12/18/09 DISC: FL

[Jason Harris]

Back in Sacramento CA visiting relatives, but looks like FL had some action--anybody on the site see the storms and perhaps these reported tornadoes?

--
1600 4 E HOMESTEAD MIAMI-DADE FL 2547 8040 HOMESTEAD POLICE RELAYED A REPORT BY MIAMI-DADE POLICE THAT A TORNADO WAS SPOTTED IN UNINCORPORATED DADE COUNTY OUTSIDE OF THE HOMESTEAD CITY LIMITS AT SW 328 ST AND SW (MFL)

1935 SE KEY WEST LOWER KEYS IN MON FL 2456 8178 A PRELIMINARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM SURVEY REPORTS AN EF0 TORNADO OVER SOUTHEAST KEY WEST AND EXTENDING INTO WEST CENTRAL STOCK ISLAND. DAMAGE REPORTS INCLUDE (KEY)

2059 2 N ONA HARDEE FL 2752 8191 THE PUBLIC REPORTED A TORNADO OFF OF VANDOLAH ROAD. A ROOF WAS BLOWN OFF OF A BUILDING AND A CAR WAS OVERTURNED. (TBW)

 

[cdcollura]

Good day all,

I snuck out of work and chased the "grungy mess" with the embedded meso as it passed north of Homestead at about 11 AM or so. Just saw a small rain-free base and inflow tail and some scud tags / lowerings, nothing in the way of tornadoes.

Here is my chase log for it...

Dec 18, 11:00 AM: Observation and penetration of a strong thunderstorm in Miami-Dade County in Florida near Kendall and the junction of US Highway 1and the Palmetto Expressway. The storm was a small rotating (former supercell) storm embedded in a cluster of showers and thunderstorms. Conditions encountered were winds near 50 MPH, heavy rains, and occasional lightning. A small wall cloud was observed on a ragged rain-free base on the southern side of this cell. The cell produced a tornado earlier when it was over Homestead (about 10 to 15 miles south of the position observed). The tornado was not observed. A low-pressure system, upper trough, warm-front / convergence area was responsible for the storms. A 2008 Ford Escape was used to chase the storms. Documentation was still digital photos. A tornado watch was also valid for the affected area until 1 PM EST.

 

[Jason Harris]

Hi Chris, could you post a pic or two showing the base and wall cloud? How many minutes would you say elapsed between the tornado vs. when you caught sight of the storm?

 

[cdcollura]

Good morning,

Hi Chris, could you post a pic or two showing the base and wall cloud? How many minutes would you say elapsed between the tornado vs. when you caught sight of the storm?

The only pictures I got was from heavy rains and I was not able to get a good shot of the base / wall cloud. The time frame between the reported tornado and the sight of the base was about 15 minutes or so.

I was, after all, "sneaking" out of the office to chase this stuff, and royally disgusted it was happening at "11 AM" instead of the expected "3-4 PM" time frame.