Alert archive / Florida / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 27, NWS Melbourne, FL

October 18, 2011Martin County, Okeechobee County, Saint Lucie County, Florida

NWS Melbourne, FL issued this tornado warning at Oct 18, 2011, 7:34 PM EDT for Martin County, Okeechobee County, Saint Lucie County, Florida. It was in force for 56 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
Oct 18, 2011, 7:34 PM EDT (23:34 UTC)
Expired
Oct 18, 2011, 8:30 PM EDT
In force
56 min
Issued by
NWS Melbourne, FL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Martin County, FL, Okeechobee County, FL, Saint Lucie County, FL

The radar

The Melbourne radar (KMLB), 106 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:34 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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Oct 18, 2:21 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Cape Canaveral, FL (KXMR), launched 12:00Z, 11.6 hours before the alert went out and 147 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, Cape Canaveral, FL at 12:00Z on 2011-10-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 809 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Cape Canaveral, FL at 12:00Z on 2011-10-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 84 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
809 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
486 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
10 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
84 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
84 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

446 
WFUS52 KMLB 182334
TORMLB
FLC085-093-111-190030-
/O.NEW.KMLB.TO.W.0027.111018T2334Z-111019T0030Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
734 PM EDT TUE OCT 18 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MELBOURNE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN MARTIN COUNTY IN FLORIDA...
  SOUTHEASTERN OKEECHOBEE COUNTY IN FLORIDA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE...
  SOUTHWESTERN ST. LUCIE COUNTY IN FLORIDA...

* UNTIL 830 PM EDT.

* AT 729 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 14 MILES
  SOUTHWEST OF OKEE TANTIE STATE PARK...OR ABOUT 7 MILES EAST OF
  LAKEPORT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO   
TAYLOR CREEK...OKEECHOBEE AND FOUR SEASONS ESTATES

THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO AT ANY TIME. PEOPLE IN
THE PATH OF THIS STORM SHOULD ACT NOW IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.
DO NOT WAIT FOR THE TORNADO TO DEVELOP BEFORE ACTING...YOU MAY NOT
SEE OR HEAR ITS APPROACH. DO NOT GET CAUGHT OFF GUARD!

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A STRONG BUILDING ON
THE LOWEST FLOOR...IN AN INTERIOR ROOM SUCH AS A BATHROOM OR CLOSET.
KEEP AWAY FROM WINDOWS. GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF
STURDY FURNITURE. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY.
EVACUATE MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES FOR MORE SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER.

TORNADOES AT NIGHT ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE. WATCH FOR THE POPPING OF
ELECTRIC LINES AND TRANSFORMERS OR LISTEN FOR THE SOUND OF LOUD
RUMBLING AS THAT OF AN APPROACHING FREIGHT TRAIN. TORNADOES ARE OFTEN
ASSOCIATED WITH STORMS WHICH ALSO PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND EXCESSIVE
LIGHTNING.

THE TORNADO WILL LIKELY BE WRAPPED IN HEAVY RAIN MAKING IT DIFFICULT
TO SEE. BE SMART AND REACT NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 2709 8067 2710 8067 2718 8075 2720 8080
      2720 8082 2715 8086 2715 8087 2720 8094
      2743 8072 2715 8041 2704 8065
TIME...MOT...LOC 2333Z 232DEG 27KT 2701 8098

$$

SEDLOCK
2 follow-up statements
582 
WWUS52 KMLB 190004
SVSMLB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
804 PM EDT TUE OCT 18 2011

FLC085-111-190009-
/O.CAN.KMLB.TO.W.0027.000000T0000Z-111019T0030Z/
ST. LUCIE-MARTIN-
804 PM EDT TUE OCT 18 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN MARTIN AND SOUTHWESTERN ST.
LUCIE COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT TUESDAY EVENING
FOR EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA.

MOVEMENT HAS TAKEN ON A MORE NORTHERLY COMPONENT WHICH IS WHY THE 
WARNING WAS CANCELLED FOR MARTIN AND SAINT LUCIE COUNTIES.

LAT...LON 2718 8068 2712 8069 2718 8075 2720 8080
      2720 8082 2715 8086 2715 8087 2720 8094
      2743 8072
TIME...MOT...LOC 2359Z 211DEG 22KT 2715 8088

$$

FLC093-190030-
/O.CON.KMLB.TO.W.0027.000000T0000Z-111019T0030Z/
OKEECHOBEE-
804 PM EDT TUE OCT 18 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN OKEECHOBEE COUNTY...

AT 757 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS CONTINUED TO
DETECT A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF 
OKEECHOBEE...MOVING NORTH-NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

A SECONDARY CIRCULATION WAS NOTED ON RADAR DUE SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF 
BUCKHEAD RIDGE IN EXTREME NORTHEAST GLADES COUNTY. THIS NEW AREA OF 
CIRCULATION WAS ALSO MOVING NORTH-NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO TAYLOR
CREEK...BASSWOOD ESTATES...WHISPERING PINES AND FOUR SEASONS ESTATES

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW! IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR
HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER
YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT TUESDAY EVENING
FOR EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA.

&&

LAT...LON 2718 8068 2712 8069 2718 8075 2720 8080
      2720 8082 2715 8086 2715 8087 2720 8094
      2743 8072
TIME...MOT...LOC 2359Z 211DEG 22KT 2715 8088

$$

SEDLOCK
977 
WWUS52 KMLB 190022
SVSMLB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
822 PM EDT TUE OCT 18 2011

FLC093-190030-
/O.CON.KMLB.TO.W.0027.000000T0000Z-111019T0030Z/
OKEECHOBEE-
822 PM EDT TUE OCT 18 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN OKEECHOBEE COUNTY...

AT 820 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS CONTINUED TO
DETECT A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR TAYLOR CREEK...OR
NEAR OKEECHOBEE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO FOUR
SEASONS ESTATES

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST
DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW! IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR
HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER
YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT TUESDAY EVENING
FOR EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA.

&&

LAT...LON 2718 8068 2712 8069 2718 8075 2720 8080
      2720 8082 2715 8086 2715 8087 2720 8094
      2743 8072
TIME...MOT...LOC 0021Z 211DEG 37KT 2724 8078

$$

SEDLOCK

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 18, 3:32 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMLBMartin88 min
Oct 18, 4:34 AM EDTGale WarningMLB24 hr
Oct 18, 1:13 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMLB92 min
Oct 18, 6:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMLBMartin, Okeechobee, Saint Lucie59 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Florida, 2011Every tornado warning in 2011Tornadoes in 2011

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.