Alert archive / Florida / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2004

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 65, NWS Tampa Bay, FL

July 3, 2004Pinellas County, Florida

NWS Tampa Bay, FL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 3, 2004, 2:11 PM EDT for Pinellas County, Florida. It was in force for 34 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 3, 2004, 2:11 PM EDT (18:11 UTC)
Expired
Jul 3, 2004, 2:45 PM EDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS Tampa Bay, FL
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Pinellas County, FL

The radar

The Tampa radar (KTBW), 38 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:14 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 12:00Z, 6.2 hours before the alert went out and 39 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 2004-07-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 655 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 2004-07-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -2 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
655 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-85 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1066 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
15 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-2 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.

361 
WUUS52 KTBW 031811
SVRTBW
FLC103-031845-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
211 PM EDT SAT JUL 3 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RUSKIN HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 245 PM EDT

* AT 211 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...OVER
  PINELLAS PARK...MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT...
  PINELLAS PARK.
  SAINT PETE CLEARWATER AIRPORT.

MOVE INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING. DAMAGING WIND...LARGE HAIL...
TORRENTIAL RAIN...AND DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE EXPECTED. STAY INSIDE AWAY
FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.


&&

LAT...LON 2797 8280 2778 8277 2782 8258 2797 8267

$$

57

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 3, 2:00 PM EDT, 11 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 3, 2:00 PM EDT, 11 minutes before
WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FORECAST DISCUSSION...COR
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
200 PM EDT SAT JUL 3 2004

CORRECTED TO ADD WARNING...WATCH...ADVISORY LINE

.SHORT TERM (TONIGHT-MON)...A BIT OF A SLOW START TO THE CONVECTION
TODAY COMPARED TO YESTERDAY. THIS IS A BIT SURPRISING CONSIDERING
THE AMPLE MOISTURE BELOW 500MB AND STRONG HEATING. THE 12Z TAMPA
SOUNDING WOULD SUGGEST CUMULUS DEVELOPMENT AT AROUND 83 DEGREES...
YET WE ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO GET THE CUMULUS DEVELOPMENT EVEN
WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 80S.

ITS A BIT OF A DIFFERENT STORY IN LEVY COUNTY...WHERE EARLIER
THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY OFFSHORE AND DEEPER WESTERLY FLOW IS AIDING
IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THERE. FARTHER
SOUTH...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING WEST AND NORTHWEST FROM
THE SOUTHEAST COAST OF THE PENINSULA WILL BE INTERSECTING THE WEST
COAST SEA BREEZE THIS AFTERNOON. THIS WILL ALLOW FOR GOOD COVERAGE
ALONG THE COASTAL AREAS FROM FORT MYERS NORTHWARD TO ABOUT SARASOTA.

NOW FOR THE FUTURE...CONVECTION WILL LINGER INTO THE EVENING HOURS
TODAY WITH LOTS OF BOUNDARY INTERACTION...THEN A GRADUAL DECREASE
WITH MOST PLACES DRY BY 10PM OR SO. THE HOLIDAY LOOKS TO BE A
TYPICAL SUMMER DAY WITH AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY
JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE...BUT I STILL EXPECT BEST COVERAGE TO BE INLAND
WITH SEA BREEZE INTERACTIONS IN LIGHT WIND REGIME. FOR RESIDENTS
ALONG THE HIGHLY POPULATED WEST COASTAL COMMUNITIES...IT APPEARS AT
THIS TIME THAT RAIN CHANCES FOR THE EVENING OF THE FOURTH WILL BE
AROUND 30 PERCENT.

EXPECT SIMILAR CONDITIONS ON MONDAY AS THERE WILL BE LITTLE CHANGE
SYNOPTICALLY. THE MESOETA SEEMS TO DRIVE THE RIDGE TOO FAR TO THE
SOUTH ALLOWING A BIT MORE WESTERLY COMPONENT...BUT AT THIS POINT
WILL OPT TO LEAVE CONTINUITY IN PLACE SINCE THERE ISNT MUCH RUN-TO-
RUN CONSISTENCY IN THE MODELS.

.LONG TERM (MON NIGHT-SAT)...
VERY LITTLE CHANGE THROUGH THE PERIOD. THE DEEP LAYER RIDGE AXIS
STARTS OFF OVER THE CENT AREA ON TUESDAY...THEN POSSIBLY SAGS A
LITTLE SOUTH FOR WED AND THURS AS A WEAK UPPER TROF MOVES ACROSS
THE EASTERN U.S. THUS...LOW LEVEL WINDS WILL BE VERY WEAK FOR TUES...
THEN LIGHT WESTERLY MUCH OF THE AREA FOR WED AND THURS. BY FRI AND
SAT...THE RIDGE AXIS TRIES TO MIGRATE BACK NORTHWARD AGAIN...WITH A
RETURN TO LOW LEVEL ESE FLOW. HAVE STUCK WITH 40-50% AFTN/EVENING
POPS THROUGH THE PERIOD...BUT IF FLOW BECOMES MORE ESE BY LATE IN THE
PERIOD...THE TIMING SHOULD BE DEFINITIVELY AFTERNOON AND EARLY
EVENING...WITH A HIGHER BIAS FOR PRECIP TOWARD THE COAST.

&&

.MARINE...LIGHT WINDS CONTINUE AS THE WEAK SURFACE RIDGE OF HIGH
PRESSURE REMAINS ACROSS THE CENTRAL COASTAL WATERS. NO HIGHLIGHTS.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...AMPLE MOISTURE IN PLACE SO NO HIGHLIGHTS.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
TPA 75 90 75 91/ 30 60 30 50
FMY 74 91 75 92/ 30 60 30 50
GIF 75 92 75 94/ 30 60 30 50
SRQ 74 90 74 91/ 30 60 30 40
BKV 71 91 71 92/ 30 60 30 50

&&

.TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE.

&&

SHORT TERM...JILLSON
LONG TERM...MORALES
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 3, 5:15 AM EDT, 8 hours 56 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
515 AM EDT SAT JUL 3 2004

FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-031400-
CHARLOTTE-CITRUS-DE SOTO-HARDEE-HERNANDO-HIGHLANDS-HILLSBOROUGH-LEE-
LEVY-MANATEE-PASCO-PINELLAS-POLK-SARASOTA-SUMTER-
515 AM EDT SAT JUL 3 2004

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY:

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG
COASTAL SECTIONS OF THE BAY AREA AND NATURE COAST THIS MORNING. WITH
DAYTIME HEATING...THE WEST COAST SEA BREEZE WILL INITIATE ADDITIONAL
STORMS THAT WILL LATER COLLIDE WITH THE EAST COAST SEA BREEZE AND
OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES TO GENERATE NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE REST OF THE AREA...THEN TAPER OFF INTO THE
EVENING. WEAK STEERING FLOW ALOFT WILL ALLOW FOR SLOW MOVING STORMS.

RAINFALL RATES OF 2 TO 3 INCHES AN HOUR ARE POSSIBLE...WHICH COULD
CAUSE MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. FREQUENT TO EXCESSIVE
CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE ALSO
POSSIBLE WITH TODAYS STORMS.

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

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY:

SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS MAINLY AFTERNOON AND EVENING SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED EACH DAY. THERE WILL BE A POSSIBILITY OF
STRONG STORMS EACH AFTERNOON. STAY TUNED TO THE LATEST FORECASTS FOR
ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

&&

FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION...CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT
HTTP://WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TBW (LOWER CASE)

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 3, 2:06 PM EDT, 5 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
206 PM EDT SAT JUL 3 2004

FLZ050-031845-
PINELLAS-
206 PM EDT SAT JUL 3 2004

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH...WILL AFFECT
SEMINOLE...PINELLAS PARK...MADEIRA BEACH AND LARGO...UNTIL 245 PM
EDT. GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH WILL OCCUR. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED. IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE...CROUCH DOWN IN A LOW
SPOT...AWAY FROM TALL OBJECTS. TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL CAUSE PONDING
OF WATER ON ROADS...AND MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.

MCMICHAEL

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 3, 2:22 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningTBW38 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Florida, 2004Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2004

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.