Alert archive / Florida / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 26, NWS Melbourne, FL

March 19, 2003Brevard County, Florida

NWS Melbourne, FL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 19, 2003, 7:37 PM EST for Brevard County, Florida. It was in force for 38 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Mar 19, 2003, 7:37 PM EST (00:37 UTC)
Expired
Mar 19, 2003, 8:15 PM EST
In force
38 min
Issued by
NWS Melbourne, FL
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Brevard County, FL

The radar

The Melbourne radar (KMLB), 90 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:36 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Cape Canaveral, FL (KXMR), launched 00:00Z, 0.6 hours before the alert went out and 52 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, Cape Canaveral, FL at 00:00Z on 2003-03-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 3048 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Cape Canaveral, FL at 00:00Z on 2003-03-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 126 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
3048 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-16 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
701 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
45 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
126 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
130 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
2.7
Supercell composite
9.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

857 
WUUS52 KMLB 200037
SVRMLB
FLC009-200115-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
736 PM EST WED MAR 19 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MELBOURNE HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN BREVARD COUNTY
  IN EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA

* UNTIL 815 PM EST

* AT 735 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
  A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM ABOUT 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MIMS...MOVING 
  NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH. THE STORM WILL MOVE ACROSS MIMS...AURANTIA
  AND SCOTTSMOOR. PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM SHOULD TAKE COVER
  IMMEDIATELY.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58 MILES AN
HOUR...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. IF
THE STORM APPROACHES YOU...MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR.

LARGE HAIL...EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE LIKELY. TAKE
COVER IN A STURDY BUILDING UNTIL THE STORM PASSES.

LAT...LON 2868 8101 2856 8087 2922 7996 2948 8025

$$
52

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 Melbourne, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Mar 19, 2:45 PM EST, 4 hours 52 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 19, 2:45 PM EST, 4 hours 52 minutes before
EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
245 PM EST WED MAR 19 2003

CURRENTLY...AT 2 PM...SEA BRZ HAD MADE IT THROUGH DAB/COF...BUT
STILL HOLDING NEAR THE COAST SOUTH OF THE CAPE. TEMPS IN THE LWR 80S
AT COF/DAB WHERE SEA BRZ MOVED THROUGH. HAD TO UPDT FOR UPPER 80S
TEMPS AT MLB/VRB/FPR WHERE S/SSW FLOW HAS HELD BACK SEA BRZ A BIT
LONGER.

TONIGHT...PLANNING ON SLGT CHC POPS FOR NRN ZONES BASED ON LATE
AFTN CU FIELD AND EXPECTATION OF LATE SEA BRZ CONVERGENCE ACROSS THE
INTERIOR. FURTHER SOUTH WILL MAKE LAST MINUT CALL WHETHER LOW
EVENING POP IS WARRANTED.

THU...GRADIENT TIGHTENS SOMEWHAT AS SOUTHERLY FLOW CONTINUES WITH H9
WINDS FROM S/SSW AT 25 KNOTS AND H8 WINDS AT 30 KNOTS. WILL LOW LVL
SSW FLOW...SEA BRZ SHOULD DEVELOP AGAIN THOUGH BE DELAYED SOMEWHAT
AND MAKE SLOW INLAND PROGRESS. MODELS NOT IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH
PWAT PROGS BUT WITH SOME INCREMENTAL INCREASE IN LOW LEVEL MOISTURE
WILL GO WITH 20/30 RANGE FOR POPS MAINLY IN THE LATE AFTN WITH PEAK
AFTN HEATING. H5 TEMPS STILL WARM...-5/-6 DEGS C PROGED BY ETA/NGM
ACROSS CENTRAL SECTIONS. WILL AGAIN TAKE PEAK HEATING AND INTERIOR
AND LATE DAY BOUNDARY INTERACTIONS FOR CONVECTION TO DEVELOP.

THU NGT...PARTLY CLOUDY WITH ISOLD EARLY EVENING POPS. WILL LIKELY
SEE SOME LOW STRATUS SPREAD INTO THE INTERIOR LATE.

FRI...UPPER LVL S/W IS PROGD TO MOVE ACROSS THE SE STATES WITH STRONG
LOW LVL S/SW FLOW. SYNOPTIC FLOW SHOULD DOMINATE AND WILL NOT SEE
MUCH IN THE WAY OF ANY SEA BRZ FORCING. MAIN PREFRONTAL MOISTURE
BAND LOOKS TO MOVE ACROSS THE NRN PENINSULA DURING THE LATE AFTN AND
MAY MAKE IT IN TWD NRN SECTIONS LATE. WILL GO WITH SLIGHTY HIGHER
POPS NORTH BUT KEEP IN THE CHC CATEGORY. MORE CLOUDINESS SHOULD DROP
A FEW DEGS FROM HIGH TEMPS BUT STILL IN THE MID 80S...TO UPPER 80S
SRN SECTIONS.

FRI NGT-SAT...PREFRONTAL MOISTURE BAND SLIPS ACROSS CENTRAL
PENINSULA FRI NGT AND WILL KEEP SCT POPS. ON SAT...WILL LIMIT PRECIP
CHANCES TO SRN ZONES AS WEAKENING FRONT MOVES DOWN THE PENINSULA AND
DEEPER MOISTURE IS SHUNTED SOUTHWARD.

SUN-WED...THINK ENOUGH LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL LINGER ACROSS MARTIN
COUNTY AND NEAR THE LAKE TO ALLOW SLGT POPS FOR SUN THERE. NRN AND
CENTRAL SECTIONS LOOK GOOD WITH PWATS DROPPING TO AN INCH OR LESS
AND HIGH PRES BUILDING IN. MON-WED...SRN STREAM S/W APPROACHES SUN
NGT INTO MONDAY. WILL PROBABLY HAVE LOW POP AROUND LAKE OKEE WHERE
ENOUGH LOW LVL MOISTURE SHOULD BE PRESENT FOR ISOLD ACTIVITY.
TUE-WED...WILL KEEP DRY WITH ONSHORE FLOW BUT LOW MEAN RH.

MARINE...PLAN TO HEADLINE EXERCISE CAUTION TONIGHT AS SE FLOW
INCREASES TO 15 TO 20 KNOTS. ON THU...WILL SHOW SOUTHERLY WINDS
INCREASE TO NEAR 20 KNOTS AS GRADIENT TIGHTENS. THU NGT/FRI...FLOW
WILL VEER FROM S TO SW AND WILL DROP BACK TO SCEC RANGE. WIND SHIFT
STILL PROGD FOR SAT NGT WITH WEAKENING FRONT. WINDS WILL BECOME
ONSHORE EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH SPEEDS 10-15 KNOTS OR LESS.

PRELIM...
DAB BB 071/086 070/085 066 15232
MCO BB 070/089 070/087 067 15232
MLB BB 074/086 072/085 069 15122=

.MLB...NONE.

PUBLIC/MARINE WX...VOLKMER
AVIATION/FIRE WX...LASCODY
Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 19, 10:25 AM EST, 9 hours 12 minutes before
AMZ550-555-570-575-FLZ041-044>047-053-054-058-059-064-141-144-147-
192130-

EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
1025 AM EST WED MAR 19 2003

.DAY ONE...

AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL LIMIT THUNDERSTORM
COVERAGE THIS AFTERNOON. HOWEVER...ADEQUATE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE...
AFTERNOON HEATING AND THE EAST COAST SEA BREEZE BOUNDARY WILL ALLOW
ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP DURING THE LATE
AFTERNOON HOURS.

ISOLATED STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS INTERIOR SECTIONS. THE
MID LEVEL FLOW WILL STEER ANY STORMS THAT DO DEVELOP BACK TOWARD THE
EAST COAST DURING THE EARLY EVENING HOURS.

THE MAIN HAZARDS WITH THESE STORMS WILL BE LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...GUSTY
WINDS TO 45 MPH AND CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES. HEAD INDOORS
IF STORMS APPROACH YOUR AREA.

FOR BOATING INTERESTS...BOATERS SHOULD KEEP A WATCHFUL EYE TO
THE WEST AS STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO FORM OVER LAND...TRACK
EAST...AND MOVE OFF THE MAINLAND DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY
EVENING HOURS. AS THE STORMS MOVE ACROSS THE NEAR SHORE WATERS...THEY
MAY PRODUCE BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...GUSTY WINDS...LOCALLY ROUGH SEAS
AND CLOUD TO WATER LIGHTNING.

AT AREA BEACHES...A GREATER THAN NORMAL THREAT FOR RIP CURRENTS
WILL OCCUR AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON DUE TO A PERSISTENT 2 TO 3 FOOT
NORTHEAST SWELL. RIP CURRENTS ARE NORMALLY MOST DANGEROUS DURING THE
TIME OF OUTGOING TIDE...AND NEAR PIERS AND JETTIES. THE OUTGOING TIDE
WILL OCCUR THROUGH MID AFTERNOON TODAY.

CHECK WITH THE BEACH PATROL OR LIFEGUARDS ABOUT CONDITIONS IN THE
SURF ZONE BEFORE GOING INTO THE OCEAN TODAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...

A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO APPROACH THE AREA LATE IN THE WEEK AND
BRING A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS FRIDAY.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN STORM SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED TODAY.

MRV

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 19, 5:00 PM EST, 2 hours 37 minutes before
AMZ550-570-FLZ041-045>047-053-054-141-147-192350-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
500 PM EST WED MAR 19 2003

...SHOWERS AND LIGHTNING STORMS...SOME STRONG...WILL BE POSSIBLE
EARLY THIS EVENING FROM INTERIOR AREAS TO THE SAINT JOHNS RIVER...

AT 500 PM...VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGERY AND MELBOURNE DOPPLER RADAR
SHOWED THE WEST COAST SEA BREEZE...FROM AROUND THE OCALA FOREST
THROUGH METRO ORLANDO...TO SAINT CLOUD...LAKE KISSIMMEE...AND AVON
PARK IN HIGHLANDS COUNTY. MEANWHILE...THE EAST COAST SEA BREEZE
EXTENDED FROM CENTRAL VOLUSIA COUNTY TO THE SAINT JOHNS RIVER IN
NORTH BREVARD COUNTY...TO WEST MELBOURNE AND CONTINUED SOUTH ALONG
INTERSTATE 95 TO FELLSMERE IN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY.

THROUGH 700 PM...A COLLISION BETWEEN THESE TWO BOUNDARIES WILL OCCUR
FROM INTERIOR VOLUSIA COUNTY SOUTHWARD ACROSS EASTERN SEMINOLE AND
ORANGE COUNTIES...TO NEAR THE OSCEOLA BREVARD COUNTY LINE. SHOWERS
AND STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THIS AREA...AND ANY WHICH FORM WILL
MOVE BACK ACROSS VOLUSIA AND BREVARD COUNTIES.

SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME STRONG...AND PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS...
FREQUENT LIGHTNING...VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...AND POSSIBLE SOME SMALL
HAIL.

CRISTALDI
Local storm report, Mar 19, 6:33 PM EST, 1 hour 4 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
633 PM EST WED MAR 19 2003

TIME(EST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0630 PM    DELTONA                   FL   1.00 INCH HAIL
03/19/03   VOLUSIA                        ONE INCH HAIL REPORTED BY
                                           SKYWARN SPOTTER.
Special weather statement, Mar 19, 7:11 PM EST, 26 minutes before
AMZ550-570-FLZ045>047-053-141-147-200115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
711 PM EST WED MAR 19 2003

...ADDITIONAL STORMS INTENSIFYING ACROSS EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA...

AT 710 PM...STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS PERSIST ACROSS SOUTHERN
VOLUSIA COUNTY...AND ADDITIONAL STORMS WERE STRENGTHING ACROSS
EASTERN ORANGE AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES. THROUGH 830 PM...STORMS WILL
HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME STRONG TO SEVERE FROM SOUTHERN VOLUSIA
TO EASTERN SECTIONS OF SEMINOLE...ORANGE AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES...ALSO
INTO BREVARD COUNTY.

PERSONS SHOULD KEEP ALERT OF THE WEATHER THIS EVENING. LISTEN FOR
FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. TAKE COVER IN A STURDY
SHELTER BEFORE STORMS REACH YOUR LOCATION.

GLITTO

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 19, 7:13 PM ESTTornado WarningMLBVolusia32 min
Mar 19, 7:30 PM ESTSpecial Marine WarningMLB90 min
Mar 19, 7:44 PM ESTTornado WarningMLBVolusia31 min
Mar 20, 4:54 PM ESTSpecial Marine WarningMLB81 min
Mar 20, 4:58 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMLBVolusia62 min
Mar 20, 6:15 PM ESTSpecial Marine WarningMLB60 min
Mar 20, 6:18 PM ESTSpecial Marine WarningMLB87 min
Mar 20, 6:45 PM ESTSpecial Marine WarningMLB90 min
Mar 20, 6:45 PM ESTSpecial Marine WarningMLB90 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Florida, 2003Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2003

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.