Alert archive / Florida / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 75, NWS Tampa Bay, FL

July 17, 2003Pinellas County, Florida

NWS Tampa Bay, FL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 17, 2003, 11:40 PM EDT for Pinellas County, Florida. It was in force for 35 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
Jul 17, 2003, 11:40 PM EDT (03:40 UTC)
Expired
Jul 18, 2003, 12:15 AM EDT
In force
35 min
Issued by
NWS Tampa Bay, FL
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Pinellas County, FL

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

Tampa Bay, FL (KTBW), launched 00:00Z, 3.7 hours before the alert went out and 33 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 00:00Z on 2003-07-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2215 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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 00:00Z on 2003-07-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 16 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
2215 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-10 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1281 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
9 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
16 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
62 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

149 
WUUS52 KTBW 180340
SVRTBW
FLC103-180415-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
1140 PM EDT THU JUL 17 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RUSKIN HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHERN PINELLAS COUNTY IN FLORIDA.

* UNTIL 1215 AM EDT

* AT 1140 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND POSSIBLY LARGE         
  HAIL...OVER SAINT PETERSBURG...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 15 TO 20 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT...
  SAINT PETERSBURG.
  LEALMAN.
  KENNETH CITY.
  PINELLAS PARK.
  HIGHPOINT.
  LARGO.

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

FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS 
STORM. MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT USE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES OR 
TELEPHONES.

&&

LAT...LON 2770 8263 2785 8256 2804 8280 2784 8291

$$

33

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 Jul 17, 9:08 PM EDT, 2 hours 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 17, 9:08 PM EDT, 2 hours 32 minutes before
WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
908 PM EDT THU JUL 17 2003

A BOUNDARY FROM THE EAST COAST THUNDERSTORMS HAS FIRED UP SOME
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG OUR COAST.  THESE STORMS HAVE BEEN BEHAVING
THEMSELVES AND WITH THE SUNSET I DO NOT EXPECT THEM TO GO ABOVE
SEVERE LIMITS.  THIS IS IN SPITE OF TONIGHTS SOUNDING BEING VERY
UNSTABLE AND CONTAINING A DRY SLOT. I WILL CHANGE THE WORDING IN THE
FORECAST TO REMOVE THE MENTION OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TAKE OUT
POPS COMPLETELY ACROSS THE SOUTH AND INLAND WHERE THE AIR HAS
STABILIZED.  THE COASTAL FORECAST LOOKS FINE.

.TBW...NONE.

SOBIEN
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 17, 5:55 AM EDT, 17 hours 45 minutes before
FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-171500-

WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
555 AM EDT THU JUL 17 2003

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT:

...A FEW MORE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON...

ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP BETWEEN 11 AM AND 1 PM ALONG THE
GULF COAST SEA BREEZE AND WHERE THE SEA BREEZE AND BAY BREEZES
INTERSECT AROUND TAMPA AND SAINT PETERSBURG.  THESE STORMS WILL
CONTAIN OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...A BRIEF
DOWNPOUR...AND WIND GUSTS TO 25 MPH.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP BETWEEN 1 AND 4 PM ACROSS MOST
OF THE AREA.  AMPLE HEATING BEFORE DEVELOPMENT WILL ALLOW A FEW MORE
STRONG STORMS TO DEVELOP THAN ON WEDNESDAY.

THE STRONGER STORMS THIS AFTERNOON WILL PRODUCE FREQUENT CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WHICH MAY PRODUCE URBAN
FLOODING IN POOR DRAINAGE AREAS...AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH.

A POCKET OF COOL AIR WELL ABOVE THE SURFACE WILL CONTINUE TODAY.
THIS WILL ALLOW SEVERAL STORMS TO APPROACH OR EXCEED SEVERE
LIMITS...WITH THE MAIN THREATS BEING PENNY SIZE HAIL AND DAMAGING
WIND GUSTS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY:

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED EACH DAY.  LIGHT SOUTHWEST
STEERING FLOW MAY HELP INITIATE A FEW EARLY MORNING STORMS NEAR THE
SUNCOAST GENERALLY FROM PINELLAS COUNTY NORTHWARD...ESPECIALLY FROM
SATURDAY ON.  OTHERWISE...STORMS WILL TEND TO OCCUR BETWEEN NOON AND
SUNSET.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

FULL SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY.  SELF ACTIVATION
MAY BE NECESSARY IN A FEW SPOTS...ESPECIALLY IF SEVERE STORMS
DEVELOP IN HIGHER POPULATION AREAS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR
UPDATES...INCLUDING POSSIBLE WARNINGS OR ADVISORIES...LATER TODAY.

FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION, CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT
HTTP://WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TBW

BSG

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 17, 5:44 PM EDT, 5 hours 56 minutes before
FLZ057-172230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
544 PM EDT THU JUL 17 2003

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL SOUTHEASTERN HIGHLANDS COUNTY...
A THUNDERSTORM...MOVING WEST AT 10 MPH...WILL AFFECT BRIGHTON...
HIGHWAY 98...AND RURAL SOUTHEASTERN HIGHLANDS COUNTY...UNTIL 630 PM
EDT. GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING
IS EXPECTED. IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE...CROUCH DOWN IN A LOW SPOT...AWAY
FROM TALL OBJECTS. THIS STORM MAY PRODUCE PEA SIZE HAIL. TORRENTIAL
RAINS WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS...AND MINOR FLOODING OF
POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.
Special weather statement, Jul 17, 6:36 PM EDT, 5 hours 4 minutes before
FLZ055-056-060-061-172315-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
636 PM EDT THU JUL 17 2003

THUNDERSTORMS...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 10 MPH...WILL AFFECT RURAL
EASTERN SARASOTA COUNTY... RURAL NORTHWESTERN DESOTO COUNTY...AND
EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN MANATEE COUNTY...UNTIL 715 PM EDT. THIS
ACTIVITY EXTENDED FROM NEAR LILY...TO 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MYAKKA
STATE PARK. GUSTY WINDS UP TO 30 MPH AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED. IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE...CROUCH DOWN IN A LOW
SPOT...AWAY FROM TALL OBJECTS. THIS STORM MAY PRODUCE PEA SIZE
HAIL. TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS...AND
MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 18, 3:00 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWCitrus30 min
Jul 18, 3:47 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWLevy43 min
Jul 18, 7:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWHighlands31 min
Jul 18, 7:34 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWHillsborough26 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.