NWS Melbourne March 6, 2008 Storm Survey

At 3:15 PM... Radar indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing nickel-sized hail and damaging winds in excess of 60 mph, 12 miles west of Jonathon Dickinson State Park. The storm was moving to the northeast at 15 mph. By 3:34 PM the storm was moving across Stuart, producing small hail. The air traffic control tower at Martin County Airport / Witham Field reported a wind gust to 97 mph at 3:55 PM. As the storm moved across the airport area the winds damaged several aircraft and hangars on the north side of the field.

Map of the Stuart Area, airport indicated:

Aircraft was moved by winds.

Damaged Aircraft at Witham Field

click for full-sized image
Hangar door blown about by winds.

(Thanks to Galaxy Aviation for providing photographs)

Products Issued by the NWS office in Melbourne:

WWUS82 KMLB 061953
SPSMLB

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
252 PM EST THU MAR 6 2008

FLZ064-062045-
MARTIN-
252 PM EST THU MAR 6 2008

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO SOUTHEASTERN MARTIN COUNTY...

AT 250 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG STORM 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF JOHNATHAN DICKINSON STATE PARK...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STRONG STORM INCLUDE HOBE SOUND BEACH.

THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES AND
GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...WHICH MAY CAUSE UNSECURED OBJECTS TO
BLOW AROUND. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL TEMPORARILY REDUCE VISIBILITY. SEEK
SHELTER INDOORS UNTIL THE STORM PASSES.

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL CAN BE EXPECTED...CAUSING TEMPORARY PONDING ON
SOME ROADS AND MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. MOTORISTS
SHOULD SLOW DOWN IN HEAVY RAINFALL TO REDUCE THE RISK OF HYDROPLANING
AND LEAVE SAFE DISTANCE BETWEEN OTHER VEHICLES.

$$
SEDLOCK

WUUS52 KMLB 062020
SVRMLB
FLC085-062115-
/O.NEW.KMLB.SV.W.0009.080306T2019Z-080306T2115Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
319 PM EST THU MAR 6 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MELBOURNE HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
EASTERN MARTIN COUNTY IN FLORIDA.

* UNTIL 415 PM EST

* AT 315 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL...AND
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 12
MILES WEST OF JOHNATHAN DICKINSON STATE PARK...OR ABOUT 11 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF INDIANTOWN...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO...
PALM CITY...HOBE SOUND...JUPITER ISLAND...PORT SALERNO...STUART...
HOBE SOUND BEACH...HOBE SOUND WILDLIFE REFUGE...ROCKY POINT AND
JENSEN BEACH

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58 MILES AN
HOUR AND OR LARGE DESTRUCTIVE HAIL. FREQUENT TO EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING
AND VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. IF THE STORM APPROACHES
YOU...SEEK SHELTER IN AN ENCLOSED BUILDING ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. KEEP
AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

DOPPLER RADAR HAS INDICATED SOME WEAK ROTATION WITHIN THIS STORM.
WHILE NOT IMMEDIATELY LIKELY...A TORNADO MAY STILL DEVELOP. IF A
TORNADO IS SPOTTED...ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IN A
STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM.

LAT...LON 2714 8008 2703 8006 2691 8023 2692 8038
2697 8046 2720 8033 2721 8026 2724 8030
2725 8028
TIME...MOT...LOC 2019Z 225DEG 14KT 2697 8030

$$

KELLY

WWUS52 KMLB 062040
SVSMLB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
339 PM EST THU MAR 6 2008

FLC085-062115-
/O.CON.KMLB.SV.W.0009.000000T0000Z-080306T2115Z/
MARTIN FL-
339 PM EST THU MAR 6 2008

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM EST
FOR NORTHEASTERN MARTIN COUNTY...

AT 337 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE
HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS
LOCATED NEAR PALM CITY...MOVING NORTH AT 25 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO PORT
SALERNO...STUART...JENSEN BEACH.

DOPPLER RADAR HAS INDICATED SOME WEAK ROTATION WITHIN THIS STORM.
WHILE NOT IMMEDIATELY LIKELY...A TORNADO MAY STILL DEVELOP. IF A
TORNADO IS SPOTTED...ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IN A
STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM.

LAT...LON 2719 8016 2708 8012 2701 8019 2705 8038
2720 8033 2721 8026 2724 8030 2725 8028
TIME...MOT...LOC 2039Z 198DEG 22KT 2711 8027

$$

KELLY

NWUS52 KMLB 062123
LSRMLB

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
423 PM EST THU MAR 06 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0355 PM     TSTM WND GST     STUART                  27.19N 80.24W
03/06/2008 M97 MPH          MARTIN             FL   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER REPORTED WIND GUST TO 97 MPH AT
            WITHAM FIELD AIRPORT.

&&

$$
JRC

NWUS52 KMLB 062155
LSRMLB

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
455 PM EST THU MAR 06 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0400 PM     TSTM WND DMG     STUART                  27.19N 80.24W
03/06/2008                   MARTIN             FL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FOUR HANGARS DAMAGED. SEVEN PLANES FLIPPED. ROOF
            COLLAPSED ON SHERIFFS ANNEX. NO INJURIES REPORTED.

&&

$$
JRC

NWUS52 KMLB 070046
LSRMLB

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
746 PM EST THU MAR 06 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0344 PM     HAIL             4 S STUART              27.14N 80.24W
03/06/2008 M1.00 INCH       MARTIN             FL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TRAINED STORM SPOTTER REPORTED QUARTER SIZE HAIL AT
            TROPICAL FARMS NEAR INTERSECTION OF I-95 AND SR 76 -
            KANNER HIGHWAY.

0355 PM     TSTM WND GST     STUART                  27.19N 80.24W
03/06/2008 M97.00 MPH       MARTIN             FL   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER REPORTED WIND GUST TO 97 MPH AT
            WITHAM FIELD AIRPORT.

0355 PM     HAIL             STUART                  27.19N 80.24W
03/06/2008 M0.70 INCH       MARTIN             FL   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER OBSERVED DIME SIZE HAIL AT
            WITHAM FIELD AIRPORT.

0400 PM     TSTM WND DMG     STUART                  27.19N 80.24W
03/06/2008                   MARTIN             FL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FOUR HANGARS DAMAGED. SEVEN PLANES FLIPPED. ROOF
            COLLAPSED ON SHERIFFS ANNEX. NO INJURIES REPORTED.

0410 PM     TSTM WND DMG     STUART                  27.19N 80.24W
03/06/2008                   MARTIN             FL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES AND AIRCRAFT AT THE
            STUART AIRPORT.

&&

$$
JRC

At 3:15 PM... Radar indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing nickel-sized hail and damaging winds in excess of 60 mph, 12 miles west of Jonathon Dickinson State Park. The storm was moving to the northeast at 15 mph. By 3:34 PM the storm was moving across Stuart, producing small hail. The air traffic control tower at Martin County Airport / Witham Field reported a wind gust to 97 mph at 3:55 PM. As the storm moved across the airport area the winds damaged several aircraft and hangars on the north side of the field.
Map of the Stuart Area, airport indicated:

Radar Reflectivity at 3:42 PM EST

Aircraft was moved by winds.	Damaged Aircraft at Witham Field	Hangar door blown about by winds.
(Thanks to Galaxy Aviation for providing photographs)
Products Issued by the NWS office in Melbourne:
WWUS82 KMLB 061953 SPSMLB SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 252 PM EST THU MAR 6 2008 FLZ064-062045- MARTIN- 252 PM EST THU MAR 6 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO SOUTHEASTERN MARTIN COUNTY... AT 250 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG STORM 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF JOHNATHAN DICKINSON STATE PARK... MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STRONG STORM INCLUDE HOBE SOUND BEACH. THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES AND GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...WHICH MAY CAUSE UNSECURED OBJECTS TO BLOW AROUND. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL TEMPORARILY REDUCE VISIBILITY. SEEK SHELTER INDOORS UNTIL THE STORM PASSES. TORRENTIAL RAINFALL CAN BE EXPECTED...CAUSING TEMPORARY PONDING ON SOME ROADS AND MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. MOTORISTS SHOULD SLOW DOWN IN HEAVY RAINFALL TO REDUCE THE RISK OF HYDROPLANING AND LEAVE SAFE DISTANCE BETWEEN OTHER VEHICLES. $$ SEDLOCK WUUS52 KMLB 062020 SVRMLB FLC085-062115- /O.NEW.KMLB.SV.W.0009.080306T2019Z-080306T2115Z/ BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 319 PM EST THU MAR 6 2008 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MELBOURNE HAS ISSUED A * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... EASTERN MARTIN COUNTY IN FLORIDA. * UNTIL 415 PM EST * AT 315 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 12 MILES WEST OF JOHNATHAN DICKINSON STATE PARK...OR ABOUT 11 MILES SOUTHEAST OF INDIANTOWN...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. * OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO... PALM CITY...HOBE SOUND...JUPITER ISLAND...PORT SALERNO...STUART... HOBE SOUND BEACH...HOBE SOUND WILDLIFE REFUGE...ROCKY POINT AND JENSEN BEACH SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58 MILES AN HOUR AND OR LARGE DESTRUCTIVE HAIL. FREQUENT TO EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. IF THE STORM APPROACHES YOU...SEEK SHELTER IN AN ENCLOSED BUILDING ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. KEEP AWAY FROM WINDOWS. DOPPLER RADAR HAS INDICATED SOME WEAK ROTATION WITHIN THIS STORM. WHILE NOT IMMEDIATELY LIKELY...A TORNADO MAY STILL DEVELOP. IF A TORNADO IS SPOTTED...ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IN A STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM. LAT...LON 2714 8008 2703 8006 2691 8023 2692 8038 2697 8046 2720 8033 2721 8026 2724 8030 2725 8028 TIME...MOT...LOC 2019Z 225DEG 14KT 2697 8030 $$ KELLY WWUS52 KMLB 062040 SVSMLB SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 339 PM EST THU MAR 6 2008 FLC085-062115- /O.CON.KMLB.SV.W.0009.000000T0000Z-080306T2115Z/ MARTIN FL- 339 PM EST THU MAR 6 2008 ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM EST FOR NORTHEASTERN MARTIN COUNTY... AT 337 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR PALM CITY...MOVING NORTH AT 25 MPH. OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO PORT SALERNO...STUART...JENSEN BEACH. DOPPLER RADAR HAS INDICATED SOME WEAK ROTATION WITHIN THIS STORM. WHILE NOT IMMEDIATELY LIKELY...A TORNADO MAY STILL DEVELOP. IF A TORNADO IS SPOTTED...ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IN A STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM. LAT...LON 2719 8016 2708 8012 2701 8019 2705 8038 2720 8033 2721 8026 2724 8030 2725 8028 TIME...MOT...LOC 2039Z 198DEG 22KT 2711 8027 $$ KELLY NWUS52 KMLB 062123 LSRMLB PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 423 PM EST THU MAR 06 2008 ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 0355 PM TSTM WND GST STUART 27.19N 80.24W 03/06/2008 M97 MPH MARTIN FL OFFICIAL NWS OBS AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER REPORTED WIND GUST TO 97 MPH AT WITHAM FIELD AIRPORT. && $$ JRC NWUS52 KMLB 062155 LSRMLB PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 455 PM EST THU MAR 06 2008 ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 0400 PM TSTM WND DMG STUART 27.19N 80.24W 03/06/2008 MARTIN FL EMERGENCY MNGR FOUR HANGARS DAMAGED. SEVEN PLANES FLIPPED. ROOF COLLAPSED ON SHERIFFS ANNEX. NO INJURIES REPORTED. && $$ JRC NWUS52 KMLB 070046 LSRMLB PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 746 PM EST THU MAR 06 2008 ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 0344 PM HAIL 4 S STUART 27.14N 80.24W 03/06/2008 M1.00 INCH MARTIN FL TRAINED SPOTTER TRAINED STORM SPOTTER REPORTED QUARTER SIZE HAIL AT TROPICAL FARMS NEAR INTERSECTION OF I-95 AND SR 76 - KANNER HIGHWAY. 0355 PM TSTM WND GST STUART 27.19N 80.24W 03/06/2008 M97.00 MPH MARTIN FL OFFICIAL NWS OBS AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER REPORTED WIND GUST TO 97 MPH AT WITHAM FIELD AIRPORT. 0355 PM HAIL STUART 27.19N 80.24W 03/06/2008 M0.70 INCH MARTIN FL OFFICIAL NWS OBS AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER OBSERVED DIME SIZE HAIL AT WITHAM FIELD AIRPORT. 0400 PM TSTM WND DMG STUART 27.19N 80.24W 03/06/2008 MARTIN FL EMERGENCY MNGR FOUR HANGARS DAMAGED. SEVEN PLANES FLIPPED. ROOF COLLAPSED ON SHERIFFS ANNEX. NO INJURIES REPORTED. 0410 PM TSTM WND DMG STUART 27.19N 80.24W 03/06/2008 MARTIN FL EMERGENCY MNGR SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES AND AIRCRAFT AT THE STUART AIRPORT. && $$ JRC

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office