Tornadoes · United States · Florida · 2013

EF0 tornado, South Venice, Florida, June 6, 2013

This EF0 tornado ran 1.6 miles across Sarasota County on June 6, 2013, touching down at 11:13 AM EDT and reaching 50 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $10,000 of property damage.

The rating scale

Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.

  1. EF065 to 85 mphthis tornado

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

  2. EF186 to 110 mph

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

  3. EF2111 to 135 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. EF3136 to 165 mph

    Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.

  5. EF4166 to 200 mph

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

  6. EF5over 200 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
EF0
Date
June 6, 2013
Touchdown
11:13 AM EDT (15:13 UTC)
Lifted
11:16 AM EDT (15:16 UTC)
On the ground
3 minutes
Path length
1.6 miles (2.6 km)
Path width
50 yards (46 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$10,000
County
Sarasota County
Touchdown point
27.027, -82.414
Lift-off point
27.049, -82.404
Record number
1306060913-01

The damage survey

7 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS TBW, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF0. The highest wind the damage implies is 70 mph.

  • trees down and shingles torn off
  • sheet metal roof lifted up. was reattached. 3" limbs broken on pine.

Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.

What the Weather Service recorded

Tropical Storm Andrea developed in the Gulf of Mexico on the morning of the 5th and moved northeast, making landfall 10 miles south of Steinhatchee, FL early on the evening of the 6th. At it's peak, Tropical Storm Andrea had a minimum surface pressure of 992 MB. ||Tropical storm force winds were estimated by the National Hurricane Center Hurricane Research Division to extend along the coast as far south as Pinellas County, including extending several miles inland in Levy County. Additionally, several weather stations in Hillsborough County along the Tampa Bay measured frequent gusts and even sustained winds of 34 knots or greater. Sites farther south measuring only occasional wind gusts inside of thunderstorms. The highest sustained wind recorded was 41 knots at the ARPSWXNET mesonet site CW6730 on Davis Island in Hillsborough Bay. The highest wind gust recorded was 49 knots also at CW6730.||Rainfall totals across the area were as high as 6 inches for the 5th-7th, with the highest values over Nature Coast through Tampa Bay region. The highest single station storm total rainfall was at the CoCoRaHS site FL-LV-9 located 8.5 miles east northeast of Chiefland in Levy County, measuring the 6.17 inches. Minor street flooding was reported in Levy, Citrus, Sumter, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, De Soto, and Charlotte Counties. ||Storm surge was relatively minor, with sites from Tampa Bay to Cedar Key recording storm tides of up to 6 feet MLLW, and storm surge of 2-4 feet. South of Tampa Bay, storm surge and storm tide were both less than 3 feet. The highest storm tide recorded was 6.26 feet MLLW at the tide gauge at Cedar Key, with a storm surge of 4.08 feet MLLW calculated by subtracting the predicted tide from the storm tide.||In Levy County, tropical storm force winds were felt along and just inland of the coast during the afternoon of the 6th. The highest gust recorded was 44 knots at both the CKYF1 and CDRF1 weather stations in Cedar Key, with both sites also recording periods of sustained winds of 35 knots. Storm total precipitation ranged from 2 inches to just over 6 inches across the county, with the CoCoRaHS site FL-LV-9 located 8.5 miles east northeast of Chiefland measuring the highest total of 6.17 inches. Peak storm tide at the Cedar Key tide gauge reached 6.26 feet MLLW on the afternoon of the 6th. Subtracting the predicted astronomical tide, the calculated highest storm surge was 4.08 feet MLLW late in the afternoon of the 6th.||In Citrus County, tropical storm force winds were felt along the coast during the afternoon of the 6th. Storm total precipitation ranged from 2 inches to almost 6 inches across the county, with the CoCoRaHS site FL-CT-7 located 5.3 miles north-northeast of Crystal River measuring the highest total of 5.87 inches. Peak storm tide was estimated to be around 5 feet MLLW on the afternoon of the 6th. Subtracting the predicted astronomical tide, the highest storm surge was estimated to be around 3 to 4 feet MLLW late in the afternoon of the 6th.||In Hernando County, tropical storm force winds were felt along the coast during the afternoon of the 6th. Storm total precipitation ranged from around 2.5 inches to around 4.5 inches across the county, with the CoCoRaHS site FL-HN-8 located 3 miles north of Weeki Wachee measuring the highest total of 4.69 inches. Peak storm tide was estimated to be around 4 to 5 feet MLLW on the afternoon of the 6th. Subtracting the predicted astronomical tide, the highest storm surge was estimated to be around 3 to 4 feet MLLW late in the afternoon of the 6th.||In Pasco County, tropical storm force winds were felt along the coast during the afternoon of the 6th. Storm total precipitation across the county ranged from 2 inches to just over 6 inches, with the CoCoRaHS site FL-PS-43 located 1.5 miles south-southeast of Land O' Lakes measuring the highest total of 6.07 inches. Peak storm tide was estimated to be around 4 feet MLLW on the afternoon of the 6th. Subtracting the predicted astronomical tide, the highest storm surge was estimated to be around 3 feet MLLW late in the afternoon of the 6th.||In Pinellas County, tropical storm force winds were felt along the coast during the afternoon of the 6th. The highest gust recorded was 43 knots at both the NOW-NWLON station CWBF1 in Clearwater and the APRSWXNET site CW4299 on Treasure Island. Additionally, the CWBF1 weather station in Clearwater Beach measured sustained winds of 35 knots. Storm total precipitation ranged from 2.5 inches to over 5 inches across the county, with the CoCoRaHS site FL-PN-17 located 0.6 miles east of South Pasadena measuring the highest total of 5.37 inches. Peak storm tide at the Clearwater tide gauge on the Gulf Coast measured 4.49 feet MLLW on the afternoon of the 6th. At the Saint Petersburg tide gauge in Tampa Bay, the storm tide was 4.28 feet. Subtracting the predicted astronomical tide, the calculated highest storm surges for Clearwater and Saint Petersburg, respectively, were 2.92 and 2.47 feet MLLW late in the afternoon of the 6th.||In Hillsborough County, tropical storm force winds were felt along the coast during the afternoon of the 6th. The highest gust recorded was 49 knots at the ARPSWXNET mesonet site CW6730 on Davis Island in Hillsborough Bay. Additionally, the same site measured sustained winds of 41 knots. Storm total precipitation across the county ranged from 2 inches to over 5 inches, with the CoCoRaHS site FL-HB-37 located 2 miles east of Lutz measuring the highest total of 5.21 inches. Peak storm tide at the Old Port Tampa tide gauge measured 4.82 feet MLLW on the afternoon of the 6th. At the McKay Bay Entrance tide gauge, the storm tide was 5.05 feet. Subtracting the predicted astronomical tide, the calculated highest storm surges for Old Port Tampa and Mckay Bay Entrance, respectively, were 2.80 and 2.97 feet MLLW late in the afternoon of the 6th.

A National Weather Service survey found a narrow path of damage starting near the coast of Venice and moving northeast towards Highway 41. Damage included a few uprooted trees, including one large oak tree, numerous large branches down, minor roof damage to a couple houses and general light damage to a few car ports, pool cages, and fences. Damage was roughly estimated at $10,000.

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

The warnings

2 minutes of warning. NWS TBW issued a tornado warning for this county at 15:11 UTC, 2 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 16:00 UTC.

The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 14:44 UTC and running to 23:05 UTC.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
22:00 UTC03:00 UTCTropical Storm WarningNHC
22:40 UTC03:10 UTCTropical Storm WarningTBW
00:00 UTC00:24 UTCCoastal Flood AdvisoryTBW
07:42 UTC14:44 UTCTornado WatchTBW
14:44 UTC23:05 UTCTornado WatchTBW
15:11 UTC16:00 UTCTornado WarningTBW
15:34 UTC16:00 UTCTornado WarningTBW
15:38 UTC16:05 UTCTornado WarningTBW
16:40 UTC17:15 UTCTornado WarningTBW
16:42 UTC17:30 UTCTornado WarningTBW
17:06 UTC21:00 UTCFlood AdvisoryTBW
03:26 UTC22:00 UTCRip Currents StatementTBW
03:26 UTC07:54 UTCHigh Surf AdvisoryTBW

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 0.05 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 12:21 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.

Tampa Bay, FL (KTBW), 12:00Z

3.2 hours before the tornado, 74 km from the path. June 6, 2013.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Tampa Bay, FL at 12:00Z on 2013-06-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 398 joules per kilogram, CIN -31, lifted condensation level 558 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, Tampa Bay, FL at 12:00Z on 2013-06-06The 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 301 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 24 knots.193958Sfc1 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
398 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-31 J/kg
Surface CAPE
514 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
558 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
301 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
512 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
5.0
0-3 km lapse rate
5.1 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Tampa Bay, FL (KTBW), 00:00Z

8.8 hours after it, 74 km from the path. June 7, 2013.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Tampa Bay, FL at 00:00Z on 2013-06-07Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 28 joules per kilogram, CIN -99, lifted condensation level 936 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, Tampa Bay, FL at 00:00Z on 2013-06-07The 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 57 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 19 knots.193958Sfc1 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
28 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-99 J/kg
Surface CAPE
907 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
936 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
19 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
57 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
116 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2
0-3 km lapse rate
5.5 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The radar

The Tampa radar (KTBW), 74 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 15:10 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
15:20 UTCTORNADO1 Se South VeniceSarasota, FLSEVERAL REPORTS OF TORNADO DAMAGE. DOWNED TREES...ROOF DAMAGE ON SYRACUSE AND NEPTUNE ROADS. SURVEY LIKELY TOMORROW.
15:20 UTCTORNADOSouth VeniceSarasota, FLSEVERAL REPORTS OF TORNADO DAMAGE. DOWNED TREES...ROOF DAMAGE ON SYRACUSE AND NEPTUNE ROADS. SURVEY LIKELY TOMORROW.

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

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2013 tornado in FloridaEvery tornado in Florida since 1950Warnings in force in Florida nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of June 6, 2013

9 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 62:47 AM EDTEF0Manatee, FL1.550$50,000
June 63:18 AM EDTEF0Palm Beach, FL0.625
June 63:27 AM EDTEF0Hillsborough, FL9.850$36,000
June 66:45 AM EDTEF1Palm Beach, FL2.01001
June 67:57 AM EDTEF0Broward, FL20.725
June 610:03 AM EDTEF0Pinellas, FL1.950$20,000
June 62:05 PM EDTEF0Lee, FL0.330
June 64:48 PM EDTEF1Duval, FL18.9704
June 61:22 AM EDTEF0Brunswick, NC0.120$10,000

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.