Tornadoes · United States · Florida · 2015

EF0 tornado, Gretna, Florida, November 18, 2015

Name: EF0 tornado, Gretna, Florida, November 18, 2015
Start: 2015-11-18T23:05:00.000Z
End: 2015-11-18T23:13:00.000Z
Location: Gretna, Florida

This EF0 tornado ran 2.7 miles across Gadsden County on November 18, 2015, touching down at 6:05 PM EST and reaching 50 yards wide. It killed nobody.

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.

EF065 to 85 mphthis tornado
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mph
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
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.
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.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
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.
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: November 18, 2015
Touchdown: 6:05 PM EST (23:05 UTC)
Lifted: 6:13 PM EST (23:13 UTC)
On the ground: 8 minutes
Path length: 2.7 miles (4.3 km)
Path width: 50 yards (46 m)
Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
County: Gadsden County
Touchdown point: 30.614, -84.682
Lift-off point: 30.637, -84.646
Record number: 1511181705-01

What the Weather Service recorded

A strong upper level trough and surface cold front affected the region during November 18th. Three tornadoes were confirmed in northwest Florida.

An EF0 tornado with winds estimated around 70 mph touched down in Gadsden county near Gretna and tracked northeast across Hardaway Highway. One tree was blown down onto Hardaway Highway and a dual-pol tornadic debris signature was observed from KTLH radar at that location. This is a rural area with no structures impacted.

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 Tallahassee, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the tornado touched down at Nov 18, 3:56 PM EST, 2 hours 9 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 18, 3:56 PM EST, 2 hours 9 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
356 PM EST WED NOV 18 2015

...A Few Severe Thunderstorms Possible Through this Evening...

.Near Term [Through Tonight]...
By mid-afternoon, convective activity was becoming more widespread
in the western part of the forecast area, although lightning was
somewhat limited overall. This was generally split into two main
areas: (1) a thin band of convection on the leading edge of a
surface cold pool and just ahead of a surface cold front, and (2)
scattered showers and storms with some mini supercells ahead of the
primary band of convection. The most organized severe weather threat
thus far has been from these mini supercells forming ahead of the
primary band of convection. Some have shown transient periods of
strong rotation, with a couple reported brief tornadoes. That is not
too surprising with strong low-level wind shear compensating for
some more modest instability levels. Otherwise, storms have largely
been below severe limits. This is generally expected to continue
over the next 6-8 hours (through 04Z or so), with an isolated severe
threat - mainly from mini supercells. Some line mesovorticies in the
primary band of convection could also produce some isolated severe
weather as well, but the severe threat with the line may be limited
by deep layer flow largely parallel to the orientation of the
storms. Such a configuration is not typically favorable for strong
winds or QLCS tornadoes - although they can't be totally ruled out.

Zooming out to the big picture, most areas should see a soaking rain
as rain and embedded storms push east late this afternoon and
tonight, while there will be a threat of isolated damaging winds,
tornadoes, and heavy rainfall - mainly prior to midnight. Impacts
from severe weather should remain isolated.

.Short Term [Thursday Through Friday Night]...
The long wave trough over the eastern U.S. will temporarily de-
amplify during this period. Most of the shear and forcing for
ascent currently attendant with this frontal system will have
weakened by Thursday. The front itself will roughly bisect the
forecast area from northeast to southwest at 12Z Thursday and only
very slowly progress to the southeast, clearing the area Thursday
night. PoPs will range from likely over our eastern zones to less
than 20 across the far northwest. PoPs will linger over the
southeast zones Thursday evening and then drop to silent 10 or
less for Friday and Friday night. While there will still be enough
instability ahead of the front for thunderstorms, severe weather
is not expected on Thursday. Temperatures will not drop too much
behind the front with lows Thursday night ranging from around 50
north to around 60 southeast. Highs Friday will be in the 70s.
Friday night will see upper 40s north to upper 50s south.

.Long Term [Saturday Through Wednesday]...
The big news in this period continues to be the significant cool
down that will occur after the next frontal passage Saturday night.
This will be the coldest air mass of the season thus far. Highs on
Sunday and Monday will only be in the mid 50s across the northern
half of the forecast area with 60s across the southern half.
Overnight lows Sunday and Monday nights will range from the lower
to mid 30s north to the lower to mid 40s south. A gradual
warming trend will occur from Tuesday into Wednesday. So, even
with this shot of cooler air, it looks like the southern half of
the forecast area will continue to avoid their first frost of the
season.

&&

.Aviation...
[Through 18Z Thursday] The line of thunderstorms continues to
move east this afternoon. Expect MVFR ceilings and visibility due
to rain. After the line passes overnight, fog is possible at all
terminals, clearing after 16Z.

&&

.Marine...
Small craft advisory conditions continue across the marine area
with seas at the buoy reported up to 9 feet earlier. Due to the
higher than anticipated seas, the advisory was extended to 00Z to
allow seas to subside. Winds are already diminishing and this
trend will continue into the evening with a frontal passage
shifting winds to offshore late tonight into Thursday. A brief
surge back to caution conditions is forecast for Thursday night.
Another cold frontal passage Saturday night will bring solid small
craft advisory conditions to the marine area which could persist
into Sunday night with cautionary conditions to follow.

&&

.Fire Weather...
Wetting rain is expected across the region this evening and
tonight. Cool, dry air will invade the region on Thursday. RH
values will stay above critical thresholds. No fire weather
concerns.

&&

.Hydrology...
So far, rainfall totals have generally been in the 1-2 inch range
across the basins, with close to 4 inches over far western Walton
County. The rivers should be able to handle this amount of rain.
The Shoal River at Mossy Head will continue to rise sharply, but
it should crest below or right at flood stage.

&&

.Preliminary Point Temps/PoPs...

Tallahassee   70  78  56  75  54 /  70  40   0  10  10
Panama City   66  73  56  71  56 /  70  30   0  10  10
Dothan        60  72  50  70  48 /  90  10   0   0   0
Albany        65  74  49  71  48 /  90  30   0   0   0
Valdosta      71  77  54  74  52 /  70  60  40  10   0
Cross City    72  80  60  77  57 /  60  60  50  10  10
Apalachicola  70  77  57  73  58 /  60  40   0  10  10

&&

.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...High Rip Current Risk until 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ this evening FOR
     Coastal Bay-Coastal Franklin-Coastal Gulf-South Walton.

     High Surf Advisory until 6 PM CST this evening FOR South Walton.

GA...NONE.

AL...NONE.

GM...Small Craft Advisory until 7 PM EST this evening FOR Coastal
     Waters From Ochlockonee River to Apalachicola Fl out to 20
     NM-Coastal waters from Apalachicola to Destin FL out 20 NM-
     Waters from Suwannee River to Apalachicola FL from 20 to 60
     NM-Waters from Apalachicola to Destin FL from 20 to 60 NM.

&&

NEAR TERM...LAMERS
SHORT TERM...WOOL
LONG TERM...WOOL
AVIATION...WESTON
MARINE...WOOL
FIRE WEATHER...MCDERMOTT
HYDROLOGY...WOOL

In the hours before

Local storm report, Nov 18, 1:19 PM EST, 4 hours 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
119 PM EST WED NOV 18 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1241 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     ELBA                    31.41N 86.07W
11/18/2015                   COFFEE             AL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            REPORT OF FUNNEL CLOUD NEAR ELBA.

&&

EWESTON

Local storm report, Nov 18, 1:21 PM EST, 4 hours 44 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
121 PM EST WED NOV 18 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1227 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     3 S RHOADES             31.22N 86.17W
11/18/2015                   COFFEE             AL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            FUNNEL CLOUD NEAR KINSTON.

&&

EWESTON

Local storm report, Nov 18, 2:27 PM EST, 3 hours 38 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
227 PM EST WED NOV 18 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0211 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     SAMSON                  31.11N 86.05W
11/18/2015                   GENEVA             AL   911 CALL CENTER

            SEVERAL SIGHTINGS OF A FUNNEL CLOUD NEAR SAMSON.

&&

EWESTON

Special weather statement, Nov 18, 4:45 PM EST, 1 hour 20 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
345 PM CST WED NOV 18 2015

ALZ065>067-069-182230-
DALE AL-HOUSTON AL-COFFEE AL-HENRY AL-
345 PM CST WED NOV 18 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN HOUSTON...HENRY AND
DALE COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM CST...

AT 344 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR BLUE
SPRINGS STATE PARK TO NEAR DALEVILLE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35
MPH.

WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
DALEVILLE...ABBEVILLE...HEADLAND...DOTHAN...OZARK...FORT RUCKER...
TAYLOR...MIDLAND CITY...KINSEY...ASHFORD...LEVEL PLAINS...COWARTS...
NEWTON...WEBB...PINCKARD...CLAYHATCHEE...GRIMES...AVON...NEWVILLE AND
NAPIER FIELD.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST FOR SOUTHEASTERN
ALABAMA AND SOUTHWESTERN GEORGIA.

LAT...LON 3170 8513 3166 8508 3117 8525 3118 8549
      3120 8549 3120 8580 3162 8561 3162 8542
      3171 8542 3170 8522 3174 8520 3176 8513
TIME...MOT...LOC 2144Z 233DEG 32KT 3162 8552 3134 8570

JLF

Local storm report, Nov 18, 5:12 PM EST, 53 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
512 PM EST WED NOV 18 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0459 PM     MARINE TSTM WIND APALACHICOLA            29.72N 84.99W
11/18/2015  M46 MPH          FRANKLIN           FL   ASOS

            40 KNOT GUST MEASURED AT AAF.

&&

WOOL

Special weather statement, Nov 18, 5:36 PM EST, 29 minutes before

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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.

Tallahassee Rgnl, FL (KTLH), 12:00Z

11.1 hours before the tornado, 43 km from the path. November 18, 2015.

Skew-T log-p

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.

Hodograph

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: 5 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -62 J/kg
Surface CAPE: 4 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 674 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 30 kt
0-1 km bulk shear: 33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 219 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 261 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0
0-3 km lapse rate: 4.6 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Quincy (2J9), 11 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 Tallahassee radar (KTLH), 41 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 23:05 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 track Every 2015 tornado in Florida Every tornado in Florida since 1950 Warnings in force in Florida now The forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of November 18, 2015

15 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Injuries	Damage
November 18	12:05 AM CST	EF0	Leake, MS	0.5	75		$5,000
November 18	12:05 AM CST	EF1	Leake, MS	7.3	400		$50,000
November 18	12:14 AM CST	EF1	Leake, MS	8.1	500		$40,000
November 18	12:21 AM CST	EF1	Leake, MS	7.0	250		$10,000
November 18	12:30 AM CST	EF1	Leake, MS	3.0	300		$13,000
November 18	12:30 AM CST	EF1	Neshoba, MS	0.3	250		$3,000
November 18	12:41 AM CST	EF1	Winston, MS	2.2	300		$8,000
November 18	12:45 AM CST	EF1	Winston, MS	1.7	150		$20,000
November 18	1:06 AM CST	EF0	Pontotoc, MS	9.2	250		$100,000
November 18	3:53 AM CST	EF0	Lowndes, MS	2.2	50		$8,000
November 18	11:35 AM CST	EF0	Walton, FL	0.0	25
November 18	12:05 PM CST	EF0	Walton, FL	0.1	50
November 18	4:48 PM EST	EF1	Coweta, GA	0.2	200		$50,000
November 18	4:59 PM EST	EF1	Fulton, GA	2.6	200	1	$150,000
November 18	5:47 PM EST	EF0	DeKalb, GA	0.1	100		$60,000

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.