Alert archive / Florida / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2002

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 67, NWS Tampa Bay, FL

October 15, 2002Citrus County, Florida

NWS Tampa Bay, FL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Oct 15, 2002, 2:18 PM EDT for Citrus County, Florida. It was in force for 42 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 15, 2002, 2:18 PM EDT (18:18 UTC)
Expired
Oct 15, 2002, 3:00 PM EDT
In force
42 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 18:20 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Tampa Bay, FL (KTBW), launched 12:00Z, 6.3 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Tampa Bay, FL at 12:00Z on 2002-10-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1018 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 2002-10-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 58 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
1018 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-21 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
606 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
58 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
90 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
1.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

178 
WUUS52 KTBW 151818
SVRTBW
FLC017-151900-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
218 PM EDT TUE OCT 15 2002

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RUSKIN HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  CITRUS COUNTY IN FLORIDA.

* UNTIL 300 PM EDT

* AT 218 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH DAMAGING WINDS...9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
  INVERNESS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT...
  HOMOSASSA SPRINGS.
  BEVERLY HILLS.
  INVERNESS.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTAIN WIND GUSTS OF 60 MPH OR HIGHER...AND
HAIL THE SIZE OF DIMES OR LARGER. MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY.

&&


$$

13

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 15, 1:30 PM EDT, 48 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 15, 1:30 PM EDT, 48 minutes before
WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
130 PM EDT TUE OCT 15 2002

WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH SHOWERS AND A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AHEAD
OF A COLD FRONT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...BUT MUCH DRIER COOLER
WEATHER IS ON ITS WAY.  THE COLD FRONT CURRENTLY OVER THE EASTERN
GULF OF MEXICO WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA TONIGHT WITH WINDS SHIFTING
NORTHWEST AND GRADUAL CLEARING DEVELOPING LATE TONIGHT.  SURFACE HIGH
PRESSURE WILL BEGIN TO BUILD OVER THE SOUTHEAST U.S. AND FLORIDA ON
WEDNESDAY WITH DRIER COOLER AIR ADVECTING OVER THE FA...AND THIS WILL
PERSIST THROUGH FRIDAY.  AS THE SURFACE HIGH MOVES OFF THE MID
ATLANTIC COAST ON SATURDAY...WINDS WILL VEER NORTHEAST AND EAST WITH
TEMPERATURES MODERATING BACK TO CLIMATIC NORMALS.

THE SURFACE RIDGE WILL BEGIN TO GIVE WAY ON MONDAY AS ANOTHER COLD
FRONT APPROACHES NORTH FLORIDA WITH MOISTURE INCREASING ACROSS THE
FA.  THE CHANCE OF RAIN WILL REMAIN LOW WITH ONLY SLIGHT CHANCE POPS.
A STRONG CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE CENTRAL
PLAINS AND BEGIN TO PUSH THE COLD FRONT SOUTHEAST APPROACHING NORTH
FLORIDA TUESDAY AFTERNOON.  ANOTHER SURGE OF COOL DRY AIR APPEARS TO
BE HEADING TOWARDS FLORIDA FOR THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK ALSO.

MARINE...MARGINAL SCEC CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP TONIGHT AS THE
GRADIENT TIGHTENS OVER THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO BEHIND THE
COLD FRONT.  SCEC CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY PERSIST THROUGH
WEDNESDAY...WITH WINDS SUBSIDING WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

PRELIM NUMBERS:
BKV 68/80/56/78 4100
TPA 72/82/61/79 4100
GIF 71/83/60/80 4100
SRQ 72/82/61/80 4100
FMY 73/85/64/81 5100

.TBW...SCEC TONIGHT BONITA BEACH TO SUWANNEE RIVER OUT TO 60NM
       INCLUDING TAMPA BAY.

OGLESBY
Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 15, 5:20 AM EDT, 8 hours 58 minutes before
FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-151500-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
520 AM EDT TUE OCT 15 2002

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY:

...A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS
AFTERNOON...
...GUSTY MARINE WINDS TONIGHT...

AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT WILL PRODUCE SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS
THUNDERSTORMS LATER TODAY ACROSS MOST OF THE SUNCOAST...AS WELL AS
INTERIOR COUNTIES.

A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE THROUGH THE EASTERN
GULF EARLY THIS MORNING...REACHING THE COAST AROUND OR JUST BEFORE
NOON.  RESIDENTS NEAR THE COAST CAN EXPECT LOCALLY TORRENTIAL
RAIN...OCCASIONAL TO FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND WIND GUSTS TO 30 MPH
WITH A FEW CELLS.

STRONGER STORMS MAY DEVELOP FARTHER INLAND EARLY THIS AFTERNOON AS
THE LINE ENCOUNTERS INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE AIR.  A FEW SEVERE STORMS
MAY DEVELOP. STRONGER STORMS WILL CONTAIN WIND GUSTS OF 40 MPH OR
MORE...SMALL HAIL...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING.  ANY SEVERE STORMS
THAT FORM WOULD PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.

AS LOW PRESSURE INTENSIFIES OFF OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES
COAST...WESTERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE OVER THE COASTAL WATERS.
GUSTS OF 25 TO 30 KNOTS ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.

RESIDENTS SHOULD BE ALERT TO CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY.
WHEN SKIES DARKEN...MOVE INDOORS. IF THERE IS TIME...UNPLUG
APPLIANCES AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT. WAIT UNTIL THE STORM ENDS
BEFORE USING THE TELEPHONE OR RUNNING WATER.

MARINERS...ESPECIALLY SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS...PLANNING TRIPS INTO
THE EASTERN GULF TODAY AND TONIGHT MAY WISH TO DELAY OR POSTPONE
THEM UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVE.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR
UPDATES.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY:

HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...CHECK OUR WEBSITE AT
HTTP://WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TBW

BSG

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Oct 15, 10:50 AM EDT, 3 hours 28 minutes before
FLZ039-042-048-151700-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
1050 AM EDT TUE OCT 15 2002

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER THE NORTHEAST GULF OF
MEXICO...

AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAS DEVELOPED OVER THE NORTHEAST
GULF OF MEXICO FROM 35 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CEDAR KEY TO 30 MILES
NORTHWEST OF CEDAR KEY.  THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT
15 MPH.  THE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS OF 40
TO 50 MPH...SMALL HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING.  STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MAY AFFECT EXTREME WESTERN
PORTIONS OF LEVY COUNTY BETWEEN 11 AM AND NOON...AND THE REMAINDER
OF LEVY COUNTY BETWEEN NOON TO 1 PM.

THE ATMOSPHERE IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE ACROSS WEST CENTRAL
AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.  ADDITIONAL STRONG TO POSSIBLY SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA THIS
AFTERNOON IN ADVANCE OF A COLD FRONT OVER THE EASTERN GULF OF
MEXICO.

RESIDENTS IN WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA SHOULD STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO OR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR THE LATEST WEATHER
INFORMATION THROUGH THE DAY.

OGLESBY
Special weather statement, Oct 15, 10:50 AM EDT, 3 hours 28 minutes before
FLZ039-042-043-048-049-050-051-052-055-056-057-060-061-062-065-
151700-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...COR TO ADD COUNTIES
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
1050 AM EDT TUE OCT 15 2002

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER THE NORTHEAST GULF OF
MEXICO...

AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAS DEVELOPED OVER THE NORTHEAST
GULF OF MEXICO FROM 35 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CEDAR KEY TO 30 MILES
NORTHWEST OF CEDAR KEY.  THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT
15 MPH.  THE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS OF 40
TO 50 MPH...SMALL HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING.  STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MAY AFFECT EXTREME WESTERN
PORTIONS OF LEVY COUNTY BETWEEN 11 AM AND NOON...AND THE REMAINDER
OF LEVY COUNTY BETWEEN NOON TO 1 PM.

THE ATMOSPHERE IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE ACROSS WEST CENTRAL
AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.  ADDITIONAL STRONG TO POSSIBLY SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA THIS
AFTERNOON IN ADVANCE OF A COLD FRONT OVER THE EASTERN GULF OF
MEXICO.

RESIDENTS IN WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA SHOULD STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO OR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR THE LATEST WEATHER
INFORMATION THROUGH THE DAY.

OGLESBY
Special weather statement, Oct 15, 2:07 PM EDT, 11 minutes before
FLZ039-042-048-049-151845-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
207 PM EDT TUE OCT 15 2002

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT COASTAL AREAS OF
LEVY...CITRUS...HERNANDO...AND PASCO COUNTIES...

A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS MOVING OFF THE GULF OF MEXICO EAST AT 20
MPH...WILL AFFECT YANKEETOWN...HUDSON...CRYSTAL RIVER...HOMOSASSA
SPRINGS AND SPRING HILL...UNTIL 245 PM EDT. GUSTY WINDS UP TO 50 MPH
MAY CAUSE LOOSE OBJECTS TO BLOW AROUND AND SOME DAMAGE TO TREE LIMBS
AND WIRES IS POSSIBLE. TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER
ON ROADS...AND MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.

DEESE

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 15, 10:00 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningTBW60 min
Oct 15, 11:10 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningTBW80 min
Oct 15, 12:55 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningTBW80 min
Oct 15, 12:55 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningTBW80 min
Oct 15, 1:00 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningTBW60 min
Oct 15, 2:03 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningTBW57 min
Oct 15, 2:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWSumter24 min
Oct 15, 3:05 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningTBW115 min
Oct 15, 3:57 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWPinellas48 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Florida, 2002Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2002

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.