Joe’s Disco Weather Central Time Capsule for June 20, 2003

 

            Hi everybody and welcome! The other day while I was browsing the web for some interesting weather sites, I came across the Martin County Skywarn page [http://www.gate.net/~ke4uei/]. I started browsing the site and found some very interesting information. I decided to e-mail the coordinator, David Smith, for info on getting my Website listed on his page. We talked back and forth by e-mail almost the whole day about weather topics and we also talked about the line of storms that ran through the area on June 8th.  David, who is a lightning strike survivor, has the difficult task of deciding whether Skywarn spotters should be activated. He is also responsible for relaying all the information he receives from his spotters to the National Weather Service in Melbourne.

            The purpose of the Martin County Skywarn organization, which is all volunteer, is to provide severe weather information to the National Weather Service. This information can often be used to determine if a severe weather warning may need to be issued. They are an essentially the eyes and ears of the National Weather Service. The volunteers have a very important job as their reports could generate life saving warnings to residents in harms way.

            Martin County Skywarn has 38 members that in the event of a weather emergency will report to David by various means of communication. David will compile the reports and relay them to the National Weather Service in Melbourne. The severe reports are then relayed to the public via weather radio or through the media.

            In order for the Skywarn system to be activated, certain criteria must be met. There must be confirmed funnel clouds, tornadoes, water spouts, hail of any size, winds of 55 mph or higher, flooding or any damage from any of the above elements. Finally, the coordinator will decide, based on the spotter reports, on whether or not to activate the system.

            As you can see, these volunteers have a very important role in protecting life and property. It also shows the importance of paying attention to media sources during times of severe weather. Be sure to pick up that weather radio that you have been thinking about getting. It protects you 24 hours a day, even as you sleep. Someday, it might save your life.

            With the rash of thunderstorms we have been experiencing, as of late, I would like to talk a bit about lightning safety. Lightning is one of nature’s most mystifying yet dangerous entities. It can create dazzling light shows when it is in the distance but can be deadly when it is close at hand. If you are caught indoors when a storm hits stay away from windows and avoid all electrical appliances including the telephone. Do not take a bath or shower. If you are caught outside, get to a safe shelter immediately. Do not take refuge under trees or picnic pavilions, as they are not safe. A sturdy building or a car with the windows rolled up will offer protection. If you are boating or swimming, get out of the water and move to a safe shelter away from the water. If you are caught in a wooded area, seek shelter under a thick growth of small trees. If you ever feel you’re hair standing on end {and I don’t mean a bad hair day!}, squat to the ground and put your head between your knees.

            These are just a few of the many common sense tips you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones from injury or death.

            Now on to the Time Capsule……

 

            June 20, l975 -- Polk Co., Lakeland -- Lightning killed a l6 year old boy, injured l, when a power line was struck next to their tree house.

June 20, l978 -- Hendry Co. -- Lightning killed a l9 year old woman at Mott Plantation when it struck her fishing pole.

June 20, l980 -- Sumter Co., Port Charlotte -- Lightning killed a l9 year old counselor while walking from the swimming pool to the cabins. This was a summer camp on a lake north of Wildwood.

June 20, l98l -- Dade Co. -- Lightning killed a l5 year old boy and injured two others when their fishing boat was struck. They reported there was no storm or rain in the vicinity.

June 20, l991 -- Putnam Co., NE Palatka -- Lightning killed a person and injured two while they were fishing on the St. Johns River.

June 20, l994 -- Brevard County, Patrick AFB -- Lightning -- A 28-year-old woman was killed after lightning struck her in the chest when she was leaving the water after surf fishing. A man nearby was injured by the same lightning strike. A construction worker at Patrick Air Force Base was injured by a lightning strike.

June 21, 1886 -- A hurricane affected the Appalachicola area.

June 21, l974 -- Romeo, Marion County -- A bolt of lightning struck a large tree killing l3 cattle standing under the tree.

June 21, l98l -- Orange County -- A tornado touched down in the Lockhart area near Horseshoe Lake blowing the roof off one house and damaging at least six others. One resident reported hearing a roaring sound lasting several seconds, then a big boom and trees started cracking. At least two other tornadoes were reported around the county as widespread severe thunderstorm activity moved across central Florida. Considerable tree damage and widespread power outages were reported. Orlando International Airport was closed for about 30 minutes during the height of a severe thunderstorm when landings and takeoffs were impossible. No injuries were reported. A tornado struck a mobile home park in southeastern Orange County damaging several carports. A third tornado struck subdivision in northwestern Orange County causing only minor property damage. Another tornado was reported in Broward County at Deerfield Beach knocking down trees and power lines. Winds to 60 mph were reported at Ft. Lauderdale Beach.

 

June 23-24, 1945 -- north and central Florida -- Hurricane moved in from the Gulf of Mexico, made landfall near Cedar Key, crossed the peninsula, and exited into the Atlantic near St. Augustine.

June 23, l954 -- Clay Co., Orange Park -- Tornado or severe thunderstorm winds demolished a house trailer killing two people. Roof and tree damage reported at other scattered points. Hail and high winds also damaged tobacco, corn and watermelons in Columbia Co.

June 23, l964 -- Hillsborough Co., Tampa -- Strong winds blew a rider from a truck bed and killed him.

June 23, l967 -- Brevard Co., Indialantic -- Lightning killed a l5 year old boy on the beach.

June 23, l974 -- Brevard Co., Rockledge -- Lightning struck a tent at a racetrack, killing a 31-year-old man.

 June 23 – 28, l974 -- west central and southeast Florida -- Subtropical storm and tropical depression. Torrential rains, high winds, and severe beach erosion buffeted west central and southeast Florida. The subtropical storm moved rapidly across the central portion of Florida from the Gulf of Mexico on the 25th and the depression moved from the southern Gulf of Mexico across central Florida on June 27th. Tides were two to 4 feet above normal from Everglades City to Tampa and 30 to 40 knots sustained winds produced widespread beach erosion in this area. Four- day rainfall totals were l0 inches or more over most of west central and Southwest Florida, with around 20 inches in portions of the Tampa Bay area. There were three deaths by drowning. Flooding by high tides, heavy rains and beach erosion damaged public roads, bridges, sewers and drainage systems, utilities, and beaches.

June 24 – 30, l992 -- Charlotte, DeSoto, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pinellas, and Sarasota Counties -- A tropical depression in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico produced periods of heavy rainfall over southwest and west central Florida. Four-day rainfall totals (25th-28th) of as much as 25 inches were recorded, with eight to 14 inches common. The heaviest rain fell over Manatee and Sarasota Cos. causing widespread river and small stream flooding of homes and roads. Seventy homes were destroyed by floodwaters, and the combination of winds, waves and tides led to significant beach erosion and undermining of seawalls in some locations. Two flood-related deaths occurred on the 29th - a man drowned in his flooded front yard in Manatee Co., and a man was crushed to death between two gasoline storage tanks dislodged by floodwaters at an auto service shop in Charlotte Co. All-time record flood crest on the 29th at Myakka St. Park on the Myakka River. Floodwaters did not fully recede in some areas until the end of June.

June 24, l993 -- Brevard Co., Merritt Island - -Waterspout/Tornado formed over Newfound Harbor and moved onshore at Merritt Island Airport. It overturned three single engine aircraft and destroyed eight ultra lights. It moved to an industrial area and blew over a few trees and destroyed a warehouse roof before dissipating over the Indian River.

June 25, l990 -- Lightning killed three people. -- Broward Co., Davie -- Lightning killed a lawn worker and injured another. -- Dade Co., N. Miami - Lightning killed a man sitting underneath a tree. -- Polk Co., Mulberry -- Lightning killed a crane operator.

June 26, 1956 -- Calhoun Co., Altha -- Lightning killed a woman seeking shelter under a tree. Lake County - Lightning killed a man operating a tractor. Lightning in Jacksonville also seriously injured a woman. Thunderstorms with heavy rain caused street flooding in Deland in Volusia County.

 

June 26, 1996 -- Polk Co., Haines City -- A 51-year-old woman was injured by lightning that struck a tree one foot away from
where she was standing. The lightning bolt first struck the tree, and then arced to the woman's chest, which knocked her to the
ground with first, second and third degree burns across the right side of her chest. The lightning arced from the woman to a
parked vehicle, which she had touched with her car keys. The vehicle's alternator and computer system was damaged by the
electrical surge.

June 26, 1996 afternoon --Indian River/St Lucie Counties, Vero Beach/Ft Pierce  --In two separate incidences, severe thunderstorm
winds overturned a small aircraft at both Vero Beach Municipal Airport and Ft Pierce Airport, where wind gusts to 81 mph
were recorded.

 

That’s all for this weeks Time Capsule. I hope you enjoyed it. I love to hear from you! Please e-mail me your ideas and suggestions to JOESDISCOWEATHER@AOL.COM. As always, for the latest in severe weather updates and now winter weather updates from your hometown go to JOESDISCOWEATHERCENTRAL.COM! You can also join me for a free cup of coffee and a free copy of The Hometown News at the Stuart K Mart garden center every Saturday morning!