Hi everybody and welcome! With spring just around the corner, the cool nights and days will soon be replaced by warmer temperatures and higher humidity. With this warmer weather also comes the threat of severe storms in the form of tornadoes, thunderstorms and possibly even hail. This week I would to talk a little about tornadoes.
. Most of the tornados in Florida occur during the months of June, July and August. Most of Florida tornados are short lived and don’t usually do much property damage. The most deadly tornados in Florida occur during the spring.
Historically, the most dangerous tornados in Florida will occur in February, March and April. That is why it is so important to review your emergency plans now. A NOAA weather radio is an excellent tool to get up to the minute emergency information and warnings.
The deadliest tornado to hit Central Florida occurred on February 22-23, 1998. The storm system on those dates spawned 7 tornados that killed 42 people in Volusia, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.
The best way to protect you from these dangerous storms is to listen to local TV or National Weather Service broadcasts on NOAA weather radio. I say it again; NOAA weather radio is your best defense and fastest way to get timely warnings of approaching tornados. If you receive no warning and severe weather is approaching, the telltale roar or rumbling sound is usually an indication of an approaching tornado. If you hear this or receive a warning, take cover immediately! Find a small room on the ground floor away from all windows and doors. Never try to outrun a tornado if you are caught outdoors in your vehicle. Take cover in a strong building or in a nearby ditch or culvert. If you live in a mobile home, move to a safe building or lie in a nearby ditch or culvert. Never remain in a mobile home if a tornado is approaching.
With the onset of spring and the warm temperatures, severe thunderstorms can also be a very common occurrence. Thunderstorms are most common in the interior sections which experience 100 or more days of thunderstorms per year. The coastal areas experience about 80 thunderstorm days per year. Most coastal thunderstorms occur when the prevailing wind is coming from the west and the storms are steered toward the coast from the interior sections of the state.
Despite their small size, thunderstorms are still extremely dangerous storms. They affect very small areas as compared to hurricanes. An average thunderstorm is around 15 miles in diameter and lasts about 30 minutes. Only about 10 percent of the storms are classified as severe. A storm is classified as severe when it produces hail of at least three quarters of an inch, winds of 58 mph or higher, or tornadic activity.
Here is a summary of important weather terms that you should know and understand.
Severe thunderstorm Watch – Conditions are favorable for thunderstorms to produce wind gusts of 58 mph or higher or hail three-fourths inch or larger in or close to the watch area. These watches are issued for four to six hours at a time for one to several counties at a time. Watch the weather conditions and keep your NOAA weather radio in alert mode in case warnings are issued.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning – A severe thunderstorm has been confirmed by radar or a Sky warn Spotter. Take cover immediately if you are in the warning area.
With a little common sense and safety precautions, we can make this a safe summer free of lightning casualties.
Just one other note for those of you that can’t wait to have that extra hour of daylight after work. Daylight Savings Time starts again on April 6th. I don’t know about you but I’m ready to have more time to wash the car or whatever after I get home from work.
If you take these simple commonsense tips, you and your family can remain safe from these small but deadly storms. For more detailed info and latest forecasts, you can go to JOESDISCOWEATHERCENTRAL.COM.
Now, on to the Time Capsule…
March 7- 9, l962 -- Florida East Coast -- Beach Erosion -- Large waves generated by winds of an intense Atlantic storm pounded beaches along entire east Florida coast during three day period. Tides along the coast at time of high tide ranged two to 3 feet above normal. Superimposed wave action caused considerable erosion and several beach roads and properties were inundated. Greatest damages occurred between Melbourne and Miami Beach. One death in Miami Beach occurred while fighting an electrical fire caused when rising waters created a short circuit. Nearly all damages resulted from heavy ground swells rather than high tides.
March 8, l99l -- St. Johns Co., St. Augustine -- Severe thunderstorm wind Gusts to 58 mph north of St. Augustine. Radio antenna and large oak tree downed.
March 9, l973 -- Marion Co., Belleview -- A tornado skipped through Belleview and Lake George, damaging l7 homes and destroying one. Six injuries reported.
March l0, l99l -- Seminole Co., Geneva -- High winds capsized a l5 ft boat on Lake Harney, two men drowned, one was rescued.
March 10-11, 1996 -- Nassau, Duval, St. Johns and Flagler Counties -- Winter Storm -- A strong Nor'easter with winds of 50 to 60 mph caused damage from Amelia Island to Flagler beach. At Amelia Island, 6 to 12 feet of beach was lost on the island's south end. Atlantic Beach - between one-third and one-half of the sand added during the previous summer's beach re-nourishment project was washed away. St. Augustine Beach - about half of the beach re-nourishment project south of city hall was wiped out. Flagler Beach - about 100 feet of the 840-foot pier was lost. Estimated property damage was over $1 million dollars.
March 11, l944 -- Polk Co., Agricola -- Tornado destroyed a large barn and unroofed a house. -- Polk Co., -- Tornado unroofed two large houses and destroyed a small one.
March 12, l95l -- Sarasota Co., Nokomis -- Waterspout/Tornado moved in from the Gulf of Mexico damaging seven homes and eight buildings. Other Waterspouts were reported off Clearwater and severe thunderstorm winds caused minor damage in Tampa area.
March l2-l3, l993 -- All Florida -- Tornados, Thunderstorm Winds, Hail, High Winds, Storm Surge, Flood, Beach Erosion, Snow - The "Storm Of The Century" or "Super Storm" roared across Florida producing a variety of severe and unusual weather conditions for about l8 hours from late Friday the l2th through late afternoon Saturday the l3th. A severe squall line raced eastward at over 50 mph ahead of an intense low producing several tornadoes and strong downbursts as it moved through the state and directly caused seven fatalities. This was followed by an unprecedented (for the Gulf Coast) winter storm surge of nine to l2 feet in Taylor County, with storm surges and/or tidal and wind driven flooding of five to 9 feet elsewhere along the Gulf Coast to the Keys. This was followed by a period of eight to l2 hours of high sustained winds of up to 50 mph with gusts to 70 mph, keeping tides much above normal along the west coast and causing severe beach erosion in many areas. As colder air poured in behind the intense low up to four inches of snow fell in the panhandle from north of Pensacola to Crestview, and a trace to 3 inches of snow fell elsewhere across north Florida. Record or near record low temperatures occurred over much of the state the following two nights. Total number of fatalities from the storm was 47, including l4 from storm surge and flooding, seven from tornadoes and/or strong downbursts, and four from high winds in the aftermath of the squall line. Eleven people drowned offshore in the Gulf of Mexico after strong winds swamped or capsized ships (including seven crewmen from a 200-ft Honduran freighter). Eleven others died during rescue operations and cleanup activities. Total property damage was estimated at $l.6 billion.
March 12, l993 -- Levy Co., Chiefland -- A tornado struck a home in which four people were asleep, pinning two of them under a fallen wall and suffocating them. Two others were injured. A nearby mobile home was destroyed killing its elderly occupant. The tornado went on to destroy or damage other mobile homes injuring five more people, and knocking down trees and power lines.
March 13, l97l -- Clay Co., Starke -- Lightning killed a 50 yr. old woman fishing on a boat.
March l3 l993 -- Manatee County, Terra Ceia Bay -- Thunderstorm winds -A man who lived on a houseboat drowned while apparently attempting to evacuate the boat in strong winds.
March l3, l993 -- Alachua Co., LaCrosse -- A tornado destroyed a mobile home killing l person and injuring four others. Trees and power lines down were down throughout the area. A few houses destroyed, one by propane explosion.
March 13, l993 -- Lake County, Mt. Dora -- Tornado -- A small fast-moving tornado touched down near Howey-in-the-Hills and moved northeast striking Mt. Dora and continued northeast until dissipating in Volusia County. A 5-month old baby boy was killed in a mobile home l0 miles northeast of Mt. Dora at 0050 EST. The mobile home was destroyed and two adults in it were seriously injured. In all l3 homes were destroyed, 80 suffered major damage and 266 reported minor damage.
March l3, l993 -- Pinellas County, Clearwater -- High Winds -- Winds to 6l mph were recorded at the Clearwater Pass Bridge. Two boaters in a sailboat were drowned when they apparently were pushed into the bridge pilings and capsized.
March l3, l993 -- Citrus County, N. Homosassa -- High Winds -Two males were apparently washed overboard from a fishing boat and drowned. Their bodies were recovered a week later.
March 13, l993 -- Taylor County, Coastal Areas -- Storm Surge -- A l0 - to l2-foot storm surge moved into the coast destroying 57 homes. Ten people were killed, nine at Dekle Beach and one at Keaton Beach.
March l3, l993 -- Dade County, Narrowrowanja -- Thunderstorm Winds overturned a mobile home, killing one person and injuring another.
March l3, l993 -- Hernando County, Aripeka to Hernando Beach -- Flood -- Flood waters about nine feet deep inundated the coastal area with most residents in water chest deep. One person suffered a heart attack and died attempting to evacuate out of the flooded area. 6l homes were destroyed, 3,300 damaged, and l00 people evacuated.
March l3, l993 -- Pasco County, Hudson to Aripeka - Flood - Water at least 9 feet deep flooded homes and businesses. An elderly woman drowned in her home.
March l3, l993 -- Levy County, Cedar Key -- Storm Surge -- A 9.5 foot storm surge was reported and l20 homes were flooded. An elderly male died while attempting to evacuate the flood.
March l3, l993 -- Pinellas County, Honeymoon Island -- High Winds --A 38-ft fishing vessel was swamped by 20-30 foot seas seven miles west of the coast. One crewmember drowned and the other was rescued by the Coast Guard.
March l3, l993 -- Broward County, Davie -- High Winds uprooted a tree that struck and killed a person.
March l3, l993 -- Broward County, Pompano Beach -- High Winds caused a building to collapse, killing a motorcyclist who was standing near it.