South Florida Tornado Outbreak March 2003

Series of Tornadoes Hit South Florida including Miami and Miami-Dade County

(WCM Event Summary)

PRELIMINARY REPORT: (This report will be updated frequently as more information becomes available...last updated 11 AM EST 5/20/03).

Map of the damage path of the Brownsville/Liberty City tornado Thursday, March 27, 2003

At approximately 545 PM EST on Thursday, March 27, 2003, a tornado smashed through the Brownsville/Liberty City neighborhood of Miami from approximately 54th Street to 60th Streets between 27th and 35th Avenues. According to news reports, one person was killed when a tree trunk was torn off by the force of the tornado and smashed through the front window of their home near NW 57th Street and 30th Avenue. There were 14 (updated 5/20/03) injuries. Tree and property damage was extensive and a number of power lines were downed. Several roofs were reported blown off of frame houses in the Brownsville-Liberty City area as well. Damage figures provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) so far (5/20/03) include $2.2 million for housing assistance and $6.2 million for other assistance, totalling over $8.4 million (updated 5/20/03).

Significantly, this is the first tornado death in Miami-Dade County since five persons were killed in a tornado that struck north Miami-Dade County on April 5, 1925 and the first in South Florida since a death in Hendry County in 1982 (there was a tornado death in Broward County in 1980, the last tornado death in the three metro Atlantic coast counties).
Miami National Weather Service Forecast Office (WFO) meteorologists determined that the path of the tornado was approximately 1/3 mile (600 yards) wide and about 4 miles long with the greatest damage being F2 on the Fujita Scale (113 to 157 mph). The tornado first touched down in East Hialeah, near NE 2nd Street and E 4th Avenue. The tornado moved east for four miles roughly along and just north of 54th Street before lifting near north Miami Avenue. The maximum width and strongest winds occurred in the Brownsville area between 37th and 27th Avenue. The widest portion of the tornado was estimated at one third mile with the maximum intensity of F2 (113-157 mph) on the Fujita Tornado Damage Scale.

The tornado that hit Brownsville/Liberty City was one of a series of tornadoes to strike South Florida on Thursday, March 27. In fact, there were probably six tornadoes that touched down in South Florida on Thursday. (1) A tornado was videotaped crossing Interstate 75 east of Fort Myers in Lee County early Thursday afternoon, (2) a tornado was caught on film in Collier County at about 3 PM, (3) a tornado was reported by the public near the Miccosukee Indian community on the Tamiami Trail in west Miami-Dade County around 330 PM EST, (4) a tornado was reported near the Okeelanta community in western Palm Beach County around 3 PM EST, (5) a tornado struck North Miami Beach around 525 PM EST, (6) and another tornado struck the Brownsville and Liberty City neighborhoods of Miami around 545 PM EST.

Map of the damage path of the Ives Dairy Road/Hallandale Beach tornado Thursday, March 27, 2003

The tornado that earlier struck North Miami Beach touched down near NE 18th Avenue and 191st Street. The tornado tracked northeast for about 20 blocks damaging trees and roofs. The tornado crossed Ives Dairy Road near Highland Lakes Boulevard and continued north into Hallandale Beach in Broward County around SW 10th Street between SW 6th and 7th Avenue. The width of this tornado was only about 1/8 mile and the worst damage in Miami-Dade County was F1 on the Fujita scale (a moderate tornado with winds of 73 to 112 mph) but only F0 (a gale tornado with winds estimated from 40 to 72 mph) in Broward County. The entire life cycle of this tornado was witnessed by people in the area, occuring around 510 to 525 PM EST.

Pictures of damage in Brownsville/Liberty City
Radar pictures from the WFO Miami WSR-88D

Severe Weather and Forecast Products from WFO Miami
Hazardous Weather Outlook
Zone Forecasts
Tornado Watch
Tornado Warning 1
Tornado Warning 2
updating Severe Weather Statement 1
updating Severe Weather Statement 2

The Miami National Weather Service Forecast Office (WFO) issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook (HWO) at 6 AM Thursday, March 27, calling for strong and possibly severe thunderstorms:

FLUS42 KMFL 271105 CCA
HWOMIA
FLZ063-066>075-271700-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
600 AM EST THU MAR 27 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH FLORIDA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON...
AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE WILL CROSS THE REGION TODAY. THIS
COMBINED WITH PLENTY OF ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY
WILL RESULT IN SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS
MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON. THE STORMS WILL BE ACCOMPANIED WITH
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING, SMALL HAIL, AND STRONG
DAMAGING WINDS TO 60 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. THE STORMS WILL INITIALLY
DEVELOP ALONG THE WEST COAST AND INTERIOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH
FLORIDA AND MOVE EAST INTO THE EASTERN METROPOLITAN COAST. THE
STORMS COULD LINGER INTO THE EVENING HOURS ALONG THE
METROPOLITAN AREAS OF PALM BEACH, BROWARD, AND MIAMI-DADE
COUNTIES.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONAL AND DETAILED GRAPHICS CAN BE FOUND ON
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEB SITE AT https://miamiweather.info.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY
A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA ON SUNDAY
BRINGING WITH ANOTHER CHANCE FOR SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS.
MUCH COOLER AND DRIER AIR IS EXPECTED BY MONDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED TODAY.

STAYED TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR
FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES.

$$

As more information came in, the WFO updated the Hazardous Weather Outlook at 1150 AM EST:

FLUS42 KMFL 271648 AAA
HWOMIA
FLZ063-066>075-272300-
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
1150 AM EST THU MAR 27 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH FLORIDA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON...
AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE AREA WILL CROSS THE REGION TODAY.
THIS COMBINED WITH PLENTY OF ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE AND
INSTABILITY WILL RESULT IN SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS
THIS AFTERNOON> THE STORMS WILL BE ACCOMPANIED WITH FREQUENT
CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING, HAIL, AND STRONG DAMAGING WINDS TO
60 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. THESE STORMS WILL INITIALLY AFFECT THE
GULF COAST AND INTERIOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH FLORIDA AND MOVE
EAST INTO THE MTERO AREAS ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST. THE
STORMS COULD LINGER INTO THE EVENING HOURSA ALONG THE
METROPOLITAN AREAS OF PALM BEACH, BROWARD, AND MIAMI-DADE
COUNTIES.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND DETAILED GRAPHICS CAN BE FOUND ON THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEB SITE AT https://miamiweather.info.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA ON SUNDAY
BRINGING WITH ANOTHER CHANCE FOR SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS.
MUCH COOLER AND DRIER AIR IS EXPECTED BY MONDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED FOR GLADES...HENDRY...COLLIER...
AND PALM BEACH. SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED LATER THIS
AFTERNOON ACROSS THE REST OF SOUTH FLORIDA.

STAYED TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR
FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES.

$$

HANDEL

The zone forecast for the metro Atlantic coast

FLZ072-074-272200-
BROWARD METROPOLITAN-MIAMI-DADE METROPOLITAN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FT LAUDERDALE...MIAMI
500 AM EST THU MAR 27 2003

.TODAY...OCCASIONAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. SOME OF THE STORMS MAY BE SEVERE THIS AFTERNOON. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 80S. SOUTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 20 MPH BECOMING SOUTH 10 TO 15 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
.TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY IN THE EVENING. LOWS IN THE UPPER 60S. SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH. CHANCE OF RAIN 60 PERCENT.
.FRIDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE MID 80S. SOUTH WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH BECOMING SOUTHWEST 10 TO 15 MPH.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY IN THE EVENING THEN CLEARING. PATCHY FOG AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOWS IN THE MID 60S TO LOWER 70S. WEST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.
.SATURDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE MID 80S.
.SUNDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. BREEZY. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY. LOWS IN THE LOWER 70S. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 70S TO LOWER 80S.
.MONDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY THEN CLEARING. WINDY. LOWS IN THE LOWER 60S. HIGHS IN THE MID 70S.
.TUESDAY...MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE MID 60S. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 70S.
.WEDNESDAY...MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE UPPER 60S. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 80S.

$$

The Tornado Watch for all of South Florida
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 79
STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
215 PM EST THU MAR 27 2003

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

SOUTH FLORIDA COASTAL WATERS

EFFECTIVE THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 215 PM UNTIL
700 PM EST.

TORNADOES...HAIL TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS
TO 70 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS ALONG AND 50 STATUTE MILES EAST AND
WEST OF A LINE FROM 45 MILES EAST OF KEY WEST FLORIDA TO 40
MILES WEST NORTHWEST OF WEST PALM BEACH FLORIDA.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION... CONTINUE...WW 78...

DISCUSSION...FAVORABLE SHEAR PROFILES ACROSS S FL FOR SUPERCELLS
AS MID LEVEL JET EXTENDS ACROSS AREA. AS AIRMASS HAS BECOME
MODERATELY UNSTABLE...EXPECT THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP EWD
ACROSS S FL INCLUDING KEYS. ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE LIKELY
ASSOCIATED WITH SUPERCELLS ALONG WITH LARGE HAIL.

AVIATION...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL
SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 2 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE
WIND GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS.
TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 24030.

...HALES

;265,0795 243,0801 243,0815 265,0813;

WWUS62 KMFL 271922
SLSFL
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
AREAL OUTLINE FOR TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 79
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
219 PM EST THU MAR 27 2003
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 79 IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EST.

IN FLORIDA

THIS WATCH INCLUDES      7 COUNTIES
FLC011-086-099-280000-

IN SOUTHEAST FLORIDA THIS WATCH INCLUDES      3 COUNTIES...
BROWARD         MIAMI-DADE      PALM BEACH
AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

$$

FLC043-051-280000-

IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA THIS WATCH INCLUDES      2 COUNTIES...

GLADES          HENDRY
INCLUDING LAKE OKEECHOBEE.

$$

FLC021-087-280000-

IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA THIS WATCH INCLUDES      2 COUNTIES...
COLLIER         MAINLAND MONROE

AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

$$

The tornado warning for northeast Miami-Dade County and southeast Broward County

WFUS52 KMFL 272159
TORMIA
FLC011-086-272300-
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
455 PM EST THU MAR 27 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MIAMI HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
SOUTHEASTERN BROWARD COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
NORTHEASTERN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
* UNTIL 600 PM EST

* AT 455 PM EST... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A DEVELOPING TORNADO NEAR OPA-LOCKA. ANOTHER DEVELOPING TORNADO WAS LOCATED ABOUT 4 MILES SOUTH OF THE INTERSECTION OF KROME AVENUE AND HIGHWAY 27. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

* SOME LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THE STORMS THROUGH 600 PM EST...
BISCAYNE PARK AND NORTH MIAMI
PRO PLAYER STADIUM AND CAROL CITY
AVENTURA
HALLANDALE BEACH
HOLLYWOOD
DANIA BEACH
AREAS BETWEEN MIRAMAR AND MIAMI LAKES

LARGE HAIL IS POSSIBLE WITH THE PARENT THUNDERSTORMS. IF YOU ARE
IN THE PATH OF THE STORM SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY!

LAT...LON 2594 8077 2580 8020 2616 7989 2617 8018

.END

HANDEL

Updating Severe Weather Statement for North Miami Beach, Aventura, Hallandale Beach...

WWUS52 KMFL 272228
SVSMIA
FLC011-086-272300-

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
524 PM EST THU MAR 27 2003

A TORNADO WARNING CONTINUES FOR
SOUTHEASTERN BROWARD COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
NORTHEASTERN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST FLORIDA

UNTIL 600 PM.

AT 524 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A TORNADO OVER NORTH MIAMI BEACH...OR 4 MILES SOUTH OF HALLANDALE
BEACH...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
AVENTURA BY 530 PM EST
HALLANDALE BEACH...GOLDEN BEACH AND HOLLYWOOD BY 535 PM EST
DANIA BEACH BY 545 PM EST

PEOPLE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY!

LAT...LON 2592 8030 2585 8013 2604 7996 2619 8004

$$

HANDEL

Updating Severe Weather Statement for Hallandale Beach
and Hollywood, as well as Miami Springs, Miami Shore, and Little Haiti.
Note paragraph in red bold type.

WWUS52 KMFL 272239
SVSMIA
FLC011-086-272300-
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
540 PM EST THU MAR 27 2003

A TORNADO WARNING CONTINUES FOR

SOUTHEASTERN BROWARD COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
NORTHEASTERN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST FLORIDA

UNTIL 600 PM.

AT 534 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
A TORNADO OVER AVENTURA...OR 2 MILES SOUTH OF HALLANDALE BEACH... MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
HALLANDALE BEACH...GOLDEN BEACH AND HOLLYWOOD BY 540 PM EST
DANIA BEACH BY 545 PM EST

ANOTHER POSSIBLE TORNADO WAS DEVELOPING NEAR MIAMI SPRINGS. A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS REPORTED NORTH OF MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THE PARENT THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH...AND WILL AFFECT AREAS BETWEEN HIALEAH...MIAMI SHORES...AND LITTLE HAITI THROUGH 6 PM EST.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. PEOPLE IN NORTHEAST METRO MIAMI-DADE SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY!

LAT...LON 2592 8030 2585 8013 2604 7996 2619 8004

$$

HANDEL

Last Tornado Warning extending the issuance time

WFUS52 KMFL 272254
TORMIA
FLC086-272315-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
553 PM EST THU MAR 27 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MIAMI HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...

NORTHEASTERN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
* UNTIL 615 PM EST

* AT 552 PM EST... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A TORNADO NEAR LIBERTY CITY...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL AFFECT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS THROUGH 615 PM...
LITTLE HAITI AND MIAMI SHORES
NORTH BISCAYNE BAY AND NORTH BAY VILLAGE
MIAMI BEACH

THIS IS A EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING
SITUATION. MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY...AWAY FROM WINDOWS...IN AN
INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS
TORNADO.

LAT...LON 2587 8023 2579 8018 2588 7974 2615 7984

.END

HANDEL

Tornado near Ochopee in southern Collier County around 3 PM Thursday 3/27

Light pole snapped in two in the Liberty City section of Miami

House where fatality occurred in Liberty City section of Miami...debris smashed window of home.

Street scene in Liberty City section of Miami after tornado

Car damage from tornado in Liberty City neighborhood of Miami

Power pole down and power lines on road in Liberty City, Miami

Street scene on 30th Avenue NW in Liberty City neighborhood, Miami. Note tree branch in wires.

Large seagrape uprooted in Liberty City neighborhood of Miami from tornado.

Mass of downed tree and shrubbery vegetation in yard of Liberty City home.