POINT.
MORALESLocal storm report, Feb 22, 4:50 PM EST, 4 hours 22 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
450 PM EST SUN FEB 22 1998
TIME(EST) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
207 PM BRONSON FL .75 INCH HAIL
2/22/98 LEVY REPORTED BY SPOTTER 2 MILES NORTH
OF BRONSON.
410 PM PALMETTO FL GRADIENT WIND DAMAGE
2/22/98 MANATEE TREE BLOWN DOWN ON MINI VAN IN
PALMETTO. 4 PEOPLE INJURED. WIND
WAS NON-THUNDERSTORM RELATED.
REPORT FROM STATE WARNING POINT.
MORALESSpecial weather statement, Feb 22, 7:15 PM EST, 1 hour 57 minutes before
FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060-061-GMZ830-850-853-870-873-230215- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 715 PM EST SUN FEB 22 1998 THIS STATEMENT APPLIES TO THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA AND ADJACENT GULF COASTAL WATERS : LEVY...CITRUS...HERNANDO...SUMTER...PASCO...PINELLAS... HILLSBOROUGH...POLK...MANATEE...HARDEE...DESOTO...HIGHLANDS... AND SARASOTA. ...SPECIAL MARINE WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE GULF COASTAL WATERS FROM SUWANNEE RIVER TO ANCLOTE KEY UNTIL 825 PM... ...FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR LEVY COUNTY UNTIL 800 PM... ...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR THE ABOVE MENTIONED COUNTIES UNTIL 900 PM... ...FLOOD WATCH ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE ABOVE MENTIONED COUNTIES THROUGH TONIGHT... AT 710 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...THAT STRETCHED ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA FROM NORTH OF DAYTONA WEST TO NEAR OCALA AND CEDAR KEY THEN SOUTHWEST OVER THE GULF AROUND 25 MILES WEST OF CRYSTAL RIVER TO AROUND 40 TO 50 MILES WEST OF BAYPORT TO 75 MILES WEST OF THE TAMPA BAY AREA TO OVER 100 MILES OFFSHORE OF SARASOTA AND VENICE. THE MOVEMENT WAS TO THE EAST AND NORTHEAST AROUND 30 MILES AN HOUR. THIS LINE WILL AFFECT LEVY...CITRUS...SUMTER...AND HERNANDO COUNTIES AND ADJACENT WATERS THROUGH 1000 PM. THE GREATER TAMPA BAY AREA INCLUDING PASCO...PINELLAS...HILLSBOROUGH... POLK...AND MANATEE COUNTIES AND ADJACENT WATERS WILL BE AFFECTED AFTER 900 PM. SARASOTA...HARDEE...DESOTO...AND HIGHLANDS COUNTIES WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS LINE AFTER 1100 PM TONIGHT. RADAR ESTIMATES THAT AROUND THREE TO FOUR INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN OVER LEVY COUNTY IN THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS...WITH ANOTHER ONE TO TWO INCHES LIKELY TO FALL THERE WITHIN THE NEXT TWO HOURS. AS THE LINE MOVES THROUGH OTHER AREAS ACROSS WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA LATER TONIGHT...THESE OTHER AREAS COULD ALSO SEE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE TO TWO INCHES. THIS WOULD LIKELY RESULT IN FLOODING OF ROADWAYS...SMALL STREAMS AND OTHER LOW LYING AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN DRIVING. SLOW DOWN AND USE COMMON SENSE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTHS OR WHICH COVERS THE ROADWAY. IT TAKES LESS THAN TWO FEET OF WATER FOR VEHICLES TO STALL AND BEGIN TO FLOAT. SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS OF RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...ROUGH SEAS...AND SMALL HAIL. ALL RESIDENTS OF WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA SHOULD STAY ABREAST OF THIS SITUATION. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR RADIO/TELEVISION/CABLE STATIONS FOR THE LATEST UPDATES CONCERNING THIS SITUATION. BE PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IF NECESSARY. MARINERS ARE URGED TO REMAIN IN PORT AND NOT VENTURE OUT TONIGHT. MILLER
Special weather statement, Feb 22, 7:15 PM EST, 1 hour 57 minutes before
FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060-061-GMZ830-850-853-870-873-230215- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 715 PM EST SUN FEB 22 1998 THIS STATEMENT APPLIES TO THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA AND ADJACENT GULF COASTAL WATERS : LEVY...CITRUS...HERNANDO...SUMTER...PASCO...PINELLAS... HILLSBOROUGH...POLK...MANATEE...HARDEE...DESOTO...HIGHLANDS... AND SARASOTA. ...SPECIAL MARINE WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE GULF COASTAL WATERS FROM SUWANNEE RIVER TO ANCLOTE KEY UNTIL 825 PM... ...FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR LEVY COUNTY UNTIL 800 PM... ...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR THE ABOVE MENTIONED COUNTIES UNTIL 900 PM... ...FLOOD WATCH ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE ABOVE MENTIONED COUNTIES THROUGH TONIGHT... AT 710 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...THAT STRETCHED ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA FROM NORTH OF DAYTONA WEST TO NEAR OCALA AND CEDAR KEY THEN SOUTHWEST OVER THE GULF AROUND 25 MILES WEST OF CRYSTAL RIVER TO AROUND 40 TO 50 MILES WEST OF BAYPORT TO 75 MILES WEST OF THE TAMPA BAY AREA TO OVER 100 MILES OFFSHORE OF SARASOTA AND VENICE. THE MOVEMENT WAS TO THE EAST AND NORTHEAST AROUND 30 MILES AN HOUR. THIS LINE WILL AFFECT LEVY...CITRUS...SUMTER...AND HERNANDO COUNTIES AND ADJACENT WATERS THROUGH 1000 PM. THE GREATER TAMPA BAY AREA INCLUDING PASCO...PINELLAS...HILLSBOROUGH... POLK...AND MANATEE COUNTIES AND ADJACENT WATERS WILL BE AFFECTED AFTER 900 PM. SARASOTA...HARDEE...DESOTO...AND HIGHLANDS COUNTIES WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS LINE AFTER 1100 PM TONIGHT. RADAR ESTIMATES THAT AROUND THREE TO FOUR INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN OVER LEVY COUNTY IN THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS...WITH ANOTHER ONE TO TWO INCHES LIKELY TO FALL THERE WITHIN THE NEXT TWO HOURS. AS THE LINE MOVES THROUGH OTHER AREAS ACROSS WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA LATER TONIGHT...THESE OTHER AREAS COULD ALSO SEE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE TO TWO INCHES. THIS WOULD LIKELY RESULT IN FLOODING OF ROADWAYS...SMALL STREAMS AND OTHER LOW LYING AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN DRIVING. SLOW DOWN AND USE COMMON SENSE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTHS OR WHICH COVERS THE ROADWAY. IT TAKES LESS THAN TWO FEET OF WATER FOR VEHICLES TO STALL AND BEGIN TO FLOAT. SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS OF RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...ROUGH SEAS...AND SMALL HAIL. ALL RESIDENTS OF WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA SHOULD STAY ABREAST OF THIS SITUATION. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR RADIO/TELEVISION/CABLE STATIONS FOR THE LATEST UPDATES CONCERNING THIS SITUATION. BE PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IF NECESSARY. MARINERS ARE URGED TO REMAIN IN PORT AND NOT VENTURE OUT TONIGHT. MILLER
Special weather statement, Feb 22, 8:30 PM EST, 42 minutes before
FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060-061-GMZ830-850-853-870-873-230330- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 830 PM EST SUN FEB 22 1998 THIS STATEMENT APPLIES TO THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA AND ADJACENT GULF COASTAL WATERS : LEVY...CITRUS...HERNANDO...SUMTER...PASCO...PINELLAS... HILLSBOROUGH...POLK...MANATEE...HARDEE...DESOTO...HIGHLANDS... AND SARASOTA. ...SPECIAL MARINE WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE GULF COASTAL WATERS FROM CEDAR KEY TO THE MOUTH OF TAMPA BAY UNTIL 1030 PM... ...FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR LEVY COUNTY UNTIL 1100 PM... ...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR THE ABOVE MENTIONED COUNTIES UNTIL 300 AM MONDAY... ...FLOOD WATCH ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE ABOVE MENTIONED COUNTIES THROUGH TONIGHT... AT 830 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...THAT STRETCHED ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA FROM NEAR DAYTONA WEST TO NEAR OCALA... CEDAR KEY...AND CRYSTAL RIVER SOUTHWEST OVER THE GULF TO 25 MILES WEST OF NEW PORT RICHEY TO 50 MILES WEST OF THE MOUTH OF TAMPA BAY TO 50 TO 100 MILES OFFSHORE OF SARASOTA AND VENICE. THE GENERAL MOVEMENT OF THE LINE WAS TO THE EAST AND NORTHEAST AROUND 30 MILES AN HOUR...WHILE SOME INDIVIDUAL CELLS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT OVER 40 MPH. THIS ACTIVITY WILL GRADUALLY MOVE OUT OF LEVY COUNTY BY 1000 PM...AND OUT OF CITRUS COUNTY BY 1100 PM. THIS LINE WILL AFFECT SUMTER...HERNANDO...AND PASCO COUNTIES AND ADJACENT WATERS THROUGH MIDNIGHT. THE GREATER TAMPA BAY AREA WILL BE AFFECTED AFTER 9 TO 10 PM. POLK...SARASOTA...HARDEE...DESOTO...AND HIGHLANDS COUNTIES WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS LINE AFTER 1100 PM TONIGHT. RADAR ESTIMATES THAT OVER FOUR INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN OVER LEVY COUNTY...WITH ANOTHER ONE INCH LIKELY TO FALL THERE WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR. AS THE LINE MOVES THROUGH OTHER AREAS ACROSS WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA LATER TONIGHT...THESE OTHER AREAS COULD ALSO SEE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE TO TWO INCHES. THIS WOULD LIKELY RESULT IN FLOODING OF ROADWAYS...SMALL STREAMS AND OTHER LOW LYING AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN DRIVING. SLOW DOWN AND USE COMMON SENSE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTHS OR WHICH COVERS THE ROADWAY. IT TAKES LESS THAN TWO FEET OF WATER FOR VEHICLES TO STALL AND BEGIN TO FLOAT. SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS OF RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...ROUGH SEAS...SMALL HAIL...AND POSSIBLY WATERSPOUTS AND TORNADOES. ALL RESIDENTS OF WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA SHOULD STAY ABREAST OF THIS SITUATION. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR RADIO/TELEVISION/CABLE STATIONS FOR THE LATEST UPDATES CONCERNING THIS SITUATION. BE PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IF NECESSARY. MARINERS ARE URGED TO REMAIN IN PORT AND NOT VENTURE OUT TONIGHT. MILLER
Special weather statement, Feb 22, 8:30 PM EST, 42 minutes before
FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060-061-GMZ830-850-853-870-873-230330- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 830 PM EST SUN FEB 22 1998 THIS STATEMENT APPLIES TO THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA AND ADJACENT GULF COASTAL WATERS : LEVY...CITRUS...HERNANDO...SUMTER...PASCO...PINELLAS... HILLSBOROUGH...POLK...MANATEE...HARDEE...DESOTO...HIGHLANDS... AND SARASOTA. ...SPECIAL MARINE WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE GULF COASTAL WATERS FROM CEDAR KEY TO THE MOUTH OF TAMPA BAY UNTIL 1030 PM... ...FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR LEVY COUNTY UNTIL 1100 PM... ...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR THE ABOVE MENTIONED COUNTIES UNTIL 300 AM MONDAY... ...FLOOD WATCH ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE ABOVE MENTIONED COUNTIES THROUGH TONIGHT... AT 830 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...THAT STRETCHED ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA FROM NEAR DAYTONA WEST TO NEAR OCALA... CEDAR KEY...AND CRYSTAL RIVER SOUTHWEST OVER THE GULF TO 25 MILES WEST OF NEW PORT RICHEY TO 50 MILES WEST OF THE MOUTH OF TAMPA BAY TO 50 TO 100 MILES OFFSHORE OF SARASOTA AND VENICE. THE GENERAL MOVEMENT OF THE LINE WAS TO THE EAST AND NORTHEAST AROUND 30 MILES AN HOUR...WHILE SOME INDIVIDUAL CELLS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT OVER 40 MPH. THIS ACTIVITY WILL GRADUALLY MOVE OUT OF LEVY COUNTY BY 1000 PM...AND OUT OF CITRUS COUNTY BY 1100 PM. THIS LINE WILL AFFECT SUMTER...HERNANDO...AND PASCO COUNTIES AND ADJACENT WATERS THROUGH MIDNIGHT. THE GREATER TAMPA BAY AREA WILL BE AFFECTED AFTER 9 TO 10 PM. POLK...SARASOTA...HARDEE...DESOTO...AND HIGHLANDS COUNTIES WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS LINE AFTER 1100 PM TONIGHT. RADAR ESTIMATES THAT OVER FOUR INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN OVER LEVY COUNTY...WITH ANOTHER ONE INCH LIKELY TO FALL THERE WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR. AS THE LINE MOVES THROUGH OTHER AREAS ACROSS WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA LATER TONIGHT...THESE OTHER AREAS COULD ALSO SEE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE TO TWO INCHES. THIS WOULD LIKELY RESULT IN FLOODING OF ROADWAYS...SMALL STREAMS AND OTHER LOW LYING AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN DRIVING. SLOW DOWN AND USE COMMON SENSE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTHS OR WHICH COVERS THE ROADWAY. IT TAKES LESS THAN TWO FEET OF WATER FOR VEHICLES TO STALL AND BEGIN TO FLOAT. SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS OF RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...ROUGH SEAS...SMALL HAIL...AND POSSIBLY WATERSPOUTS AND TORNADOES. ALL RESIDENTS OF WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA SHOULD STAY ABREAST OF THIS SITUATION. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR RADIO/TELEVISION/CABLE STATIONS FOR THE LATEST UPDATES CONCERNING THIS SITUATION. BE PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IF NECESSARY. MARINERS ARE URGED TO REMAIN IN PORT AND NOT VENTURE OUT TONIGHT. MILLER
The office that day
Everything else NWS Tampa Bay, FL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 22, 9:32 PM EST | Tornado Warning | TBW | Sumter | 43 min |
| Feb 23, 12:00 AM EST | Tornado Warning | TBW | Polk | 45 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Florida, 1998Every tornado warning in 1998Tornadoes in 1998
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.