Alert archive / Florida / Rip Current Statements in 2015

Rip Current Statement 32, NWS Tampa Bay, FL

December 28, 20156 counties in Florida

NWS Tampa Bay, FL issued this rip current statement at Dec 28, 2015, 1:21 PM EST for 6 counties in Florida. It was in force for 53 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Dec 28, 2015, 1:21 PM EST (18:21 UTC)
Expired
Dec 30, 2015, 6:49 PM EST
In force
53 hr
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 18:25 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, 6.4 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 2015-12-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 34 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 2015-12-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 61 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
34 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-215 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
763 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
20 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
61 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
107 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

032 
WHUS42 KTBW 281821
CFWTBW

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
121 PM EST MON DEC 28 2015

FLZ050-151-155-160-162-165-290945-
/O.NEW.KTBW.RP.S.0032.151228T1821Z-151229T2100Z/
PINELLAS-COASTAL HILLSBOROUGH-COASTAL MANATEE-COASTAL SARASOTA-
COASTAL CHARLOTTE-COASTAL LEE-
121 PM EST MON DEC 28 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON...

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

* RIP CURRENT TIMING...THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

* RIP CURRENT IMPACTS...ELEVATED SEAS COMBINED WITH A EASTWARD
  MOVING LONG PERIOD SWELL OVER THE GULF WILL GENERATE DANGEROUS
  AND LIFE THREATENING 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
7 follow-up statements
120 
WHUS42 KTBW 290158
CFWTBW

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
858 PM EST MON DEC 28 2015

FLZ050-151-155-160-162-165-292100-
/O.CON.KTBW.RP.S.0032.000000T0000Z-151229T2100Z/
PINELLAS-COASTAL HILLSBOROUGH-COASTAL MANATEE-COASTAL SARASOTA-
COASTAL CHARLOTTE-COASTAL LEE-
858 PM EST MON DEC 28 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY
AFTERNOON...

* RIP CURRENT TIMING...THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

* RIP CURRENT IMPACTS...ELEVATED SEAS COMBINED WITH A EASTWARD 
  MOVING LONG PERIOD SWELL OVER THE GULF WILL GENERATE DANGEROUS 
  AND LIFE THREATENING 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
715 
WHUS42 KTBW 290930
CFWTBW

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
430 AM EST TUE DEC 29 2015

FLZ050-151-155-160-162-165-291730-
/O.EXT.KTBW.RP.S.0032.000000T0000Z-151230T0000Z/
PINELLAS-COASTAL HILLSBOROUGH-COASTAL MANATEE-COASTAL SARASOTA-
COASTAL CHARLOTTE-COASTAL LEE-
430 AM EST TUE DEC 29 2015

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

* RIP CURRENT TIMING...THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING.

* RIP CURRENT IMPACTS...ELEVATED SEAS COMBINED WITH A EASTWARD 
  MOVING LONG PERIOD SWELL OVER THE GULF WILL GENERATE DANGEROUS 
  AND LIFE THREATENING 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
052 
WHUS42 KTBW 291538
CFWTBW

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
1038 AM EST TUE DEC 29 2015

FLZ050-151-155-160-162-165-301500-
/O.NEW.KTBW.SU.Y.0006.151229T1538Z-151230T2000Z/
/O.EXT.KTBW.RP.S.0032.000000T0000Z-151230T2000Z/
PINELLAS-COASTAL HILLSBOROUGH-COASTAL MANATEE-COASTAL SARASOTA-
COASTAL CHARLOTTE-COASTAL LEE-
1038 AM EST TUE DEC 29 2015

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM EST WEDNESDAY...
...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY RUSKIN HAS ISSUED A
HIGH SURF ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM EST WEDNESDAY.

* HIGH SURF...SURF UP TO 5 FEET CAN BE EXPECTED.

* HIGH SURF TIMING...TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

* HIGH SURF IMPACTS...HIGH SURF WILL CREATE DANGEROUS RIP
  CURRENTS.

* RIP CURRENT TIMING...THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING.

* RIP CURRENT IMPACTS...ELEVATED SEAS COMBINED WITH A EASTWARD 
  MOVING LONG PERIOD SWELL OVER THE GULF WILL GENERATE DANGEROUS 
  AND LIFE THREATENING 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.

A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN DANGEROUS WATER ACTION IS
EXPECTED ALONG THE COAST.  THIS INCLUDES ROUGH SURF...LARGE
BREAKING WAVES...RIP CURRENTS...AND STRONG UNDERTOW.

BEACH GOERS ARE URGED TO HEED LIFEGUARD WARNINGS.

&&

$$


HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/TAMPA
395 
WHUS42 KTBW 300215
CFWTBW

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
915 PM EST TUE DEC 29 2015

FLZ050-151-155-160-162-165-302000-
/O.CON.KTBW.SU.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-151230T2000Z/
/O.CON.KTBW.RP.S.0032.000000T0000Z-151230T2000Z/
PINELLAS-COASTAL HILLSBOROUGH-COASTAL MANATEE-COASTAL SARASOTA-
COASTAL CHARLOTTE-COASTAL LEE-
915 PM EST TUE DEC 29 2015

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM EST
WEDNESDAY...
...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON...

* HIGH SURF...SURF UP TO 5 FEET CAN BE EXPECTED.

* HIGH SURF TIMING...THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

* HIGH SURF IMPACTS...HIGH SURF WILL CREATE DANGEROUS RIP 
  CURRENTS. 

* RIP CURRENT TIMING...THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

* RIP CURRENT IMPACTS...ELEVATED SEAS COMBINED WITH A EASTWARD 
  MOVING LONG PERIOD SWELL OVER THE GULF WILL GENERATE DANGEROUS 
  AND LIFE THREATENING 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.

A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN DANGEROUS WATER ACTION IS
EXPECTED ALONG THE COAST.  THIS INCLUDES ROUGH SURF...LARGE
BREAKING WAVES...RIP CURRENTS...AND STRONG UNDERTOW.

BEACH GOERS ARE URGED TO HEED LIFEGUARD WARNINGS.

&&

$$


HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/TAMPA
334 
WHUS42 KTBW 300854
CFWTBW

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
354 AM EST WED DEC 30 2015

FLZ050-151-155-160-162-165-302000-
/O.CON.KTBW.SU.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-151230T2000Z/
/O.CON.KTBW.RP.S.0032.000000T0000Z-151230T2000Z/
PINELLAS-COASTAL HILLSBOROUGH-COASTAL MANATEE-COASTAL SARASOTA-
COASTAL CHARLOTTE-COASTAL LEE-
354 AM EST WED DEC 30 2015

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM EST THIS
AFTERNOON...
...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM EST THIS
AFTERNOON...

* HIGH SURF...SURF UP TO 5 FEET CAN BE EXPECTED.

* HIGH SURF TIMING...THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

* HIGH SURF IMPACTS...HIGH SURF WILL CREATE DANGEROUS RIP 
  CURRENTS. 

* RIP CURRENT TIMING...THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

* RIP CURRENT IMPACTS...ELEVATED SEAS COMBINED WITH A EASTWARD 
  MOVING LONG PERIOD SWELL OVER THE GULF WILL GENERATE DANGEROUS 
  AND LIFE THREATENING 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.

A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN DANGEROUS WATER ACTION IS
EXPECTED ALONG THE COAST.  THIS INCLUDES ROUGH SURF...LARGE
BREAKING WAVES...RIP CURRENTS...AND STRONG UNDERTOW.

BEACH GOERS ARE URGED TO HEED LIFEGUARD WARNINGS.

&&

$$


HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/TAMPA
442 
WHUS42 KTBW 301954
CFWTBW

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
254 PM EST WED DEC 30 2015

FLZ050-151-155-160-162-165-310000-
/O.EXT.KTBW.SU.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-151231T0000Z/
/O.EXT.KTBW.RP.S.0032.000000T0000Z-151231T0000Z/
PINELLAS-COASTAL HILLSBOROUGH-COASTAL MANATEE-COASTAL SARASOTA-
COASTAL CHARLOTTE-COASTAL LEE-
254 PM EST WED DEC 30 2015

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY CONTINUES IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS
EVENING... ...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK CONTINUES IN EFFECT UNTIL 7
PM EST THIS EVENING...

* HIGH SURF...SURF OF 3 TO 5 FEET CAN BE EXPECTED.

* HIGH SURF TIMING...THROUGH THIS EVENING.

* HIGH SURF IMPACTS...HIGH SURF WILL CREATE DANGEROUS RIP 
  CURRENTS. 

* RIP CURRENT TIMING...THROUGH THIS EVENING.

* RIP CURRENT IMPACTS...ELEVATED SEAS COMBINED WITH A EASTWARD 
  MOVING LONG PERIOD SWELL OVER THE GULF WILL GENERATE DANGEROUS 
  AND LIFE THREATENING 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.

A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN DANGEROUS WATER ACTION IS
EXPECTED ALONG THE COAST.  THIS INCLUDES ROUGH SURF...LARGE
BREAKING WAVES...RIP CURRENTS...AND STRONG UNDERTOW.

BEACH GOERS ARE URGED TO HEED LIFEGUARD WARNINGS.

&&

$$


HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/TAMPA
302 
WHUS42 KTBW 302349
CFWTBW

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
649 PM EST WED DEC 30 2015

FLZ050-151-155-160-162-165-310100-
/O.CAN.KTBW.SU.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-151231T0000Z/
/O.CAN.KTBW.RP.S.0032.000000T0000Z-151231T0000Z/
PINELLAS-COASTAL HILLSBOROUGH-COASTAL MANATEE-COASTAL SARASOTA-
COASTAL CHARLOTTE-COASTAL LEE-
649 PM EST WED DEC 30 2015

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...
...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IS CANCELLED...

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

THE PERIOD OF LARGE SWELL FROM THE WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO HAS
SUBSIDED...AND THE POTENTIAL FOR LARGE WAVES AND RIP CURRENTS HAS
DECREASED.

$$


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.