Alert archive / Florida / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2004

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 68, NWS Tampa Bay, FL

July 6, 2004Polk County, Florida

NWS Tampa Bay, FL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 6, 2004, 6:15 PM EDT for Polk County, Florida. It was in force for 30 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 6, 2004, 6:15 PM EDT (22:15 UTC)
Expired
Jul 6, 2004, 6:45 PM EDT
In force
30 min
Issued by
NWS Tampa Bay, FL
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Polk County, FL

The radar

The Tampa radar (KTBW), 73 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:17 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, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 73 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 2004-07-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 536 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 2004-07-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -12 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
536 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-123 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1228 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
9 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-12 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-17 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 062215
SVRTBW
FLC105-062245-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
615 PM EDT TUE JUL 6 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RUSKIN HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 645 PM EDT

* AT 615 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...OVER
  SOUTHERN POLK COUNTY...MOVING WEST AT 5 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT...
  FORT MEADE.

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

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 2784 8156 2784 8184 2766 8181 2766 8154

$$

09

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 6, 1:30 PM EDT, 4 hours 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 6, 1:30 PM EDT, 4 hours 45 minutes before
WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
130 PM EDT TUE JUL 6 2004

.SHORT TERM (TONIGHT-THU)...RIDGE AXIS MEANDERS MAINLY ACROSS THE
SOUTHERN HALF OF THE STATE THROUGH THE TERM WITH WINDS BECOMING MORE
WESTERLY THROUGH THIS EVENING. HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT TO KEEP STEERING
FLOW RELATIVELY LIGHT. AREA OF DRY AIR CURRENTLY OVER THE BAHAMAS
REGION TO TRAVERSE TO THE WEST BUT STAY SOUTH OF THE CWA...SO
SHOULD NOT HAVE MUCH OF AN IMPACT ON POPS FOR THE SOUTHERN ZONES.
KEPT SCATTERED AFTERNOON CONVECTION THAT WILL DEVELOP ALONG
SEABREEZE BOUNDARIES WITH BEST CHANCES OVER THE INTERIOR...AND
ISOLATED TSTMS OVER THE COASTAL WATERS OVERNIGHT. KEPT TEMPS NEAR
CLIMO.

.LONG TERM (THU NIGHT-TUE)...VERY LITTLE CHANGE TO THE CURRENT FCST
WAS DONE. DEEP LAYER RIDGE AXIS EXPECTED TO REMAIN BETWEEN THE CENT
AND NCENT FA THROUGH MOST OF THE PERIOD. AS MENTIONED YESTERDAY...
MODELS OSCILLATING WITH WHERE TO PLACE THE LOW LEVEL RIDGE AXIS. FOR
NOW...GOING WITH A PLACEMENT OVER THE N 1/2 OF THE FA. THIS WILL
MEAN LIGHT SSE FLOW...BECOMING WSW OVER THE N FA AND COASTAL AREAS OF
THE CENT AND S FA EACH AFTN. HAVE KEPT 40-50% POPS FOR MAINLY AFTN
AND EARLY EVENING TIMING.

&&

.MARINE...WITH THE RIDGE OVER THE AREA...WINDS AND SEAS WILL REMAIN
LIGHT WITH GENERALLY 5 TO 10 KNOT WINDS AND SEAS LESS THAN 2 FEET.
WINDS AND SEAS WILL BE HIGHER NEAR ISOLATED CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...ABUNDANT LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE CONTINUES KEEPING RHS
ABOVE CRITICAL VALUES. ONLY CONCERN WOULD BE IF AREA OF DRY AIR
CURRENTLY OVER THE BAHAMAS MOVES FURTHER NORTH THAN CURRENTLY
FORECAST. THIS WOULD CAUSE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON RHS OVER THE SOUTHERN
ZONES TO DROP BELOW FORECAST VALUES...HOWEVER STILL EXPECT IT TO
REMAIN ABOVE CRITICAL NUMBERS. AFTERNOON TSTMS FORMING ALONG THE
SEABREEZE BOUNDARY WILL CAUSE WINDS TO BECOME GUSTY AND SHIFT NEAR
THE CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
TPA 078 091 078 091 / 20 40 20 40
FMY 075 093 075 093 / 20 40 20 50
GIF 075 094 075 094 / 30 50 30 50
SRQ 075 091 075 091 / 20 40 20 40
BKV 072 092 072 092 / 20 40 20 40

&&

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

&&

SHORT TERM...JLC
LONG TERM...RFM
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 6, 5:25 AM EDT, 12 hours 50 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
525 AM EDT TUE JUL 6 2004

FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-061400-
CHARLOTTE-CITRUS-DE SOTO-HARDEE-HERNANDO-HIGHLANDS-HILLSBOROUGH-LEE-
LEVY-MANATEE-PASCO-PINELLAS-POLK-SARASOTA-SUMTER-
525 AM EDT TUE JUL 6 2004

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY:

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE AGAIN EXPECTED TO DEVELOP
WITH DAYTIME HEATING ALONG THE WEST COAST SEA BREEZE OVER COASTAL
AREAS LATER THIS MORNING INTO EARLY AFTERNOON THEN MOVE INLAND LATER
COLLIDING WITH OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES AND THE EAST COAST SEA BREEZE LATE
THIS AFTERNOON OVER INTERIOR AND SOUTHERN AREAS...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.

WHEN SKIES DARKEN...MOVE INDOORS. IF THERE IS TIME...UNPLUG
APPLIANCES AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT. WAIT UNTIL THE STORM ENDS BEFORE
USING THE TELEPHONE OR RUNNING WATER.

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

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY:

SCATTERED 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 6, 3:32 PM EDT, 2 hours 43 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
332 PM EDT TUE JUL 6 2004

FLZ043-048-062015-
HERNANDO-SUMTER-
332 PM EDT TUE JUL 6 2004

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH LITTLE MOVMENT...WILL AFFECT RIDGE
MANOR...CROOM...NOBLETON...BUSHNELL AND WEBSTER...UNTIL 415 PM EDT.
GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED. IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE...CROUCH DOWN IN A LOW
SPOT...AWAY FROM TALL OBJECTS. THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE PEA SIZE
HAIL. TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS...AND
MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.

MCMICHAEL
Special weather statement, Jul 6, 4:33 PM EDT, 1 hour 42 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
433 PM EDT TUE JUL 6 2004

FLZ055-062115-
MANATEE-
433 PM EDT TUE JUL 6 2004

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH LITTLE MOVEMENT...WILL AFFECT MYAKKA HEAD
AND MYAKKA CITY...UNTIL 515 PM EDT. GUSTY WINDS UP TO 30 MPH WILL BE
POSSIBLE. 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. MOTORISTS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION.

MCMICHAEL
Special weather statement, Jul 6, 5:23 PM EDT, 52 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
523 PM EDT TUE JUL 6 2004

FLZ052-062200-
POLK-
523 PM EDT TUE JUL 6 2004

...FUNNEL CLOUDS ARE POSSIBLE IN CENTRAL POLK COUNTY...

AT 520 PM EDT...A SKYWARN SPOTTER REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD 1 MILE
WEST OF BARTOW. DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THE STORMS IN THE AREA DRIFTING
SLOWLY SOUTHEAST.

FUNNEL CLOUDS CAN BECOME BRIEF...SMALL...BUT DANGEROUS TORNADOES.
MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY...AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

LAT...LON 2805 8167 2802 8196 2776 8195 2780 8160

09
Special weather statement, Jul 6, 5:45 PM EDT, 30 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
545 PM EDT TUE JUL 6 2004

FLZ057-062230-
HIGHLANDS-
545 PM EDT TUE JUL 6 2004

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DRIFTING SOUTHWEST...WILL AFFECT AVON PARK...
SEBRING AND SEBRING SHORES...UNTIL 630 PM EDT. GUSTY WINDS UP TO 30
MPH WILL OCCUR. 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...MOTORISTS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION.

MCMICHAEL
Special weather statement, Jul 6, 5:50 PM EDT, 25 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
550 PM EDT TUE JUL 6 2004

FLZ052-062230-
POLK-
550 PM EDT TUE JUL 6 2004

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHWEST POLK COUNTY...
THUNDERSTORMS...MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 5 MPH...WILL AFFECT RURAL
SOUTHWESTERN POLK COUNTY...UNTIL 630 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. THIS STORM MAY
PRODUCE PEA SIZE HAIL.

09
Local storm report, Jul 6, 6:10 PM EDT, 5 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
610 PM EDT TUE JUL 06 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0300 PM     LIGHTNING        DARBY                   28.37N 82.35W
07/06/2004                   PASCO              FL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            *** 1 INJ *** 33 YEAR OLD MALE STRUCK WHILE WORKING
            OUTDOORS AT SHYAWAY STABLES. TAKEN TO HOSPITAL WITH MINOR
            INJURIES.

&&

JCM

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 6, 4:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTBWManatee32 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.