Tornado in Florida, March 23, 2006

Name: Tornado in Florida, March 23, 2006
Start: 2006-03-23T15:05
End: 2006-03-23T15:15
Location: Florida

March 23, 2006 · NWS MFL · 3 events in 1 county or zone

2 funnel cloud, 1 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Miami, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 23, 3:03 PM EST, 2 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 23, 3:03 PM EST, 2 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
303 PM EST THU MAR 23 2006

...THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...
...BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES THIS WEEKEND...

.DISCUSSION...ACTIVE CONVECTION OVER SOUTH FLORIDA THIS
AFTERNOON. LARGE SCALE ASCENT ACROSS A NEAR STATIONARY FRONTAL
BOUNDARY ALONG WITH WEAK CONVERGENCE IN THE LOW LEVELS IS HELP
SPAWN SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE AREA. WIND GUSTS TO NEAR 40
MPH ALONG WITH SMALL HAIL HAVE BEEN REPORTED. INTERACTION OF
LEFTOVER OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES WITH THE FRONT ALONG WITH COOLER AIR
ENTERING THE MID LEVELS WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW THIS CONVECTION TO
PERSIST OFF AND ON INTO THE EVENING. LOW LEVELS WILL STABILIZE
THROUGH THE NIGHT HOWEVER...AND THE CHANCE OF ANY ORGANIZED
CONVECTION WILL TAPER OFF INTO THE MORNING HOURS.

THE SHORT WAVE NOW OVER THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY WILL MOVE
THROUGH THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES THROUGH THE NIGHT.
CYCLOGENSIS ALONG THE FRONT HAS BEEN PROGGED FOR THE PAST SEVERAL
RUNS. BUOY AND COASTAL OBSERVATIONS OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF ARE
INDICATING THIS MAY BE TAKING PLACE AHEAD OF THE SHORT WAVE. THE
LOW WILL MOVE THROUGH THE PENINSULA TONIGHT. WINDS WILL EVENTUALLY
TURN MORE NORTHWEST AND BRING IN A COOLER AND DRIER AIRMASS
TOMORROW.

FOR THE WEEKEND...GUIDANCE TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO TREND
DOWNWARD. EXPECT TEMPS WELL BELOW NORMALL FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. NEAR
RECORD LOWS ARE FORECAST FOR INTERIOR AREAS SOUTHWEST OF LAKE
OKEECHOBEE FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY MORNINGS. WINDS WILL BE LIGHT
IN THESE AREAS...BUT WIND CHILLS MAY DIP INTO THE MID 30S IN
PLACES. ELSEWHERE ALONG THE POPULATED COASTAL AREAS...TEMPERATURES
WILL BE WARMER...BUT STILL SOME 10 TO 15 DEGREES BELOW SEASONAL
NORMS FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. AFTERNOON HIGHS WILL REMAIN IN THE
LOWER TO MID 70S AS WELL.

THE AIRMASS WILL MODIFY THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK AS HIGH PRESSURE
SHIFTS WEST INTO THE ATLANTIC AND MODERATING EASTERLY FLOW COMMENCES.

&&

.MARINE...MODERATE TO FRESH NORTHWEST FLOW TOMORROW WILL ALLOW
SEAS TO BUILD OVER COASTAL WATERS. EXPECT ADVISORY CONDITIONS OVER
THE ATLANTIC WATERS STARTING TOMORROW. WINDS AND SEAS WILL SUBSIDE
THROUGH THE WEEKEND IN MOST AREAS...BUT ADVISORY CONDITIONS ARE
LIKELY TO PERSIST OVER GULF STREAM WATERS INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...A DRY AIRMASS WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA TOMORROW.
RED FLAG CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY BE IN EFFECT FOR FRIDAY AND THE
WEEKEND. WILL UPGRADE THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH TO A RED FLAG FOR
TOMORROW AND ISSUE A WATCH FOR SATURDAY.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
WEST PALM BEACH  66  76  51  70 /  80  35  10   5
FORT LAUDERDALE  67  78  52  72 /  75  45  10   5
MIAMI            69  80  54  71 /  75  45  10   5
NAPLES           66  70  48  66 /  65  25   5   5

&&

.MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...RED FLAG ALL ZONES FOR FRIDAY.
AM...NONE.
GM...NONE.

&&

CHRISTENSEN

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 23, 11:16 AM EST, 3 hours 49 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SOUTH FLORIDA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
1116 AM EST THU MAR 23 2006

FLZ063-066>075-241600-
GLADES-HENDRY-PALM BEACH WESTERN-PALM BEACH EASTERN-
WESTERN COLLIER-EASTERN COLLIER-WESTERN BROWARD-
BROWARD METROPOLITAN-WESTERN DADE-DADE METROPOLITAN-
MAINLAND MONROE-
1051 AM EST THU MAR 23 2006

...THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE TONIGHT ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA...
...SEAS BUILDING TO 10 FEET BY FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...
...INCREASED FIRE DANGER ACROSS ALL OF SOUTH FLORIDA THIS WEEKEND...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH FLORIDA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THUNDERSTORMS: A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH SOUTH FLORIDA
TONIGHT. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP
AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND ANY STORMS THAT DO DEVELOP WILL PRODUCE CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES, GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH, AND LOCALLY
HEAVY RAINFALL.

NO OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

THE SEAS WILL BUILD TO 8 TO 10 FEET IN THE GULF STREAM FRIDAY
NIGHT AND SATURDAY, AS THE WINDS WILL BECOME NORTHERLY AT 15 TO
20 KNOTS.

IN ADDITION, MUCH DRIER AIR WILL MOVE INTO SOUTH FLORIDA THIS
WEEKEND BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. THIS WILL ALLOW FOR AN INCREASED
FIRE DANGER ACROSS ALL OF SOUTH FLORIDA THIS WEEKEND WITH RELATIVE
HUMIDITIES DROPPING BELOW 35 PERCENT.

NO OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.

FOR MORE INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
MIAMI WEBSITE AT WWW.MIAMIWEATHER.INFO.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 23, 1:22 PM EST, 1 hour 43 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
222 PM EDT THU MAR 23 2006

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

0146 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 S SWEETWATER          25.75N 80.37W
03/23/2006  M0 MPH           MIAMI-DADE         FL   NWS EMPLOYEE

            146PM NWS MIAMI FORECAST OFFICE RECORDED A 39 MPH WIND
            GUST

0159 PM     HAIL             5 W MIAMI INTERNATIONAL 25.80N 80.37W
03/23/2006  E0.25 INCH       MIAMI-DADE         FL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            FORMER NWS EMPLOYEE REPORTED PEA SIZED HAIL AT 1340E
            FLAGLER STREET AND 92ND AVE

&&

EBAUGH

Local storm report, Mar 23, 1:22 PM EST, 1 hour 43 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
222 PM EDT THU MAR 23 2006

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

0146 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 S SWEETWATER          25.75N 80.37W
03/23/2006  39 MPH           MIAMI-DADE         FL   WFO MIAMI
                                                       OFFICE

            146PM NWS MIAMI FORECAST OFFICE RECORDED A 39 MPH WIND
            GUST

0139 PM     HAIL             5 W MIAMI INTERNATIONAL 25.80N 80.37W
03/23/2006  E0.25 INCH       MIAMI-DADE         FL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            FORMER NWS EMPLOYEE REPORTED PEA SIZED HAIL AT 1340E
            FLAGLER STREET AND 92ND AVE

&&

EBAUGH

Local storm report, Mar 23, 2:17 PM EST, 48 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
317 PM EDT THU MAR 23 2006

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

0315 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     W POMPANO BEACH         26.23N 80.12W
03/23/2006                   BROWARD            FL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER NOTED 3 FUNNEL CLOUDS VICINITY OF 441 AND
            ATLANTIC BLVD LOOKING WEST

&&

EBAUGH

Local storm report, Mar 23, 2:22 PM EST, 43 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
222 PM EST THU MAR 23 2006

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

0146 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 S SWEETWATER          25.75N 80.37W
03/23/2006  39 MPH           MIAMI-DADE         FL   WFO MIAMI OFFICE

            146PM NWS MIAMI FORECAST OFFICE RECORDED A 39 MPH WIND
            GUST

0139 PM     HAIL             5 W MIAMI INTERNATIONAL 25.80N 80.37W
03/23/2006  E0.25 INCH       MIAMI-DADE         FL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            FORMER NWS EMPLOYEE REPORTED PEA SIZED HAIL AT 1340E
            FLAGLER STREET AND 92ND AVE

&&

EBAUGH

Local storm report, Mar 23, 2:27 PM EST, 38 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
327 PM EDT THU MAR 23 2006

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

0305 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     CORAL SPRINGS           26.27N 80.27W
03/23/2006                   BROWARD            FL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            CORAL SPRINGS PD REPORTED FUNNEL CLOUD 10100 ATLANTIC
            BLVD MOVING SOUTHEAST

0310 PM     TORNADO          12 NW FORT LAUDERDALE   26.24N 80.29W
03/23/2006                   BROWARD            FL   AIRPLANE PILOT

            PILOT REPORTED TORNADO 12 MI NORTHWEST FLL INTERNATIONAL
            AIRPORT

0315 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     W POMPANO BEACH         26.23N 80.12W
03/23/2006                   BROWARD            FL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER NOTED 3 FUNNEL CLOUDS VICINITY OF 441 AND
            ATLANTIC BLVD LOOKING WEST

0323 PM     HAIL             MARGATE                 26.25N 80.22W
03/23/2006  E0.50 INCH       BROWARD            FL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER 441/ATLANTIC BLVD NICKLE SIZED HAIL

&&

EBAUGH

Local storm report, Mar 23, 2:57 PM EST, 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
357 PM EDT THU MAR 23 2006

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

0305 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     CORAL SPRINGS           26.27N 80.27W
03/23/2006                   BROWARD            FL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            CORAL SPRINGS PD REPORTED FUNNEL CLOUD 10100 ATLANTIC
            BLVD MOVING SOUTHEAST

0310 PM     TORNADO          12 NW FORT LAUDERDALE   26.24N 80.29W
03/23/2006                   BROWARD            FL   AIRPLANE PILOT

            PILOT REPORTED TORNADO 12 MI NORTHWEST FLL INTERNATIONAL
            AIRPORT

0315 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     W POMPANO BEACH         26.23N 80.12W
03/23/2006                   BROWARD            FL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER NOTED 3 FUNNEL CLOUDS VICINITY OF 441 AND
            ATLANTIC BLVD LOOKING WEST

0323 PM     HAIL             MARGATE                 26.25N 80.22W
03/23/2006  E0.50 INCH       BROWARD            FL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER 441/ATLANTIC BLVD NICKLE SIZED HAIL

0340 PM     TSTM WND GST     FORT LAUDERDALE         26.12N 80.15W
03/23/2006  E50 MPH          BROWARD            FL   PUBLIC

            PUBLIC REPORTED 50 MPH WINDS AND CIRCULATION

0343 PM     HAIL             MARGATE                 26.25N 80.22W
03/23/2006  E0.25 INCH       BROWARD            FL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            MARGATE PD REPORTED COMMUNICATION FAILURE DUE TO STRONG
            THUNDERSTORM WINDS, HAIL, OFFICERS ALSO REPORTED SEVERAL
            FUNNEL CLOUDS

0343 PM     TORNADO          LAUDERDALE BY THE SEA   26.19N 80.11W
03/23/2006                   BROWARD            FL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            BSO REPORTED POSSIBLE TORNADO TOUCHDOWN 4620 N OCEAN
            DRIVE, LAUDERDALE BY THE SEA... MINOR DAMAGE REPORTED

0343 PM     TSTM WND GST     FORT LAUDERDALE         26.12N 80.15W
03/23/2006  E50 MPH          BROWARD            FL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER BRO NUMBER 061 REPORTED 50 MPH WINDS 62ND AVE AND
            FEDERAL HIGHWAY

&&

EBAUGH

The radar

The Miami radar (KAMX), 60 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:10 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 funnel cloud, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Funnel Cloud, Broward

When: March 23, 3:05 PM EST
Where: Broward County, Coral Spgs
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 26.152, -80.456 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado, Broward

When: March 23, 3:10 PM EST
Where: Broward County, 12 mi NW of (Fll)ft Laudrdl Intl
Rating: F0
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: AIRPLANE PILOT
Coordinates: 26.183, -80.283

A funnel cloud was spotted by Coral Springs PD in the vicinity of 10100 Atlantic Blvd moving southeast. Five minutes later, a pilot reported a tornado 12 miles northwest of Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL), in the vicinity or just west of Coral Springs. The tornado was likely very short lived since no later reports of a touchdown were received. At 3:15 PM, a spotter observed three funnel clouds from Atlantic Blvd and Highway 441 in Pompano Beach looking west, which would have placed the funnel clouds over Margate/Coral Springs area.

Funnel Cloud, Broward

When: March 23, 3:15 PM EST
Where: Broward County, Coral Spgs
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 26.152, -80.456 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Funnel Cloud: A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Florida in 2006 Every state in 2006 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Florida, 2006 Warnings in Florida, March 2006

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5495445, 5495444, 5495446.