Alert archive / Florida / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 90, NWS Tampa Bay, FL

July 28, 2003Highlands County, Florida

NWS Tampa Bay, FL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 28, 2003, 8:28 PM EDT for Highlands County, Florida. It was in force for 32 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 28, 2003, 8:28 PM EDT (00:28 UTC)
Expired: Jul 28, 2003, 9:00 PM EDT
In force: 32 min
Issued by: NWS Tampa Bay, FL
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Highlands County, FL

The radar

The Melbourne radar (KMLB), 106 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:29 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

Tampa Bay, FL (KTBW), launched 00:00Z, 0.5 hours before the alert went out and 118 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 2488 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -7 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 968 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 14 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -5 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: -8 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.

000 
WUUS52 KTBW 290028
SVRTBW
FLC055-290100-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
828 PM EDT MON JUL 28 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RUSKIN HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL HIGHLANDS COUNTY IN FLORIDA.

* UNTIL 900 PM EDT

* AT 828 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...6 MILES
  EAST OF LAKE PLACID...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 5 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT...
  LAKE ISTOKPOGA SHORES.
  MARLAND.
  SUNVALE.
  MEDOW LANE. 

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

&&

LAT...LON 2743 8133 2728 8142 2720 8123 2734 8111

$$

25

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 28, 2:00 PM EDT, 6 hours 28 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 28, 2:00 PM EDT, 6 hours 28 minutes before

WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
200 PM EDT MON JUL 28 2003

CURRENT/SHORT TERM (TONIGHT-WED)...WEAK SURFACE RIDGE CONTINUES OVER
FA WITH LITTLE FLOW. SEA BREEZE AND CONVECTIVE ELEMENTS DEVELOPING
ALONG ENTIRE COAST. MOST OF THE PRECIPITATION IS FROM THE TAMPA BAY
AREA NORTH. WEAK RIDGING PATTERN CONTINUES TUESDAY BUT SHIFTS
OVER SOUTH FLORIDA. WITH THE WEAK PRESSURE GRADIENT... THIS SHIFT
WILL NOT HAVE MUCH AFFECT EXCEPT TO BEGIN SEA BREEZES A BIT
EARLIER.

EXTENDED (THU THRU MON)...WEAK UPPER RIDGE DROPS INTO THE EASTERN
U.S. FOR THE WEEKEND BEFORE BEGINNING TO LIFT NORTHWARD MON. A
SURFACE RIDGE WILL REMAIN ACROSS THE SOUTH-CENTRAL OR SOUTH CWFA
INTO MUCH OF THE WEEKEND BUT THEN MOVE NORTH SUNDAY AND MONDAY AS
A WEAK WAVE MOVES THROUGH THE SOUTHERN HALF OF FL. GENERALLY LIGHT
FLOW THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH COASTAL PRECIPITATION MOVING ONSHORE
IN THE MID MORNING AND THEN INLAND DURING THE AFTERNOON. POPS WILL
REMAIN IN THE SCATTERED RANGE WITH TEMPERATURES NEAR NORMAL.

MARINE... NO CONCERNS EXCEPT SCATTERED TSTMS.

FIRE WEATHER... NO CONCERNS.

CCFTBW
TPA BB 076/090 077/090 078 03242
FMY BB 076/091 077/091 076 03242
GIF BB 075/092 076/092 074 03242
SRQ BB 075/089 076/089 076 03242
BKV BB 071/091 072/091 073 03242

.TBW...NONE.

CP/RR

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 28, 5:38 AM EDT, 14 hours 50 minutes before

FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-281300-

WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
538 AM EDT MON JUL 28 2003

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY:

SCATTERED AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED AS DAYTIME
TEMPERATURES TO 90 OR ABOVE WILL ACT ON A MOIST ATMOSPHERE. THE
STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ON THE GULF AND EAST COAST SEA
BREEZES...WITH ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE IN LOCATIONS WHERE
THE BOUNDARIES COLLIDE IN THE AFTERNOON INTO THE EARLY EVENING
HOURS. THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL CONTAIN HAIL...HEAVY RAIN IN
EXCESS OF TWO INCHES...AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH OR HIGHER. EXCESSIVE
LIGHTNING IS ALSO EXPECTED WITH A FEW STORMS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY:

WINDS WILL VEER TO THE SOUTHWEST BY TUESDAY AS LARGE UPPER
LEVEL TROUGH MOVES INTO THE EASTERN QUARTER OF THE U.S. THIS WILL
BRING LATE MORNING STORMS TO THE COAST AND SCATTERED STORMS IN THE
AFTERNOON OVER THE REMAINDER OF THE AREA.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.
WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE REMINDED TO RELAY ANY REPORTS OF SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER TO THE NWS OFFICE IN RUSKIN.

ALSHEIMER

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 28, 3:03 PM EDT, 5 hours 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN  FL
303 PM EDT MON JUL 28 2003

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

1210 PM    CLEARWATER                FL   LIGHTNING
07/28/03   PINELLAS                       *** 3 INJ ***
                                          THREE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS
                                          EATING LUNCH UNDER A TREE
                                          WERE AFFECTED WHEN
                                          LIGHTNING HIT THE TREE. THE
                                          WORKERS WERE COMPLAINING OF
                                          MUSCLE TREMORS AND INTERNAL
                                          PAIN.

Local storm report, Jul 28, 5:41 PM EDT, 2 hours 47 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN  FL
541 PM EDT MON JUL 28 2003

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

0328 PM    ZEPHYRHILLS               FL   .75 INCH HAIL
07/28/03   PASCO                          PENNY SIZED HAIL ON TUCKER
                                          ROAD. REPORTED BY FIRE AND
                                          RESCUE.

0330 PM    ZEPHYRHILLS               FL   .75 INCH HAIL
07/28/03   PASCO                          HEAVY HAIL OF DIME TO
                                          PENNY SIZE COVERING GROUND
                                          ON CHANCEY ROAD. REPORTED
                                          BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

RD

Special weather statement, Jul 28, 6:20 PM EDT, 2 hours 8 minutes before

FLZ052-282300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
620 PM EDT MON JUL 28 2003

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL POLK
COUNTY...

AT 615 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM...JUST EAST OF WINTER HAVEN AND CYPRESS
GARDENS...MOVING SOUTH AT 10 TO 15 MPH. STRONG STORMS WILL AFFECT
WINTER HAVEN...CYPRESS GARDENS...WAVERLY AND LAKE WALES...UNTIL 700
PM EDT. THE STRONGER STORMS COULD PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH
AND POSSIBLY PEA SIZE HAIL.  STAY TUNED FOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR
ANY ADDITIONAL UPDATES.

MORALES

Special weather statement, Jul 28, 6:46 PM EDT, 1 hour 42 minutes before

FLZ065-282315-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
646 PM EDT MON JUL 28 2003

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT EASTERN LEE COUNTY...
A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS DRIFTING SLOWLY TOWARD THE WEST AT LESS THAN
10 MPH...WILL AFFECT LEHIGH ACRES AND RURAL EASTERN LEE COUNTY...UNTIL 715
PM EDT. GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH WILL OCCUR. EXCESSIVE CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED IF OUTSIDE...CROUCH DOWN IN A LOW
SPOT...AWAY FROM TALL OBJECTS. IF INDOORS...REFRAIN FROM USING
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES. TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER
ON ROADS...AND MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.

LOEPER

Special weather statement, Jul 28, 8:08 PM EDT, 20 minutes before

FLZ057-290100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
808 PM EDT MON JUL 28 2003

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING WILL
EFFECT CENTRAL HIGHLANDS COUNTY...THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING
SLOWLY AND WILL AFFECT LAKE PLACID AND PLACID LAKES UNTIL 900 PM
EDT. GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH WILL OCCUR. EXCESSIVE CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED IF OUTSIDE...CROUCH DOWN IN A LOW SPOT...AWAY
FROM TALL OBJECTS. IF INDOORS...REFRAIN FROM USING ELECTRICAL
APPLIANCES. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER IS EXPECTED.
RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR WILL OCCUR. MOTORISTS CAN
EXPECT PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS...AND MINOR FLOODING OF POOR
DRAINAGE AREAS.

DAVIS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 29, 6:41 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TBW	Highlands	49 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Florida, 2003 Every 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.