Alert archive / Florida / Rip Current Statements in 2015

Rip Current Statement 26, NWS Tampa Bay, FL

October 2, 20156 counties in Florida

NWS Tampa Bay, FL issued this rip current statement at Oct 2, 2015, 9:03 AM EDT for 6 counties in Florida. It was in force for 3 days.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Oct 2, 2015, 9:03 AM EDT (13:03 UTC)
Expired
Oct 5, 2015, 3:11 PM EDT
In force
3 days
Issued by
NWS Tampa Bay, FL

Counties Charlotte County, FL, Hillsborough County, FL, Lee County, FL, Manatee County, FL, Pinellas County, FL, Sarasota County, FL

The radar

The Tampa radar (KTBW), 44 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 13:05 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 12:00Z, 1.1 hours before the alert went out and 43 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 2015-10-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 261 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, Tampa Bay, FL at 12:00Z on 2015-10-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -53 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
261 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-51 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
807 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
23 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-53 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
26 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-0.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

262 
WHUS42 KTBW 021303
CFWTBW

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
903 AM EDT FRI OCT 2 2015

...HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT AREA BEACHES THROUGH THE
WEEKEND... 

.AS HURRICANE JOAQUIN LIFTS NORTH FROM THE BAHAMAS AND A SURFACE
LOW DEVELOPS NORTH OF FLORIDA...THE PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE
GULF OF MEXICO ALONG THE COAST OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA WILL INCREASE AND PRODUCE BREEZY WINDS THROUGH THE
WEEKEND. THIS WILL LEAD TO BUILDING SURF AND A HIGH RISK OF RIP
CURRENTS. 

FLZ050-151-155-160-162-165-022115-
/O.NEW.KTBW.RP.S.0026.151002T1303Z-151005T0000Z/
PINELLAS-COASTAL HILLSBOROUGH-COASTAL MANATEE-COASTAL SARASOTA-
COASTAL CHARLOTTE-COASTAL LEE-
903 AM EDT FRI OCT 2 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY RUSKIN HAS ISSUED A
HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK...WHICH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY
EVENING. 

* RIP CURRENT TIMING...THROUGH AT LEAST SUNDAY EVENING. THE RIP
  CURRENT THREAT IS FORECAST TO DIMINISH THROUGH THE DAY ON
  MONDAY...ALTHOUGH RIP CURRENTS WILL STILL BE POSSIBLE.

* RIP CURRENT IMPACTS...MARINE CONDITIONS WILL SUPPORT STRONGER
  AND MORE FREQUENT RIP CURRENTS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY
FROM SHORE...WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE
SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS GROINS...
JETTIES AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND THE BEACH
PATROL. PAY ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND POSTED SIGNS. 

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. REMAIN CALM
AND BEGIN TO SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE. ONCE YOU ARE AWAY FROM THE
FORCE OF THE RIP CURRENT...BEGIN TO SWIM BACK TO THE BEACH. DO
NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT. EVEN A STRONG
SWIMMER CAN BECOME EXHAUSTED QUICKLY.

&&

$$


HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/TAMPA
6 follow-up statements
447 
WHUS42 KTBW 021907
CFWTBW

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
307 PM EDT FRI OCT 2 2015

...HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT AREA BEACHES THROUGH THE
WEEKEND...

.AS HURRICANE JOAQUIN LIFTS NORTH FROM THE BAHAMAS AND A SURFACE
LOW DEVELOPS NORTH OF FLORIDA...THE PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE
GULF OF MEXICO ALONG THE COAST OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA WILL INCREASE AND PRODUCE BREEZY WINDS THROUGH THE
WEEKEND. THIS WILL LEAD TO BUILDING SURF AND A HIGH RISK OF RIP
CURRENTS.

FLZ050-151-155-160-162-165-040000-
/O.CON.KTBW.RP.S.0026.000000T0000Z-151005T0000Z/
PINELLAS-COASTAL HILLSBOROUGH-COASTAL MANATEE-COASTAL SARASOTA-
COASTAL CHARLOTTE-COASTAL LEE-
307 PM EDT FRI OCT 2 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY
EVENING...

* RIP CURRENT TIMING...THROUGH AT LEAST SUNDAY EVENING. THE RIP 
  CURRENT THREAT IS FORECAST TO DIMINISH THROUGH THE DAY ON 
  MONDAY...ALTHOUGH RIP CURRENTS WILL STILL BE POSSIBLE. 

* RIP CURRENT IMPACTS...MARINE CONDITIONS WILL SUPPORT STRONGER 
  AND MORE FREQUENT RIP CURRENTS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY
FROM SHORE...WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE
SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS GROINS...
JETTIES AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND THE BEACH
PATROL. PAY ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND POSTED SIGNS.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. REMAIN CALM
AND BEGIN TO SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE. ONCE YOU ARE AWAY FROM THE
FORCE OF THE RIP CURRENT...BEGIN TO SWIM BACK TO THE BEACH. DO
NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT. EVEN A STRONG
SWIMMER CAN BECOME EXHAUSTED QUICKLY.

&&

$$


HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/TAMPA
898 
WHUS42 KTBW 031757
CFWTBW

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
157 PM EDT SAT OCT 3 2015

...HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT AREA BEACHES THROUGH THE
WEEKEND...

.STEADY ONSHORE WINDS THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEKEND WILL
CONTINUE TO LEAD TO ELEVATED SURF AND A HIGH RISK OF RIP
CURRENTS ALONG THE BEACHES OF WESTERN FLORIDA.

FLZ050-151-155-160-162-165-041100-
/O.CON.KTBW.RP.S.0026.000000T0000Z-151005T0000Z/
PINELLAS-COASTAL HILLSBOROUGH-COASTAL MANATEE-COASTAL SARASOTA-
COASTAL CHARLOTTE-COASTAL LEE-
157 PM EDT SAT OCT 3 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY
EVENING...

* RIP CURRENT TIMING...THROUGH AT LEAST SUNDAY EVENING. THE RIP 
  CURRENT THREAT IS FORECAST TO DIMINISH THROUGH THE DAY ON 
  MONDAY...ALTHOUGH RIP CURRENTS WILL STILL BE POSSIBLE. 

* RIP CURRENT IMPACTS...MARINE CONDITIONS WILL SUPPORT STRONGER 
  AND MORE FREQUENT RIP CURRENTS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY
FROM SHORE...WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE
SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS GROINS...
JETTIES AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND THE BEACH
PATROL. PAY ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND POSTED SIGNS.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. REMAIN CALM
AND BEGIN TO SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE. ONCE YOU ARE AWAY FROM THE
FORCE OF THE RIP CURRENT...BEGIN TO SWIM BACK TO THE BEACH. DO
NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT. EVEN A STRONG
SWIMMER CAN BECOME EXHAUSTED QUICKLY.

&&

$$


HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/TAMPA
757 
WHUS42 KTBW 040801
CFWTBW

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
401 AM EDT SUN OCT 4 2015

...HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS CONTINUES AT AREA BEACHES...

.STEADY ONSHORE WINDS THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF TODAY WILL
LEAD TO ELEVATED SURF AND A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE
BEACHES OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

FLZ050-151-155-160-162-165-050000-
/O.CON.KTBW.RP.S.0026.000000T0000Z-151005T0000Z/
PINELLAS-COASTAL HILLSBOROUGH-COASTAL MANATEE-COASTAL SARASOTA-
COASTAL CHARLOTTE-COASTAL LEE-
401 AM EDT SUN OCT 4 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...

* RIP CURRENT TIMING...THROUGH AT LEAST THIS EVENING. THE RIP
  CURRENT THREAT IS FORECAST TO DIMINISH SOME THROUGH THE DAY ON
  MONDAY...ALTHOUGH RIP CURRENTS WILL STILL BE POSSIBLE.

* RIP CURRENT IMPACTS...MARINE CONDITIONS WILL SUPPORT STRONGER 
  AND MORE FREQUENT RIP CURRENTS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY
FROM SHORE...WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE
SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS GROINS...
JETTIES AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND THE BEACH
PATROL. PAY ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND POSTED SIGNS.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. REMAIN CALM
AND BEGIN TO SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE. ONCE YOU ARE AWAY FROM THE
FORCE OF THE RIP CURRENT...BEGIN TO SWIM BACK TO THE BEACH. DO
NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT. EVEN A STRONG
SWIMMER CAN BECOME EXHAUSTED QUICKLY.

&&

$$


HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/TAMPA
099 
WHUS42 KTBW 042220
CFWTBW

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
620 PM EDT SUN OCT 4 2015

...HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS CONTINUES AT AREA BEACHES...

.A TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT BETWEEN LOW PRESSURE TO THE NORTHEAST
OF THE AREA AND HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL GULF
OF MEXICO WILL MAINTAIN A MODERATE ONSHORE WIND FLOW THROUGH
MONDAY NIGHT. THESE WINDS WILL SUPPORT ELEVATED SURF AND A HIGH
RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE BEACHES THROUGH THE PERIOD.

FLZ050-151-155-160-162-165-050900-
/O.EXT.KTBW.RP.S.0026.000000T0000Z-151006T0000Z/
PINELLAS-COASTAL HILLSBOROUGH-COASTAL MANATEE-COASTAL SARASOTA-
COASTAL CHARLOTTE-COASTAL LEE-
620 PM EDT SUN OCT 4 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY EVENING...

* RIP CURRENT TIMING...THROUGH MONDAY EVENING. 

* RIP CURRENT IMPACTS...A MODERATE ONSHORE WIND FLOW WILL SUPPORT
  STRONGER AND MORE FREQUENT RIP CURRENTS AT AREA BEACHES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY
FROM SHORE...WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE
SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS GROINS...
JETTIES AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND THE BEACH
PATROL. PAY ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND POSTED SIGNS.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. REMAIN CALM
AND BEGIN TO SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE. ONCE YOU ARE AWAY FROM THE
FORCE OF THE RIP CURRENT...BEGIN TO SWIM BACK TO THE BEACH. DO
NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT. EVEN A STRONG
SWIMMER CAN BECOME EXHAUSTED QUICKLY.

&&

$$

HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/TAMPA
716 
WHUS42 KTBW 050746
CFWTBW

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
346 AM EDT MON OCT 5 2015

...HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS CONTINUES AT AREA BEACHES...

.A TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT BETWEEN LOW PRESSURE TO THE NORTHEAST
OF THE AREA AND HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL GULF
OF MEXICO WILL BEGIN TO RELAX TODAY...ALTHOUGH STILL MAINTAINING
A MODERATE ONSHORE WIND FLOW THROUGH TODAY. THESE WINDS WILL
SUPPORT ELEVATED SURF AND A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE
BEACHES THROUGH THE PERIOD.

FLZ050-151-155-160-162-165-060000-
/O.CON.KTBW.RP.S.0026.000000T0000Z-151006T0000Z/
PINELLAS-COASTAL HILLSBOROUGH-COASTAL MANATEE-COASTAL SARASOTA-
COASTAL CHARLOTTE-COASTAL LEE-
346 AM EDT MON OCT 5 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...

* RIP CURRENT TIMING...THROUGH THIS EVENING.

* RIP CURRENT IMPACTS...A MODERATE ONSHORE WIND FLOW WILL 
  SUPPORT STRONGER AND MORE FREQUENT RIP CURRENTS AT AREA 
  BEACHES. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY
FROM SHORE...WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE
SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS GROINS...
JETTIES AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND THE BEACH
PATROL. PAY ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND POSTED SIGNS.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. REMAIN CALM
AND BEGIN TO SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE. ONCE YOU ARE AWAY FROM THE
FORCE OF THE RIP CURRENT...BEGIN TO SWIM BACK TO THE BEACH. DO
NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT. EVEN A STRONG
SWIMMER CAN BECOME EXHAUSTED QUICKLY.

&&

$$


HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/TAMPA
005 
WHUS42 KTBW 051911
CFWTBW

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
311 PM EDT MON OCT 5 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IS CANCELLED...

.ONSHORE FLOW AND SURF LEVELS CONTINUE TO DECLINE ALONG AREA
BEACHES. ALTHOUGH RIP CURRENTS CAN STILL OCCUR...THE THREAT
FOR STRONGER AND MORE FREQUENT RIP CURRENTS APPEARS TO BE
ENDING.

FLZ050-151-155-160-162-165-052015-
/O.CAN.KTBW.RP.S.0026.000000T0000Z-151006T0000Z/
PINELLAS-COASTAL HILLSBOROUGH-COASTAL MANATEE-COASTAL SARASOTA-
COASTAL CHARLOTTE-COASTAL LEE-
311 PM EDT MON OCT 5 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY RUSKIN HAS CANCELLED
THE HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK. 

ONSHORE FLOW AND SURF LEVELS CONTINUE TO DECLINE ALONG AREA
BEACHES. ALTHOUGH RIP CURRENTS CAN STILL OCCUR...THE THREAT
FOR STRONGER AND MORE FREQUENT RIP CURRENTS APPEARS TO BE
ENDING.

$$


HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/TAMPA

Nearby

Rip Current Statements in Florida, 2015Every rip current statement in 2015

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.