Alert archive / Florida / Tornado Warnings in 2022

Tornado Warning 16, NWS Tampa Bay, FL

May 31, 2022Pinellas County, Florida

NWS Tampa Bay, FL issued this tornado warning at May 31, 2022, 6:14 PM EDT for Pinellas County, Florida. It was in force for 15 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: May 31, 2022, 6:14 PM EDT (22:14 UTC)
Expired: May 31, 2022, 6:29 PM EDT
In force: 15 min
Issued by: NWS Tampa Bay, FL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 0.75 in

County Pinellas County, FL

The radar

The Tampa radar (KTBW), 47 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:14 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Tampa Bay, FL (KTBW), launched 12:00Z, 10.2 hours before the alert went out and 47 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 213 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -136 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1007 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 8 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -19 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 4 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

087 
WFUS52 KTBW 312214
TORTBW
FLC103-312245-
/O.NEW.KTBW.TO.W.0016.220531T2214Z-220531T2245Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Ruskin FL
614 PM EDT Tue May 31 2022

The National Weather Service in Ruskin has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  North central Pinellas County in west central Florida...

* Until 645 PM EDT.
    
* At 614 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Palm Harbor, or near Clearwater, moving southwest
  at 15 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Clearwater around 645 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Oldsmar and Safety Harbor.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile
home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and
protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 2809 8269 2808 8265 2803 8265 2795 8270
      2802 8279
TIME...MOT...LOC 2214Z 035DEG 11KT 2806 8269 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

TBW

2 follow-up statements

635 
WWUS52 KTBW 312222
SVSTBW

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Ruskin FL
622 PM EDT Tue May 31 2022

FLC103-312245-
/O.CON.KTBW.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-220531T2245Z/
Pinellas FL-
622 PM EDT Tue May 31 2022

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM EDT FOR NORTH
CENTRAL PINELLAS COUNTY...
    
At 621 PM EDT, a confirmed tornado was located near Palm Harbor, or 
near Clearwater, moving southwest at 15 mph. 

HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This tornado will be near...
  Clearwater around 645 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Oldsmar and Safety Harbor.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to an
interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid
windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move
to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying
debris.

&&

LAT...LON 2808 8270 2806 8267 2803 8265 2795 8270
      2802 8279
TIME...MOT...LOC 2221Z 035DEG 11KT 2804 8270 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

TBW

728 
WWUS52 KTBW 312229
SVSTBW

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Ruskin FL
629 PM EDT Tue May 31 2022

FLC103-312239-
/O.CAN.KTBW.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-220531T2245Z/
Pinellas FL-
629 PM EDT Tue May 31 2022

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL PINELLAS COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
                
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.  However gusty winds are
still possible with this thunderstorm.

LAT...LON 2808 8270 2806 8267 2803 8265 2795 8270
      2802 8279
TIME...MOT...LOC 2228Z 035DEG 11KT 2802 8272 

$$

TBW

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at May 31, 3:07 PM EDT, 3 hours 7 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 31, 3:07 PM EDT, 3 hours 7 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
307 PM EDT Tue May 31 2022

.DISCUSSION...
Scattered showers and thunderstorms continue moving west southwest
across the interior this afternoon and expect more coverage once
these reach the west coast sea breeze near the west coast later
this afternoon and evening. All of the convection will move out
into the gulf later this evening with mostly clear to partly
cloudy skies overnight. Wednesday looks like a repeat of today as
the east to northeast low level flow persists with enough moisture
for scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms. The main
difference will be the timing as the east to northeast flow will
be a little stronger bringing the convection westward a couple of
hours sooner than today.

For Thursday the easterly flow will persist, but weaker than
Wednesday. Plenty of moisture will still be in place, especially
from the Interstate 4 corridor southward, to allow more scattered
to numerous mainly afternoon and evening convection with the
highest PoPs over the southern interior and southwest Florida.

For Friday through Saturday the forecast is highly dependent on
the future development or lack thereof of a possible tropical
system moving across the southeast Gulf of Mexico. At this time
expect breezy conditions to develop Friday into Saturday with
scattered to widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms,
highest rain chances across the south.

Early next week easterly flow returns with a pretty typical summer
thunderstorm pattern with scattered convection each afternoon and
evening.

&&

.AVIATION...
Scattered showers and thunderstorms into this evening will cause
brief MVFR/IFR cigs/vsbys along with some higher wind gusts.
Winds will be out of the east to northeast at 7 to 10 knots,
except becoming west to northwest later this afternoon with the
sea breeze at TPA, PIE, and SRQ. Light east to northeast winds
return later this evening then increase to 7 to 10 knots again
during Wednesday morning.

&&

.MARINE...
Winds will remain easterly for the next few days, though a shift
to onshore is expected with the sea breeze each afternoon.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible late each
afternoon and evening, moving offshore from land. No headlines are
expected, though winds could briefly increase to the 15 to 20
knot range each evening. Late in the week an area of low pressure
could move across the southeast gulf increasing winds to advisory
levels.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Breezy east to northeast winds will lead to rather high dispersion
values Wednesday afternoon. Relative humidity values will remain
above critical levels through the week with no fire weather
concerns.

&&

.Preliminary Point Temps/PoPs...
TPA  74  92  75  92 /  30  50  10  40
FMY  71  91  72  91 /  40  60  20  60
GIF  71  90  71  92 /  10  50  10  40
SRQ  71  90  71  89 /  40  60  20  40
BKV  67  92  67  92 /  20  40  10  40
SPG  74  89  75  88 /  40  50  20  40

&&

Sea Breeze Thunderstorm Regime For Today: 2
Sea Breeze Thunderstorm Regime For Tomorrow: 3

For Additional Information On Sea Breeze Regimes go to
https://www.weather.gov/tbw/ThunderstormClimatology

&&

.TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...None.
Gulf waters...None.
&&

Close

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 31, 5:22 PM EDT, 52 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
522 PM EDT TUE MAY 31 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0505 PM     HAIL             4 W CITRONELLE          28.97N 82.64W
05/31/2022  E0.25 INCH       CITRUS             FL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SKYWARN SPOTTER.

&&

CJP

Local storm report, May 31, 5:31 PM EDT, 43 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
531 PM EDT TUE MAY 31 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0505 PM     HAIL             1 W CITRONELLE          28.98N 82.58W
05/31/2022  E1.00 INCH       CITRUS             FL   PUBLIC

            TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

&&

CJP

Special weather statement, May 31, 5:41 PM EDT, 33 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Ruskin FL
541 PM EDT Tue May 31 2022

FLZ160-162-260-312230-
Coastal Charlotte FL-Inland Sarasota FL-Coastal Sarasota FL-
541 PM EDT Tue May 31 2022

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northwestern
Charlotte and Sarasota Counties through 630 PM EDT...

At 540 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Myakka River State Park to 9 miles south
of North Port. Movement was south at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
North Port, Sarasota, Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, Sarasota Springs,
South Gate Ridge, Lake Sarasota, Saint Armands Key, Southgate, Gulf
Gate Estates, Myakka River State Park, Ridge Wood Heights, South
Sarasota, Kensington Park, The Meadows, Murdock, Vamo, El Jobean,
Oscar Scherer State Park and Grove City.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 2733 8264 2738 8231 2730 8225 2721 8225
      2721 8218 2697 8201 2680 8230
TIME...MOT...LOC 2140Z 019DEG 16KT 2729 8234 2693 8225

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

TBW

Special weather statement, May 31, 5:52 PM EDT, 22 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Ruskin FL
552 PM EDT Tue May 31 2022

FLZ050-149-151-249-251-312230-
Inland Pasco FL-Coastal Hillsborough FL-Pinellas FL-Coastal Pasco FL-
Inland Hillsborough FL-
552 PM EDT Tue May 31 2022

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of southwestern Pasco,
northern Pinellas and northwestern Hillsborough Counties through 630
PM EDT...

At 552 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from New Port Richey East to near Gandy. Movement
was southwest at 5 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Tampa, Clearwater, Largo, Pinellas Park, New Port Richey, Hudson,
Holiday, St. Petersburg, Palm Harbor, South Highpoint, New Port
Richey East, Beacon Square, Keystone, Tampa International Airport,
East Lake, Gandy, Jasmine Estates, Citrus Park, Feather Sound and
West And East Lealman.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 2838 8275 2808 8284 2783 8268 2788 8250
      2839 8261
TIME...MOT...LOC 2152Z 055DEG 6KT 2826 8269 2793 8258

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

TBW

Special weather statement, May 31, 5:57 PM EDT, 17 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Ruskin FL
557 PM EDT Tue May 31 2022

FLZ162-165-262-265-312300-
Coastal Charlotte FL-Inland Charlotte FL-Inland Lee FL-
Coastal Lee FL-
557 PM EDT Tue May 31 2022

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of south central
Charlotte and Lee Counties through 700 PM EDT...

At 556 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Lehigh Acres to near Matlacha Isles-Matlacha
Shores. Movement was southwest at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Punta Gorda, Lehigh Acres,
East Dunbar, Matlacha, Palmona Park, Southwest Florida Airport,
Harlem Heights, Lochmoor Waterway Estates, Iona, Cypress Lake, Pine
Island Center, San Carlos Park, McGregor, Pine Manor, Charleston
Park, Lovers Key State Park and Matlacha Isles-Matlacha Shores.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 2633 8182 2632 8186 2644 8223 2662 8231
      2687 8208 2677 8157 2642 8156 2642 8166
      2632 8166 2632 8182
TIME...MOT...LOC 2156Z 035DEG 12KT 2658 8163 2671 8206

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

TBW

Local storm report, May 31, 6:11 PM EDT, 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
611 PM EDT TUE MAY 31 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0600 PM     HAIL             2 N JASMINE ESTATES     28.32N 82.69W
05/31/2022  E0.25 INCH       PASCO              FL   PUBLIC

&&

CJP

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 30, 8:10 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TBW	Levy	35 min
May 30, 8:23 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	TBW	Hillsborough, Pinellas	37 min
May 30, 8:23 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	TBW	Sumter	37 min
May 30, 8:41 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	TBW	Levy	34 min
May 30, 8:55 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	TBW		65 min
May 30, 8:58 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	TBW	Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas	47 min
May 30, 9:17 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	TBW	Levy	43 min
May 30, 9:19 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TBW	Hernando, Pasco	26 min
May 30, 9:38 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	TBW	Citrus	37 min
May 30, 9:43 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	TBW	Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas	47 min
May 30, 10:18 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	TBW	Citrus	27 min
May 31, 4:12 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	TBW	Levy	33 min
May 31, 4:38 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	TBW	Citrus, Levy	52 min
May 31, 4:49 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TBW	Citrus, Levy	26 min
May 31, 4:50 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	TBW		40 min
May 31, 5:26 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	TBW		64 min
May 31, 5:41 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	TBW	Sarasota	49 min
May 31, 5:52 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	TBW	Pinellas	38 min
May 31, 5:54 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TBW	Pasco, Pinellas	36 min
May 31, 5:57 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	TBW		63 min
May 31, 5:57 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	TBW	Lee	63 min
May 31, 6:07 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TBW	Sarasota	23 min
May 31, 6:20 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	TBW		25 min
May 31, 6:22 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TBW	Charlotte, Lee	23 min
May 31, 6:30 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	TBW	Sarasota	30 min
May 31, 6:32 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	TBW	Pinellas	43 min
May 31, 6:35 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TBW	Manatee, Sarasota	25 min
May 31, 6:40 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	TBW		65 min
May 31, 6:48 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	TBW	Lee	42 min
May 31, 6:58 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	TBW	Manatee, Sarasota	32 min
May 31, 6:59 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	TBW	Pinellas	31 min
May 31, 7:09 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	TBW		36 min
May 31, 7:22 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	TBW	Charlotte	23 min
May 31, 7:25 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	TBW	Manatee	50 min
May 31, 7:34 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TBW	Manatee, Sarasota	26 min
May 31, 7:47 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	TBW		43 min
May 31, 7:58 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	TBW	Manatee, Sarasota	47 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Florida, 2022 Every tornado warning in 2022 Tornadoes in 2022

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.