Tornadoes · United States · Florida · 2006

F0 tornado, (Fll)Ft Laudrdl Intl, Florida, March 23, 2006

This F0 tornado ran 1.0 miles across Broward County on March 23, 2006, touching down at 3:10 PM EST and reaching 50 yards wide. It killed nobody.

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.

  1. F040 to 72 mphthis tornado

    Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

  2. F173 to 112 mph

    Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. F4207 to 260 mph

    Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

  6. 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.

  7. 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
F0
Date
March 23, 2006
Touchdown
3:10 PM EST (20:10 UTC)
Path length
1.0 miles (1.6 km)
Path width
50 yards (46 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
County
Broward County
Touchdown point
26.180, -80.280
Lift-off point
26.180, -80.280
Record number
170

What the Weather Service recorded

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.

From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.

The warnings

2 minutes of warning. NWS MFL issued a tornado warning for this county at 20:08 UTC, 2 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 20:35 UTC.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
20:02 UTC21:00 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningMFL
20:08 UTC20:35 UTCTornado WarningMFL

Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.

The forecast that day

The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Slight Risk, with a 0.02 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 18:56 UTC.

SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.

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.

Miami, FL (KMFL), 12:00Z

8.2 hours before the tornado, 40 km from the path. March 23, 2006.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Miami, FL at 12:00Z on 2006-03-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 124 joules per kilogram, CIN -68, lifted condensation level 914 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Miami, FL at 12:00Z on 2006-03-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 20 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 39 knots.19395878Sfc1 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. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
124 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-68 J/kg
Surface CAPE
134 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
914 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
5 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
20 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
57 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1
0-3 km lapse rate
5.5 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Miami, FL (KMFL), 00:00Z

3.8 hours after it, 40 km from the path. March 24, 2006.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Miami, FL at 00:00Z on 2006-03-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 853 joules per kilogram, CIN -49, lifted condensation level 915 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Miami, FL at 00:00Z on 2006-03-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 74 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 41 knots.19395878Sfc1 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. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
853 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-49 J/kg
Surface CAPE
77 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
915 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
41 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
74 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
78 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.9
0-3 km lapse rate
5.7 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Fort Lauderdale (FXE), 11 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)Temp (°F)Dew point (°F)WindGust (kt)Pressure (mb)Weather
18:53 UTC7765100° 13 kt1014.2TS
19:53 UTC7567100° 15 kt1013.5-TSRA
20:34 UTC6864.4310° 25 kt381014.6+RA FG
20:41 UTC66.262.6350° 14 kt351014.2+RA FG
20:45 UTC66.262.6340° 11 kt291013.9RA FG
20:53 UTC676460° 4 kt171014.2-RA
21:53 UTC686260° 5 kt1013.5

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.

The radar

The Miami radar (KAMX), 65 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 20:10 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.

What was reported nearby

Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.

Time (UTC)ReportWhereCountyRemark
17:39 UTCHAIL 0.255 W Miami InternationalMiami-Dade, FLFORMER NWS EMPLOYEE REPORTED PEA SIZED HAIL AT 1340E FLAGLER STREET AND 92ND AVE
17:46 UTCTSTM WND GST 01 S SweetwaterMiami-Dade, FL146PM NWS MIAMI FORECAST OFFICE RECORDED A 39 MPH WIND GUST
17:46 UTCTSTM WND GST 391 S SweetwaterMiami-Dade, FLOFFICE 146PM NWS MIAMI FORECAST OFFICE RECORDED A 39 MPH WIND GUST
17:59 UTCHAIL 0.255 W Miami InternationalMiami-Dade, FLFORMER NWS EMPLOYEE REPORTED PEA SIZED HAIL AT 1340E FLAGLER STREET AND 92ND AVE
18:39 UTCHAIL 0.255 W Miami InternationalMiami-Dade, FLFORMER NWS EMPLOYEE REPORTED PEA SIZED HAIL AT 1340E FLAGLER STREET AND 92ND AVE
18:46 UTCTSTM WND GST 01 S SweetwaterMiami-Dade, FL146PM NWS MIAMI FORECAST OFFICE RECORDED A 39 MPH WIND GUST
18:46 UTCTSTM WND GST 391 S SweetwaterMiami-Dade, FL146PM NWS MIAMI FORECAST OFFICE RECORDED A 39 MPH WIND GUST
18:59 UTCHAIL 0.255 W Miami InternationalMiami-Dade, FLFORMER NWS EMPLOYEE REPORTED PEA SIZED HAIL AT 1340E FLAGLER STREET AND 92ND AVE
19:05 UTCFUNNEL CLOUDCoral SpringsBroward, FLCORAL SPRINGS PD REPORTED FUNNEL CLOUD 10100 ATLANTIC BLVD MOVING SOUTHEAST
19:09 UTCTSTM WND DMGCoral SpringsBroward, FLNWS SURVEY INDICATED LARGE TREE LIMBS DOWN ON BOTH SIDES OF ATLANTIC AVE AND CORAL RIDGE DRIVE
19:10 UTCTSTM WND DMGCoral SpringsBroward, FLCORAL SPRINGS PD REPORTED DOWNED POWER LINE SAWGRASS EXPRESSWAY AND ATLANTIC BLVD
19:10 UTCFLOODCoral SpringsBroward, FLCORAL SPRINGS PD REPORTED FLOODING IN THE 4800 BLOCK OF 115 AVE, FLOODING TO THE DOOR OF ONE HOME
19:10 UTCTORNADO12 Nw Fort LauderdaleBroward, FLPILOT REPORTED TORNADO 12 MI NORTHWEST FLL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
19:15 UTCFUNNEL CLOUDW Pompano BeachBroward, FLSPOTTER NOTED 3 FUNNEL CLOUDS VICINITY OF 441 AND ATLANTIC BLVD LOOKING WEST
19:23 UTCHAIL 0.5MargateBroward, FLSPOTTER 441/ATLANTIC BLVD NICKLE SIZED HAIL
19:40 UTCTSTM WND GST 50Fort LauderdaleBroward, FLPUBLIC REPORTED 50 MPH WINDS AND CIRCULATION
19:43 UTCTSTM WND GST 50Fort LauderdaleBroward, FLSPOTTER BRO NUMBER 061 REPORTED 50 MPH WINDS 62ND AVE AND FEDERAL HIGHWAY
19:43 UTCHAIL 0.25MargateBroward, FLMARGATE PD REPORTED COMMUNICATION FAILURE DUE TO STRONG THUNDERSTORM WINDS, HAIL, OFFICERS ALSO REPORTED SEVERAL FUNNEL CLOUDS
19:43 UTCTORNADOLauderdale By The SeaBroward, FLBSO REPORTED POSSIBLE TORNADO TOUCHDOWN 4620 N OCEAN DRIVE, LAUDERDALE BY THE SEA... MINOR DAMAGE REPORTED
20:05 UTCFUNNEL CLOUDCoral SpringsBroward, FLCORAL SPRINGS PD REPORTED FUNNEL CLOUD 10100 ATLANTIC BLVD MOVING SOUTHEAST
20:09 UTCTSTM WND DMGCoral SpringsBroward, FLNWS SURVEY INDICATED LARGE TREE LIMBS DOWN ON BOTH SIDES OF ATLANTIC AVE AND CORAL RIDGE DRIVE
20:10 UTCTSTM WND DMGCoral SpringsBroward, FLCORAL SPRINGS PD REPORTED DOWNED POWER LINE SAWGRASS EXPRESSWAY AND ATLANTIC BLVD
20:10 UTCFLOODCoral SpringsBroward, FLCORAL SPRINGS PD REPORTED FLOODING IN THE 4800 BLOCK OF 115 AVE, FLOODING TO THE DOOR OF ONE HOME
20:10 UTCTORNADO12 Nw Fort LauderdaleBroward, FLPILOT REPORTED TORNADO 12 MI NORTHWEST FLL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
20:15 UTCFUNNEL CLOUDW Pompano BeachBroward, FLSPOTTER NOTED 3 FUNNEL CLOUDS VICINITY OF 441 AND ATLANTIC BLVD LOOKING WEST
20:23 UTCHAIL 0.5MargateBroward, FLSPOTTER 441/ATLANTIC BLVD NICKLE SIZED HAIL
20:40 UTCTSTM WND GST 50Fort LauderdaleBroward, FLPUBLIC REPORTED 50 MPH WINDS AND CIRCULATION
20:43 UTCTSTM WND GST 50Fort LauderdaleBroward, FLSPOTTER BRO NUMBER 061 REPORTED 50 MPH WINDS 62ND AVE AND FEDERAL HIGHWAY
20:43 UTCHAIL 0.25MargateBroward, FLMARGATE PD REPORTED COMMUNICATION FAILURE DUE TO STRONG THUNDERSTORM WINDS, HAIL, OFFICERS ALSO REPORTED SEVERAL FUNNEL CLOUDS
20:43 UTCTORNADOLauderdale By The SeaBroward, FLBSO REPORTED POSSIBLE TORNADO TOUCHDOWN 4620 N OCEAN DRIVE, LAUDERDALE BY THE SEA... MINOR DAMAGE REPORTED

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2006 tornado in FloridaEvery tornado in Florida since 1950Warnings in force in Florida nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of March 23, 2006

1 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
March 239:35 PM HSTF0Maui, HI1.020

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.