Alert archive / Florida / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 3, NWS Tampa Bay, FL

May 26, 2026Hillsborough County, Manatee County, Florida

NWS Tampa Bay, FL issued this tornado warning at May 26, 2026, 5:36 PM EDT for Hillsborough County, Manatee County, Florida. It was in force for 24 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
May 26, 2026, 5:36 PM EDT (21:36 UTC)
Expired
May 26, 2026, 6:00 PM EDT
In force
24 min
Issued by
NWS Tampa Bay, FL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.0 in

Counties Hillsborough County, FL, Manatee County, FL

The radar

The Tampa radar (KTBW), 8 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:36 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 26, 5:39 PM EDTTORNADO2 Nne Parrish, FLA resident of the area reported seeing the tornado lifting debris over an open field in a construction site. The circulation dissipated shortly after.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this tornado warning; the first came 3 minutes after it went out.

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, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 8 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 2026-05-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 672 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Tampa Bay, FL at 12:00Z on 2026-05-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -17 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
672 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-16 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
771 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
12 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-17 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-17 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

083 
WFUS52 KTBW 262136
TORTBW
FLC057-081-262200-
/O.NEW.KTBW.TO.W.0003.260526T2136Z-260526T2200Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Ruskin FL
536 PM EDT Tue May 26 2026

The National Weather Service in Ruskin has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northwestern Manatee County in west central Florida...
  South central Hillsborough County in west central Florida...

* Until 600 PM EDT.

* At 536 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Parrish, or 11 miles northeast of Palmetto, moving
  north 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...
  Ruskin around 540 PM EDT.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 2760 8240 2759 8243 2769 8251 2773 8241
TIME...MOT...LOC 2136Z 165DEG 11KT 2762 8242 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$

TBW
1 follow-up statement
885 
WWUS52 KTBW 262150
SVSTBW

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Ruskin FL
550 PM EDT Tue May 26 2026

FLC057-081-262200-
/O.EXP.KTBW.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260526T2200Z/
Manatee FL-Hillsborough FL-
550 PM EDT Tue May 26 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN MANATEE AND SOUTH CENTRAL
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 600 PM EDT...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.  However, gusty
winds are still possible with this thunderstorm.

&&

LAT...LON 2760 8240 2759 8243 2769 8251 2773 8241
TIME...MOT...LOC 2150Z 165DEG 11KT 2766 8243 

$$

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 26, 2:39 PM EDT, 2 hours 57 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Updated at 235 PM EDT Tue May 26 2026
  • Above normal temperatures continue through Wednesday.
  • Thunderstorms are expected to develop each day, mainly in the afternoon and evening hours through Wednesday, then at almost anytime Thursday through at least next Tuesday.
  • An increasingly wet pattern is expected late in the week through early next week.
Area forecast discussion, May 26, 2:39 PM EDT, 2 hours 57 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
239 PM EDT Tue May 26 2026

...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION, MARINE, FIRE WEATHER...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 235 PM EDT Tue May 26 2026

- Above normal temperatures continue through Wednesday.

- Thunderstorms are expected to develop each day, mainly in the
  afternoon and evening hours through Wednesday, then at almost
  anytime Thursday through at least next Tuesday.

- An increasingly wet pattern is expected late in the week through
  early next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 235 PM EDT Tue May 26 2026

Broad upper-level ridging remains in place over and to the east of
the Florida peninsula. The surface ridge axis also remains to the
east in response, with a fairly tight pressure gradient over the
state driving a surface ESE flow. Some drier air is wrapping around
the back side of the high and advecting over the area in the mid-
levels. However, daytime low-level sea breeze convergence is slowly
adding additional moisture to the column, and this will continue
over the next few hours. Thus, shower and thunderstorm activity is
anticipated once again this afternoon/evening, primarily along and
west of the I-75 corridor. With the drier air, this favors a higher
threat for strong gusty winds in storms that do form. Hail is also
not out of the question if more robust updrafts form. Lightning and
heavy rainfall should be expected with any storm that forms.

This is the final day of this pattern before we begin to see a
transition take place. As the ridge axis shifts farther east and
eventually is suppressed by an amplified upper-level pattern, the
flow will shift to a more southerly and then WSW flow by the end of
the week. As this takes place, deep tropical moisture will advect
over the state, leading to greater coverage in showers and
thunderstorms. Notably it also means that thunderstorms won't just
be possible in the afternoon/evening hours, but also overnight and
in the morning hours as well. There could, in fact, be multiple
rounds of rain each day. Overall, this is a good thing given the
current drought conditions across the region.

This pattern will continue into next week, meaning that warm, humid
weather will continue with scattered to numerous showers and
thunderstorms each day. With extra cloud cover, it won't likely get
quite as hot during the day - but it also won't cool a whole lot at
night either. So expect a wet and pattern into next week.

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 235 PM EDT Tue May 26 2026

Some showers have begun to develop, and this is expected to continue
with storms consolidating along the west coast over the next several
hours. The best potential for impacts exists around Tampa Bay
area terminals. As these storms consolidate near the coast this
evening, there will be a higher potential for microbursts, in
addition to temporary MVFR and IFR flight conditions. Some storms
may linger late tonight near some coastal terminals as well.
Thunderstorms will again be possible late tomorrow afternoon and
into the evening, but will become increasingly possible at nearly
anytime as deep tropical moisture moves over the state beginning
on Thursday and lasting into next week.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 235 PM EDT Tue May 26 2026

One final day of ESE flow is expected tomorrow, with showers and
thunderstorms moving off the coast late in the day and into the
night. With breezy conditions continuing, this will also keep seas
in the 2 to 3 foot range, outside of thunderstorms where winds and
seas will be higher. Beginning Thursday and into Friday, the winds
will gradually veer to a WSW flow. This will bring additional
moisture and higher chances for showers and thunderstorms to coastal
waters at nearly any time, and will keep seas of 2 to 3 feet.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 235 PM EDT Tue May 26 2026

Ample moisture remains across the region with scattered to numerous
showers and thunderstorms each day. Rain becomes even more
widespread as the weekend approaches, gradually alleviating drought
concerns. While there could be some high dispersions over the next
couple days with breezy conditions, overall fire weather concerns
are low through the remainder of the week and into the weekend.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
TPA  76  89  77  87 /  60  30  50  70
FMY  76  93  76  90 /  20  50  40  70
GIF  75  92  75  89 /  60  70  60  80
SRQ  74  91  75  88 /  50  30  50  60
BKV  72  92  72  89 /  60  30  50  70
SPG  77  91  77  89 /  50  30  50  60

&&

Sea Breeze Thunderstorm Regime For Wednesday: 7
Sea Breeze Thunderstorm Regime For Thursday: 4

For additional information on sea breeze regimes, go to:
     https://www.weather.gov/tbw/ThunderstormClimatology

&&

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

&&

Flannery

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 26, 5:11 PM EDT, 25 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Ruskin FL
511 PM EDT Tue May 26 2026

FLZ251-255-262145-
Inland Manatee FL-Inland Hillsborough FL-
511 PM EDT Tue May 26 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN MANATEE AND SOUTH
CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH COUNTIES THROUGH 545 PM EDT...

At 511 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles east of Parrish, or 17 miles east of Palmetto, moving northwest
at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Parrish, Greater Sun Center, and Wimauma.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 2753 8218 2746 8225 2755 8248 2773 8230
TIME...MOT...LOC 2111Z 133DEG 17KT 2754 8229

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

TBW

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 26, 5:11 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementTBWManatee34 min
May 26, 5:50 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningTBW25 min
May 26, 5:58 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningTBW32 min
May 26, 6:15 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningTBW45 min
May 26, 6:18 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementTBWHernando42 min
May 26, 6:29 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementTBWManatee, Sarasota46 min
May 26, 6:39 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementTBWPasco36 min
May 26, 6:47 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementTBWLevy43 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Florida, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes in 2026

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.