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| State radar image from the SuperStorm Derecho Event of March 12-13, 1993. Details follow in the information below. This storm impacted not only Florida, but the entire eastern seaboard with high winds, tornadoes, coastal storm surge, and blizzard conditions. At the time, this event was unprecedented and remains so to this very day. |
TODAY THROUGH MONDAY FORECAST: No changes from yesterday's post. A bit warmer today all areas, coolest at the very east coast north of Vero Beach, with highs in the low 70s. Mid-upper 70s elsewhere and warmest far SW Florida. Partly cloudy to most cloudy at times from West Palm Beach and south through Monday. Light onshore Sea breeze this afternoon all coasts will make way to near calm winds toward sunset. Overnight lows a bit warmer than last night, but still chilly (especially inland).
TUESDAY: Coastal stratocumulus clouds could affect the east coast as far north as Titusville. Short-wave trough crossing Dixie provides reason to introduce high cirrus clouds into the mix, especially Central and North. Probably not quite as warm on Tuesday as those that will be felt Monday due to expected clouds. No rain Central and North, put possible sprinkles far South and the Keys. Temperatures anywhere South Florida today through Tuesday will be lower than official forecasts indicate (more than likely) where clouds are most found.
Celebrating or begrudging Daylight Savings Time today? It's a good time to check the batteries in your Weather Radio as well as those in the smoke detector, and see if your computer time corrected itself.
Below are some recaps of the intense severe weather events recorded from the Super Storm that occurred beginning last night (March 12th). The magnitude of which has yet to be met for the Southeast States. Read on, it's interesting:
The Southern Survey Team
The southern survey team found that for the most part the information disseminated to the
public, the media, and EMOs was timely and accurate. There were a number of separate
hazards created by the storm for those in the southern states affected by the Superstorm.
As the storm gathered strength over the Gulf, the first threat was from severe thunderstorms
and tornadoes. As it neared landfall, high winds and coastal flooding became the primary
hazard and finally, as the system moved up the Atlantic coast, very cold temperatures
became the peril.
The perception and response to these various threats were uneven, however. The lack of
personal experience with severe non-tropical storms resulted in a large number of people, and
some EMOs, failing to fully appreciate the seriousness of the threat.
For example, in recent history, severe coastal flooding has not occurred in Florida in storms other than hurricanes. It must be noted that a winter storm of this ferocity was simply beyond the scope of
experience of anything the southeastern part of the country had faced in recent memory.The
subsequent lack of response led to difficulties for the populace in preparing properly for the
approaching storm throughout the southeast U.S., particularly in Florida. Many people and
some EMOs were simply unprepared for the event.
March 12-13 1993 - 2200-1430 - All Florida - Tornadoes, Thunderstorm Winds, Hail, High Winds, Storm Surge, Flood, Beach Erosion, Snow - The "Storm Of The Century" or "SuperStorm" roared across Florida
producing a variety of severe and unusual weather conditions for about 18 hours from late Friday the
12th through late afternoon Saturday the 13th.
A severe squall line raced eastward at over 50 mph ahead
of an intense low producing several tornadoes and strong downbursts as it moved through the state and
directly caused seven fatalities. This was followed by an unprecedented (for the Gulf Coast) winter
storm surge of nine to 12 feet in Taylor County, with storm surges and/or tidal and wind driven flooding
of five to 9 feet elsewhere along the Gulf Coast to the Keys. This was followed by a period of eight to
12 hours of high sustained winds of up to 50 mph with gusts to 70 mph, keeping tides much above
normal along the west coast and causing severe beach erosion in many areas. As colder air poured in
behind the intense low up to four inches of snow fell in the panhandle from north of Pensacola to
Crestview, and a trace to 3 inches of snow fell elsewhere across north Florida. Record or near record low
temperatures occurred over much of the state the following two nights. Total number of fatalities from
the storm was 47, including 14 from storm surge and flooding, seven from tornadoes and/or strong
downbursts, and four from high winds in the aftermath of the squall line. Eleven people drowned
offshore in the Gulf of Mexico after strong winds swamped or capsized ships (including seven crewmen
from a 200-ft Honduran freighter). Eleven others died during rescue operations and cleanup activities.
Total property damage was estimated at $l.6 billion. Details follow, first number shown for each heading is the date in March, followed by year and 24 hour time.
Date obtained from the NWS Melbourne historic weather events database:
12 1993 - 2338 - Levy Co., Chiefland - A tornado struck a home in which four people were asleep,
pinning two of them under a fallen wall and suffocating them. Two others were injured. A nearby
mobile home was destroyed killing its elderly occupant. The tornado went on to destroy or damage other
mobile homes injuring five more people, and knocking down trees and power lines.
13 1993 - Manatee County, Terra Ceia Bay - Thunderstorm winds -A man who lived on a houseboat
drowned while apparently attempting to evacuate the boat in strong winds.
13 1993 - 0020 - Alachua Co., LaCrosse - A tornado destroyed a mobile home killing l person and
injuring four others. Trees and power lines down. A few houses destroyed, one by propane explosion.
Howey-in-the-Hills and moved northeast striking Mt. Dora and continued northeast until dissipating in
Volusia County. A 5-month old baby boy was killed in a mobile home 10 miles northeast of Mt. Dora at 0050 EST. The mobile home was destroyed and two adults in it were seriously injured. In all 13 homes
were destroyed, 80 suffered major damage and 266 reported minor damage.
13 1993 - 0405 - Pinellas County, Clearwater - High Winds - Winds to 6l mph were recorded at the
Clearwater Pass Bridge. Two boaters in a sailboat were drowned when they apparently were pushed into
the bridge pilings and capsized.
13 1993 - Citrus County, N. Homosassa - High Winds -Two males were apparently washed overboard
from a fishing boat and drowned. Their bodies were recovered a week later.
13 1993 - 0420 - Taylor County, Coastal Areas - Storm Surge - A 10 - to 12-foot storm surge moved
into the coast destroying 57 homes. Ten people were killed, nine at Dekle Beach and one at Keaton
Beach.
13 1993 - 0452 - Dade County, Narrowrowanja - Thunderstorm Winds overturned a mobile home,
killing one person and injuring another.
13 1993 - 0530 - Hernando County, Aripeka to Hernando Beach - Flood - Flood waters about nine feet
deep inundated the coastal area with most residents in water chest deep. One person suffered a heart
attack and died attempting to evacuate out of the flooded area. 6l homes were destroyed, 3,300 damaged,
and 100 people evacuated.
13 1993 - 0530 - Pasco County, Hudson to Aripeka - Flood - Water at least 9 feet deep flooded homes
and businesses. An elderly woman drowned in her home.
13 1993 - 0545 - Levy County, Cedar Key - Storm Surge - A 9.5 foot storm surge was reported and 120
homes were flooded. An elderly male died while attempting to evacuate the flood.
13 1993 - 0600 - Pinellas County, Honeymoon Island - High Winds - A 38-ft fishing vessel was
swamped by 20-30 foot seas seven miles west of the coast. One crew member drowned and the other
was rescued by the Coast Guard.
13 1993 - 1035 - Broward County, Davie - High Winds uprooted a tree that struck and killed a person.
13 1993 - l134 - Broward County, Pompano Beach - High Winds caused a building to collapse, killing a
motorcyclist who was standing near it.
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