Red Flag Warning 20, NWS Tampa Bay, FL

000 
WWUS82 KTBW 081842
RFWTBW

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
142 PM EST SAT MAR 8 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR
LEVY...CITRUS...SUMTER...HERNANDO...PASCO...HILLSBOROUGH...AND POLK
COUNTIES FOR LONG DURATIONS OF HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW 35 PERCENT
COMBINED WITH STRONG GUSTY WINDS...

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT ON SUNDAY FROM NOON UNTIL 8 PM EDT FOR
LEVY...CITRUS...SUMTER...HERNANDO...PASCO...PINELLAS...AND HILLSBOROUGH...
SARASOTA...AND MANATEE COUNTIES FOR LONG DURATIONS OF HUMIDITY VALUES
LESS THAN 35 PERCENT...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT ON SUNDAY FROM NOON UNTIL 8 PM
EDT FOR POLK...HARDEE...HIGHLANDS...DESOTO...CHARLOTTE...AND LEE COUNTIES
FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF LONG DURATIONS OF HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW 35
PERCENT...


FLZ039-042-043-048-049-051-082300-
/O.UPG.KTBW.FW.A.0019.080309T1600Z-080310T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KTBW.FW.W.0021.080309T1600Z-080310T0000Z/
/O.CON.KTBW.FW.W.0020.000000T0000Z-080308T2300Z/
LEVY-CITRUS-SUMTER-HERNANDO-PASCO-HILLSBOROUGH-
142 PM EST SAT MAR 8 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS
AFTERNOON...
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM TO 8 PM EDT SUNDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL HAS
ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM TO 8 PM
EDT ON SUNDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. A
RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON.

COOL AND DRY HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING INTO THE REGION WILL SUPPORT
BRISK WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS IN THE 20 TO 30 MPH RANGE THE
REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON. THESE STRONG WINDS COMBINED WITH 
HUMIDITIES VALUES DROPPING TO LESS THAN 35 PERCENT WILL SUPPORT
RED FLAG CONDITIONS WHICH INCREASE THE SPREAD OF ANY FIRE THAT
MAY START WITHIN THE WARNING AREA. ON SUNDAY LIGHTER WINDS ARE 
EXPECTED...HOWEVER THE DRY AIRMASS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE WHICH
WILL AGAIN SUPPORT LONG DURATIONS OF LOW HUMIDITY BELOW 35 PERCENT
DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS.

A RED FLAG WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN VERY FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR
THE SPREAD OF WILDFIRE ARE OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL OCCUR WITHIN
24 HOURS.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD.

$$

FLZ050-055-060-082300-
/O.UPG.KTBW.FW.A.0019.080309T1600Z-080310T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KTBW.FW.W.0021.080309T1600Z-080310T0000Z/
PINELLAS-MANATEE-SARASOTA-
142 PM EST SAT MAR 8 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM TO 8 PM EDT SUNDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL HAS
ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM TO 8 PM
EDT SUNDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

A DRY AIR MASS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING INTO THE
REGION WILL SUPPORT DURATIONS OF LOW HUMIDITY LESS THAN 35 PERCENT
OVER THE WARNING AREA LATE SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH THE EVENING
HOURS.

A RED FLAG WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN VERY FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR
THE SPREAD OF WILDFIRE ARE OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL OCCUR WITHIN
24 HOURS.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD.

$$

FLZ052-082300-
/O.CON.KTBW.FW.W.0020.000000T0000Z-080308T2300Z/
/O.CON.KTBW.FW.A.0019.080309T1600Z-080310T0000Z/
POLK-
142 PM EST SAT MAR 8 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS
AFTERNOON...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS
AFTERNOON. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY
AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING. 

COOL AND DRY HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING INTO THE REGION WILL SUPPORT
BRISK WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS IN THE 20 TO 30 MPH RANGE THE
REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON. THESE STRONG WINDS COMBINED WITH 
HUMIDITIES VALUES DROPPING TO LESS THAN 35 PERCENT WILL SUPPORT
RED FLAG CONDITIONS...WHICH INCREASE THE SPREAD OF ANY FIRE THAT
MAY START WITHIN THE WARNING AREA. ON SUNDAY LIGHTER WINDS ARE
EXPECTED...HOWEVER THE DRY AIRMASS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE WHICH 
MAY SUPPORT LONG DURATIONS OF LOW HUMIDITY BELOW 35 PERCENT DURING
THE AFTERNOON HOURS.

A RED FLAG WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN VERY FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR
THE SPREAD OF WILDFIRE ARE OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL OCCUR WITHIN
24 HOURS.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD.

$$

FLZ056-057-061-062-065-082300-
/O.CON.KTBW.FW.A.0019.080309T1600Z-080310T0000Z/
HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-DE SOTO-CHARLOTTE-LEE-
142 PM EST SAT MAR 8 2008

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING...

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING. 

A DRY AIRMASS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING INTO THE
REGION WILL REMAIN IN PLACE ON SUNDAY. THIS DRY AIR MASS MAY SUPPORT
LONG DURATIONS OF LOW HUMIDITY VALUES LESS THAN 35 PERCENT OVER
THE WATCH AREA DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE
FIELD.

$$


JCM/RJS

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
328 AM EST SAT MAR 8 2008

...WINDY AND BECOMING DRY...

.SHORT TERM (TODAY - MONDAY)...MOST ACTIVE STORMS ARE NOW EXITING
FAR EASTERN HIGHLANDS COUNTY. ALTHOUGH SCATTERED SHOWERS CONTINUE EAST
AND SOUTHEAST OF A LINE FROM THE MOUTH OF TAMPA BAY TO NW POLK AND
ISOLATED SHOWERS WERE OVER THE GULF FROM NEAR CEDAR KEY TO ABOUT 70
MILES OFFSHORE SARASOTA. EXPECT THE HEAVIEST CONVECTION TO BE OUT
OF THE CWFA BY DAY BREAK WITH JUST ISOLATED SHOWERS ENDING FROM NW
TO SE BY AFTERNOON AS COLD FRONT FINALLY MOVES THROUGH. STRONG AND
GUSTY WEST AND NW WINDS BEHIND THE FRONT HAVE PROMPTED LAKE WIND
ADVISORIES THROUGH THE EVENING AND A HIGH SURF ADVISORY FOR THE
COAST FROM PASCO SOUTH.

UPPER TROUGH MOVES OFFSHORE THE EASTERN SEA BOARD BY TONIGHT AS
HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN OVER THE CENTRAL GULF COAST AND GULF WITH
A COOL TO COLD AND DRY NW TO NORTH LOW LEVEL FLOW. LEVY WILL SEE
FREEZING TEMPERATURES AND HAVE UPGRADED THE FREEZE WATCH TO A WARNING
AND ALSO ISSUED A WIND CHILL ADVISORY. NORTH CITRUS COUNTY COULD
BRIEFLY SEE 32...OTHERWISE THE LOWEST READINGS WILL BE IN THE MID
TO UPPER 30S DOWN THROUGH THE CENTRAL INTERIOR.

THE HIGH MOVES BY TO THE NORTH DURING SUN...WITH WINDS DIMINISHING
AS THEY VEER TO NORTH AND NE AND ALLOW TEMPERATURES TO MODERATE
SOME BUT STILL BELOW AVERAGE. BY MON THE HIGH IS OFF THE SE U.S.
COAST WITH EASTERLY WINDS AS TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO WARM.

.LONG TERM (MONDAY NIGHT-FRIDAY)...FAST WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT WHILE
SFC HIGH WEAKENS IN THE REGION WITH LIGHT EASTERLY LL FLOW
CONTINUING TO MODERATE MOIST AND TEMPS BACK TO NEAR NORMAL THRU TUE.

SHORTWAVE TO MOVE THRU THE DEEP SOUTH DEVELOPING WEAK GULF LOW AND
PUSH SYSTEM INTO THE AREA WED. HAVE BROUGHT POPS TO SLIGHT CHANCE
AREAWIDE WED AS TEMPS REMAIN AROUND NORMAL.

THU...SLIGHT RIDGING BUILDS ALOFT WHILE SFC HIGH QUICKLY MOVES THRU
THE REGION AS DRY TEMPS WARM TO A FEW DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL.

NEXT SYSTEM TO MOVE INTO THE REGION FRI WITH POTENT SHORTWAVE
DRIVING SFC STORM SYSTEM NEWARD THRU THE DEEP SOUTH WITH ATTENDANT
COLD FRONT PROGGED TO BE IN THE AREA LATE IN THE PERIOD. WILL STILL
HAVE TO WAIT ON BETTER CONSISTENCY FOR FINAL SOLUTION BUT HAVE 20
POPS ALL AREAS FOR CONVECTION FRI AFTERNOON.

&&

.AVIATION...JUST AHEAD AND ALONG THE FRONT EARLY THIS MORNING AREAS
OF RAIN AND MVFR VSBYS AND CIGS WITH LOCAL IFR CIGS. AFTER THE FRONT
LATER THIS MORNING CLEARING TO MAINLY VFR CONDITIONS...MAY SEE SOME
STRATO CU OFF THE E GULF AT THE COAST...WHILE LOW LEVEL W-NW WINDS
WILL REMAIN GUSTY THROUGH THE DAY.

&&

.MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT ON  TAMPA BAY BUT CONTINUE
UNTIL SUN MORNING ON GULF WATERS FOR WINDS AND SEAS. BOTH WILL
BEGIN TO COME DOWN SUN AS A HIGH MOVES BY TO THE NORTH WITH
VEERING WINDS. THE HIGH MOVES OUT OVER THE ATLANTIC MON WITH NE
AND EAST WINDS BELOW HIGHLIGHTS.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...DRY AIR WILL FILTER INTO THE AREA RAPIDLY TODAY
WITH THE WATCH UPGRADED TO A WARNING. THE WATCH SUN WILL MOST LIKELY
BECOME A WARNING. THE DRY AIR LINGERS INTO MON AT OR BELOW CRITICAL
LEVELS.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
TPA  64  40  65  47 /   5   0   0   0
FMY  68  43  71  49 /  20   0   0   0
GIF  65  38  66  44 /   5   0   0   0
SRQ  64  42  66  47 /  10   0   0   0
BKV  62  33  65  39 /   5   0   0   0
SPG  64  44  65  51 /   5   0   0   0

&&

.TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR CHARLOTTE-
     CITRUS-DE SOTO-HARDEE-HERNANDO-HIGHLANDS-HILLSBOROUGH-LEE-
     LEVY-MANATEE-PASCO-PINELLAS-POLK-SARASOTA-SUMTER.

     FREEZE WARNING FROM 5 AM TO 9 AM EDT SUNDAY FOR LEVY.

     FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING
     FOR CHARLOTTE-CITRUS-DE SOTO-HARDEE-HERNANDO-HIGHLANDS-
     HILLSBOROUGH-LEE-LEVY-MANATEE-PASCO-PINELLAS-POLK-SARASOTA-
     SUMTER.

     RED FLAG WARNING FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 PM EST THIS
     AFTERNOON FOR CITRUS-HERNANDO-HILLSBOROUGH-LEVY-PASCO-POLK-
     SUMTER.

     WIND CHILL ADVISORY FROM 4 AM TO 9 AM EDT SUNDAY FOR LEVY.

     HIGH SURF ADVISORY UNTIL 11 AM EDT SUNDAY FOR CHARLOTTE-
     HILLSBOROUGH-LEE-MANATEE-PASCO-PINELLAS-SARASOTA.

GULF WATERS...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR TAMPA BAY
     WATERS.

     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 11 AM EDT SUNDAY FOR BONITA BEACH TO
     ENGLEWOOD OUT 20 NM-BONITA BEACH TO ENGLEWOOD OUT 20 TO 60
     NM-ENGLEWOOD TO TARPON SPRINGS OUT 20 NM-ENGLEWOOD TO
     TARPON SPRINGS OUT 20 TO 60 NM-TARPON SPRINGS TO SUWANNEE
     RIVER OUT 20 NM-TARPON SPRINGS TO SUWANNEE RIVER OUT 20 TO
     60 NM.

&&

SHORT TERM/MARINE...RKR
LONG TERM/AVIATION...RD

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
1231 AM EST SAT MAR 8 2008

FLZ057-080600-
HIGHLANDS-
1231 AM EST SAT MAR 8 2008

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT HIGHLANDS COUNTY...

...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH...WILL AFFECT LAKE JOSEPHINE AND
SEBRING...UNTIL 100 AM EST. GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH WILL OCCUR.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED. FUNNEL CLOUDS ARE
POSSIBLE. IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE...CROUCH DOWN IN A LOW SPOT...AWAY FROM
TALL OBJECTS. 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.

RD

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
203 AM EST SAT MAR 8 2008

FLZ057-080745-
HIGHLANDS-
203 AM EST SAT MAR 8 2008

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHEAST HIGHLANDS COUNTY...

...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH...WILL AFFECT BRIGHTON IN RURAL
SOUTHEASTERN HIGHLANDS COUNTY...UNTIL 245 AM EST. GUSTY WINDS UP TO
40 MPH WILL OCCUR. FUNNEL CLOUDS ARE POSSIBLE. FREQUENT CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED. IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE...CROUCH DOWN IN A
LOW SPOT...AWAY FROM TALL OBJECTS. 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.

RD

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
203 AM EST SAT MAR 8 2008

FLZ057-080715-
HIGHLANDS-
203 AM EST SAT MAR 8 2008

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHEAST HIGHLANDS COUNTY...

...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH...WILL AFFECT BRIGHTON IN RURAL
SOUTHEASTERN HIGHLANDS COUNTY...UNTIL 245 AM EST. GUSTY WINDS UP TO
40 MPH WILL OCCUR. FUNNEL CLOUDS ARE POSSIBLE. FREQUENT CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED. IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE...CROUCH DOWN IN A
LOW SPOT...AWAY FROM TALL OBJECTS. 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.

RD