Severe Thunderstorm WATCH means conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Tornadoes can and occasionally do accompany severe thunderstorms. Severe Thunderstorm Safety Rules:. Thunderstorms typically do not last very long and will most often pass by your location in less than one hour. The best defense against thunderstorms is to stay inside a sturdy, substantial building that can protect you from lightning, hail, damaging wind, heavy rain, and tornadoes.
If caught outside, try to find shelter immediately. Once in a shelter, stay away from windows and avoid electrical equipment. Be sure to secure loose objects outside as these objects often become dangerous flying debris in high winds. Additional Information. Tornadoes with winds up to about mph can destroy all but the best-built man-made structures.
Where are severe thunderstorms most common? The greatest severe weather threat in the U. But, no place in the United States is completely safe from the threat of severe weather. A watch can cover parts of a state or several states. Warnings mean there is a serious threat to life and property to those in the path of the storm.
ACT now to find safe shelter! A warning can cover parts of counties or several counties in the path of danger. How does a thunderstorm form? As the air rises, it transfers heat from the surface of the earth to the upper levels of the atmosphere the process of convection. The water vapor it contains begins to cool, releases the heat, condenses and forms a cloud. Rivers and Lakes. Climate and Past Weather. West Central and Southwest Florida is located in what is referred to as the Subtropics, located between the Temperate zone to the north and the Tropical zone just to the south.
During the late spring and summer months of June through September the tropical climate shifts north into our area and this combined with the oceans surrounding the Florida peninsula and daily sea breezes leads to our Thunderstorm Season. The National Weather Service in Tampa Bay Ruskin evaluated local thunderstorm science and climatology to define the rainy season in our area and to increase public awareness of the associated hazards.
Overall for the NWS Tampa Bay county warning area we can see in the graph below how the rainfall coverage quickly increases in June and continues into early October.
The rainy season can begin abruptly in some years and the onset can take weeks to develop in other years. As described in the image below, there are a few parameters that need to come together and setup. Therefore, the beginning of the rainy season is usually a transition period rather than a single date.
February-March The U. In February and March, warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico once again streams northward as winter begins its retreat. April-May During the heart of spring, the thunderstorm season shifts north. April and May are huge months for tornadoes and severe weather across the U. Spring gains a better footing, allowing surges of warm air to flow northward, but strong cold fronts provide fuel for storms to develop.
The classic Tornado Alley becomes the hotbed for thunderstorms, stretching from the southern and central Plains to the central and lower Mississippi valley. Thunderstorms also begin to expand northward into the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic. Across the Deep South, the first heat waves of the year begin to expand, allowing the Gulf Coast to get a break from severe thunderstorms. June and July Thunderstorms are common anywhere from the Plains to the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic as summer gets underway.
The best chance for storms resides across the central Plains, Ohio Valley, the Carolinas, and the lightning capital of the world, Florida. Thunderstorms continue to nudge towards the northern U. Places like Bismarck, N. Storms are still likely across the southern Plains and South, but the best severe potential resides closer to the Interstate 70 corridor in the central and eastern U. Not to be outdone, the Mountain West thunderstorm season ramps up in July.
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