Tornadoes · United States · Florida · 2002
F1 tornado, Red Level to Inglis, Florida, October 15, 2002
From Red Level to Inglis, this F1 tornado ran 5.0 miles across Citrus and Levy counties on October 15, 2002, touching down at 1:55 PM EDT and reaching 100 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $500,000 of property damage.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
F040 to 72 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
F173 to 112 mphthis tornado
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
F2113 to 157 mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
F3158 to 206 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
F4207 to 260 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
F5261 to 318 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.
The record
- Rating
- F1
- Date
- October 15, 2002
- Touchdown
- 1:55 PM EDT (17:55 UTC)
- Path length
- 5.0 miles (8.0 km)
- Path width
- 100 yards (91 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $500,000
- Counties
- Citrus and Levy counties
- Touchdown point
- 29.000, -82.730
- Lift-off point
- 29.050, -82.670
- Record number
- 864
What the Weather Service recorded
Low pressure in the Gulf of Mexico traveled along a stationary front into Levy county. One of the stronger storms in the vicinity of the stationary front produced a waterspout that moved inland into extreme northwest Citrus County near the Cross Florida Barge Canal. The tornado then proceeded to cross the the northwest corner of Citrus county and moved into the city of Inglis in Levy county. In Citrus county, the damage began near the corner of West Rooster Crow Road and North Nighthawk. Significant tree damage was found near the Withlacoochee river along North Honey Jorden Point with damage width of 500 to 1,500 feet.In Levy county, minor damage occurred to roof tops of businesses and major damage occurred to some mobile homes due to fallen trees. One small temporary church was destroyed as winds made it into the building, popped the roof, and the exterior walls collapsed. An eye witness 50 feet away reported the building was pulsating before it was destroyed and the rotating funnel curved down then paralleled the storm base. It is believed most of the wind damage was caused by the strong rear flank downdraft. The Inglis Police Chief estimated 60 homes were damaged during the event, mostly when trees or large limbs fell on the roofs.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, 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 tornado touched down at Oct 15, 1:30 PM EDT, 25 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Oct 15, 1:30 PM EDT, 25 minutes before
WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
130 PM EDT TUE OCT 15 2002
WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH SHOWERS AND A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AHEAD
OF A COLD FRONT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...BUT MUCH DRIER COOLER
WEATHER IS ON ITS WAY. THE COLD FRONT CURRENTLY OVER THE EASTERN
GULF OF MEXICO WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA TONIGHT WITH WINDS SHIFTING
NORTHWEST AND GRADUAL CLEARING DEVELOPING LATE TONIGHT. SURFACE HIGH
PRESSURE WILL BEGIN TO BUILD OVER THE SOUTHEAST U.S. AND FLORIDA ON
WEDNESDAY WITH DRIER COOLER AIR ADVECTING OVER THE FA...AND THIS WILL
PERSIST THROUGH FRIDAY. AS THE SURFACE HIGH MOVES OFF THE MID
ATLANTIC COAST ON SATURDAY...WINDS WILL VEER NORTHEAST AND EAST WITH
TEMPERATURES MODERATING BACK TO CLIMATIC NORMALS.
THE SURFACE RIDGE WILL BEGIN TO GIVE WAY ON MONDAY AS ANOTHER COLD
FRONT APPROACHES NORTH FLORIDA WITH MOISTURE INCREASING ACROSS THE
FA. THE CHANCE OF RAIN WILL REMAIN LOW WITH ONLY SLIGHT CHANCE POPS.
A STRONG CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE CENTRAL
PLAINS AND BEGIN TO PUSH THE COLD FRONT SOUTHEAST APPROACHING NORTH
FLORIDA TUESDAY AFTERNOON. ANOTHER SURGE OF COOL DRY AIR APPEARS TO
BE HEADING TOWARDS FLORIDA FOR THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK ALSO.
MARINE...MARGINAL SCEC CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP TONIGHT AS THE
GRADIENT TIGHTENS OVER THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO BEHIND THE
COLD FRONT. SCEC CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY PERSIST THROUGH
WEDNESDAY...WITH WINDS SUBSIDING WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
PRELIM NUMBERS:
BKV 68/80/56/78 4100
TPA 72/82/61/79 4100
GIF 71/83/60/80 4100
SRQ 72/82/61/80 4100
FMY 73/85/64/81 5100
.TBW...SCEC TONIGHT BONITA BEACH TO SUWANNEE RIVER OUT TO 60NM
INCLUDING TAMPA BAY.
OGLESBYHazardous weather outlook, Oct 15, 5:20 AM EDT, 8 hours 35 minutes before
FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-151500- HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 520 AM EDT TUE OCT 15 2002 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TODAY: ...A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON... ...GUSTY MARINE WINDS TONIGHT... AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT WILL PRODUCE SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS LATER TODAY ACROSS MOST OF THE SUNCOAST...AS WELL AS INTERIOR COUNTIES. A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE THROUGH THE EASTERN GULF EARLY THIS MORNING...REACHING THE COAST AROUND OR JUST BEFORE NOON. RESIDENTS NEAR THE COAST CAN EXPECT LOCALLY TORRENTIAL RAIN...OCCASIONAL TO FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND WIND GUSTS TO 30 MPH WITH A FEW CELLS. STRONGER STORMS MAY DEVELOP FARTHER INLAND EARLY THIS AFTERNOON AS THE LINE ENCOUNTERS INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE AIR. A FEW SEVERE STORMS MAY DEVELOP. STRONGER STORMS WILL CONTAIN WIND GUSTS OF 40 MPH OR MORE...SMALL HAIL...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. ANY SEVERE STORMS THAT FORM WOULD PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. AS LOW PRESSURE INTENSIFIES OFF OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES COAST...WESTERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE OVER THE COASTAL WATERS. GUSTS OF 25 TO 30 KNOTS ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. RESIDENTS SHOULD BE ALERT TO CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY. WHEN SKIES DARKEN...MOVE INDOORS. IF THERE IS TIME...UNPLUG APPLIANCES AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT. WAIT UNTIL THE STORM ENDS BEFORE USING THE TELEPHONE OR RUNNING WATER. MARINERS...ESPECIALLY SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS...PLANNING TRIPS INTO THE EASTERN GULF TODAY AND TONIGHT MAY WISH TO DELAY OR POSTPONE THEM UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVE. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR UPDATES. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY: HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...CHECK OUR WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TBW BSG
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Oct 15, 10:50 AM EDT, 3 hours 5 minutes before
FLZ039-042-048-151700- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 1050 AM EDT TUE OCT 15 2002 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER THE NORTHEAST GULF OF MEXICO... AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAS DEVELOPED OVER THE NORTHEAST GULF OF MEXICO FROM 35 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CEDAR KEY TO 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF CEDAR KEY. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. THE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...SMALL HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MAY AFFECT EXTREME WESTERN PORTIONS OF LEVY COUNTY BETWEEN 11 AM AND NOON...AND THE REMAINDER OF LEVY COUNTY BETWEEN NOON TO 1 PM. THE ATMOSPHERE IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE ACROSS WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. ADDITIONAL STRONG TO POSSIBLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON IN ADVANCE OF A COLD FRONT OVER THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO. RESIDENTS IN WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA SHOULD STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION THROUGH THE DAY. OGLESBY
Special weather statement, Oct 15, 10:50 AM EDT, 3 hours 5 minutes before
FLZ039-042-043-048-049-050-051-052-055-056-057-060-061-062-065- 151700- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...COR TO ADD COUNTIES NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 1050 AM EDT TUE OCT 15 2002 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER THE NORTHEAST GULF OF MEXICO... AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAS DEVELOPED OVER THE NORTHEAST GULF OF MEXICO FROM 35 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CEDAR KEY TO 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF CEDAR KEY. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. THE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...SMALL HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MAY AFFECT EXTREME WESTERN PORTIONS OF LEVY COUNTY BETWEEN 11 AM AND NOON...AND THE REMAINDER OF LEVY COUNTY BETWEEN NOON TO 1 PM. THE ATMOSPHERE IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE ACROSS WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. ADDITIONAL STRONG TO POSSIBLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON IN ADVANCE OF A COLD FRONT OVER THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO. RESIDENTS IN WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA SHOULD STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION THROUGH THE DAY. OGLESBY
The air that afternoon
The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.
Tampa Bay, FL (KTBW), 12:00Z
5.9 hours before the tornado, 150 km from the path. October 15, 2002.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1018 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -21 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 667 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 606 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 31 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 10 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 58 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 90 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.2
- Supercell composite
- 1.3
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 4.6 K/km
The surface observations
Ocala (OCF), 49 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00:00 UTC |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Tampa radar (KTBW), 150 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 17:55 UTC.
Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track
Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2002 tornado in FloridaEvery tornado in Florida since 1950Warnings in force in Florida nowThe forecast where you are
What this means
Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.
Sources
NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.