12/5/09 FCST: FL

[Jason Harris]

It actually looks like at least S. FL might get some action with CAPE of around 1000 and impressive helicity up to 400. Later in the morning up to afternoon a squall line is expected to form, but more interesting is some of the rotation that has been periodically showing up already and Collier County south is perking up. The local media and NWS are warning of overnight tornadoes as a possibility. Can't help but be skeptical since not much happened the other day but this warm front is moving in one way or the other to wrassle with the cold front. Time to sleep though, so someone more qualified and alert can point something out of interest I'm sure. A MD suggests a severe watch may soon be in the picture in S. Fl. And there's a marine warning out for spout potential:
--
AT MIDNIGHT EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR
INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A
WATERSPOUT 21 NM SOUTHWEST OF CAPE ROMAN

*quick update as of 12:55 here, much of S. Fl just got a tornado watch, up to about Vero beach

**2:26 AM EST new update--felt like checking, and behold:
--
AT 209 AM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO OVER
SOUTHEASTERN COLLIER COUNTY A FEW MILES NORTH OF US
41 JUST NORTHWEST OF OASIS RANGER STATION...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

THIS STORM IS ALSO CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS
OF 70 MPH.

 

[Martin Kucera]

A nice looking squall line with small embedded bow echos is about 55 nm W of Key West. It seems like the line will make it into the Keys within a couple of hours. I might drive south a bit and see if any isolated rotating cells will develop ahead of the line. The sky looks quite milky this morning. Hope the visibility improves.