Alert archive / Florida / Tornado Warnings in 2003
Tornado Warning 5, NWS Tampa Bay, FL
NWS Tampa Bay, FL issued this tornado warning at Mar 27, 2003, 3:08 PM EST for Pasco County, Florida. It was in force for 22 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 27, 2003, 3:08 PM EST (20:08 UTC)
- Expired
- Mar 27, 2003, 3:30 PM EST
- In force
- 22 min
- Issued by
- NWS Tampa Bay, FL
- Area
- Counties, with a storm outline in the text
County Pasco County, FL
The radar
The Tampa radar (KTBW), 64 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:07 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 tornado 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 watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 27, 11:00 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Tampa Bay, FL (KTBW), launched 12:00Z, 8.1 hours before the alert went out and 64 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
- 845 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -17 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 820 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 50 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 166 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 216 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 2.8
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
034 WFUS52 KTBW 272008 TORTBW FLC101-272030- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 307 PM EST THU MAR 27 2003 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RUSKIN HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... PASCO COUNTY IN FLORIDA. * UNTIL 330 PM EST * AT 307 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A TORNADO 19 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DADE CITY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. * THE TORNADO WILL AFFECT... SAN ANTONIO BY 330 PM EST. AT 307 PM EST...WEATHER SPOTTERS ALSO REPORTED A LARGE FUNNEL CLOUD NEAR LAND O LAKES. THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM MOVE INTO THE INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING...AWAY FROM WINDOWS. COVER YOUR HEAD AND BODY WITH PILLOWS OR BLANKETS. && LAT...LON 2824 8258 2819 8242 2835 8212 2840 8232 $$
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 Mar 27, 2:13 PM EST, 55 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 27, 2:13 PM EST, 55 minutes before
WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 213 PM EST THU MAR 27 2003 ONGOING SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS FROM THROUGHOUT THE FA WILL KEEP THIS DISCUSSION SHORT. UPPER SYSTEM CONTINUES TO PULL ENEWD FROM THE N CNTRL GOMEX WITH THE TROUGH AXIS OFF THE NE FL COAST BY FRIDAY MORNING. IN THE INTERIM... ONGOING NUMEROUS SHWRS AND TSTMS WILL GRADUALLY MOVE EWD BUT WILL HOLD ONTO SOME LOWER THRESHOLD 30-40 POP INTO THE EVENING HOURS EARLY TONIGHT UNTIL CONVECTION EXITS AREA. ALSO CAN NOT RULE OUT SOME LINGERING CONVECTION...PARTICULARLY OVER THE NRN FA...DUE TO THE UNSTABLE COOL POOL ALOFT CONDITIONS BENEATH THE UPPER LOW AS IT PROGRESS EWD. OTHERWISE EXPECT GRADUALLY CLEARING SKIES LATER NIGHT ...BUT WITH SOME PATCHY LATE NIGHT FOG...NOTABLY OVER THE NRN FA. MUCH IMPROVED CONDITIONS EXPECTED FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WITH CONSIDERABLE SUNSHINE AND NEAR NIL PREMISE FOR PCPN. EXPECT INCREASING CLOUDINESS SATURDAY NIGHT DUE TO THE APPROACH OF A STRONG COLD FRONT ACCOMPANNIED WITH SHOWERS AND TSTMS TO PUSH THROUGH THE PNSULA ON SUNDAY. A MUCH COOLER AIR MASS FOR EARLY SPRING TO FOLLOW THIS FRONT WITH CLEARING SKIES BUT A RETURN OF A CHILL IN THE AIR SUNDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY WEEK...PARTICULARLY AT NIGHT. MORE ON THIS IN FUTURE DISCUSSIONS. .MARINE...NO SIGNIFICANT WINDS EXPECTED THROUGH SATURDAY BUT WINDS AND SEAS WILL INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY WITH AND FOLLOWING THE FRONTAL PASSAGE SUNDAY INTO MONDAY BEFORE DECREASING TUESDAY. PRELIM NUMBERS... BKV UU 060/085 057/085 064 10300 TPA UU 067/084 067/084 068 10300 GIF UU 066/087 065/088 065 10400 SRQ UU 078/067 082/064 082 10200 FMY UU 067/087 066/087 068 10300= .TBW...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 5PM. DMR/DN
Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 27, 5:20 AM EST, 9 hours 48 minutes before
FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-271600- HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 520 AM EST THU MAR 27 2003 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TODAY: ...ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON... A STRONG UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO THIS MORNING...WILL MOVE EASTWARD ACROSS NORTHERN FLORIDA LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT. CONDITIONS WILL BECOME FAVORABLE FOR STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP BY THIS AFTERNOON AS THE UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES CLOSER TO THE AREA. FOR THIS MORNING...ONLY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED. BY EARLY AFTERNOON...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND STRENGTH... ESPECIALLY OVER INTERIOR LOCATIONS...WITH SOME STORMS BECOMING STRONG TO SEVERE. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE TOWARD THE NORTHEAST TODAY AT 10 TO 15 MPH. THE MAIN THREATS FROM ANY STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. THERE IS ALSO THE POSSIBILITY FOR ISOLATED TORNADOES. REMEMBER...ALL THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR POSSIBLE WATCHES OR WARNINGS THIS AFTERNOON. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY: ...MORE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE LATER THIS WEEKEND... ANOTHER STRONG UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE AND ASSOCIATED SURFACE COLD FRONT ARE EXPECTED TO APPROACH THE AREA FROM THE WEST ON SUNDAY. THIS SYSTEM WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE STRONG STORMS BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON. RESIDENTS SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR FORECASTS AND STATEMENT FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS CONCERNING THE THREAT FOR STRONG STORMS LATER THIS WEEKEND. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED THIS AFTERNOON...AND AGAIN ON SUNDAY. FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION, CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TBW MORALES
In the hours before
Local storm report, Mar 27, 1:54 PM EST, 1 hour 14 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
154 PM EST THU MAR 27 2003
TIME(EST) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
1050 AM 2 S PUNTA GORDA FL .75 INCH HAIL
03/27/03 CHARLOTTE REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.
1217 PM 1 S TEMPLE TERRACE FL 1.00 INCH HAIL
03/27/03 HILLSBOROUGH REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER.
1254 PM MORRISTON FL WATERSPOUT
03/27/03 LEVY REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.
1254 PM MORRISTON FL .75 INCH HAIL
03/27/03 LEVY REPORTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT.Local storm report, Mar 27, 2:27 PM EST, 41 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
227 PM EST THU MAR 27 2003
TIME(EST) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0110 PM TEMPLE TERRACE FL 1.75 INCH HAIL
03/27/03 HILLSBOROUGH USF CAMPUS REPORTED BY
MEDIA.
0130 PM WESLEY CHAPEL FL 1.50 INCH HAIL
03/27/03 PASCO REPORTED BY MEDIA.
0143 PM CAPE CORAL FL URBAN FLOOD
03/27/03 LEE REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.
0120 PM TAMPA PALMS FL .75 INCH HAIL
03/27/03 HILLSBOROUGH REPORTED BY MEDIA.
0131 PM WESLEY CHAPEL FL 1.75 INCH HAIL
03/27/03 PASCO REPORTED BY MEDIA.
0200 PM CRYSTAL RIVER FL .75 INCH HAIL
03/27/03 CITRUS REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER.
0206 PM 2 N CRYSTAL RIVER FL .75 INCH HAIL
03/27/03 CITRUS REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER.
0208 PM 2 SE BROOKSVILLE FL 1.00 INCH HAIL
03/27/03 HERNANDO REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER.
0221 PM LAND O LAKES FL 1.00 INCH HAIL
03/27/03 PASCO REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
OPERATOR.
0218 PM 5 SE INVERNESS FL .75 INCH HAIL
03/27/03 CITRUS REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER.
0224 PM BROOKSVILLE FL .75 INCH HAIL
03/27/03 HERNANDO REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER.Local storm report, Mar 27, 2:36 PM EST, 32 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
236 PM EST THU MAR 27 2003
TIME(EST) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0120 PM NEW TAMPA FL 1.75 INCH HAIL
03/27/03 HILLSBOROUGH REPORTED BY PUBLIC.
0206 PM CRYSTAL RIVER FL WIND DAMAGE
03/27/03 CITRUS POWER LINES DOWN REPORTED
BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.The office that day
Everything else NWS Tampa Bay, FL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 27, 10:53 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TBW | Charlotte | 37 min |
| Mar 27, 11:03 AM EST | Special Marine Warning | TBW | 57 min | |
| Mar 27, 11:08 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TBW | DeSoto | 52 min |
| Mar 27, 11:52 AM EST | Special Marine Warning | TBW | 53 min | |
| Mar 27, 12:10 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TBW | Lee | 65 min |
| Mar 27, 1:00 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TBW | Hillsborough | 30 min |
| Mar 27, 1:04 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TBW | Levy | 31 min |
| Mar 27, 1:20 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TBW | Pasco | 40 min |
| Mar 27, 1:34 PM EST | Special Marine Warning | TBW | 56 min | |
| Mar 27, 1:45 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TBW | Citrus | 30 min |
| Mar 27, 2:01 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TBW | Hernando | 29 min |
| Mar 27, 2:08 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TBW | Levy | 37 min |
| Mar 27, 2:10 PM EST | Special Marine Warning | TBW | 2 hr | |
| Mar 27, 2:19 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TBW | Citrus, Sumter | 41 min |
| Mar 27, 2:20 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TBW | Hernando, Pasco | 25 min |
| Mar 27, 2:37 PM EST | Tornado Warning | TBW | Lee | 23 min |
| Mar 27, 2:42 PM EST | Tornado Warning | TBW | Levy | 48 min |
| Mar 27, 2:58 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TBW | Hernando, Pasco | 47 min |
| Mar 27, 4:37 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TBW | Pasco | 38 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Florida, 2003Every tornado warning in 2003Tornadoes 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.