Alert archive / Florida / Red Flag Warnings in 2008

Red Flag Warning 64, NWS Tampa Bay, FL

October 28, 20086 counties in Florida

NWS Tampa Bay, FL issued this red flag warning at Oct 28, 2008, 5:01 AM EDT for 6 counties in Florida. It took effect at Oct 29, 2008, 10:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 9 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Oct 28, 2008, 5:01 AM EDT (09:01 UTC)
In effect from
Oct 29, 2008, 10:00 AM EDT
Expired
Oct 29, 2008, 7:00 PM EDT
In force
9 hr
Issued by
NWS Tampa Bay, FL

Counties DeSoto County, FL, Hardee County, FL, Highlands County, FL, Pinellas County, FL, Polk County, FL, Sumter County, FL

The radar

The Tampa radar (KTBW), 49 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:00 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Tampa Bay, FL (KTBW), launched 00:00Z, 9.0 hours before the alert went out and 49 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 00:00Z on 2008-10-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 14 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 00:00Z on 2008-10-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 28 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
14 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-7 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
849 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
45 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
28 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
85 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 
WWUS82 KTBW 280901
RFWTBW

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
501 AM EDT TUE OCT 28 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE AREA FROM 10 AM THIS
MORNING TO 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR LONG DURATIONS OF VERY LOW RH
WITH GUSTY WINDS...

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FOR ALL AREAS FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM EDT
WEDNESDAY FOR LONG DURATIONS OF VERY LOW RH...

FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-282100-
/O.UPG.KTBW.FW.A.0052.081029T1600Z-081029T2300Z/
/O.NEW.KTBW.FW.W.0064.081029T1400Z-081029T2300Z/
/O.EXT.KTBW.FW.W.0063.081028T1400Z-081028T2300Z/
LEVY-CITRUS-SUMTER-HERNANDO-PASCO-PINELLAS-HILLSBOROUGH-POLK-
MANATEE-HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-SARASOTA-DE SOTO-CHARLOTTE-LEE-
501 AM EDT TUE OCT 28 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM
EDT THIS EVENING...
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM EDT WEDNESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL HAS
ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM
EDT WEDNESDAY. THE RED FLAG WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM
THIS MORNING TO 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS
NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

A COLD AND VERY DRY AIRMASS WILL BUILD INTO THE REGION TODAY ON 
GUSTY NORTHERLY WINDS AND SETTLE OVER THE AREA THROUGH AT LEAST
WEDNESDAY. AFTERNOON RH VALUES WILL DROP WELL BELOW CRITICAL
VALUES AND BOTTOM OUT IN THE LOWER 20 PERCENT RANGE THIS AFTERNOON
AND AGAIN ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FOR LONG DURATIONS. 

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

$$
5 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS82 KTBW 281739
RFWTBW

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
139 PM EDT TUE OCT 28 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE AREA UNTIL
7 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR LONG DURATIONS OF VERY LOW HUMIDITY VALUES
COMBINED WITH GUSTY NORTHERLY SURFACE AND TRANSPORT WINDS...

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FOR ALL AREAS FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM
EDT ON WEDNESDAY FOR LONG DURATIONS OF VERY LOW HUMIDITY VALUES...

...1 TO 3 HOURS OF MARGINALLY LOW HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW 35 PERCENT
POSSIBLE ALL AREAS ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-282300-
/O.CON.KTBW.FW.W.0063.000000T0000Z-081028T2300Z/
/O.CON.KTBW.FW.W.0064.081029T1400Z-081029T2300Z/
LEVY-CITRUS-SUMTER-HERNANDO-PASCO-PINELLAS-HILLSBOROUGH-POLK-
MANATEE-HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-SARASOTA-DE SOTO-CHARLOTTE-LEE-
139 PM EDT TUE OCT 28 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM EDT
WEDNESDAY...

A COLD AND VERY DRY AIRMASS WILL CONTINUE TO POUR INTO THE REGION
THE REMAINDER OF TODAY ON GUSTY NORTHERLY WINDS. THIS COLD AND VERY
DRY AIR MASS WILL SUPPORT AFTERNOON HUMIDITY VALUES WELL BELOW
CRITICAL VALUES WITH READINGS BOTTOMING OUT IN THE LOWER 20 PERCENT
RANGE THE REMAINDER OF THIS AFTERNOON ALONG WITH GUSTY NORTHERLY
WINDS. 

THE COLD AND VERY DRY AIR MASS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE TONIGHT AND
WEDNESDAY WITH MORE LONG DURATIONS OF HUMIDITY VALUES WELL BELOW
35 PERCENT EXPECTED ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

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

$$


JCM/RJS
000 
WWUS82 KTBW 282312
RFWTBW

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
712 PM EDT TUE OCT 28 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FOR ALL AREAS FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM
EDT ON WEDNESDAY FOR LONG DURATIONS OF VERY LOW HUMIDITY VALUES...

...1 TO 3 HOURS OF MARGINALLY LOW HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW
35 PERCENT POSSIBLE ALL AREAS ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-291115-
/O.EXP.KTBW.FW.W.0063.000000T0000Z-081028T2300Z/
/O.CON.KTBW.FW.W.0064.081029T1400Z-081029T2300Z/
LEVY-CITRUS-SUMTER-HERNANDO-PASCO-PINELLAS-HILLSBOROUGH-POLK-
MANATEE-HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-SARASOTA-DE SOTO-CHARLOTTE-LEE-
712 PM EDT TUE OCT 28 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM EDT
WEDNESDAY...
...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED...

THE RED FLAG WARNING IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. A RED FLAG WARNING
REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM EDT WEDNESDAY. 

THE COLD AND VERY DRY AIR MASS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE TONIGHT AND
WEDNESDAY WITH MORE LONG DURATIONS OF HUMIDITY VALUES WELL BELOW
35 PERCENT EXPECTED ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

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

$$
000 
WWUS82 KTBW 290904
RFWTBW

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
504 AM EDT WED OCT 29 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FOR ALL AREAS FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM
EDT ON WEDNESDAY FOR LONG DURATIONS OF VERY LOW HUMIDITY VALUES...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
THURSDAY EVENING OVER NORTHERN ZONES FOR LONG DURATIONS OF LOW
HUMIDITY VALUES...

...1 TO 3 HOURS OF MARGINALLY LOW HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW 35 PERCENT
POSSIBLE SOUTHERN ZONES ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

FLZ039-042-043-048-049-051-052-292115-
/O.NEW.KTBW.FW.A.0053.081030T1700Z-081030T2300Z/
/O.CON.KTBW.FW.W.0064.081029T1400Z-081029T2300Z/
LEVY-CITRUS-SUMTER-HERNANDO-PASCO-HILLSBOROUGH-POLK-
504 AM EDT WED OCT 29 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO
7 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
THURSDAY EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL HAS
ISSUED A FIRE WEATHER WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY
AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN
EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING. 

THE COLD AND VERY DRY AIR MASS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE TODAY AND
THURSDAY WITH MORE LONG DURATIONS OF HUMIDITY VALUES WELL BELOW
35 PERCENT EXPECTED ACROSS THIS AREA WEDNESDAY AND AGAIN THURSDAY
AFTERNOON. TODAYS HUMIDITY VALUES ARE EXPECTED TO BOTTOM OUT IN
THE LOWER 20 PERCENT RANGE THIS AFTERNOON.

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>057-060>062-065-292115-
/O.CON.KTBW.FW.W.0064.081029T1400Z-081029T2300Z/
PINELLAS-MANATEE-HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-SARASOTA-DE SOTO-CHARLOTTE-LEE-
504 AM EDT WED OCT 29 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO
7 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
...1 TO 3 HOURS OF MARGINALLY LOW HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW 35 PERCENT
POSSIBLE ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO
7 PM EDT THIS EVENING. 

THE COLD AND VERY DRY AIR MASS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE TODAY WITH
MORE LONG DURATIONS OF HUMIDITY VALUES WELL BELOW 35 PERCENT
AND BOTTOM OUT IN THE LOWER 20 PERCENT RANGE THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS
THE ENTIRE AREA. SHORTER DURATIONS OF CRITICALLY LOW HUMIDITIES IS
EXPECTED FOR THE SOUTHERN AREAS ON THURSDAY.

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

$$
000 
WWUS82 KTBW 291736
RFWTBW

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
136 PM EDT WED OCT 29 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL AREAS UNTIL 7 PM EDT
THIS EVENING FOR LONG DURATIONS OF VERY LOW HUMIDITY VALUES...

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT ON THURSDAY FOR LEVY COUNTY FROM 1
PM EDT UNTIL 7 PM EDT FOR LONG DURATIONS OF LOW HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW
35 PERCENT...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
THURSDAY EVENING FOR CITRUS...SUMTER...HERNANDO...PASCO...POLK...
AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTIES FOR POSSIBLE LONG DURATIONS OF LOW
HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW 35 PERCENT...

...1 TO 3 HOURS OF MARGINALLY LOW HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW 35 PERCENT
POSSIBLE ACROSS SOUTHERN ZONES ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

FLZ039-292300-
/O.UPG.KTBW.FW.A.0053.081030T1700Z-081030T2300Z/
/O.NEW.KTBW.FW.W.0065.081030T1700Z-081030T2300Z/
/O.CON.KTBW.FW.W.0064.000000T0000Z-081029T2300Z/
LEVY-
136 PM EDT WED OCT 29 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 7 PM EDT THURSDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL HAS
ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 7 PM
EDT THURSDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. A
RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING. 

A COLD AND VERY DRY AIR MASS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE THE REST OF TODAY
THROUGH THURSDAY. THIS VERY DRY AIR WILL SUPPORT LONG DURATIONS OF
HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW 35 PERCENT THE REST OF THIS AFTERNOON AND AGAIN
THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

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.

$$

FLZ042-043-048-049-051-052-292300-
/O.CON.KTBW.FW.W.0064.000000T0000Z-081029T2300Z/
/O.CON.KTBW.FW.A.0053.081030T1700Z-081030T2300Z/
CITRUS-SUMTER-HERNANDO-PASCO-HILLSBOROUGH-POLK-
136 PM EDT WED OCT 29 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING...

A COLD AND VERY DRY AIR MASS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE THE REST OF
TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY. THIS VERY DRY AIR WILL SUPPORT LONG
DURATIONS OF HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW 35 PERCENT THE REMAINDER OF
TODAY. ON THURSDAY ADDITIONAL LONG DURATIONS OF HUMIDITY VALUES
BELOW 35 PERCENT WILL BE POSSIBLE..SO A FIRE WEATHER WATCH WILL
REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

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>057-060>062-065-292300-
/O.CON.KTBW.FW.W.0064.000000T0000Z-081029T2300Z/
PINELLAS-MANATEE-HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-SARASOTA-DE SOTO-CHARLOTTE-LEE-
136 PM EDT WED OCT 29 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

A COLD AND VERY DRY AIR MASS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE ACROSS THE REGION
THE REMAINDER OF TODAY. THIS DRY AIR WILL SUPPORT LONG DURATIONS OF
HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW 35 PERCENT. SHORTER DURATIONS OF CRITICALLY
LOW HUMIDITY VALUES ARE EXPECTED ON THURSDAY.

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.

$$

JCM
000 
WWUS82 KTBW 292304
RFWTBW

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
704 PM EDT WED OCT 29 2008


...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT ON THURSDAY FOR LEVY COUNTY FROM
1 PM EDT UNTIL 7 PM EDT FOR LONG DURATIONS OF LOW HUMIDITY VALUES
BELOW 35 PERCENT...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
THURSDAY EVENING FOR CITRUS...SUMTER...HERNANDO...PASCO...POLK...
AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTIES FOR POSSIBLE LONG DURATIONS OF LOW
HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW 35 PERCENT...

...1 TO 3 HOURS OF MARGINALLY LOW HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW
35 PERCENT POSSIBLE ACROSS SOUTHERN ZONES ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

FLZ039-301115-
/O.EXP.KTBW.FW.W.0064.000000T0000Z-081029T2300Z/
/O.CON.KTBW.FW.W.0065.081030T1700Z-081030T2300Z/
LEVY-
704 PM EDT WED OCT 29 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 7 PM EDT
THURSDAY...
...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED...

THE RED FLAG WARNING FOR TODAY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. A RED FLAG
WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 7 PM EDT THURSDAY.

A COLD AND VERY DRY AIR MASS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE THROUGH
THURSDAY. THIS VERY DRY AIR WILL SUPPORT LONG DURATIONS OF
HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW 35 PERCENT THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

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

$$

FLZ042-043-048-049-051-052-301115-
/O.EXP.KTBW.FW.W.0064.000000T0000Z-081029T2300Z/
/O.CON.KTBW.FW.A.0053.081030T1700Z-081030T2300Z/
CITRUS-SUMTER-HERNANDO-PASCO-HILLSBOROUGH-POLK-
704 PM EDT WED OCT 29 2008

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING...
...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED...

THE RED FLAG WARNING FOR TODAY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. A FIRE
WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
THURSDAY EVENING.

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

$$

FLZ050-055>057-060>062-065-300015-
/O.EXP.KTBW.FW.W.0064.000000T0000Z-081029T2300Z/
PINELLAS-MANATEE-HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-SARASOTA-DE SOTO-CHARLOTTE-LEE-
704 PM EDT WED OCT 29 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED...

THE RED FLAG WARNING FOR TODAY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 



$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this red flag 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 red flag warning went out at Oct 28, 3:20 AM EDT, 1 hour 41 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 28, 3:20 AM EDT, 1 hour 41 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
320 AM EDT TUE OCT 28 2008

...RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES LIKELY WEDNESDAY MORNING ALONG WITH
POSSIBLE FREEZING CONDITIONS AROUND THE NATURE COAST...

.SHORT TERM (TODAY - THURSDAY)...STRONG TROUGH OVER THE EASTERN SEA
BOARD SENT A DRY COLD FRONT INTO THE REGION WHICH IS BRINGING A
STEADY DECREASE IN TEMPERATURES AND DEW POINTS ACROSS MUCH OF
CENTRAL FLORIDA. STRONG SUBSIDENCE...COLD AIR ADVECTION AND
NORTHWESTERLY/NORTHERLY FLOW WILL COMBINE TO BRING THE COLDEST
TEMPERATURES OF THE SEASON WITH POSSIBLE FREEZING CONDITIONS OVER
THE NATURE COAST ON WEDNESDAY MORNING JUST BEFORE SUNRISE. A FREEZE
WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FROM LEVY THROUGH PASCO COUNTIES. IT ALSO
SEEMS LIKE A RECORD-SETTING WEDNESDAY MORNING ACROSS THE AREA WITH
FORECAST LOWS AROUND TAMPA A COUPLE OF DEGREES LOWER THAN THE
REIGNING RECORD OF 44 SET IN 1910.

RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES
FOR WEDNESDAY MORNING 10/29/08

TAMPA..............44 SET IN 1910
SAINT PETERSBURG...49 SET IN 1952
FORT MYERS.........48 SET IN 1944
LAKELAND...........48 SET IN 1957
SARASOTA...........45 SET IN 1957

DESPITE ALL THE ATTENTION BEING FOCUSED ON THE COLD MORNING
TEMPS...THE AREA WILL ALSO EXPERIENCE THE COLDEST AFTERNOON HIGHS SO
FAR THIS SEASON WITH MUCH OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN FLORIDA REMAINING
IN THE MID 60S TODAY...AND UPPER 60S ON WEDNESDAY. WITH BREEZY
PERIODS IN THE AFTERNOON TEMPS WILL FEEL EVEN COOLER.

CONDITIONS WILL BEGIN MODIFYING ON THURSDAY AS WINDS SWITCH TO A
MORE NORTHEASTERLY FLOW WITH MOISTURE AND TEMPERATURES SLOWLY
INCREASING THROUGH THE DAY.

NOTE: BELOW ARE THE COLDEST TEMPERATURES EVER OBSERVED FOR THE MONTH
OF OCTOBER SINCE RECORDS BEGAN.

TAMPA..............40 DEGREES ON 10/21/1964 (RECORDS BEGAN IN 1890)
SAINT PETERSBURG...47 DEGREES ON 10/28/1957 (RECORDS BEGAN IN 1915)
FORT MYERS.........45 DEGREES ON 10/28/1957 (RECORDS BEGAN IN 1902)
LAKELAND...........42 DEGREES ON 10/21/1989 (RECORDS BEGAN IN 1946)
SARASOTA...........44 DEGREES ON 10/18/1977 (RECORDS BEGAN IN 1948)

&&

.LONG TERM (THU NT-MON)...GENERAL UPPER TROUGHINESS OVER THE REGION
EARLY TO DEEPEN AND BECOME UPPER LOW OVER THE AREA THIS WEEKEND THEN
LIFT TO THE NE EARLY NEXT WEEK. SFC HIGH PRESSURE CENTER IN THE
REGION TO HOLD IN PLACE WITH AXIS N OF THE AREA FOR MODERATE NE FLOW
AT LOWER LEVELS. A SLIGHT WARMING AND MOISTENING TREND BUT DRY
CONDITIONS AND BELOW NORMAL TEMPS TO END THE WORKWEEK. VORT MAXES
WRAPPING AROUND UPPER LOW OVERHEAD WITH ATLANTIC MOISTURE TO PRODUCE
INCREASING CLOUD COVER AND SLIGHT CHANCES FOR SHOWERS THIS WEEKEND
AND HAVE NUDGED POPS TO 20 PERCENT AREAWIDE WITH TEMPS NEAR NORMAL.
UPPER SYSTEM TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE AREA MON WITH DRIER CONDITIONS
EXPECTED.

&&

.AVIATION...SKC AND VFR CONDITIONS WITH GUSTY NORTHERLY WINDS TODAY.

&&

.MARINE...STRONG WINDS IN THE WAKE OF A COLD FRONT WILL CONTINUE TO
PRODUCE VERY ROUGH BOATING CONDITIONS OVER THE GULF WATERS WITH
WINDS AND SEAS WELL IN SMALL CRAFT RANGE AT BUOY 42036 AND AROUND
THE NEAR SHORE WATERS. SOME GUSTS UP TO GALE FORCE ARE ALSO POSSIBLE
IN THE OFFSHORE WATERS. WINDS AND SEAS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN SLOWLY
SUBSIDING BY TUESDAY EVENING AND THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK
AS SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES.
HOWEVER...MODEL WINDS STILL SUPPORT SCA CONDITIONS OFFSHORE AT LEAST
THROUGH TUESDAY 10 PM. THEREFORE WILL EXTEND THE SCA OFFSHORE UNTIL
THAT TIME AND KEEP THE NEAR SHORE WATERS UNDER SCEC AFTER 4 PM EDT
AND THROUGH 10 PM.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...VERY BUSY FIRE WEATHERWISE TODAY AND AGAIN ON
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON WITH EXTENDED PERIODS OF RELATIVE HUMIDITY WELL
BELOW CRITICAL LEVELS. A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM THE LATE
MORNING HOURS TODAY AND THROUGH 7 PM EDT EVERYWHERE. SIMILAR
SCENARIO EXPECTED ON WEDNESDAY. CONDITIONS SHOULD BEGIN RECOVERING
WEDNESDAY EVENING AS WINDS GRADUALLY VEER TO THE NORTHEAST. BUT THE
AIR MASS MAY REMAIN DRY ENOUGH TO GRANT A WATCH FOR THURSDAY
AFTERNOON. STAY TUNED.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
TPA  65  41  68  49 /   0   0   0   5
FMY  69  44  75  49 /   0   0   0   5
GIF  65  40  69  47 /   0   0   0   5
SRQ  66  43  70  48 /   0   0   0   5
BKV  63  31  68  39 /   0   0   0   5
SPG  65  48  69  54 /   0   0   0   5

&&

TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...FREEZE WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR
     CITRUS-HERNANDO-LEVY-PASCO-SUMTER.

     RED FLAG WARNING FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM EDT THIS
     EVENING FOR CHARLOTTE-CITRUS-DE SOTO-HARDEE-HERNANDO-
     HIGHLANDS-HILLSBOROUGH-LEE-LEVY-MANATEE-PASCO-PINELLAS-POLK-
     SARASOTA-SUMTER.

     RED FLAG WARNING FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR CHARLOTTE-
     CITRUS-DE SOTO-HARDEE-HERNANDO-HIGHLANDS-HILLSBOROUGH-LEE-
     LEVY-MANATEE-PASCO-PINELLAS-POLK-SARASOTA-SUMTER.

GULF WATERS...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR
     BONITA BEACH TO ENGLEWOOD OUT 20 TO 60 NM-ENGLEWOOD TO TARPON
     SPRINGS OUT 20 TO 60 NM-TARPON SPRINGS TO SUWANNEE RIVER OUT
     20 TO 60 NM.

     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR
     BONITA BEACH TO ENGLEWOOD OUT 20 NM-ENGLEWOOD TO TARPON
     SPRINGS OUT 20 NM-TARPON SPRINGS TO SUWANNEE RIVER OUT 20
     NM-TAMPA BAY WATERS.

     SMALL CRAFT EXERCISE CAUTION FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS
     EVENING FOR BONITA BEACH TO ENGLEWOOD OUT 20 NM-ENGLEWOOD
     TO TARPON SPRINGS OUT 20 NM-TARPON SPRINGS TO SUWANNEE
     RIVER OUT 20 NM

&&

SHORT TERM/MARINE....REYNES
LONG TERM/AVIATION...DAVIS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 28, 4:32 AM EDTFreeze WatchTBWSumter11 hr
Oct 28, 3:33 PM EDTFreeze WarningTBW16 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Florida, 2008Every red flag warning in 2008

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.