FLORIDA Severe Weather Guide 2011

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Florida’s 2011 Severe WeatherAwareness Guide

F L O R I D A D I V I S I O N O F E M E R G E N C Y M A N A G E M E N T

AreYou

Ready?

S E V E RE WEAT H E R

AW AR ENESS W E E K



The Division of Emergency Management's

long history of coordinating disaster response

teaches us the value of helping Florida's

residents and visitors prepare for potential

emergencies before they strike.

In addition to the state's annual hurricane

threats, we know emergencies can happen

almost anywhere, anytime in Florida including tornadoes, lightning, res, oods and extreme temperatures.

That is why I am pleased to present the 2011 Severe Weather

Awareness Guide. From building and emergency supply kit to

developing a family disaster survival plan, you will nd information

in this guidebook that you and your family can use to stay safe

during a severe weather event.

Florida Division of Emergency Management

2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100

www.FloridaDisaster.org

Rick Scot

Governor

Bryan W. KoonDirector


Contribung Authors

Angela Enyedi

Naonal Weather Service, Jacksonville

Jefry Evans

Naonal Weather Service, Tallahassee

Tyler Fleming

Naonal Weather Service, Tampa Bay

Kelly Godsey

Naonal Weather Service, Tallahassee

Chip Kasper

Naonal Weather Service, Key West

Sean Luchs

Florida Division of Forestry

Robert Molleda

Naonal Weather Service, Miami

Arlena Moses

Naonal Weather Service, Melbourne

Eric Oglesby

Naonal Weather Service, Tampa Bay

Al Sandrik

Naonal Weather Service, Jacksonville

Scot Sprat

Naonal Weather Service, Melbourne

Alfredo Diaz

Design and Layout


Special thanks to:

Amy Godsey, Michelle Palmer,

Lauren McKeague and Ian DankelmanFlorida Division of Emergency Management

This publicaon is a project of the Florida

Division of Emergency Management in

cooperaon with The Naonal Weather

Service Florida Oces.

A downloadable guide is available at

www.FloridaDisaster.org

A Message From Governor Rick Scott

Our state's pristine beaches, diverse ecology,

and temperate climate make Florida one of

the best places in the United States to live and

visit. However, more than 18 million residents

of Florida and the tens of millions of annual

visitors to the Sunshine State must remember

that Florida is the hurricane capital of Americaand has one of the highest numbers of severe

weather incidents in the nation. To prepare for

Florida's natural hazards, I strongly urge you

and your family to develop a disaster-survival plan and an emergency

supply kit. This Severe Weather Awareness Guide will give you and

your family all of the information necessary to stay safe during an

emergency. I encourage you to take a moment and read this Guide,

and take all appropriate steps to prepare for any potential weather-

related emergencies. By reviewing the information and taking the

emergency steps outlined in this Guide, you and your family will be

better able to protect yourselves from all types of severe weather.

Message From The Director of the Florida

Division of Emergency Management

Severe Weather

Awareness Week ......................... 3

Prepare for All Weather................. ... 4

NOAA Alert Radio............................. 6

Lightning........................................... 7

Marine Hazards.................................10

Rip Currents.....................................12

Tornadoes................................... 14

Thunderstorms...............................17

Hurricanes..................................... 20

Flooding........................................25

Kids Get a Plan!........................ ........28

Extreme Temperatures ............... ....30

Wildres ...........................................32

Table of Contents



Florida’s Severe Weather Awareness Guide 3

Monday, January 31 through Friday, February 4, 2011 isSevere Weather Awareness Week in Florida by Gover-

nor Rick Scott. During this special week, Floridians areencouraged to learn about the various weather hazards

Severe Weather Awareness Week in Florida January 31 – February 4, 2011

that frequently impact the state and how to prepare forthese natural events by reviewing the proper safety pre-

cautions necessary for protecting their lives during severeweather.

If a tornado were to strike tomorrow, would you be prepared?

Would you know what actions to take? In Florida, tornadoes strikeall too often. Planning and practice are keys to tornado safety.

Whether at home, school or work, everyone should have a plan inplace for severe weather. The tornado drill gives Floridians a chance

to test their plans and determine whether or not they are prepared.This is especially true in schools.

A very important part of Florida Severe Weather Awareness

Week is the statewide tornado drill on Wednesday, February 2,2011. On the morning of the drill, all participants should consider

themselves under a Tornado Watch. A Watch means you shouldmonitor the weather and be prepared to go to a safe place in the

event of a warning. At approximately 10:10 a.m. EST, the National

Weather Service will issue a practice tornado warning. The warningwill be broadcast on NOAA Alert Radio as a weekly test message.

By 10:30 a.m., an “all-clear” message will be issued. Public andcommercial broadcasters are encouraged to participate by

broadcasting these messages immediately. For the Florida Panhandle

counties within the Central time zone, all drill activities will berepeated one hour earlier (9:10 a.m. Central Standard Time).

In real life, you must listen for the watch and warning messagesand determine the threat to your area. Then you should decide

which protective actions to take. Important: When in doubt,take immediate protective action! Plans may vary depending on

the number of adults present, how vulnerable your location is,

communications and a host of other factors. All Floridians shoulduse the tornado drill to develop and practice their severe weather

plans. Being prepared saves lives! If actual severe weather threatensFlorida on February 2, the drill will be postponed until Friday,

February 4.

Practice makes perfect:

Statewide tornado drill Feb. 2

Statewide Tornado Drill Timeline

School districts, private schools, preschools and daycarecenters are urged to participate in the drill. The tornado

warning will be broadcasted on NOAA Alert Radio and will beencoded as a weekly test for this drill.

Weeks before the drill

Prepare

Inform staff, students, parents.

Review and rene a tornado plan.

February 2: The day of the drill

After 8:00 a.m.

Consider a tornado watch to be in ef fect

Announce watch to staff and students.

Designate authority (coordinator).

Evacuate tornado vulnerable areas.

10:10 a.m.

Tornado warning

Receive message.

Coordinator determines threat.

10:20 a.m.

Upon determination of immediate threat, g ive “take

shelter” or “duck and cover” command (depending onspace available at location).

10:30 a.m.

Termination of Watch and Warning

Give instructions to return to normal activities. (Youwill not receive notication. Terminate the drill as you

see t.)

After the Drill Wrap-up

Following the drill, assess and revise plan as needed.

The tornado warning will be broadcast on NOAA Alert Radio

and will be encoded as a weekly test for this drill.

Monday

Lightning

Tuesday

Marine Hazards

and Rip Currents

Wednesday

Tornadoes and

Thunderstorms

Thursday

Hurricanes and

Flooding

Friday

Temperature

Extremes and

Wildfres




2

MAKE A PLAN

3Have a supply kit.

Talk it over with your family.

Learn about the different threats:- Severe Weather

- Fire- Hazardous Materials (biological,

chemical, explosive or radiological)- Nuclear

Watch TV or listen to the radio forinformation.

Stay calm, have plans ready, and listenfor instructions from local officials.

If you have questions, call your countyemergency management office.

Go to www.FloridaDisaster.org.

Get kids' activities and information atwww.KidsGetaPlan.com.

BE INFORMED

Think ahead and have a plan:

Plan how you will get together in different

situations.

Practice your plans with your family.Have a contact list.

If phones are down, pick 2 meeting places:

1. Near your home

2. Somewhere outside theneighborhood

Discuss what to do if you must evacuate.

Test smoke/carbon monoxide detectorsmonthly.

Learn how to turn off gas, electric, water and

heater systems at main breaker switches.

Learn First-Aid and CPR.

Discuss basic safety rules.

Make sure children know what to do if theyare home alone.

Plan for elderly or disabled family membersand neighbors.

GET

READY

NOW!



6 Florida Division of Emergency Management

It’s 3 a.m. and you are awoken by a

thunderstorm outside. The lightningashes and lights up your bedroom;

the thunder booms and vibrates thehouse. You have been through numerous

thunderstorms and know that they canbe loud and scary, but after a while they

will move away. Your thoughts are inter-rupted by a loud alarm. It is the little radio

on your mom’s bedside table, the NOAAWeather Radio. Suddenly, you hear some-thing else, a faint roaring noise…then it

gets louder and closer. A sound kind of like a train…

Suddenly, your dad bursts through thedoor yelling for you to get up – grabbing

your arm, and pulling you out of bed. Asyou run down the hall with him, yourmom and little brother join you as you

rush toward your parent’s bedroom.You all pile into the closet – it’s in

the middle of the house andaway from windows.

Your dad closes thedoor as the elec-tricity cuts off, and

you huddle togetherin the dark. The roar

continues to get louder,and you can just make out

a voice in the bedroom. It isthe NOAA Weather Radio. Even thoughthe power just went out, the battery in

the radio keeps it broadcasting: “This isa dangerous situation; seek protective

shelter immediately. The tornado is ap-proaching…”

The roaring noise is now deafening, andthe house is shaking. You can hear things

just beyond the closet door breaking,crashing and pounding. You shrink intothe corner of the closet wedged between

your parents as they repeatedly tell youand your brother things will be okay.

After a few minutes, the roaring fadesand rumbles of thunder become distant.

You can tell it is almost over. Then youhear another sound in the distance com-ing closer. This time it is not a roar, but

sirens. Help is on the way. It is time to

leave the closet and see what happened –

and to turn off the NOAA Weather Radiothat was still broadcasting tornado warn-ing information for other nearby towns.You just survived a tornado.

How important is a 24-hour notica-tion of possible severe weather warnings

to you? It can be life-saving, as was thecase above.

NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radiois the lone government-operated radiosystem that provides National Weather

Service severe weather warnings 24 hoursa day. When a severe weather warning is

issued for an area, the radio will broadcastthe information within seconds. If you live

in the path of the severe storm, and yourfamily has a NOAA Weather Radio, theradio will automatically sound an alarm

and then broadcast the warning message.Whether it is 3 a.m. or 3 p.m., the

NOAA Weather Radio is alwaysready to alert you and your

family of an approachingweather threat.In addition to severe weath-

er information, the NOAAWeather Radio will also broadcast

weather observation and forecast in-formation. The radios are set in “standby”

mode so they are not constantly produc-ing audio. However, even in standby modethe radio will still transmit an alarm if a

severe weather watch or warning is issuedfor your location.

Not only will the NOAA Weather Ra-

NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio

can be your family’s best companion

dio alert you to National Weather Service

severe weather information, but inpartnership with county, state, and federal emergency management officials, itwill alert you to other life-threatening

disasters.NOAA Weather Radios can be pur

chased at many retail stores that selelectronic merchandise, as well as

through some mail order catalogs and onthe Internet.

NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radiocan mean the difference between life and

death. The radio broadcast continues togive its listeners the ability to constantly

monitor the weather and to instantly warnthem when potentially life-threatening severe weather approaches their location.

For more information please visithe National Weather Service NOAA

All-Hazards Weather Radio Website atwww.weather.gov/nwr.

Be WeatherWise;

not Otherwise.

By Angela Enyedi,

NWS Jacksonville

Heavy sleeper?

Hard of hearing? A disability accessory kit is now

available through HomeSafe In-

corporated. This accessory kit in-

cludes a pillow shaker and strobe

light which plugs into your NOAA

Weather Radio. There is no pro-

gramming necessary.

The accessory kit will automatically

alert you if a warning is issued for

your area.




LIGHTNING

With an average of 1.4

million cloud-to-groundlightning strikes eachyear, no other state in

the country experiences more lightningstrikes than Florida. Why does Florida

have this distinction? Florida’s geographyplays a large role, especially during the

summer. Hot summer sunshine heatsthe ground, causing warm air to rise.Surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico to

the west and the Atlantic Ocean to theeast, active afternoon sea breezes gener-

ate a very moist environment favorablefor the development of thunderstorms.

The combination of warm and moistair spreading inland with the afternoonsea breezes creates a breeding ground

for large thunderstorms. Because thun-derstorm activity peaks in the summer,

when most people are enjoying the warmweather, Florida often has the greatest

number of lightning fatalities each year in

the United States.

What causes lightning

and thunder?

As a thunderstorm forms, warm air closeto the ground begins to rise. Small waterdroplets are forced upward, higher in the

thunderstorm, and freeze into small icepellets or even smaller ice crystals. The

lighter ice crystals continue rising towardthe top of the thunderstorm, while heavier

ice pellets remain suspended near the cen-ter or base of the storm. This movementof ice particles within a thunderstorm cre-

ates an electrical charge difference, a posi-tive charge at the top and a negative one at

the bottom. At the same time, the groundbelow takes on a positive charge. When

the difference in electrical charge betweenthe base of the thunderstorm and groundbelow becomes too large, an electrical

current begins moving between the ground

and cloud. When a connection is made, apowerful ash occurs. This bright ash we

see is lightning.

Thunder is a product of lightning. Aslighting moves between the ground andthunderstorm, the air around the ash

heats rapidly, to temperatures as high as50,000°F – a temperature hotter than the

surface of the sun. This sudden heatingcreates expansion of the air around the

lightning bolt at speeds greater than thespeed of sound. The expanding air breaks

the sound barrier resulting in the explosivesound we know as thunder. Because soundtravels much slower than light, thunder is

always heard after a ash of lightning. You

can determine how far away a ash o

lightning is by counting the number of sec-onds that pass after observing a lightning

bolt. For every ve seconds that elapse

the lightning is one mile away. Sometimesyou can see lightning in the distance and

A me-lapse photo of mulple lightning strikes over Tampa Bay.

Photo Credit: Southwest Florida Water Management District




not hear thunder. This “heat lightning”

happens when the air dissipates the soundof the thunder before it reaches you.

Lightning dangersWhile we know the cloud conditionsneeded to produce lightning, no one can

forecast the exact location or time of the next strike of lightning. All thunder-

storms contain lightning and can strike aperson, tree or an object either on the

ground or in the air. Lightning is often seenas an underrated killer, because it doesnot generate as much attention compared

to other forms of hazardous weather andusually only claims one or two victims at

a time. On average, lightning kills nearly60 people each year in the United States.

Florida averages seven fatalities per yeardue to lightning, with many more injuries.

Most people that are struck by lightningare not killed, but suffer signicant inju-ries. It is important to remember that a

lightning victim does not continue to carryan electrical charge and can begin receiv-

ing emergency medical care immediately.

Lightning is also dangerous because of its

extensive range. Lightning can travel as far

as 10 miles from a thunderstorm, so whileit may not be raining at your location,

lightning can still reach you.

Lightning Safety

How many times have you been at thebeach or in another outdoor activity and

noticed a thunderstorm in the distance? InFlorida, this happens often – almost daily

– during the summer. But people often as-sume the storm is too far away or is notdangerous at their location and sadly, the

vast majority of lightning casualties couldhave been prevented had basic safety ac-

tions been taken.

Lightning can strike from many milesaway. In fact it doesn’t even have to be

raining for lightning to occur. A good ruleof thumb to remember is that if you canhear thunder, you are close enough to be

struck by lightning. Being observant whenoutside is your rst line of defense with

lightning. A darkening cloud building highin the sky is often the rst sign that light-

ning could occur.

At the rst sign of lightning or sound of

thunder, you should immediately headinside an enclosed structure and remain

away from windows. Even while inside, it

is important to stay away from windowsand not use any corded electrical devicesLightning can easily travel along phonelines or through other electrical devices

and strike you while inside a building.

If you can’t make it inside when a thunderstorm approaches, the most dangerous

place to be is in an open area, like an ath-letic eld or golf course. Equally as danger

ous is being caught over the open water o

a lake or ocean when a thunderstorm is inthe area. This is because lightning will tend

to strike the tallest object in the area. Thialso why standing under tall trees is very

dangerous. When you can’t make it to anenclosed building, your next best course

of action is to get into a vehicle with ahard-topped roof.

The key to remaining safe from a lightningstrike is to keep an eye to the sky and

watch for darkening skies on the horizonalong with distant rumbles of thunder. The

Lightning Myths

If it is not raining, then there is no danger from

lightning.

The rubber soles of the shoes or rubber tires on a car

will protect you from being struck by lightning.

Heat lightning occurs after very hot summers days and

poses no threat.

Lightning never strikes the same place twice.

Structures with metal or metal on the body attract

lightning.

Lightning Facts

Lightning often strikes outside of heavy rain and may

occur as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall.

Rubber-soled shoes and rubber tires provide no

protection from lightning. The steel frame of a hard-

topped vehicle provides increased protection if you

are not touching metal. Although you may be injured iflightning strikes your car, you are much safer inside a

vehicle than outside.

Heat lightning is a term used to describe lightning from

thunderstorm too far away for the thunder to be heard.

Although rare, lightning can still travel up to 25 miles

from the storm and people should still be cautious of

lightning dangers.

Lightning often strikes the same place repeatedly,

especially if it is a tall, pointy, and isolated object.

Height, pointy shape, and isolation are the dominant

factors controlling where a lightning bolt will strike.

The presence of metal makes virtually no difference on

where lightning strikes.




main tip to remember regarding lightning

safety is: being outside is never safe duringa thunderstorm!

Know the weather forecast before you

head outdoors. A portable NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio is a great way tomonitor the latest forecasts and warn-

ings while outdoors. Hazardous WeatherOutlook and Surf Zone Forecasts are

available online and on NOAA WeatherRadio outlines the danger for lightning on

a daily basis. For more information about lightning and

lightning safety, visit:http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov.

By Kelly Godsey,

NWS Tallahassee

Annual lightning ash density

across the globe. Note the highest

concentraon is over Central Africa,

but Florida also experiences a great

deal of lightning. Photo Credit: NASA

Caring for Pets During DisastersMillions of Floridians have pets in their home. Owners of dogs, cats,

birds, sh, reples, and other animals should develop a disaster plan for

their pets. Aer all, emergencies do not only aect people, they aect

our animal friends, too! Below are some guidelines to help Floridians

prepare their pets for emergencies.

● Get a plan for your pets! A lot of mes, people leave their pets

at home when they evacuate for a disaster, but pets can get hurt

and lost during disasters. Owners should either take their pets

with them or place them in a secure kennel.

● Have supplies and medical records for your pet. Animals need

food and water just like people do. Be sure to have pet food, bot-

tled water, food dishes, and any prescripon medicines that your

pet needs in your disaster supply kit. Also, bring all veterinary re -

cords for your animal with you if you decide to leave your home.This is really important, since animal medical records can easily

get lost or destroyed aer a disaster.

● Check emergency shelters, hotels, and motels for pet policies.

Some shelters, hotels, and motels do not allow owners to keep

pets in their facilies. Be sure to locate several pet-friendly places

along your evacuaon route. If you seek emergency shelter, place

your pets in a secure kennel or go to a pet-friendly shelter.

Lightning

Safety Week

June 19-25, 2011




Year-round warm weather, abun-dant sunshine, and beautiful sky

and sea vistas attract millionsof people to Florida each year.

Some stay and make Florida their home.

Many others come on vacation to visitthe state’s numerous beaches, waterways,

parks, and other natural and human-madeattractions. Florida waterways draw both

residents and visitors to dive, snorkel,swim, ski, sh, cruise, and sail. In fact,

Florida leads the nation with nearly one

million registered boats. Another millionboaters (with vessels not registered in

Florida) use Florida’s waters each year,according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife

Conservation Commission. Fair weatherand ne seas treat Florida boaters to very

agreeable conditions most of the time.However, weather and water can change

rapidly, posing a threat to boater safety.Dangerous waves, lightning, and water-spouts are among the marine hazards fac-

ing Florida boaters.

Dangerous Waves

Waves are generated by the wind. Whenwaves move far from the wind source,

they are referred to as swell. Whenwaves run against a current, they build

up. Waves are constantly changing andcan grow quickly. Rough seas build rapidly

as winds approach gale force (34 knotsor 39 mph), such as during a strong sum-mer thunderstorm or a winter squall. In

addition, strong, steady breezes can buildwaves and swell that exceed six feet

When these breezes turn into full-edged

gales, seas are likely to build to 12 feet ormore. The safe operation of a small craft

requires a competent and alert captain inany sea condition. When seas build to ve

or six feet, small craft operation is, at thevery least, cumbersome and potentially

nauseating; at worst, it could be deadly

When seas build to seven feet or moresmall craft operators should strongly

consider remaining in port. Swells fromboth the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico

can break when they reach the shallowerwater nearshore, leading to unpredictable

and potentially hazardous sea and surfespecially near inlets. Even seasoned cap

Marine Hazards

And Small Boat Safety

The shing vessel Waterdog leaning hard to port near the entrance to Jupiter Inlet in a shoaling sea on September 3,

2010. Tragically, the master of the vessel lost control and did not survive. Photo Credit: Stuart Browning




tains can be challenged by such events.

Lightning

Florida has the distinction of being knownas the “lightning capital of the United

States”. The shape and orientation of the Florida peninsula combined with its

location in the summer trade-wind belt,surrounded by water, is a perfect recipe

for abundant lightning production. Seabreezes develop in the morning as thesun heats the Florida coast. The breeze

generated by the heat moves inland, lead-ing to the formation of cumulonimbus

clouds, which are giant clouds of water

vapor, liquid, and ice towering high intothe atmosphere. The updraft (a type of vertical wind) transports tropical heat andmoisture from near the earth’s surface to

a height 7–10 miles above ground, wheretemperatures are at subzero levels. The

resulting ice, hail, and snow are tossedviolently within the updraft. This harsh

environment is the breeding ground fromwhich Florida lightning is born (See Light-ning, page 7).

Thunderstorms with frequent cloud-to-

ground lightning often affect the inlandlakes and rivers during the afternoon,

while early morning lightning storms aremore common along the coast. Lightning

can strike the ground or water manymiles away from the storm cloud. If youhear thunder, then you are close enough

to the cloud to be in danger of beingstruck by lightning.

Be weather and lightning aware! Check

forecasts while planning your voyage.Stay in port if lightning threatens. If you

get caught in a thunderstorm out on thewater, get low or head below deck, and

stay away from ungrounded metal objects.

Waterspouts

Simply put, a waterspout is a tornado over

water (See tornadoes, page 14). Floridawaterspouts come in all shapes, sizes, andintensities. However, two spout types pre-

dominate. The “type A” spout is a violentand potentially destructive vortex which

often moves quickly, and is capable of sig-nicant structural damage if it moves over

land. These spouts often form in the spiral

rainbands of approaching tropical stormsand hurricanes. They also can develop

along or ahead of winter cold front squalllines, with a tendency to form during the

dark of night or early in the morning. The

second type of waterspout, the “type B”spout, is usually less violent, slower mov-

ing, and less destructive than the "type A"

spout. This type of waterspout develops

quickly beneath a rapidly building cumuluscloud line, most often during the Floridarainy season (May–October). This type of

waterspout can drift almost silently overa sleepy bay or a lagoon, and is very com-

mon during the summer along the coastsof the lower Florida Keys. However, the

winds which swirl and whip up sea spray

at the base of a "type B" waterspout canreach and exceed gale force (34 knots)

which is strong enough to swamp or cap-size a small watercraft. ALL waterspouts

pose a threat to boater safety, and shouldbe avoided.

Safety Actions

A safe and enjoyable Florida boating expe-rience is your responsibility. Please keepthe following safety actions in mind when

heading out on the water:• File a oat plan before getting un

derway—this could be as simple asletting someone know where youare going and when you expect to be

back.• Check observed and forecast weather

conditions before beginning your trip• Know the limitations of your craft—i

gale warnings or small craft advisorie

are in effect, cancel or postpone yourvoyage.

• Wear a life jacket.

• If you are involved in a marine acci

dent, do not leave your boat!• The Coast Guard advises boaters to

remain alert and observe safety andsecurity zones at all times.

Marine Weather Information

Information pertaining to marine weathercan be obtained via NOAA Weather Ra-dio, with the broadcast available on theVHF “weather band” (channels 1–5). The

U.S. Coast Guard re-broadcasts somemarine weather warnings, advisories

and statements across the marine radioemergency channel. Another popular

marine weather source is the InternetEach National Weather Service forecastofce serving Florida has a Website con

taining important local weather information. Another increasingly popular way to

obtain marine weather information is thesmartphone. To receive marine weather

information via smartphone, simplypoint your HTTP-enabled device (PDA)to mobile.weather.gov. Or, point your

WAP-enabled device (Internet capablecell phone) to cell.weather.gov.

By Chip Kasper,

NWS Key West

National Safe

Boating Week

May 21-27, 2011




It was a warm and breezy Saturdayevening in May 2010 in Ft. Lauder-

dale. As teenagers gathered for a highschool prom party at the beach, two

boys decided to go for a quick swim in theocean. Beach lifeguards had already gonehome for the day. Despite the apparently

nice weather, the boys did not realize thatstrong rip currents were present in the

surf. Not long after the boys entered thewater, a rip current began to carry both

of them away from shore. Rescuers were

able to save one of the boys, but unfortu-nately his friend was not able to be saved.His body was found two days later onlyyards from where he was last seen on

that Saturday evening. Earlier that day, ripcurrents also claimed the lives of a couple

from Georgia.

Fair Weather Killers

This sad story above is unfortunately all

too common in Florida, where an average

of 10 people drown each year as a result of rip currents. In fact, rip currents kill more

people in Florida in an average year thanhurricanes, tornadoes and lightning. Manyof these drowning incidents occur on days

when the weather is quite pleasant, with anice breeze blowing onshore. This catches

beachgoers by surprise since fair weatheris usually associated with pleasant ocean

conditions. This is why it is very importantto understand how rip currents form and

how to prevent becoming a victim.

What Are Rip Currents?

A rip current is a strong channel of watermoving away from the shore at beaches.

Rip currents typically form along thebeach at breaks in the offshore under-water sandbar, but they also form near

structures such as jetties and piers. Theycan form very quickly and extend as far

as 50 to 100 yards offshore. Rip currentsare part of the natural near-shore oceancirculation, are quite common, and occur

at many beaches every day on both theAtlantic and Gulf coasts of Florida. Rip

currents can become stronger and morefrequent on certain days because of chang-

es in weather or ocean conditions. Ripcurrents can travel as fast as ve mph, or

about eight feet per second, which is faster

than an Olympic swimmer can swim! It isimportant to understand that rip currents

do not pull people under the water; insteadthey carry people out towards deeper

water. Rip currents are mistakenly calledriptides or undertows, but rip currents aremuch more localized and typically shorter

in duration than an incoming or outgoingastronomical tide.

Don’t Become a Victim!

The best way to ensure that you don’t be

Rip CurrentsSwim Near a Lifeguard

To Stay Alive




come a rip current victim is not to enterthe water if rip currents are present in the

surf and heed the advice of lifeguards. If you do go into the water, make sure you

don’t go too far offshore and swim neara lifeguard. If there are no lifeguards atyour beach, know the warning ag sys-

tem. Since 2006, approximately 80% of allrip current-related drowning incidents in

Florida occurred at unguarded beaches.

Tips to Avoid Being a RipCurrent Victim

Here are some important safety tips toavoid being caught in a rip current:● Know how to swim.● Swim near lifeguard stands and heed

advice from lifeguards, as well as ags

and signs that warn of possible rip

currents. Never swim alone.● Avoid swimming near piers and jet-

ties. Permanent currents often existin these areas.● Pay attention to the latest weather

forecasts from local media sources, aswell as the National Weather Service

which issues daily Hazardous WeatherOutlooks and Surf Zone Forecasts.

If caught in a rip current, doing ei-

ther of the following will increase

your chances of survival:

● DON’T panic and DON’T swim against

the current. Doing either could cost

your life.● Swim parallel to the beach. In other

words, if facing the beach, swim eitherto the left or the right. Rip currents are

relatively narrow, and swimming across

the current can get you out of the mainoutward flow of water. The current is

simply too fast and strong to swim di-rectly against it. Most people drown

because they get exhausted from fighting the current. Just remembering the

phrases “Don’t Fight, Swim Left orRight” or “Swim to the Side to StayAlive” could help save your life.

●Stay calm. Remain afloat and allow therip current to pull you out until free

from the current, then swim back to-wards the beach at an angle away from

the current.

If you notice someone struggling in the

water as a result of a rip current, yourrst step is to notify lifeguards. If no life

guards are present, have someone cal9-1-1. You can also throw a otation de

vice to the victim, such as an inatable bal

or a lifejacket. It is important to remem-

ber that many people drown while tryingto save someone from a rip current. Don’tbecome a victim too.

To stay up-to-date on the latest weather

information, including the risk of rip cur-rents for any given day, please visit the

National Weather Service website atwww.weather.gov or http://ripcurrentsnoaa.gov/forecasts/shtml. For additiona

rip current safety and awareness information, please visit http://ripcurrents.noaa

gov.

By Robert Molleda,

NWS Miami

BREAK THE GRIP OF THE RIP!

IF CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT

• Don’t ght the current

• Swim out of the current, then to ashore

• If you can’t escape, oat or tread water • If you need help, call or wave for assistance

ESCAPEESCAPE




TORNADOES

Florida Tornadoes

Tornadoes are not usually associated withthe Sunshine State. However in the past

20 years, Florida had more reported tor-nadoes and more tornado-related deaths

than Oklahoma, Nebraska or Iowa. Of-cially, Florida ranks third nationally in

tornado reports (trailing only Texas andKansas) and fourth in tornado deaths

since 1990.

Florida tornadoes come in all shapes and

sizes, and occur year-round. The mostcommon time for tornado reports is in

the afternoon, although tornadoes havebeen spotted at all hours of the day andnight in Florida. Most Florida twisters oc-

cur in the summer during the afternoon,but fortunately these are typically small

and short-lived. Hurricane season also

brings a distinct risk of tornadoes to theSunshine State, as nearly every tropical

cyclone can produce tornadoes as it im-pacts our state.

Although all tornadoes are quite danger-ous, the most signicant and life-threat-

ening Florida tornadoes have historicallyoccurred in the winter and spring during

the late night and early morning. In fact

100 of the 152 tornado-related deaths inFlorida since 1950 occurred between 9:00pm and 7:00 am, with 113 of the 152 total

deaths occurring in February, March andApril. The February 22-23, 1998 tornadooutbreak and the Groundhog Day out-

break in 2007 occurred well after dark in the winter and resulted in 63 fatalities

combined across parts of Central Florida.The strongest tornadoes to ever strike

Florida were rated EF4, which happened

twice: April 15, 1958 and April 4, 1966both in Polk County.

Waterspouts

Summer is also the most likely time of year

for waterspouts, which are tornadoes thatoccur over water. NOAA scientist Dr. Jo

seph Golden studied Florida waterspoutsfor several decades and estimated nearly

300 waterspouts occur off the Floridacoast each year. These are typically as-sociated with developing cumulus clouds

or thunderstorms and are often weak bytornado standards. Regardless, boaters

and those on the beach need to quicklymove away from them as they can easily

ip over a vessel. If these move onshore

they are classied as tornadoes. In addi

tion, waterspouts can accompany super-

cells, such as the damaging tornado that

Photo Credit: Naonal Weather Service




began as a waterspout and killed three

people as it moved into Grand Bahama onMarch 29, 2010.

Predicting Tornadoes: Warnings and Safety

The National Weather Service uses pow-

erful tools such as Doppler radar to de-tect possible tornadoes. Doppler radaridenties the rotation inside a thunder-

storm that could be the beginning of atornado. However, an actual tornado is

typically too small for the Doppler radarto detect. Therefore, meteorologists de-

pend on volunteer storm spotters whoreport funnel clouds, tornadoes and othersevere weather to the National Weather

Service. The SKYWARN program is theNational Weather Service’s network of

volunteer storm spotters. Timely reportsfrom SKYWARN spotters can lead to

early warnings that can save lives.

The National Weather Service will issue

a Tornado Warning when a tornado hasbeen either seen by a weather spotter or

when Doppler radar indicates strong ro-tation inside a thunderstorm. If a Tornado

Warning is issued for your area, you andyour family should seek shelter immedi-ately! Place as many walls as you can be-

tween you and the tornado, and get as lowas possible. Find shelter in a small, interior

room on the lowest oor of your home

and stay away from windows and doors.

Use pillows to cover your head. Leavemobile homes and nd a stronger build-ing or house. In the classroom, get under-

neath a desk or table and cover your head

with your arms. If caught outdoors or onthe road your options are not ideal, butyou can still take action to survive. Your

rst choice would be to get inside a sturdy

structure. If that is not an option, try to

get as low as possible, such as a creek bedor ditch, and cover your head.

NOAA Weather Radio is a great way to

stay informed about tornadoes. These arespecial radios that receive weather infor-

mation. The NOAA Weather Radio canbe programmed to turn on and alert youof dangerous weather, even in the middle

of the night. Make sure the radio is alwaysplugged in and check that it has good bat-

teries in case the power goes out. You canalso monitor TV and radio for the latest

severe weather information.

Remember thedifference!

A Watch is a ‘heads-up’. It means pay at-tention. Make sure you know where to

go for shelter if you need to make a rapiddecision. Be sure you have a way to bealerted or awakened if a warning is issued

A Warning means take cover now! The

threat is ongoing or is forecast to strikesoon! Get in, and get down!

By Jeffry Evans,

NWS Tallahassee

Number of Reported

Tornadoes by State

(1990-2009)

1–TX 3,1502–KS 1,9213–FL 1,3584–NE 1,1905–OK 1,160

The # 1 wind safety rule is to get as many walls between you

and the outside world as possible so the debris in the wind

cannot reach you. It is not the wind that kills and injures people;

it is the debris in the wind.

For example, you can drive on the highway at 70 mph and stick

your hand out the window and not be harmed. However, you

would suffer serious injury if your hand hit a brick or branch

while the car is speeding down the road. If you can keep

the debris in the wind from reaching your location, you will

survive the wind event–whether it is a tornado, hurricane or

thunderstorm downburst wind.

D i d Y o u

K n o w?




How does the Enhanced Fujita Scale work?

The Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale) uses actual

damage to estimate a tornado’s wind speed. Tornadoes

are classied according to the damage they cause on

the Fujita Scale. This scale was named after its creator,

Dr. Theodore Fujita. The EF Scale is to be used withcaution. Tornado wind speeds are still largely unknown,

and the wind speeds on the EF Scale never have been

scientically tested and proven. Winds of different

speeds may cause the same damage depending on

how well-built a structure is, wind direction, wind

duration, battering by ying debris and various other

factors.

EF 0 Gale Tornado: 65-85 miles per hour (mph)

Some damage to chimneys. Tree branches broken off.

Shallow-rooted trees uprooted.

EF 1 Moderate Tornado: 86-110 mphRoof surfaces peeled off. Mobile homes overturned.

Moving autos pushed off roads.

EF 2 Signicant Tornado: 111-135 mph

Considerable damage. Roofs torn off frame houses.

Large trees snapped or uprooted. Light object

projectiles generated.

EF 3 Severe Tornado: 136-165 mph

Severe damage. Roofs and some walls torn off well-

constructed homes. Most trees in forests uprooted.

Heavy cars lifted off ground.

EF 4 Devastating Tornado: 166-200 mph

Well-constructed houses leveled. Structures blown off

weak foundations. Cars thrown and large projectiles

generated.

EF 5 Incredible Tornado: 200+ mph

Strong frame houses lifted off foundations and

disintegrated. Automobile-sized projectiles y through

the air in excess of 100 mph. Trees debarked.

TORNADO SAFETY ACTIONS

Homes

● When a tornado watch is issued, be prepared to

take action.

● When a tornado warning is issued or a tornado

is imminent, go to the innermost room on the

lowest level away from windows. Interior closets,

halls and bathrooms are good places to go.

● If you do not have time to get to the lowest level,

get under a bed. If you are at school, get under

your desk.

● Consider constructing a tornado-safe room in or

adjacent to your home.

Open Country

● Seek a nearby shelter, if time permits.

● If not, lie at in the nearest depression, ditch or

culvert. Cover your head with your arms.

Vehicles

● Abandon your vehicle and seek refuge in a build-

ing or, as a last resort, a ditch.

● Do not try to outrun a tornado.

Ofces, Hotels and Condos

● When action is required, take shelter in an inte-

rior hallway on the lowest oor, or in a closet or

small room.

● As a last resort, get under heavy furniture, awayfrom windows.

Manufactured and Mobile Homes

● Have a plan of where to go during a tornado

threat–a nearby pre-identied safe structure

within walking distance.

● Abandon mobile homes and go to a rmly built

shelter.

Before thunderstorms develop, a change in

wind direcon and an increase in wind speed

with increasing height creates an invisible

horizontal spinning eect in the lower

atmosphere.

Rising air within the thunderstorm updra lts

the rotang air from horizontal to vercal.

An area of rotaon, 2-6 miles wide, no

extends through much of the storm. Mos

strong and violent tornadoes form within this

area of strong rotaon. Photo credit: Naona

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administraon.



Thunderstorms

A thunderstorm is small whencompared to a hurricane. Most

thunderstorms are about 15miles wide and last about 30

minutes while hurricanes can be larger

than Texas and last for more than a week.All thunderstorms are considered danger-

ous because they contain lightning and canalso produce damaging winds, heavy rain

which may cause ooding, tornadoes and

hail. There are about 100,000 thunder-storms each year in the United States and

about one out of every ten storms causesdamage.

HowThunderstormsForm

Three things are needed inthe atmosphere for thunder-

storms to develop and grow:the atmosphere needs to be

moist, unstable, and have asource of lift (from a cold frontor the sea breeze). Moisture is

the fuel for thunderstorms.This moisture is present in

the atmosphere not as a liquidlike we normally think of wa-

ter, but as a gas known as “water vapor”Water vapor is invisible, and is released

into the air when liquid water evaporatesThere is always some moisture in the airbut thunderstorms need a lot of moisture

in order to form. Warm temperatures andlarge bodies of water can increase both

evaporation and the amount of moisturein the air, and Florida has plenty of both.

When the weather conditions are rightfor thunderstorm updrafts to form, mete

orologists call the atmosphere “unstable”Warm air is less dense than cold air which

means a box lled with warm air weighs

less than an identical box of cold air. This

is how a hot air balloon can oat up into

the sky. A thunderstorm will continue togrow if the temperature inside the thun

derstorm is warmer than the outsidetemperature.

Florida has many days in the summer

Florida’s Severe Weather Awareness Week 17

With more thunderstorms annually than any other state in the country, Florida is very suscepble to dangerous

lightning strikes. Photo credit: NOAA.




when the air has plenty of moisture, butthunderstorms do not form on every hu-mid day. This is because thunderstorms

need to be able to change the invisiblewater vapor back into liquid water forclouds and raindrops to form. This hap-

pens inside the thunderstorm updraft. Allthunderstorms have an updraft, where air

rises rapidly to seven to 10 miles abovethe ground. At those heights, the air tem-

perature is much colder than near theground and the atmosphere can’t holdas much water vapor. This causes the

moisture to turn into liquid water or iceand that forms clouds and raindrops. The

updraft also holds the raindrops up whilethey grow so they don’t fall to the ground

right away.

Although Florida has many days when theatmosphere is both moist and unstable,this usually is not enough for thunder-

storms to form. In order for an unstableatmosphere to produce the updraftsneeded for thunderstorms, a little boost

is needed to get the updraft started. Me-teorologists call these boosts “lift”. One

way to think of lift is to imagine shovel-ing snow, as you move forward the snow

goes up the shovel. In the atmosphere, liftcan force air at the surface up into thesky until a thunderstorm updraft devel-

ops and takes over. In Florida, lift typicallycomes in the form of a cold front pass-

ing through in the winter or a sea breezeboundary forming during a typical sum-

mer afternoon.

Thunderstorms need moisture, an unsta-ble atmosphere, and lift in order to form

Florida experiences more thunderstormsthan other states because: (1) Florida is

located close to large bodies of waterthat provide moisture; (2) Florida receives

plenty of sunlight which warms the airnear the ground and causes unstable air

and (3) Florida has frequent sea breezes

that provide lift for the thunderstormsWithout any of these three things, Florida

would not have such numerous thunderstorms.

Thunderstorm Dangers

Thunderstorms can create dangerous

conditions like lightning, which is foundin all thunderstorms. Thunderstorms can

also create tornadoes, and heavy rainsthat lead to ooding. Downburst winds

are another type of danger. Think of a

downburst wind as a giant water ballooncrashing into the ground and causing wind

damage. Hail is another danger producedby thunderstorms. Many thunderstorms

reach high into the atmosphere wheretemperatures drop below zero degreesFahrenheit. When this happens, strong

updrafts can push a hailstone high intothe cloud where rain and cloud drops can

freeze to it. The hailstone then falls backinto the lower and warmer part of the

cloud, but the updraft often pushes thehailstone back into the freezing tempera

tures several times, adding a layer of iceeach time. Since January of 2008, therehave been 157 reported hail storms in

Florida with hailstones at least one inchacross.

● Monitor NOAA Alert Radio. Listen for severe thunderstorm

watches and warnings.

● Avoid windows, metal objects and electrical equipment.

● When severe thunderstorms threaten, go to a small interior

room on the lowest oor of your home, school or business.

● Before a severe thunderstorm, move vehicles into garages

or carports to help prevent damage, time permitting.

● Postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are imminent.

● Avoid tall structures such as trees and powerlines.

THUNDERSTORM SAFETY ACTIONS

Wha t makes a

Thunders tor

m Se vere ?

Any one of these:

√ Tornadoes

√ Wind a t or abo ve 5

8 mph

√ Q uar ter-size hail

(1inch in

diame ter ) or larger




Keeping an Eye on the

Weather Once thunderstorms form, meteorolo-gists track them using radar. Radar worksby sending out pulses of energy, which

reect off raindrops and head back to-wards the radar. The radar then “listens”

for an echo. Doppler radar can also de-tect heavy rain, hail and strong winds.

The National Weather Service maintainsa network of 10 radars that cover Florida.National Weather Service meteorologists

may issue a Severe Thunderstorm Warn-ing based on what they see using radar

and other tools. A Warning means that

WATCH vs. WARNING

Although radar, satellite, and

computer systems continue to

improve, if you do not know what

to do or where to go, warnings

are not effective! Remember,

severe weather can develop

rapidly and advance warning

time may only be a few minutes.

Everyone needs the knowledge

to react quickly and execute

a plan of action when severe

weather materializes.

A WATCH means that

conditions are favorable for

severe thunderstorm, tornado,

or ash ood development.

This is the time to be weather-

aware. You should keep alert by

listening to a radio, television,

or weather radio for the latest

weather information. Know

where your children are. Be

aware of where you will go and

what you will do if a severe

thunderstorm, tornado, or ash

ood threatens.

A WARNING means a severe

thunderstorm, tornado, or

ash ood has been sighted orindicated by radar. People in the

path of the storm should take

immediate life-savings actions.

a strong thunderstorm in the area is ca-

pable of causing signicant damage. People

in the path of the storm should take coverimmediately in a room on the lowest oor

of your house away from windows. A

Severe Thunderstorm Watch is issued if the conditions are right for a severe thun-

derstorm to form. There is no immediatedanger, but you should keep a close eye onthe weather.

By Tyler Fleming,

NWS Tampa Bay/Ruskin




Hurricanes and Their Hazards

The most feared weather phe-

nomenon throughout Floridaduring the summer and early fallis the tropical cyclone (tropical

storm/hurricane). Close to the tropicsand surrounded on three sides by warm

water, Florida is particularly vulnerable tothese systems as they develop and move

generally westward across the AtlanticOcean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean

Sea. During a typical year, one or moretropical storms or hurricanes threatento impact portions of the state. How-

ever, it only takes one tropical cyclone toproduce widespread devastation across

a large area. The 1992 Hurricane Seasonserves as a reminder of this fact, as six

tropical cyclones formed (a normal yearhas eleven), but one storm intensied

into a major hurricane (Andrew) and pro-

duced widespread devastation as it made

landfall in Miami and travelled across the

South Florida Peninsula. To date, Hurri-cane Andrew remains one of only threehurricanes to make landfall at Category 5

intensity in the United States (in additionto the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane which

crossed the Florida Keys and HurricaneCamille which struck Mississippi in 1969).

The Atlantic hurricane season ofcially

begins on June 1st and continues through

November 30th. Although the numberof tropical storms and hurricanes typi-cally peaks during August and September,

it is important to remember that Floridacan be impacted by tropical weather sys-

tems any time during the six-month-longseason. A recent example is Hurricane

Wilma, which struck Florida during lateOctober 2005, bringing damaging winds,ooding rains, and tornadoes to the

southern half of the state. Residents and

visitors need to plan ahead and remain

ready for possible hurricane impacts asearly as June and as late as November.

Only a small percentage of the nu-

merous low pressure systems that moveacross the warm Atlantic waters during

the summer are able to take advantageof favorable conditions to become more

organized. When a counter-clockwisecirculation develops at sea level, com-

bined with persistent thunderstorm ac-tivity, the weather system is designated aTropical Depression. Once sustained

(constant) winds in the weather systemreach 39 mph, the system is classied

as a Tropical Storm. If winds increasefurther and reach 74 mph or greater, the

system is declared a Hurricane. Hurricanes with winds 111 mph or greater aredesignated Major Hurricanes, and are

capable of catastrophic damage.

Satellite image of Hurricane Ivan in the Gulf of Mexico on September 15, 2004. Photo credit: NASA




The rst images that the words hurri-cane and tropical storm bring to mind are

objects being thrown around and palm andpine trees bending sideways from strongwinds. Hurricanes and tropical storms

also bring storm surge, coastal ooding,

ooding from heavy rain, and tornadoes.

For those away from the immediate coast-line, inland ooding and tornadoes are

often the most hazardous impacts fromthese systems.

One of the more overlooked hazards

associated with tropical cyclones is tor-nadoes. Tornadoes associated with

tropical systems typically form in theright-front quadrant of the circulation,

relative to the direction of forward mo-tion. If viewing the tropical system as aclock, this would be the area from noon

to three o’clock in the direction that thestorm is traveling. While normally not as

intense as tornadoes produced by non-tropical severe thunderstorms, these

tornadoes often move at speeds of 50mph or greater. Regardless of origin, all

tornadoes have the potential to be dam-aging and deadly. Another preferred areafor tornado development is within the far

outer rain bands, often hundreds of milesaway from the tropical cyclone center.

These tornadoes can affect locations thatotherwise would not experience direct

impacts from the tropical storm or hur-ricane. Therefore, don’t assume you aresafe because the storm is passing far from

your location. Flooding from tropical cyclones is not

correlated with the intensity of the sys-tem, but instead is related to the speed

of forward motion. Slow moving tropi-cal storms and hurricanes often producelarge amounts of rain, which can lead to

signicant inland ooding. As with tor-nadoes, ooding impacts can occur hun-

dreds of miles away from the cyclonecenter, or from the remnants of a former

tropical system. A general rule of thumb(Kraft rule) used for estimating the po-

tential maximum rainfall total (in inches)from a tropical cyclone is to take 100 anddivide it by the storm’s forward motion

(in knots).Storm surge is the term used to de

scribe the wall of water that is pushedtoward the shoreline as a hurricane

moves onshore. Storm surge combineswith the local tide (resulting in the stormtide), along with the battering, wind

driven waves (on top of the storm tide)to push a tremendous volume of water

onto the shore, often resulting in signi

cant damage. Those living in coastal and

near-coastal communities should know inwhich evacuation zone they reside (if any)as well as the elevation of their property

All Florida residents should determine ithey live within a low-lying area suscep-

tible to ooding. When local ofcials de

clare an evacuation for your area, move

Damages from Hurricane Jeanne in Indian River County in 2004. Photo Credit: Naonal Oceanic and Atmospheric Administraon




to the nearest evacuation destination out-side of the danger zone. You may choose

to stay with friends or relatives, or to stayat a hotel/motel. As a last resort , you may

decide to stay at an evacuation shelter. High Winds are the most well-known

impact of tropical storms and hurricanes.The highest winds occur just outside theeye (or center), within a region referred

to as the eye-wall. Hurricane force windscan easily damage or destroy mobile

homes and other non-permanent struc-tures, often moving them well away from

their foundations. Roofs, pool enclosures,trees, and power lines are also frequentlydamaged by hurricane force winds. Al-

though the winds of a hurricane typicallyweaken rapidly following landfall, Florida’s

at terrain and narrow width allow strong

winds to survive farther inland than other

parts of the country. This effect is magni-ed by the forward speed of the tropical

cyclone. In August 2004, Hurricane Char-ley made landfall in Southwest Florida,then moved across the Florida Peninsula

within eight hours, exiting near DaytonaBeach. Charley exhibited a fast forward

motion of 25 mph (nearly twice the typicalspeed for Florida hurricanes) and brought

hurricane force winds to the OrlandoMetro area – over 100 miles inland from

the point of landfall.As Florida residents, you should pre-

pare each year for the possibility of tropi-

cal storm or hurricane conditions andincrease your awareness of the potential

hazards. Review and update your familydisaster plan prior to each season. Plan-

ning in advance for possible impacts willgo a long way toward keeping your familysafe when a tropical storm or hurricane

affects your area. The National HurricaneCenter, together with your local National

Weather Service forecast ofce, will issue

Tropical Storm and Hurricane Watches

and Warnings in plenty of time for you toprepare for a storm. Watches are is-

sued 48 hours in advance of the timedamaging winds are possible within thespecied area. Warnings are issued 36

hours prior to the time when damagingwinds are expected. From the time of the

initial threat until well after the stormdeparts, National Weather Service me-

teorologists coordinate closely with locaemergency managers, as well as other

county, state, and federal ofcials, so that

evacuation decisions and other consider-ations are made with plenty of time for

action and response. However, the mostcritical decisions for the protection o

your family and home are your responsi-bility! Be prepared before the hurricane

season begins by having an up-to-date family disaster plan, and an emergency supplykit. Remain informed of possible threats

throughout the season, and put your planinto action when the time comes. Follow

ing this advice will help keep you and yourfamily weather-safe.

By Arlena Moses and Scott Spratt,

NWS Melbourne

The destrucve path Hurricane Andrew took in 1992. Photo Credit: Naonal Hurricane Center




HURRICANES

What's it like to go through a hurricane on the ground?

What are the early warning signs of an approaching

tropical cyclone?

Just as every person is an individual, every hurricane is different

and every experience with a storm will be unique. The summary

below is of a general sequence of events one might expect froma Category 2 hurricane approaching a coastal area. What youmight experience could be vastly different.

● 96 hours before landfall

At rst there aren't any apparent signs of a storm. The pres-

sure is steady, winds are light and fair, and weather cloudsdot the sky. The perceptive observer will note a swell onthe ocean surface of about three feet in height with a wave

coming ashore every ten seconds. These waves race out farahead of a storm at sea, but could easily be masked by local

wind-driven waves.


Little has changed, except that the ocean swell has in-creased to about six feet in height and the waves now come

in every nine seconds. This means that the storm, still farover the horizon, is approaching.


If anything, weather conditions have improved. The sky isnow clear of clouds, the pressure is steady, and the wind isalmost calm. The swell is now about nine feet and coming

in every eight seconds. A hurricane watch is issued, and

areas with long evacuation times are given the order tobegin evacuating.


The rst signs of the storm appear. The pressure is falling

steadily, the winds pick up to about 10-20 mph, and the

ocean swell is about 10-12 feet in height and comingin every ve to seven seconds. On the horizon, a large

mass of white cirrus clouds appear. As the veil of clouds

approaches, it covers more of the horizon. A hurricanewarning is issued and people living in mobile homes andlow-lying areas are ordered to evacuate.


In addition to the overcast, low clouds streak by overheadThe pressure continues to fall and the wind picks up to

35 mph. The wind-driven waves are covered in whitecapsand streaks of foam begin to ride over the surface. Evacuations should be completed and nal preparations should be

made by this time.


The low clouds are thicker and bring driving rain squalls

with gusty winds. Winds are whistling by at 40 mph. It ishard to stand against the wind.


The rain squalls are more frequent and the winds don't di

minish after they depart. The pressure is falling rather rap-idly. The wind is howling at hurricane force at 74 mph, and

A Possible Hurricane Experience

Every hurricane is dierent. This image depicts the general changes that occur in the weather as a Category 2 hurricane approaches the

coast from 96 hours out, 72 hours out, etc. Photo Credit: Naonal Oceanic and Atmospheric Administraon




small, loose objects are ying through the air and branches

are stripped from some trees. The sea advances with every

storm wave that crashes ashore and the surface is coveredwith white streaks and foam patches.

● Six hours before landfall

The rain is constant now and the wind, now around 90 mph,drives it horizontally. The storm surge has advanced abovethe high tide mark. It is impossible to stand upright outside

without bracing yourself, andheavy objects like coconuts

and plywood sheets becomeairborne missiles. The wave

tops are cut off and make thesea surface a whitish mass of spray.

● One hour before landfall

It didn't seem possible, butthe rain has become heavier,

it is now a torrential down-pour. Low areas inland be-

come ooded from the rain.The winds are roaring at 105mph, and the pressure is fall-

ing rapidly. The sea is whitewith foam and streaks. The

storm surge has coveredcoastal roads and 16 foot

waves crash into buildingsnear the shore.

● The eye

Just as the storm reaches

its peak, the winds begin

to slacken, and the sky starts to brighten. The rain endsabruptly, and the clouds break and blue sky is seen. How-ever, the pressure reaches its lowest point and the stormsurge reaches the furthest inland. Wild waves crash into

anything in the grasp of the surge. Soon the winds fall tonear calm, and the air is uncomfortably warm and humid.

Looking up you can see huge walls of cloud on every side,

brilliant white in the sunlight. The winds begin to pick upslightly and the clouds on the far side of the eyewall loom

overhead.

● One hour after landfall

The sky darkens and the winds and rain return just as heavy

as they were before the eye. The storm surge begins a slowretreat, but the monstrous waves continue to crash ashoreThe pressure is now rising, the winds rage at 105 mph, and

heavy items torn loose by the frontside of the storm are thrown about

and into sides of buildings that hadbeen facing away from the storm’s

winds before the eye passed.

● Six hours after landfall

The ooding rains continue, but the

winds have diminished to 90 mph

The storm surge is retreating andpulling debris out to sea or strand-

ing seaborne objects well inland. Itis still impossible to go outside.

● 12 hours after landfall

The rain now comes in squalls and

the winds begin to diminish aftereach squall passes. The wind is stil

howling near hurricane force at 70mph, and the ocean is covered with

streaks and foam patches. The sealevel returns to the high tide mark.

● 36 hours after landfall

The overcast has broken and the

large mass of white cirrus clouds

disappears over the horizon. The sky is clear and the sun isbrilliant. The winds are a steady 10 mph. All around are torntrees and battered buildings. The air may smell of vegeta-tion and muck that was pulled up by the storm from the

bottom of the sea to cover the shore. Local ofcials begin

response efforts and some municipalities may give notice

for residents to return.

START THE SEASON WITH A

Family Disaster Plan

National Hurricane Preparedness Week

May 22-28, 2011

Doppler radar image of Hurricane Frances making landfall on

the southern end of Hutchinson Island on September 5, 2004.

Photo Credit: Naonal Weather Service




Floods are one of the most common

weather hazards in the UnitedStates. Floods can affect any part

of Florida at any time. Effects fromooding can be localized, impacting just a

few streets in a neighborhood or commu-

nity, or very large, affecting multiple cities,counties and even whole states.

Not all oods are alike. Some oods de-

velop slowly, and may take a few hoursor a few days to have an impact. On the

other hand, ash oods happen quickly,sometimes in a matter of minutes.

Flood development andimpacts

There are different ways oods can oc-

cur. The ground can become saturatedwhen heavy rains happen. This means theground cannot hold any more water. Any

additional rain sits on top of the groundand can move onto streets and into riv-

ers, canals and streams. Sometimes, somuch rain moves into these waterwaysthat they ll up and spill over their banks

and cause ooding. In urban areas, there is

so much pavement and so many buildings

that have replaced the natural landscapethat streets can ll up with water very

quickly with just a few inches of rain. Withover 2,300 miles of coastline, Florida isalso vulnerable to coastal ooding from

high waves caused by hurricanes, strong

winds or lunar effects.

Whether ooding occurs near or far away

from a river, water can get high enoughthat streets are no longer safe to drive on.The National Weather Service recom-

mends that if you see a ooded roadway,

“Turn Around, Don’t Drown”, meaning

that it’s safer to turn your car aroundand nd an alternate route than to drive

through the water. It only takes two feetof water to cause a large vehicle like an

SUV or pick-up truck to oat away. Thesmaller the vehicle, the less water it takes.Driving on ooded roads is also danger-

ous because unknown objects may be

in the water that could cause damageto your vehicle. Eighty percent of ood

deaths occur when people drive or walk

into moving water. Floods can also causecasualties to animals, damage any type o

structure, including bridges, cars, buildings, roadways, power and sewer systemsand also lead to waterborne diseases.

Flood forecasts and warnings

Meteorologists try to predict accurately

when, where and how much rain will fallThe total amount of rain and how fast it

falls (the rainfall rate) along with the cur-

rent soil condition affect how much wa

ter will run off into other areas once theground is saturated. The more water that

FLOODING

Turn Around, Don’t Drown

Storm surge from Hurricane Frances in Marn County in 2004. Photo Credit: Naonal Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administraon




runs down into streams or lower areas,the worse the ooding can be. Because

Florida is at with little changes in eleva-tion in most places, water can pool in low-

lying areas for days and sometimes weeksafter the rain has ended. This water is not

safe to walk through or play in. Standingwater is a natural breeding ground formosquitoes, which can carry the deadly

West Nile virus.

At the National Weather Service, hy-drologists team up with meteorologists to

produce the best river and ood forecasts

and warnings possible. These river fore-casts are available on the Internet. The

Web pages show maps with river forecastpoints, color-coded for river levels. Spe-

cic point forecasts are shown as graphs.

These graphs show past, current and

forecast river stage levels along with ood

potential information. River ood fore-

casts are now available on the easy-to-useAdvanced Hydrologic Prediction ServiceWeb site at: www.weather.gov/ahps. If

you live along or near a river, you shouldpay attention to the forecast, especially in

times of signicant rains. It takes time to

prepare for river ooding, so get a head

start by being alert to the forecasts. Forpeople living in areas away from rivers,forecasters will also issue Flood and Flash

Flood Advisories, Watches and Warningswhen urban street ooding is possible.

Hurricanes and ooding

While hurricanes are known and fearedfor their ferocious winds, historically it’sthe water that causes most deaths at-

tributed to hurricanes. About ninety per-cent of all hurricane deaths happen from

drowning in either storm surge or fresh-water ooding. While devastating storm

surge usually comes from strong hurri-canes, even the weakest tropical storm ortropical depression can cause widespread

and damaging oods, like those caused byTropical Storm Fay in 2008. (See story on

hurricanes, Page 20). The record 24-hourrainfall in Florida occurred in Yankeetown

in September 1950 when Hurricane Easydropped an incredible 38.7 inches of rainwhich caused extensive ooding.

Another very dangerous type of ooding

a hurricane can produce is called stormsurge ooding. As a hurricane moves over

the ocean, the strong winds cause thewater to pile up. As the hurricane makes

landfall, this water is pushed onshore atthe coast. The stronger the hurricane

is, the higher the wall of water will be.Moving water is very powerful and as a

result, many hurricane-related deathsare because of the storm surge. Between1975 and 2005, there were fewer people

killed by storm surge due to technologicaladvances in evacuation warning systems.

However, Hurricanes Rita and Katrinamade landfall along the Gulf coast in 2005

and serve to remind everyone of howdeadly this ooding can be. The storm

surge from Hurricane Katrina was over 25

feet high and moved over a mile inland insome places. Hurricane Katrina is a great

example of why it is very dangerous to

stay near the coast during a hurricane. Iyour area is told to evacuate, follow the

ofcial evacuation procedures and move

as far inland as possible.

Meteorologists at the National Hurricane

Center, the Southeast River ForecastCenter and local Florida National Weather Service ofces watch hurricanes very

closely to try to forecast how much rainfala hurricane may produce and how much

ooding may occur. These meteorologists

use satellite images, Doppler radar and

computer models to try to warn peopleahead of any ooding that may happen in

order to save lives and property. Flood

and Coastal Flood Watches/Warnings wilalso be issued by the National Weather

Service if ooding from rainfall or ooding

Flash ooding occurs when the ground becomes sat-

urated with water that has fallen too quickly to beabsorbed. Flash oods can also occur due to a dam

or levee failure. These oods occur within an hour

and can destroy structures, down trees and washout roads. You may not always have warning of these

sudden and deadly oods.

Flash Flood

Flooding can be magnied in urban areas as paved

areas lose their ability to absorb rainfall. Urbaniza-

tion increases water runoff as much as 2 to 6 times

over what would occur on natural terrain. Theseoods make driving very dangerous.

Urban Flood

River oods occur in Florida on a yearly basis, and

can cause extensive damage. Many river basins

stream into northern Florida from Georgia and Al-abama, but other rivers are located further south

near Lake Okeechobee. As water runoff collectsin rivers and streams, the excess water can be too

much to handle and may overow the banks.

River Flood

Areal ooding is usually not life-threatening, but re -sults in standing water in low-lying areas and open

elds. Agricultural losses can occur with these

oods. In addition, stagnant water can serve as a

breeding ground for insects and disease.

Areal Flooding



GLINTHING

ILHA

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IRKS

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THEA

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Puzzle A nswer:

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HAIL HURRICANE LIGHTNING

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TEMPERATURESFlorida’s Extreme Temperatures

We think of Florida as be-ing a hot state, but in

fact, most of the time ourtemperatures are quite

moderate. The water that surrounds thestate usually keeps our temperatures

from becoming either too hot or too cold.However, because of the size and locationof the state, weather patterns sometimes

develop that do not allow the water tomoderate the temperatures. When these

weather patterns form, portions of thestate can become either very hot in the

warm season or very cold during the coldseason.

How do the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico moderate our temperatures? The

sun heats the ground and as the groundbecomes warmer, the air over the hotground begins to rise. As the warmed

air rises, air off of the cooler waters thatsurround the state comes in to replace

it. We call this process the Sea Breeze

Sea Breezes can drop temperatures by 10

to 15 degrees on some days and can alsocause thunderstorms to develop. Duringthe winter, very cold air sometimes travels over the water and moves in the gen-

eral direction of the state. As this cold airmoves over the water, it is warmed from

the water below, so even though the airtemperature feels cold, it would actually

be much colder if the water wasn’t thereto warm it. If we have all of this water surrounding us

why does it sometimes get very hot or very

cold in Florida? There are a couple of things

that can interfere with the normal ow

of the wind that moderates our tempera

tures. Sometimes an area of high pressurewill form right over a portion of the stateThe high pressure stops the heated air

near the ground from rising. This will alsostop the sea breeze from bringing cooler

air in from the water. In order for cloudsto form, the air needs to rise. If the air is

sinking, then clouds are unable to formWithout clouds to shade the ground, thetemperature becomes even hotter.

When hot temperatures combine withhigh humidity, our bodies feel like it is

hotter than it really is since the increasedmoisture in the air limits our body’s abil

ity to cool off through sweating. This iscalled the Heat Index. When the heaindex reaches higher than 105 degrees

F, conditions can become dangerous forboth people and animals. A person can

experience heat cramps, heat exhaustion

DID YOU KNOW?

The hottest it has ever been in

Florida was over the Big Bendin a town called Monticello,

located just east of Tallahas-see, where the temperature

hit 109° F on June 29, 1931.Most of the time the hottest

temperatures will be found inthe northern and central por-tions of the state and it is very

rare for Southeast Florida toexceed 100° F.

Temperature (◦F)

R e l a t i v e H u m

i d i t y ( % )

* P r o v i d e d b y t h e N a t i o n a l W e a t h e r S e r v i c e




or heatstroke that may result in death if exposed to these conditions for a long

period of time. When the combination of heat and humidity causes the heat index

to reach dangerous levels, the NationalWeather service will issue Heat Adviso-

ries and Warnings.

PLAY IT SAFE

Hot Temperatures Tips

● Wear lightweight, light-colored cloth-ing. Light colors will help reflect

sunlight.● Limit outdoor activities in the after-

noon. The hottest part of the day isbetween 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Stay in

air-conditioned places to reduce yourexposure to the heat.

● Drink plenty of water. Stay away from

highly sugared drinks and alcoholic

beverages.● Check on the elderly, young children,

and pets as they are especially sensi-

tive to high heat.● Apply sunscreen before exposure to

the sun. Sunscreen should be at least

SPF 15. Also wear sunglasses, a hat orcarry and umbrella to further protect

yourself.

Although many people head southto escape the cold temperatures in thewinter, it isn’t always warmer in Florida.

Numerous severe cold outbreaks haveaffected the state. During the cold sea-

son, cold high pressure from Canada orthe Northern Plains move south into the

region and makes the winds come off the

land to our north and avoid the water thatsurrounds the state. This can bring verycold air, with temperatures in the 20s, all

the way down the peninsula into SouthFlorida. These freezing temperatures cankill crops, plants and even sh. An ex-ample of this occurred last winter in 2010when we had a series of very cold days. It

was so cold, ice formed on the Intracoast-al Waterway near Jacksonville and there

was about one-half inch of snow on theground in Marianna in the Florida Panhan-

dle. Hundred of millions of dollars worth

of crops were lost and many sh farmerslost a signicant crop of freshwater sh.

Strong winds can also make the air feelcolder than it really is by removing the

heat from our skin that our bodies gen-erate. This is called the Wind Chill. Like

high heat, very cold temperatures can alsoendanger humans. The National Weather

Service will issue Wind Chill AdvisoriesWatches/Warnings, Freeze Watches

Warnings, Hard Freeze Watches/Warnings, and Frost Advisories if cold weatherwill threaten an area.

Sometimes, when the air moves off theocean in the cold season, it is so cold that

the water cannot heat it up. Howeverthe air can still pick up moisture from

the water which can lead to snow urries

near the coast. This happened in DaytonaBeach in 2008, Miami in 1977 and Fort

Lauderdale in January 2010. The northernportions of the state can even have ac

cumulating snow. The ofcial record for

snowfall in the state occurred on March

6th, 1954 when four inches of snow felnear Milton. Before there were ofcial re

cords, there were reports of up to eightinches of snow in Baker County from a1797 storm.

Cold Temperatures Tips

● Stay indoors and use safe heatingsources. Do not use fuel-burning de-

vices, like grills, indoors. Also, makesure to use space heaters according

to instructions and keep away fromammable materials like furniture

clothes and drapery.● Dress in layers and wear a hat and

gloves. Try to stay dry and out of the

wind.

● The elderly, young children and petsare especially sensitive to cold tem-peratures. Check on them regularly.

● Bring in small animals or provide ad-

equate shelter with plenty of food.

By Al Sandrik,

NWS Jacksonville

*Provided by the National Weather Service

DID YOU KNOW?

In extreme cases, the tem-peratures can go down to the

single digits. The record lowtemperature in Florida is -2°

F, which happened in Tallahas-

see on February 13, 1899.

WITH PROLONGEDEXPOSURE AND/ORPHYSICAL ACTIVITY

EXTREME DANGER

Heat stroke or sunstroke

highly likely

DANGER

Sunstroke, muscle cramps,

and/or heat exhaustion likely

EXTREME CAUTION

Sunstroke, muscle cramps,and/or heat exhaustion

possible

CAUTION

Fatigue




Wildres are a perennialthreat to Florida. While

wildres can start at any

time of the year, the state

sees a peak of activity during the early partof the year – beginning in January and con-tinuing until the onset of more frequent

rain during the wet season, usually in earlyto mid-June. A typical year in Florida will

see over 4,600 res burn nearly 110,000acres of land. While lightning is respon-

sible for many res, most wildres are

started by humans – the most common

causes of human-started res are arson

and escaped burns of debris.

In 2010, Florida saw over 2,500 wildres

burn nearly 28,000 acres through the end

of November. This is a particularly lowamount of wildre activity compared to

the past 30 years. Part of this reason is anEl Niño event that was occurring during

the early part of 2010. An El Niño evenoccurs when there is warmer than normawater in the Central and Eastern tropica

Pacic Ocean. Winter El Niño event

are frequently associated with cooler and

wetter conditions in Florida, which helpsto suppress wildre activity.

In contrast to El Niño events, there are

also events known as La Niña, in whichthe water in the same region of the tropical Pacic is abnormally cool. La Niña

events are generally associated withwarmer and drier winters in Florida. An

increased amount of wildre activity is of

ten the result of La Niña events. In factFlorida’s most severe bouts with wildres

occurred during La Niña events or duringa quick transition to La Niña.

WILDFIRESWildres can destroy large areas of forest and are a constant

threat to the state of Florida. Photo credit: NOAA.




La Niña conditions in the tropical Pacic

began developing in the summer of 2010,

and this is forecast to continue throughat least early 2011 and likely even lon-

ger. Additionally, there are some partsof Florida that are already seeing drought

conditions, enhancing the threat. Thesetwo factors could combine to create anenhanced threat of wildres in 2011. For

more information about wildres, youcan visit the Florida Division of Forestry’s

website at www.-dof.com, and www.

rewise.org for information on how to

help keep your home safer from wildres.

Florida Fire Danger Index

For several years, Florida has used theKeetch-Byram Drought Index as a way tohelp gauge the potential risk for wildres.

The scale goes from 0-800, and is createdusing high temperature and rainfall data.

However, using only long-term weatherinformation does not always paint thefullest picture of existing re danger. To

WILDFIRE SAFETY ACTIONS

Create a defensible or safe space of at least 30 feet around your home that is

lean, clean and green.

To help emergency vehicles gain access, make sure driveway are at least

12 feet wide with at least 15 feet of overhead clearance and are easily

identiable.

Keep gutters, eaves and yards clear of debris, sticks, pine needles and leaves.

Trim all the branches that hang over the house or are lower than 6 to 10 feet

from the ground.

Plant re-resistant plants such as dogwood, sycamore, magnolia, oaks, red

maple, wild azalea, sweet gum, black cherry and ferns instead of pines and

palmettos.

Use re-resistant construction materials where possible and re-resistant

barriers when attaching ammable materials, such as wood decks or fences,

to the house.

Follow local regulations for the burning or disposal of yard waste and other

materials.

Develop a personal disaster plan, including a plan for evacuating your home.

Be sure to identify at least two routes out of your neighborhood or subdivision.

create a more accurate idea of the risk for

wildres that will need suppression, the

Division of Forestry is using a new scalethat incorporates both weather factorsand the characteristics of the vegetationthat would burn in a wildre, called the

Fire Danger Index (FDI). It’s importantto note that this index describes the risk

of having wildres that need suppression,

and does not indicate the potential for re

spread. It is possible to have days whichmay not have a particularly high FDI, buthave weather conditions exist that if a re

were to start, it would be difcult to con-trol.

The FDI is calculated for each of Florida’s

67 counties, and only goes from 1 to 5.Each rating has its own descriptor: 1

signies ‘Low’ re danger, 2 indicates

‘Moderate’ danger, 3 indicates ‘High’ re

danger, 4 is ‘Very High’ danger, and 5 signies an ‘Extreme’ risk of wildres. This

scale will provide a more accurate andaccessible picture of wildre risk. The

FDI is shown in two ways: the ObservedFDI, which uses weather observations

from the current day to calculate riskand the Forecast FDI, which uses weathe

forecasts from the National Weather Ser-vice to help calculate wildre risk for the

next day. To see the Fire Danger Index

and to learn more about it, please visithttp://fdi.-dof.com.

By Sean Luchs,

Division of Forestry

FLORIDA Severe Weather Guide 2011

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