Alert archive / Florida / Tornado Warnings in 2023
Tornado Warning 13, NWS Tampa Bay, FL
NWS Tampa Bay, FL issued this tornado warning at Aug 30, 2023, 1:40 AM EDT for Hardee County, Highlands County, Polk County, Florida. It was in force for 20 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- Aug 30, 2023, 1:40 AM EDT (05:40 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 30, 2023, 2:00 AM EDT
- In force
- 20 min
- Issued by
- NWS Tampa Bay, FL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.0 in
Counties Hardee County, FL, Highlands County, FL, Polk County, FL
The radar
The Tampa radar (KTBW), 88 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:41 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.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 1:46 AM EDT | TORNADO | 3 W Avon Park, FL | Highlands county EMS reported seeing a tornado moving northbound near Avon Park. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 8:28 PM EDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 10 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Tampa Bay, FL (KTBW), launched 00:00Z, 5.7 hours before the alert went out and 88 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 250 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -102 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 888 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 44 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 438 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 381 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.4
- Supercell composite
- 2.6
The text
As transmitted.
325
WFUS52 KTBW 300540
TORTBW
FLC049-055-105-300600-
/O.NEW.KTBW.TO.W.0013.230830T0540Z-230830T0600Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Ruskin FL
140 AM EDT Wed Aug 30 2023
The National Weather Service in Ruskin has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Northwestern Highlands County in south central Florida...
Northeastern Hardee County in central Florida...
Southeastern Polk County in central Florida...
* Until 200 AM EDT.
* At 139 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Avon Park, moving north at 30 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...
Avon Park around 145 AM EDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Frostproof and Avon Park Executive Airport.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! If your home is flooded, avoid flood waters. If
possible, take shelter in an interior room. 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.
Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!
&&
LAT...LON 2750 8154 2751 8160 2779 8157 2774 8134
TIME...MOT...LOC 0539Z 194DEG 27KT 2755 8156
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
$$
TBW2 follow-up statements
028
WWUS52 KTBW 300551
SVSTBW
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Ruskin FL
151 AM EDT Wed Aug 30 2023
FLC049-300600-
/O.CAN.KTBW.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-230830T0600Z/
Hardee FL-
151 AM EDT Wed Aug 30 2023
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN HARDEE COUNTY IS CANCELLED...
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled for
Hardee County. The Tornado Warning is still in effect for Highlands
and Polk Counties.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 600 AM EDT for south central
and central Florida.
LAT...LON 2758 8152 2759 8156 2779 8157 2775 8138
TIME...MOT...LOC 0550Z 194DEG 27KT 2763 8154
$$
FLC055-105-300600-
/O.CON.KTBW.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-230830T0600Z/
Highlands FL-Polk FL-
151 AM EDT Wed Aug 30 2023
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM EDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN HIGHLANDS AND SOUTHEASTERN POLK COUNTIES...
At 150 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Avon Park, moving north at 30 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 tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
northwestern Highlands and southeastern Polk Counties, including the
following locations... Frostproof and Avon Park Executive Airport.
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.
Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!
&&
LAT...LON 2758 8152 2759 8156 2779 8157 2775 8138
TIME...MOT...LOC 0550Z 194DEG 27KT 2763 8154
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
$$
TBW188
WWUS52 KTBW 300556
SVSTBW
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Ruskin FL
156 AM EDT Wed Aug 30 2023
FLC055-105-300606-
/O.EXP.KTBW.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-230830T0600Z/
Highlands FL-Polk FL-
156 AM EDT Wed Aug 30 2023
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN HIGHLANDS AND SOUTHEASTERN
POLK COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 200 AM EDT...
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. However, gusty
winds are still possible with this thunderstorm.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 600 AM EDT for south central
and central Florida.
LAT...LON 2758 8152 2759 8156 2779 8157 2775 8138
TIME...MOT...LOC 0556Z 194DEG 27KT 2767 8153
$$
TBWThe office that day
Everything else NWS Tampa Bay, FL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 8:38 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | TBW | 37 min | |
| Aug 29, 11:29 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | TBW | 31 min | |
| Aug 30, 1:01 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | TBW | Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Lee | 89 min |
| Aug 30, 2:52 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | TBW | Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee and 3 more | 3 hr |
| Aug 30, 4:18 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | TBW | Hardee, Polk | 27 min |
| Aug 30, 4:23 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | TBW | Citrus, Hernando, Sumter | 22 min |
| Aug 30, 6:03 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | TBW | Hardee, Highlands, Polk | 7 min |
| Aug 30, 6:03 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | TBW | DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Polk | 12 min |
| Aug 30, 6:20 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | TBW | Hardee, Highlands, Polk | 25 min |
| Aug 30, 6:53 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | TBW | Hardee, Highlands, Polk | 12 min |
| Aug 30, 8:24 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | TBW | DeSoto, Hardee, Manatee | 3 hr |
| Aug 30, 9:07 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | TBW | Pasco | 23 min |
| Aug 30, 9:15 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | TBW | DeSoto, Hardee, Manatee, Sarasota | 15 min |
| Aug 30, 11:28 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | TBW | DeSoto, Hardee, Manatee, Polk, Sarasota | 2 hr |
| Aug 30, 2:09 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | TBW | Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, Sumter | 2 hr |
| Aug 30, 3:47 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | TBW | DeSoto | 21 days |
| Aug 30, 3:47 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | TBW | Manatee | 54 hr |
| Aug 30, 5:31 PM EDT | Small Craft Advisory | TBW | 14 hr | |
| Aug 30, 5:33 PM EDT | Coastal Flood Statement | TBW | Charlotte, Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy and 4 more | 10 hr |
| Aug 30, 5:33 PM EDT | Rip Current Statement | TBW | Charlotte, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pinellas, Sarasota | 26 hr |
| Aug 30, 5:33 PM EDT | High Surf Advisory | TBW | Charlotte, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pinellas, Sarasota | 10 hr |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Florida, 2023Every tornado warning in 2023Tornadoes in 2023
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.