Tornadoes in Florida, October 11 to 12, 2023

Name: Tornadoes in Florida, October 11 to 12, 2023
Start: 2023-10-11T21:59
End: 2023-10-12T10:35
Location: Florida

October 11 to 12, 2023 · NWS TBW · 6 events in 4 counties and zones

A severe weather episode with an area of low pressure and associated cold front moving east across the Gulf of Mexico approaching the peninsula produced multiple supercell thunderstorms and likely waterspouts over the open waters before approaching the west Florida coast, where one waterspout was observed and multiple strong wind gusts were reported.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: $917,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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 happened

The episode as NWS TBW wrote it up.

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 Tampa Bay, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Oct 11, 7:30 PM EST, 2 hours 29 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 11, 7:30 PM EST, 2 hours 29 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
830 PM EDT Wed Oct 11 2023

...New UPDATE, AVIATION...

.UPDATE...
Issued at 830 PM EDT Wed Oct 11 2023

Scattered showers and a few thunderstorms continue to develop and
move north across the area this evening. As the night progresses
we'll see convective coverage increase across the Nature Coast
south into the central Florida peninsula as upper level energy and
instability move into the region, while convection remains
scattered across southwest Florida. This pattern will persist
through Thursday morning, then we'll see the main area of
convection begin to shift south during the afternoon as the
shortwave energy moves by to the north. Overall the current
forecast looks ok, but may adjust PoPs some to reflect current
thinking.

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 830 PM EDT Wed Oct 11 2023

Scattered convection early tonight will become more numerous after
midnight through early afternoon Thursday around the Tampa Bay
TAF sites of TPA, PIE, LAL, and SRQ. Convection should remain
mainly scattered across southwest Florida. MVFR/local IFR
conditions are expected within the convection and some areas of
MVFR ceilings will be possible later tonight into Thursday morning
the moist airmass across the area. Otherwise mainly VFR
conditions are expected. Southeast to south winds will increase
overnight to 10 to 15 knots with some gusts to around 25 knots and
then increase to 15 to 20 knots with gusts to around 30 knots
mid- morning Thursday through the afternoon hours. Winds will be
erratic within any convection and could gust to 35 knots later
tonight and Thursday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 308 PM EDT Wed Oct 11 2023

We will be looking at some unsettled weather for the next few days
with possible severe weather overnight and early tomorrow
morning. First lets talk about what is setting all this up. We
will have a low pressure system pushing through Florida just north
of our area. This will increase our moisture and help to bring a
few rounds of shower and storms across the area. Thanks to the
moisture and heat return we will see a more typically pop up
showers and storms across the area this evening.

Overnight we will see the low pressure itself passing north of the
area through the Panhandle and southern Georgia. This will bring
another round of showers and storms and its this round we are
concerned about when it come to severe weather. Our concern is high
winds and the possibility for tornadoes. Looking at sample forecast
soundings along the coast for the HRRR we are seeing backing winds
at the surface and higher values for 0-1km SRH which in turn is
giving us high STP values overnight between 06z and 12z. However we
also have PWs at 2.5 and CAPE values not to impressive. So we
know storms will be spinning but will they be able to reach the
ground.

After that the front that is associated with the low pressure system
will stall over the area. Severe weather risk will be much lower but
weather will continue to be unsettled through the rest of the week
with scattered showers and storms through the afternoon and evening
both Thursday and Friday.

Next weekend will be much like last weekend. Saturday will be warm
and humid with a cold front pushing through. A few showers will be
possible but chances will be lower compared to the end of the week.
For Sunday cooler and drier air will start to filter in bringing in
pleasant weather once again.

Early next week we will see dry but below average temperatures. We
could see widespread low 60's and upper 50's in the morning with
highs staying in the 70's.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 308 PM EDT Wed Oct 11 2023
A strong south to southwest flow will cause hazardous marine
conditions over the Gulf and coastal waters tonight into tomorrow.
Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will impact waters
now through Thursday, some storms may be severe with damaging winds
and possible waterspouts.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 308 PM EDT Wed Oct 11 2023
No fire weather concerns through the weekend as RH values remain
well above criteria. Strong to severe thunderstorms expected through

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
TPA  79  87  80  88 /  80  80  30  50
FMY  80  90  80  90 /  80  50  20  40
GIF  76  88  77  89 /  90  80  40  70
SRQ  78  88  79  89 /  80  70  30  50
BKV  74  87  76  89 /  80  80  30  60
SPG  78  87  80  86 /  80  70  30  50

&&

.TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...High Rip Current Risk from 2 AM EDT Thursday through Thursday
     evening for Coastal Charlotte-Coastal Hillsborough-Coastal
     Lee-Coastal Manatee-Coastal Sarasota-Pinellas.

     High Surf Advisory from 2 AM to 8 PM EDT Thursday for Coastal
     Hillsborough-Coastal Manatee-Coastal Sarasota-Pinellas.

     Coastal Flood Advisory from 10 AM to 5 PM EDT Thursday for
     Coastal Citrus-Coastal Hernando-Coastal Hillsborough-
     Coastal Levy-Coastal Pasco-Pinellas.

Gulf waters...Small Craft Advisory from 2 AM to 2 PM EDT Thursday for
     Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound-Coastal waters from
     Bonita Beach to Englewood FL out 20 NM-Coastal waters from
     Englewood to Tarpon Springs FL out 20 NM-Tampa Bay waters-
     Waters from Bonita Beach to Englewood FL out 20 to 60 NM-
     Waters from Englewood to Tarpon Springs FL out 20 to 60 NM.

     Small Craft Advisory until 2 PM EDT Thursday for Coastal waters
     from Tarpon Springs to Suwannee River FL out 20 NM-Waters
     from Tarpon Springs to Suwannee River FL out 20 to 60 NM.

&&

UPDATE/AVIATION/MARINE/FIRE WEATHER...Close
DECISION SUPPORT...Giarratana
UPPER AIR/CLIMATE...Hurt

The radar

The Tampa radar (KTBW), 49 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:58 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Sarasota

When: October 11, 9:59 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Sarasota County, 0.61 mi NE of Gator Creek Estates to 0.76 mi NE of Gator Creek Estates
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.18 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 27.266, -82.383

A supercell that developed over the Gulf of Mexico and likely produced a waterspout while offshore moved ashore just after 9:30 PM EST (0230Z) between Venice and Osprey. Radar-indicated rotation weakened about 10 to 15 minutes after the storm moved ashore around 9:45 PM EST (0245Z), just after it crossed Interstate 75 east of Osprey. The storm again exhibited increasing organization and rotation just after 9:50 PM EST (0250Z) as it approached SR 72/Clark Rd while continuing north-northeast, and produced a brief EF-0 tornado just before 10:00 PM EST (0300Z) that affected a neighborhood just north of SR 72/Clark Rd on the east side of Sarasota. A metal pool cage/lanai was collapsed at one home, while a small trailer was moved several feet outside of another home. The circulation weakened shortly thereafter as the storm continued across northern Sarasota County.

Tornado, Pinellas

When: October 11, 11:13 PM EST to 11:15 PM EST
Where: Pinellas County, 0.48 mi ENE of Bridgeport to 0.32 mi SSW of Oldsmar
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.26 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 28.032, -82.672

A developing supercell moved ashore near Madeira Beach in southern Pinellas County around 10:30 PM EST (0330Z) and continued north-northeast across the communities of Seminole and Highpoint over the next 30 minutes, passing just west of St Pete Clearwater Int'l Airport (PIE). Radar indicated increasing organization and rotation around midnight as it passed over the Courtney Campbell Causeway while approaching Safety Harbor, and organization continued to increase over the next 15 minutes before the storm produced an EF-0 tornado while crossing the northern shore of Safety Harbor into Oldsmar around 11:15 PM EST (0415Z), where a significant part of the roof was removed from a two-story home along Shore Drive facing south toward the shoreline located across the street. Video recorded by a local resident from just east of the tornado track showed power flashes as the storm moved across the area, consistent with the time of the most apparent rotation per radar, while the aforementioned house receiving roof damage was located along the eastern edge of the circulation as the storm moved north-northeast. Intermittent damage continued along the track north-northeast over the next quarter-mile or so before the circulation weakened, including roof damage reported to a few additional homes, and damage to large trees continuing northward to around Oldsmar Elementary school near SR 580/State St.

Tornado, Pinellas

When: October 12, 12:47 AM EST to 12:55 AM EST
Where: Pinellas County, 1.59 mi N of Clearwater Beach to 0.96 mi SSE of Ozona
Rating: EF2
Path length: 4.97 mi
Path width: 300 yd
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 28.003, -82.829

Tornadic waterspout came ashore, becoming a tornado near northern Clearwater Beach and continued across the Dunedin Channel before again coming ashore near Dunedin, near the intersection of the Dunedin Causeway and Hwy 19. Multiple homes in Clearwater Beach and Dunedin suffered at least minor roof damage, with a multi-story condominium building in Dunedin losing over a third of its roof along with part of the side wall, which was tossed about 500 yards away. A nearby strip mall also experienced partial roof loss and ensuing water damage, with a few damaged or destroyed concrete poles in its parking lot. Additionally, at least 3 other homes received mainly roof damage before the tornado dissipated just east of U.S. Hwy 19.

Tornado, Citrus

When: October 12, 1:08 AM EST to 1:19 AM EST
Where: Citrus County, 13.03 mi SSE of Inglis to 9.83 mi SE of Inglis
Rating: EF2
Path length: 5.6 mi
Path width: 300 yd
Property damage: $350,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 28.846, -82.611

Likely began as a tornadic waterspout that moved ashore, then tracked northeast near the Paradise Point community south of Crystal River before continuing across U.S. Hwy 19 and FL Hwy 44 into eastern parts of Crystal River before lifting northeast of the city shortly thereafter. Several hardwood trees were downed near the Plantation Golf Resort and Spa before more significant damage occurred as the tornado approached and crossed U.S. Hwy 19, with multiple homes receiving roof damage, including one with exterior walls collapsed. A warehouse along U.S. Hwy 19 also had part of its roof removed. Additional minor roof damage observed as the tornado continued northeast and across FL Hwy 44 before dissipating, along with downed electrical transmission lines.

Tornado, Pasco

When: October 12, 1:17 AM EST to 1:18 AM EST
Where: Pasco County, 0.88 mi ENE of New Port Rw Pasco Ar to 0.99 mi ENE of New Port Rw Pasco Ar
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.11 mi
Path width: 15 yd
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 28.186, -82.618

A tornado-warned storm produced a very brief tornado touchdown around 1:17 AM EST (0617Z) that was captured on the doorbell camera of a home between Trinity and Odessa. Bent fence damage was observed across a pond from the street where the initial video was taken, suggesting that a very short-lived tornado occurred.

Tornado, Pinellas

When: October 12, 10:34 AM EST to 10:35 AM EST
Where: Pinellas County, 0.68 mi WSW of Belleair Bluffs to 0.32 mi SW of Belleair Bluffs
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.42 mi
Path width: 15 yd
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 27.916, -82.830

A very brief tornado was observed over the intracoastal waterway along the Belleair Beach causeway at 11:34 AM EST (1534Z). At 11:35 AM EST (1535Z), the tornado moved onshore and damaged the roof of an apartment building before dissipating.

What these are

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 2023 Every state in 2023 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Florida, 2023 Warnings in Florida, October 2023

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: 1143566, 1143567, 1143568, 1143569, 1143570, 1143571.