Severe Weather

Severe weather isn’t out of the ordinary for Tampa Bay. This page collects information from various sources to provide a “situational awareness” into the current weather conditions.

SKYWARN®

The purpose of the SKYWARN® program in Pinellas County Florida is to provide the National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast Office at Tampa Bay with timely and accurate reports of severe weather phenomena so that a timely warning can be issued to the public of dangerous weather conditions that include tornadoes, hail, flooding, and damaging thunderstorm winds.

Detailed information about SKYWARN® operations in Pinellas County can be found in the Pinellas County ACS/ARES® SKYWARN® Operations Plan and Standard Operating Procedures document.

Current Pinellas County Severe Weather Alerts

Rip Current Statement issued April 13 at 3:25AM EDT until April 13 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
from NWS
* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents. * WHERE...Pinellas, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Manatee, Coastal Sarasota, Coastal Charlotte and Coastal Lee Counties. * WHEN...Through this evening. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. [...]
Sat, Apr 13, 2024, Continue reading at the source
Rip Current Statement issued April 12 at 8:10PM EDT until April 13 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
from NWS
* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents. * WHERE...Pinellas, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Manatee, Coastal Sarasota, Coastal Charlotte and Coastal Lee Counties. * WHEN...Through Saturday evening. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. [...]
Fri, Apr 12, 2024, Continue reading at the source
High Surf Advisory issued April 12 at 2:51PM EDT until April 12 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
from NWS
* WHAT...For the High Rip Current Risk, dangerous rip currents. For the High Surf Advisory, large breaking waves of 5 feet or larger. * WHERE...Pinellas, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Manatee, Coastal Sarasota, Coastal Charlotte and Coastal Lee Counties. * WHEN...For the High Rip Current Risk, through Saturday evening. For the High Surf Advisory, until 8 PM EDT [...]
Fri, Apr 12, 2024, Continue reading at the source
Rip Current Statement issued April 12 at 2:51PM EDT until April 13 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
from NWS
* WHAT...For the High Rip Current Risk, dangerous rip currents. For the High Surf Advisory, large breaking waves of 5 feet or larger. * WHERE...Pinellas, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Manatee, Coastal Sarasota, Coastal Charlotte and Coastal Lee Counties. * WHEN...For the High Rip Current Risk, through Saturday evening. For the High Surf Advisory, until 8 PM EDT [...]
Fri, Apr 12, 2024, Continue reading at the source
High Surf Advisory issued April 12 at 3:40AM EDT until April 12 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
from NWS
* WHAT...For the High Rip Current Risk, dangerous rip currents. For the High Surf Advisory, large breaking waves of 5 feet or larger. * WHERE...Pinellas, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Manatee, Coastal Sarasota, Coastal Charlotte and Coastal Lee Counties. * WHEN...For the High Rip Current Risk, through Saturday evening. For the High Surf Advisory, until 8 PM EDT [...]
Fri, Apr 12, 2024, Continue reading at the source
Rip Current Statement issued April 12 at 3:40AM EDT until April 13 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
from NWS
* WHAT...For the High Rip Current Risk, dangerous rip currents. For the High Surf Advisory, large breaking waves of 5 feet or larger. * WHERE...Pinellas, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Manatee, Coastal Sarasota, Coastal Charlotte and Coastal Lee Counties. * WHEN...For the High Rip Current Risk, through Saturday evening. For the High Surf Advisory, until 8 PM EDT [...]
Fri, Apr 12, 2024, Continue reading at the source
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 11 at 1:16PM EDT until April 11 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
from NWS
SVRTBW The National Weather Service in Ruskin has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Southeastern Pasco County in west central Florida... Manatee County in west central Florida... Southeastern Pinellas County in west central Florida... Northwestern Polk County in central Florida... Hillsborough County in west central Florida... * Until 200 PM EDT. * At 116 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms [...]
Thu, Apr 11, 2024, Continue reading at the source
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 11 at 12:30PM EDT until April 11 at 1:15PM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
from NWS
SVRTBW The National Weather Service in Ruskin has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Southeastern Citrus County in west central Florida... Sumter County in central Florida... Pasco County in west central Florida... Hernando County in west central Florida... Northwestern Manatee County in west central Florida... Pinellas County in west central Florida... Northwestern Polk County in central Florida... Hillsborough County [...]
Thu, Apr 11, 2024, Continue reading at the source
Tornado Warning issued April 11 at 12:16PM EDT until April 11 at 12:45PM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
from NWS
TORTBW The National Weather Service in Ruskin has issued a * Tornado Warning for... Northwestern Pinellas County in west central Florida... * Until 1245 PM EDT. * At 1215 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Harbor Bluffs, or 7 miles northwest of Seminole, moving northeast at 35 mph. HAZARD...Tornado. SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. IMPACT...Flying [...]
Thu, Apr 11, 2024, Continue reading at the source
Tornado Watch issued April 11 at 12:05PM EDT until April 11 at 3:00PM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
from NWS
TORNADO WATCH 104 REMAINS VALID UNTIL 3 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN FLORIDA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 7 COUNTIES IN CENTRAL FLORIDA POLK SUMTER IN WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA CITRUS [...]
Thu, Apr 11, 2024, Continue reading at the source

Please be sure to check the NWS Tampa Bay Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook daily. It’s an extremely useful to check daily. It presents a graphical view of likelihood of various types of severe weather. If you have a weather radio, Pinellas is covered by two transmitters and Pinellas has a “Specific Area Message Encoding” (SAME code) of 012103.

  • Largo Marine – 162.450 MHz
  • Tampa Bay – 162.550 MHz

National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center’s Latest Content

SPC MD 479
MD 0479 Image
MD 0479 CONCERNING SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 124... FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST KS INTO WESTERN/CENTRAL MO Mesoscale Discussion 0479 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0325 AM CDT Thu Apr 18 2024 Areas affected...Portions of northeast KS into western/central MO Concerning...Severe Thunderstorm Watch 124... Valid 180825Z - 181000Z The severe [...]
Thu, Apr 18, 2024, Continue reading at the source
SPC MD 478
MD 0478 Image
MD 0478 CONCERNING SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 124... FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST KS INTO WESTERN MO Mesoscale Discussion 0478 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0200 AM CDT Thu Apr 18 2024 Areas affected...Portions of northeast KS into western MO Concerning...Severe Thunderstorm Watch 124... Valid 180700Z - 180830Z The severe [...]
Thu, Apr 18, 2024, Continue reading at the source
SPC Apr 18, 2024 0600 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook
Day 1 Outlook Image
SPC 1200Z Day 1 Outlook Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1255 AM CDT Thu Apr 18 2024 Valid 181200Z - 191200Z ...THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PART OF THE OZARKS...MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEY...AND LOWER OHIO VALLEY... ...SUMMARY... A line of strong to [...]
Thu, Apr 18, 2024, Continue reading at the source
SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 124 Status Reports
WW 0124 Status Image
WW 0124 Status Updates STATUS FOR WATCH 0124 HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED YET [...]
Thu, Apr 18, 2024, Continue reading at the source
SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 124
WW 0124 Image
WW 124 SEVERE TSTM KS MO 180440Z - 181100Z URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 124 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1140 PM CDT Wed Apr 17 2024 The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of Northeast [...]
Thu, Apr 18, 2024, Continue reading at the source
SPC MD 477
MD 0477 Image
MD 0477 CONCERNING SEVERE POTENTIAL...WATCH POSSIBLE FOR PARTS OF EASTERN KS...NORTHWEST MO...EXTREME SOUTHEAST NE Mesoscale Discussion 0477 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0831 PM CDT Wed Apr 17 2024 Areas affected...Parts of eastern KS...northwest MO...extreme southeast NE Concerning...Severe potential...Watch possible Valid 180131Z - 180400Z Probability of Watch Issuance...40 [...]
Wed, Apr 17, 2024, Continue reading at the source
SPC Apr 18, 2024 0100 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook
Day 1 Outlook Image
SPC 0100Z Day 1 Outlook Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0800 PM CDT Wed Apr 17 2024 Valid 180100Z - 181200Z ...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PARTS OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY AND FROM NORTHEAST KANSAS INTO WESTERN MISSOURI... ...SUMMARY... Thunderstorms capable [...]
Wed, Apr 17, 2024, Continue reading at the source
SPC MD 476
MD 0476 Image
MD 0476 CONCERNING TORNADO WATCH 122...123... FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN OH...WESTERN PA...AND NORTHERN WV Mesoscale Discussion 0476 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0523 PM CDT Wed Apr 17 2024 Areas affected...portions of eastern OH...western PA...and northern WV Concerning...Tornado Watch 122...123... Valid 172223Z - 180000Z The severe weather threat for [...]
Wed, Apr 17, 2024, Continue reading at the source
SPC Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook
Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook Image
SPC Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0340 PM CDT Wed Apr 17 2024 Valid 191200Z - 251200Z Given recent and expected precipitation across much of the CONUS through the extended forecast period, fire [...]
Wed, Apr 17, 2024, Continue reading at the source
SPC MD 474
MD 0474 Image
MD 0474 CONCERNING TORNADO WATCH 122... FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND NORTH-CENTRAL OH Mesoscale Discussion 0474 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0244 PM CDT Wed Apr 17 2024 Areas affected...portions of western and north-central OH Concerning...Tornado Watch 122... Valid 171944Z - 172115Z The severe weather threat for Tornado [...]
Wed, Apr 17, 2024, Continue reading at the source

National Hurricane Center’s Tropical Weather Outlook

CPHC Central North Pacific Outlook
from nhcwebmaster@noaa.gov (NHC Webmaster)
The Central North Pacific hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th. [...]
Wed, Dec 06, 2023, Continue reading at the source
NHC Eastern North Pacific Outlook
from nhcwebmaster@noaa.gov (NHC Webmaster)
The Eastern North Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15th through November 30th. [...]
Sat, Dec 02, 2023, Continue reading at the source
NHC Atlantic Outlook
from nhcwebmaster@noaa.gov (NHC Webmaster)
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th. [...]
Sat, Dec 02, 2023, Continue reading at the source

Useful links

ACS – Pinellas County:  Pinellas County ACS Home Page
ACS/ARES® aresdb Database: http://www.aresdb.com/
Become a rain observer: http://www.cocoRahs.org
Become an ambassador: http://weather.gov/tampa/wrn
Emergency Managers Weather Information Network — https://www.weather.gov/emwin/ 
Facebook – NWS Tampa Bay: https://www.facebook.com/NWSTampaBay/
Hurricane Guide: http://www.pinellascounty.org/emergency/default.htm#hurricaneguide
Mike’s Weather Page: https://spaghettimodels.com/
National Hurricane Center Amateur Radio Station – WX4NHC:https://w4ehw.fiu.edu/
National Hurricane Center: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
National Weather Service: https://www.weather.gov/
NWS Radar: https://radar.weather.gov/
NWS Ruskin SKYWARN® Amateur Radio Station: https://www.weather.gov/tbw/wx4tor
NWS Ruskin SKYWARN® Page: http://weather.gov/tampa/skywarn
Sign up for weather alerts: http://AlertFlorida.com
Storm Prediction Center: https://www.spc.noaa.gov/
Tampa Bay Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook: https://www.weather.gov/tbw/ghwo
Training – Spotter Network: http://SpotterNetwork.org
Training – MetED: https://www.meted.ucar.edu/education_training/course/23
Tropical Cyclone Guidance Project: http://hurricanes.ral.ucar.edu/realtime/current/
Twitter – NWS Tampa Bay: https://twitter.com/nwstampabay
VoIP SKYWARN®/Hurricane Net: http://voipwx.net/
Weather Spotter’s Field Guide: https://go.usa.gov/xnDYC
Windy.com: https://www.windy.com/
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