Florida, 2013Tornado in Florida, April 5, 2013
April 5, 2013 · NWS KEY · 1 event in 1 county or zone
A complex surface low pressure system extending from offshore the Mid Atlantic coast to central Florida, supported by a sharp upper trough of low pressure extending southward into the Gulf of Mexico, produced strong thunderstorms in the Florida Straits, which moved northeast across portions of the Florida Keys during the early morning hours of April 5, 2013. One thunderstorm produced a…
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- Tornadoes
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $30,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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.
A complex surface low pressure system extending from offshore the Mid Atlantic coast to central Florida, supported by a sharp upper trough of low pressure extending southward into the Gulf of Mexico, produced strong thunderstorms in the Florida Straits, which moved northeast across portions of the Florida Keys during the early morning hours of April 5, 2013. One thunderstorm produced a waterspout which moved ashore the extreme southern portion of Big Pine Key.
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 Key West, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 4, 8:45 PM EST, 4 hours 25 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 4, 8:45 PM EST, 4 hours 25 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST FL
945 PM EDT THU APR 4 2013
...SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATE TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY...
.DISCUSSION...IN THE MID AND UPPER LEVELS...(700-200 MB) LATEST
AVAILABLE IR SATELLITE IMAGERY OVERLAID WITH MODEL STREAMLINE
ANALYSIS AS OF 900 PM DEPICT A DEEP TROUGH AXIS SITUATED FROM LAKE
MICHIGAN SOUTHWARD TO LOUISIANA...WHERE A POTENT COLD CORE MIDDLE
LEVEL CYCLONE CONTINUES TO DEEPEN AT 500 MB. A STRONG MID TO UPPER
LEVEL JETSTREAM ROUNDS THE BASE OF THIS FEATURE...ACROSS MOST OF THE
GULF OF MEXICO. AND GIVEN SUFFICIENT COLUMNAR MOISTURE AND
INSTABILITY ALONG THE RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION OF THE JET OVER THE
SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO...ANOTHER LARGE MCS HAS DEVELOPED THIS
EVENING AND IS PRESENTLY PROPAGATING EASTWARD TOWARDS SOUTH FLORIDA
AND THE FLORIDA KEYS.
AT THE SURFACE...A 1020-1025 MB SURFACE ANTICYCLONE IS PARKED OVER
THE CHESAPEAKE BAY REGION. CLOSER TO SOUTH FLORIDA AND THE KEYS...A
1010 MB SURFACE LOW PRESSURE TROUGH IS ALIGNED WITH THE
AFOREMENTIONED MID LEVEL DISTURBANCE LOCATED FROM BUOY 42003
SOUTHWEST ABOUT 150 MILES. THE ACTUAL SURFACE COLD FRONT IS BACK AT
ABOUT 90 DEGREES WEST. THE 00Z EVENING SOUNDING AT KEY WEST
ILLUSTRATED A MOIST UNSTABLE LOWER TO MID TROPOSPHERE WITH DECENT
0-6 KM SPEED AND DIRECTIONAL SHEAR...WITH 0-3 KILOMETER RELATIVE
HELICITY AT 80 METERS SQUARED/SECOND SQUARED. AN AVERAGE 1 TO 2
DEGREE PER KM COOLING HAS OCCURRED IN THE COLUMN IN THE 1000-500 MB
LAYER.
.FORECASTS...ALL AVAILABLE MODEL FORECASTS CONTINUE TO MOVE THE COLD
CORE MIDDLE LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM EASTWARD FROM LOUISIANA
EASTWARD TO GEORGIA TOMORROW. AS THIS SYSTEM SLIDES EAST FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THE EVENING...JUST ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
WILL MOVE ACROSS THE WATERS FOR THE BALANCE OF THE OVERNIGHT. THE
LATEST AVAILABLE...18Z...GFS MODEL FORECAST SOUNDINGS CONTINUE TO
ILLUSTRATE A STRONG NEARLY UNIDIRECTIONAL WIND PROFILE JUST AHEAD OF
THE ACTUAL SURFACE COLD FRONT. THIS CONTINUES TO SUGGEST TO US THAT
A SQUALL LINE WILL MOVE IN TANDEM WITH THE BEST DYNAMICS ACROSS THE
WESTERN FLORIDA STRAITS AND THE OFFSHORE GULF WATERS BETWEEN 200 AND
400 AM...REACHING THE FLORIDA KEYS ON OR BEFORE 12Z...THEN ACROSS
THE ENTIRE ISLAND CHAIN THROUGH THE MID TO LATE MORNING HOURS.
SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL FOLLOW
IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE SQUALL LINE DURING THE LATE MORNING AND EARLY
AFTERNOON...WITH THE ACTUAL SURFACE COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH DURING
THE AFTERNOON. AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS SOUTHWARD FROM THE MID
ATLANTIC STATES. WE EXPECT BREEZY TO WINDY CONDITIONS WITH NORTHWEST
WINDS ACROSS THE ISLANDS AND ADJOINING WATERS LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON
AND FRIDAY NIGHT.
AS IT LOOKS NOW...WIND GUSTS BETWEEN 34 AND 49 KNOTS WILL LIKELY
ACCOMPANY THE SQUALL LINE WITH A PERIOD OF HEAVY RAINFALL...SMALL
HAIL...AND FREQUENT OR CONTINUOUS LIGHTNING STRIKES. HOWEVER...THE
STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS PLACED THE KEYS IN A SLIGHT RISK FOR
SEVERE WEATHER...SO THERE WILL CONTINUE TO EXIST THE THREAT FOR
ISOLATED DAMAGING WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50 KNOTS (60
MPH)...QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND EVEN THE POSSIBILITY OF A TORNADO.
THIS IS ALREADY INDICATED IN THE WEATHER FORECAST FOR FRIDAY.
&&
.MARINE...
SMALL CRAFT ARE URGED TO EXERCISE CAUTION ON ALL KEYS COASTAL WATERS
TONIGHT AS SOUTHWEST WINDS INCREASE TO 15 TO 20 KNOTS. A
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WILL LIKELY BE REQUIRED FOR ALL KEYS COASTAL
WATERS FRIDAY. THUNDERSTORMS AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT LATE TONIGHT INTO
EARLY FRIDAY AFTERNOON HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS.
A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MAY BE REQUIRED FOR ALL KEYS COASTAL WATERS
FRIDAY NIGHT.
&&
.AVIATION...THROUGH 05/24Z...FOR THE EYW AND MTH TERMINALS...LIGHT
AN VARIABLE SURFACE WINDS WILL VEER TO SOUTH SOUTHWESTERLY...AND
INCREASE TO NEAR 15 KNOTS. THE THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS AT BOTH
TERMINALS WILL BE BETWEEN 12 AND 17Z...WHEN SHORT PERIODS OF
IFR/LIFR CIGS/VIS WILL LIKELY BE ACCOMPANIED BY CONVECTIVE
LLWS...CHARACTERIZED BY SURFACE WIND GUSTS NEAR 35 KNOTS.
&&
.KEY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...NONE.
GM...NONE.
&&
PUBLIC/MARINE/DIGITAL................FUTTERMAN
AVIATION/STATEMENTS/WARNINGS.........ROTHWELL
DATA ACQUISITION/UPPER AIR/MEDIA.....JACOBSON
VISIT US ON THE WEB AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/KEYWEST
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 4, 3:00 PM EST, 10 hours 10 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST FL
400 PM EDT THU APR 4 2013
FLZ076>078-GMZ031>035-042>044-052>055-072>075-051000-
MONROE UPPER KEYS-MONROE MIDDLE KEYS-MONROE LOWER KEYS-
FLORIDA BAY INCLUDING BLACKWATER AND BUTTONWOOD SOUNDS-
BAYSIDE AND GULF SIDE FROM CRAIG KEY TO HALFMOON SHOAL OUT TO
5 FATHOMS-
GULF WATERS FROM EAST CAPE SABLE TO CHOKOLOSKEE 20 TO 60 NM OUT
AND BEYOND 5 FATHOMS-
GULF OF MEXICO INCLUDING DRY TORTUGAS AND REBECCA SHOAL CHANNEL-
HAWK CHANNEL FROM OCEAN REEF TO CRAIG KEY OUT TO THE REEF-
HAWK CHANNEL FROM CRAIG KEY TO WEST END OF SEVEN MILE BRIDGE OUT
TO THE REEF-
HAWK CHANNEL FROM WEST END OF SEVEN MILE BRIDGE TO HALFMOON SHOAL
OUT TO THE REEF-
STRAITS OF FLORIDA FROM OCEAN REEF TO CRAIG KEY OUT 20 NM-
STRAITS OF FLORIDA FROM CRAIG KEY TO WEST END OF SEVEN MILE
BRIDGE OUT 20 NM-
STRAITS OF FLORIDA FROM WEST END OF SEVEN MILE BRIDGE TO SOUTH OF
HALFMOON SHOAL OUT 20 NM-
STRAITS OF FLORIDA FROM HALFMOON SHOAL TO 20 NM WEST OF DRY
TORTUGAS OUT 20 NM-
STRAITS OF FLORIDA FROM OCEAN REEF TO CRAIG KEY 20 TO 60 NM OUT-
STRAITS OF FLORIDA FROM CRAIG KEY TO WEST END OF SEVEN MILE
BRIDGE 20 TO 60 NM OUT-
STRAITS OF FLORIDA FROM WEST END OF SEVEN MILE BRIDGE TO SOUTH OF
HALFMOON SHOAL 20 TO 60 NM OUT-
STRAITS OF FLORIDA FROM HALFMOON SHOAL TO 20 NM WEST OF DRY
TORTUGAS 20 TO 60 NM OUT-
400 PM EDT THU APR 4 2013
...SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATE TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY...
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS AND ADJACENT
COASTAL WATERS.
.DAY ONE...TONIGHT
A SQUALL LINE WILL APPROACH THE FLORIDA KEYS LATE TONIGHT. WIND
PROFILES SUPPORT BOWING SEGMENTS ALONG THIS SQUALL LINE...WITH THE
POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGING WIND GUSTS NEAR 60 MPH.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY
DAMAGING WIND GUSTS NEAR 60 MPH ARE POSSIBLE FRIDAY MORNING AS A
SQUALL LINES PASSES THROUGH THE FLORIDA KEYS.
IN ADDITION...A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WILL LIKELY BE REQUIRED FOR ALL
KEYS COASTAL WATERS FRIDAY.
A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MAY BE REQUIRED FOR ALL KEYS COASTAL WATERS
FRIDAY NIGHT.
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME FOR SATURDAY THROUGH
WEDNESDAY.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED LATE TONIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING.
BS
Tornado, Monroe
- When
- April 5, 1:10 AM EST to 1:15 AM EST
- Where
- Monroe County, 2.41 mi S of Big Pine to 2.01 mi SE of Big Pine
- Rating
- EF0
- Path length
- 1.56 mi
- Path width
- 80 yd
- Property damage
- $30,000
- Reported by
- NWS Storm Survey
- Coordinates
- 24.635, -81.347
A waterspout was observed by the public, backlit by frequent lightning strikes approaching long beach estates from the west-southwest, passing to the south of the Newfound Harbor Keys. The waterspout moved ashore along the oceanside of Long Beach Drive and passed over the public observer's property, a bed-and-breakfast inn. It was at this landfall location that the tornado was at its maximum intensity and width of about 80 yards. Widespread damage to large limbs of native hardwood trees occurred, and one royal palm snapped at a level above 15 feet. A ground deck with four kayaks became airborne with the dock dropped within mangroves beyond 30 yards from the original location. A large unmounted above-ground cistern containing nearly 200 gallons of water slide just over 15 yards, knocking a large camping trailer off its front mount. Bolts securing a large grill to wood ground decking were sheared off. While numerous tables and lounge chairs were carried to the leeward side of the property, one 40-lb steel lounge chair was lifted to the edge of the roof line of the two-story residence, crushing the rain gutter, before settling in the lee of the structure. Small gravel and pea rock along the waterfront caused moderate to severe paint chipping on the oceanside of several homes. Screens including their wood frames were torn off several residences' oceanside porches, with one home losing about 40 percent of its oceanside vinyl siding. A phone line was downed along Long Beach Drive.
The tornado continued across mud flats along the southeast edge of Coupon Bight, where only isolated damage to mangrove branches was observed. Small limbs were observed downed across Long Beach Drive between Southeast Point and U.S. Highway 1, eventually crossed through a campground just south of the Spanish Harbor Channel Bridge. Several tents including one large aluminum-framed dome tent strucutre were overturned before the tornado likely passed into Spanish Harbor Channel. The intensity of the tornado at Spanish Harbor Channel had decreased since its original landfall with estimated winds near 60 mph.
- 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.
- High Wind in California, April 5 to 8, 2013$20,000 · 65 kt wind · 2 events
- High Wind in Wyoming, April 5, 201352 kt wind · 3 events
- Heavy Snow in Minnesota, April 5 to 6, 20133 events
- High Wind in Oregon, April 5, 201363 kt wind · 2 events
- Wildfire in Hawaii, April 5, 20131 event
- Marine Thunderstorm Wind in Gulf of Mexico, April 5, 20131 event
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: 450025.