Alert archive / Florida / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2004

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 82, NWS Tampa Bay, FL

August 21, 2004Lee County, Florida

NWS Tampa Bay, FL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 21, 2004, 7:09 PM EDT for Lee County, Florida. It was in force for 36 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
Aug 21, 2004, 7:09 PM EDT (23:09 UTC)
Expired
Aug 21, 2004, 7:45 PM EDT
In force
36 min
Issued by
NWS Tampa Bay, FL
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Lee County, FL

The radar

The Miami radar (KAMX), 151 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:11 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

Miami, FL (KMFL), launched 12:00Z, 11.2 hours before the alert went out and 151 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, Miami, FL at 12:00Z on 2004-08-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2418 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, Miami, FL at 12:00Z on 2004-08-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -23 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
2418 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-9 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
761 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
9 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-23 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-22 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 212309
SVRTBW
FLC071-212345-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
709 PM EDT SAT AUG 21 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RUSKIN HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 745 PM EDT

* AT 709 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH LARGE HAIL...OVER BONITA SPRINGS...MOVING
  SOUTH AT 5 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT...
  BONITA SPRINGS.

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.

QUARTER SIZE HAIL IS LIKELY. MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY.


&&

LAT...LON 2645 8163 2642 8183 2616 8179 2620 8155

$$

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 Aug 21, 1:35 PM EDT, 5 hours 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 21, 1:35 PM EDT, 5 hours 34 minutes before
WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
135 PM EDT SAT AUG 21 2004

.SHORT TERM (TNGT-MON)...SURFACE RIDGE AXIS WILL SHIFT TO ACROSS
SOUTH FLORIDA WITH A GENERAL SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST FLOW SETTING UP OVER
THE AREA THROUGH THE PERIOD.  DEEP MOISTURE WILL REMAIN IN PLACE WITH
SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS MAINLY AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING STORMS EACH
DAY.  MAY ALSO SEE A FEW LATE NIGHT AND EARLY MORNING STORMS POP UP
ALONG THE NATURE COAST IN THE SOUTHWEST FLOW.  NO BIG CHANGES WILL BE
MADE TO PREVIOUS FORECAST AS THINGS STILL LOOK ON TRACK.
TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN NEAR NORMAL THROUGH THE PERIOD.

.LONG TERM (MON NGT-SAT)...SFC RIDGE WILL REMAIN ACROSS SOUTH FL
CONTINUING THE S/SW WINDS...WITH A WEAK TROUGH DEVELOPING ACROSS
NORTH FL/SOUTH GA.  THIS FEATURE WASHES OUT AND THE RIDGE AXIS LIFTS
NORTH OF THE AREA ALLOWING EASTERLY WINDS TO RETURN.  WEAK RIDGING
ALOFT WILL ALLOW FOR MAINLY DIURNAL CONVECTION WITH DEEP MOISTURE IN
PLACE KEEPING POPS ON THE HIGH END OF SCATTERED.  TEMPS REMAIN NEAR
NORMAL THROUGH THE PERIOD.

&&

.MARINE...SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS GENERALLY LESS THAN 10 KNOTS
WITH SEAS MOSTLY LESS THAN 2 FEET WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE
FORECAST PERIOD...EXCEPT IN THE VICINITY OF ANY THUNDERSTORMS.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...NO HIGHLIGHTS.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
TPA 77 89 77 89 / 20 60 20 50
FMY 75 90 75 90 / 20 50 20 50
GIF 75 91 75 91 / 20 60 20 60
SRQ 75 89 75 89 / 20 60 20 50
BKV 72 88 72 88 / 20 60 20 60

&&

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

SHORT TERM...PRC
LONG TERM...JLC
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 21, 5:30 AM EDT, 13 hours 39 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
530 AM EDT SAT AUG 21 2004

FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-211530-
CHARLOTTE-CITRUS-DE SOTO-HARDEE-HERNANDO-HIGHLANDS-HILLSBOROUGH-LEE-
LEVY-MANATEE-PASCO-PINELLAS-POLK-SARASOTA-SUMTER-
530 AM EDT SAT AUG 21 2004

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY:

THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE MORE NUMEROUS TODAY AS A WEAK UPPER LEVEL
DISTURBANCES PASSES THROUGH THE AREA. THE STORMS WILL INITIALLY BE
ISOLATED ALONG THE COAST IN THE MORNING...THEN GRADUALLY MOVE INLAND
DURING THE AFTERNOON. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN IN EXCESS OF 2 INCHES IS
POSSIBLE...ALONG WITH FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS TO 40 MPH.
SMALL HAIL IS POSSIBLE IN A SPOT OR TWO AS WELL.

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.

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

TYPICAL SUMMERTIME THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE
UPCOMING WEEK.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED LATER THIS AFTERNOON.

&&

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

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 21, 2:04 PM EDT, 5 hours 5 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
204 PM EDT SAT AUG 21 2004

FLZ043-048-049-211845-
HERNANDO-PASCO-SUMTER-
204 PM EDT SAT AUG 21 2004

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT EASTERN PASCO...SOUTHERM SUMTER
AND SOUTHEASTERN HERNANDO COUNTIES...
THUNDERSTORMS...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH...WILL AFFECT SAN ANTONIO...
DADE CITY AND RIDGE MANOR...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.
THIS STORM MAY PRODUCE PEA SIZE HAIL.  TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL CAUSE
PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS...AND MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE
AREAS.

MCMICHAEL
Special weather statement, Aug 21, 2:53 PM EDT, 4 hours 16 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
253 PM EDT SAT AUG 21 2004

FLZ043-049-051-052-211930-
HILLSBOROUGH-PASCO-POLK-SUMTER-
253 PM EDT SAT AUG 21 2004

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN SUMTER...NORTHWEST
POLK...SOUTHEAST PASCO...AND EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTIES...

A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM WEBSTER EXTENDING SOUTHWEST TO LITHIA
MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH...WILL AFFECT THE GREEN SWAMP...WINSTON...
POLK CITY...PLANT CITY...LITHIA...GIBSONIA...AND LAKELAND...UNTIL
330 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 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, Aug 21, 3:28 PM EDT, 3 hours 41 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
328 PM EDT SAT AUG 21 2004

FLZ051-052-055-212015-
HILLSBOROUGH-MANATEE-POLK-
328 PM EDT SAT AUG 21 2004

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH...WESTERN
POLK...AND NORTHERN MANATEE COUNTIES...

A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...MOVING EAST AT 5 TO 10 MPH...WILL
AFFECT PLANT CITY...FORT LONESOME...WINSTON...LITHIA...DUETTE...
BRADLEY JUNCTION...MULBERRY...LAKELAND...LAKELAND LINDER
AIRPORT...LAKELAND HIGHLANDS...AND GIBSONIA...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 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, Aug 21, 4:15 PM EDT, 2 hours 54 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
415 PM EDT SAT AUG 21 2004

FLZ052-056-212100-
HARDEE-POLK-
415 PM EDT SAT AUG 21 2004

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT CENTRAL POLK AND NORTHERN HARDEE
COUNTIES...

A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH...WILL
AFFECT WINTER HAVEN...WAHNETA...HAINES CITY...WAVERLY...FORT
MEADE...LAKE WALES...FORT GREEN...BOWLING GREEN...BARTOW...AND
CYPRESS GARDENS...UNTIL 500 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 MAY PRODUCE PEA SIZE HAIL. TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL CAUSE
PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS...AND MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE
AREAS.

MCMICHAEL

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.